How to File a Car Insurance Claim

After an accident: get safe, call the police, exchange information, photograph the scene, then contact your insurer to open the claim.

By the Home & Dime Editorial Team · Last updated 2026

At the scene

1. Get safe; call 911 if needed.
2. Call the police for a report.
3. Exchange insurance and license info.
4. Photograph everything.

After

1. Contact your insurer (or the at-fault driver’s).
2. Work with the adjuster.
3. Complete repairs.

Frequently asked questions

File with mine or theirs?

If they’re clearly at fault, file against their liability.

Police report?

Strongly recommended.

The bottom line

Document the scene, get a police report, and report promptly.

Related guides

• How Insurance Claims Work

Sources: Insurance Information Institute (iii.org); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; FEMA; state Departments of Insurance. General information, not insurance advice.