How do I check my car insurance claim history? This is one of the frequently asked questions by many auto insurance policyholders. This is because having an understanding of your car insurance claim history is very important for evaluating your coverage needs and making sure that you are getting enough coverage from your quote.
Furthermore, if you are just curious about your past claims or want to change insurance companies, this information will make the whole process easier and will save you time as well. The different means of checking your auto insurance claim history will be available in this guide so keep scrolling if you are interested.
What is a Car Insurance Claim?
A car insurance claim is a request filed by a policyholder to their insurer or insurance provider for coverage or financial reimbursement after being in an accident or damage has been done to their vehicle. In other words, when you file a claim to your insurance company, you are asking them to help you cover the cost of replacing or repairing your car, or pay for damages or medical expenses to the involved party or parties.
Types of Car Insurance Claims
There are two major types of claims when it comes to car insurance. They include:
Fault
This is the type of claim when the policyholder is responsible and liable for the damage or accident to your car or vehicle. In this case, the insurance provider will cover the damages and repair up to your policy’s limits.
Non-Fault
This is a type of claim when the policyholder is not responsible for the damage or accident to your vehicle. When you file this claim type to your insurance company, they might handle the claim process but will request compensation from the insurance provider of the party at fault.
How Does It Affect My Insurance Premium?
How car insurance claim history affects your insurance premium depends on different factors like your driving history, the severity of the accident, the policies of your insurance company, and who is at fault or responsible.
Normally, if you are responsible for an accident and you file a claim, your insurance premium may increase when you renew your policy. Meanwhile, if you have safe driving records and no claims have been made previously, its impact on your premium may be less. In other words, non-fault claims do not usually result in increased premiums.
How Do I Check My Car Insurance Claim History?
If you would like to check your car insurance claim history, here are the basic steps you can follow to achieve this process:
- Contact Your Insurer
Reach out to the customer service department of your insurance company. For their contact information, check out their official website, insurance policy documents, or billing statements.
- Provide Necessary Information
After contacting your insurance company, you will need to provide the necessary information like policy numbers and other required personal information if requested.
- Inquire About Your Claim History
Once you can reach a customer care representative, ask about your auto insurance claim history. They will give you information about any claim you have filed in the past as well as whether you were at fault or not, the date of the claims, and other details.
- Check the Online Account Portal
If you cannot reach a customer care representative at your insurance company, you can check your online account portal. This is quite common among insurance companies and it allows you to check and manage your policy details conveniently. All you need to do is log in to your account.
FAQs
How long do I have to file a car insurance claim after an accident?
You must file a car accident claim immediately after an accident. Moreover, most insurance providers have a certain time frame in which claims should be filed to ensure swift processing. However, remember that the exact deadline differs depending on your state regulations and policy.
What information do I need to provide when filing a car insurance claim?
Here is the information you need when filing a car insurance claim:
- Your policy number.
- Contact information.
- Accident details.
- Vehicle information.
- Accident scene photos.
- Police report number if requested.
- Names, and contacts of the involved parties.
- Description of damages and injuries.
Providing accurate information can speed up the claims process for enough coverage.
Will Filing A Car Insurance Claim Raise My Premiums?
If you are found at fault for an accident, filing a car insurance claim can cause your premiums to increase. Other factors like driving records and claims history are used by insurance companies to determine the premium rates of policyholders.
If you have a history of safe driving, claim filing will not increase your premium. However, it is important to confirm with your insurance provider to understand the policies better.