The main reason for auto insurance coverage is to ensure your vehicle is covered when you need it the most. Whether it is a break-in or an accident, the ability to file a claim with your insurance provider can transform a stressful situation into one of ease. However, just how easy this process becomes depends on how you file your claim. Ensure you know what mistakes to avoid to ensure your claims process goes as smoothly as possible. 

1. Take Your Time

One of the worst things you can do is to wait around and file a claim with your insurance company. Take a break-in, for example. It is never a good idea to allow several months, or more, to go by without notifying your insurance company.

All providers have a timeframe in which a claim must be filed. If this period is expired, the insurance company does not have to consider your claim. For some providers, this window of opportunity is less than a week, so you must move fast. It is up to you to know this timeline, so reaching out as soon as possible is best to ensure you are in the right timeframe. 

2. Speculate

When you initially speak with the insurance company, they will collect some details about the event from you. Only discuss the details you know to be a fact; never speculate. Consider the break-in example again. A statement about how you are unsure if you left your door unlocked will do far more harm than good. 

First, you do not know for certain that you left the door unlocked, so this is not a fact. Second, many policies deny claims if a vehicle is not secured properly. In the case of an unlocked door, you would likely have no recourse to the insurance claim. 

3. Repair Without Verification

Never repair your vehicle after damage without verification from the insurance company. Take a scenario where a tree limb fell on a vehicle during a storm, for instance. It is never a good idea to have repairs performed and then assume you can simply turn in the receipts to the insurance company for reimbursement.

The insurance company generally requires that an adjuster inspects the vehicle and/or the vehicle is taken to an approved repair shop with an estimate provided before they approve the claim. There is no guarantee you will be compensated if you perform repairs prematurely. 

Ensure you consider all these factors when filing your auto insurance claim to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible. 

Contact an insurance company to learn more about auto insurance coverage.