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Insurance Claim Readiness Checker

Answer ten quick yes / no questions to see how solid your auto insurance claim is, with concrete guidance on what to fix before you file.

1. Did you file a police report at the scene?
2. Did you take photos of all damage and the scene?
3. Did you collect the other driver's name, license, and insurance?
4. Did you collect contact info from any witnesses?
5. Did anyone seek medical evaluation, even for minor pain?
6. Do you have your own auto insurance policy number ready?
7. Do you know your insurer's claim filing deadline?
8. Have you gotten at least one repair estimate?
9. Do you know if your policy covers a rental car?
10. Did you avoid admitting fault at the scene or to other insurers?
Readiness score
0 / 10

Hold off on filing until you address the items below, claims with weak documentation are routinely undervalued.

Items still missing (10)

  • Did you file a police report at the scene?
    Call the non-emergency line and request an incident report number, most insurers require it for claims over a few thousand dollars.
  • Did you take photos of all damage and the scene?
    Capture wide shots of the scene, close-ups of every damaged area, license plates, road conditions, and any traffic signs.
  • Did you collect the other driver's name, license, and insurance?
    Get their full name, phone, license number, license plate, insurance company, and policy number.
  • Did you collect contact info from any witnesses?
    Even one witness statement strongly boosts your claim. Get name, phone, and a one-line account.
  • Did anyone seek medical evaluation, even for minor pain?
    Even mild whiplash should be documented within 72 hours. Without records, injury claims are very hard to file later.
  • Do you have your own auto insurance policy number ready?
    Your policy number is on your insurance card or app dashboard.
  • Do you know your insurer's claim filing deadline?
    Most carriers require notification within 30 days. Check your policy's 'duties after loss' section.
  • Have you gotten at least one repair estimate?
    Two written estimates from licensed shops protect you from a low-ball offer.
  • Do you know if your policy covers a rental car?
    Look for 'Rental Reimbursement' on your declarations page. If not covered, ask the at-fault party's insurer.
  • Did you avoid admitting fault at the scene or to other insurers?
    Stick to facts, never say 'I'm sorry' or 'It was my fault'. Let adjusters determine fault from evidence.

Why this 10-question check matters

Auto insurance claims fall into three buckets: ready to file, almost ready, and please wait. Most drivers file from bucket two without realizing it, and then spend three weeks playing email tag with the adjuster, trying to backfill evidence that should have been gathered at the scene.

Each question maps to something insurers ask under their duties after loss clause: was a police report filed, were photos taken, did you collect the other driver's policy number, did anyone seek medical evaluation? Missing items don't kill a claim, but they shrink the settlement and slow the timeline.

Walk through the full sequence

  • At the scene: Use the roadside emergency checklist to stay safe and capture the right info while everyone is still there.
  • Within 24 hours: Build a printable damage report with the damage checklist generator so nothing gets missed.
  • Before you call the adjuster: Use the repair cost estimator to know what a fair settlement looks like.
  • This page: Run the 10-question check to confirm you have everything before you file.

Mistakes that quietly cost claimants money

  • Apologizing at the scene. “Sorry, I didn't see you” reads as an admission of fault on a police report. Stick to facts: where you were, what direction, what speed.
  • Skipping medical evaluation because you feel fine. Soft-tissue injuries from collisions often don't present for 48–72 hours. Without same-day documentation, an injury claim is nearly impossible to file later.
  • Using the at-fault driver's preferred shop without an independent estimate. Always have your own number for comparison.
  • Filing too quickly. If you notice additional damage two days later, it's a separate claim with a separate deductible. Wait 24–48 hours, do a second walkaround, then file.

Need help interpreting an adjuster's offer? Send us the offer letter and the shop estimate, and we'll tell you whether to negotiate or accept. Get a free claim review.

See also: if you were not at fault, you may also be owed diminished value on top of the repair payout. Most drivers never file for it.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Answer 10 yes/no questions

    Each one corresponds to a standard insurance claim documentation requirement.

  2. Step 2

    See your readiness score

    You get an /10 score and a color-coded indicator of how solid your claim is.

  3. Step 3

    Fix the gaps before filing

    Anything you marked No surfaces with concrete next steps to close the gap.

Frequently asked questions

What does a 'ready' claim look like?
Police report number, scene photos, the other driver's full info, witness contacts, medical evaluation if anyone hurts, and at least one repair estimate from a licensed shop. With those six items, most claims process in under 30 days.
Why does the calculator warn against admitting fault?
Statements made at the scene can be used in fault determination. Even reflexive 'I'm sorry' has been cited in disputes. Stick to facts: 'I was traveling north on X, the other vehicle came from Y direction.' Let the adjusters and police assign fault.
Do I have to file within 30 days?
Most insurers require 'prompt notice', typically interpreted as 30 days for property damage, 1–3 years for injury claims depending on state statutes of limitations. Always check your specific policy's 'duties after loss' section.
Should I get my own estimate or use the insurer's shop?
Get your own from a licensed shop you trust. Insurer-preferred shops are not bad, but having an independent estimate gives you leverage if the offer is low and protects you from cut-rate parts substitutions.
What if I'm not sure who was at fault?
Don't guess on the phone, let the adjusters and police determine fault from the evidence. Your job is to provide a complete, accurate account. Saying 'I think I might have been speeding' on a recorded call can change a comparative-fault state's settlement materially.
What do I need to file a car insurance claim?
Six things: a police report number, scene photos (wide, mid, close-up), the other driver's name + license + insurance + plate, witness contact info, your own policy number, and at least one written repair estimate from a licensed shop. With those, most claims process in under 30 days. This 10-question check tells you exactly which of those you have.
Can I get a printable car insurance claim checklist as a PDF?
Yes, once you finish the 10 questions, hit Cmd+P (or Ctrl+P) and choose 'Save as PDF'. The page formats cleanly for printing, including the items still missing and the guidance for each.
When should I NOT file an insurance claim?
If the repair cost is less than your deductible plus 2 years of premium increase, pay out of pocket instead. A typical at-fault claim raises premiums 30 to 40 percent for 3 years, which is $1,200 to $2,400 on a $2,000 annual policy. So claims under $2,000 to $3,000 with a $500 deductible usually aren't worth filing.
Is filing an insurance claim worth it for minor damage?
For minor damage under $1,500, almost always no. The break-even formula: out-of-pocket cost vs (claim payout minus deductible minus 3 years of premium increase). For most drivers, paying out of pocket on small claims keeps your accident-free discount intact and saves $800 to $1,800 over 3 years.
Does filing a not-at-fault claim raise my insurance rates?
In most states, no, or only marginally. California prohibits not-at-fault rate hikes entirely. New York permits them but insurers rarely apply them to single not-at-fault claims. If you're not at fault, file the claim, and pursue diminished value too.

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