How To Submit A Claim To Your Car Insurance Company
When your vehicle is involved in an accident, whether the fault is another driver or your own, you will have to submit a car insurance claim to your insurance company. It is against the law to operate your vehicle without insurance and you should be familiar with your policy. Understanding your coverage limits, types of coverage, and deductibles is very important.
The first step is to shop around for the cheapest price for the most coverage you are comfortable with. Always compare prices before buying and, when you get into a situation where you need to submit a claim, you will find that one company may offer a quicker and easier way to take care of business. Beware, if you have purchased very cheap car insurance, it doesnat always mean you are a smart shopper. Sometimes it literally means you got what you paid for.
When an accident happens contact your insurance company immediately and give them all your information. Make sure they have everything that they need, and never suggest that any of the accident was your fault. Fault is something that is decided by a police officer and not yourself. Also, while talking on the phone, take careful note of any instructions you are given and take down any case number you may be given.
Many insurance companies, including Geico, allow you to submit a car insurance claim online. If you are more comfortable with this method, you should utilize this service if it is available. Even if you do call your insurance company on the phone, it is likely that you can follow the status of your claim and get further directions on their website
If you decide to talk with someone over the phone, makes sure they you always follow their directions in a timely fashion. More than likely there will be a lot of paperwork to get together, but this also depends on how serious the accident was. Make sure to have a copy of the police report which, if you havenat already, go to the police department to get it. Also, keep in mind that if your car has been stolen, you will have to have receipts for anything you plan to claim. This is how they reimburse you, minus any deductible that may have been charged.
Other than paperwork, make sure your car is checked out. It doesnat matter how severe or minor the accident was, it needs to be inspected so that an estimate can be made for the repairs. Progressive sends a representative to your home or work most of the time, but this service is not always available. If this convenience is available, take advantage of it. Otherwise most companies will send you to a body shop of their choice for the estimate.
Information should have been sent to you from your insurance company about a rental car. However, if you have purchased very cheap insurance this probably hasnat happened. Often times it is offered as an optional choice when you are signing up for your policy, and it underscores how important it is to understand your policy. If you have rental car coverage, you can use it while waiting for your vehicle to be ready for the road again.
Once an estimate for repair of your vehicle is made, the body shop will set up a time for you to leave your car with them. Make sure to discuss with them how long they will have your vehicle. When you do go to pick up your repaired car from them, it is imperative to look over the repairs and assure that they have been made to your standards. This is the time to speak up if you are unsatisfied, they should fix anything you are not happy with.
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