Can I file an insurance claim for car scratches without on-site photos?
3 Answers
You can file an insurance claim for compensation even without on-site photos of the car scratches. The insurance payout amount and considerations are as follows: Insurance payout amount: For single-vehicle accidents, you can report to the insurance company afterwards, but it should not exceed 48 hours. If the accident scene is not preserved, the insurance company will pay 70% of the assessed damage amount. Generally, insurance companies require reporting within 48 hours. After reporting, an insurance surveyor will be dispatched to determine if the traces match. If they match, the claim is usually approved. Insurance considerations: You can drive the car a short distance away from the incident location when reporting to the insurance company. They can still measure based on the scene height and traces, which won't have much impact. However, you must report within the time limit set by the insurance company. Late reporting may result in additional deductible penalties.
I had a similar experience when my car got scratched while parked in the neighborhood, and the culprit drove off without taking photos. I was quite anxious when I discovered it after returning home. I immediately called the insurance customer service, who asked about the time, location, size, and direction of the scratch. I described everything truthfully and mentioned there might be surveillance footage. Later, the insurance company sent someone to inspect the car and verify the incident by reviewing nearby camera footage, and the repair costs were successfully reimbursed. From then on, I learned a lesson: don’t panic if there are no on-site photos—contact the insurance company immediately to provide details, such as the exact location of the accident and the surrounding conditions at the time. Finding witnesses or surveillance records can also help. Safety comes first, and now I’ve developed the habit of taking photos of accidents right away to avoid such awkward situations.
Regarding reporting car scratches to insurance without photos, I've handled many cases. Insurance companies usually prefer on-site evidence to prevent fraud, but it's not absolutely impossible to file a claim without photos. You can use other methods to prove it: provide detailed descriptions of the accident time, location, scratch characteristics, or have witnesses, nearby store surveillance, etc. as supporting evidence. The key is to report promptly without delay—call or report via APP, fill in the information clearly, and they will assess the authenticity. I recommend taking timely action: after the accident, park in a safe place and take some current photos for documentation; consult your insurance broker for advice.
