How to File an Insurance Claim for a Car Scratch?
4 Answers
Call the insurance company's customer service hotline to report the incident, providing a general description of your vehicle's condition. The repair shop will assess the damage and provide a cost estimate. Once both the insurance adjuster and the vehicle owner agree, they will sign to confirm. Gather all necessary documents for the case and submit them to the insurance adjuster to process the claim. After undergoing reviews by various departments within the insurance company, the approved claim amount will be transferred to the vehicle owner's account.
Last time my car got scratched, I contacted the insurance company directly. Remember to take clear photos of the scene immediately - the damaged parts of the car, the other party's license plate, and the surrounding road conditions. Then call the insurance customer service, provide your policy number, and explain the accident time, location, and details. The customer service will arrange for an assessor to evaluate the repair costs. In my case, I drove the car directly to their designated repair shop. Remember to report the accident within 48 hours, as late reports might not be covered. If the accident liability is clear, such as when the other party is fully at fault, be sure to keep their contact information. Once the assessment results come out, after signing for confirmation, the repair costs will be paid directly by the insurance company to the repair shop, and you basically don't have to pay out of pocket. However, your insurance premium might increase a bit the following year, so for minor scratches, repairing it yourself might actually be more cost-effective.
Don't panic if your car gets scratched. I usually move the vehicle to a safe spot first to avoid secondary accidents. Turn on the hazard lights and set up the warning triangle. When taking panoramic photos with your phone, remember to capture the positions of both vehicles and the road markings. Contact your insurance company immediately, but if it's the other party's fault, go through their insurance to avoid affecting your premium next year. The insurer will ask about the accident details, such as the intersection location, how it happened, and whether you reported it to the police. If you have dashcam footage, save it right away—it's extremely useful for determining fault. Last time, I used the recording to prove the other driver was fully at fault for changing lanes. After the damage assessment, don't rush to sign; first confirm if the repair plan is thorough enough, as some internal damage isn't visible to the naked eye.
Reporting a car scratch to insurance is actually quite simple: First, determine if you need to call the police, such as in cases involving injuries or significant damage where reporting is mandatory. Then, take five key photos: a close-up of the collision point, a full view of both vehicles, the road environment, license plate numbers, and the driver's license and vehicle registration. Next, call your insurance company to report the claim, usually requiring your ID number and policy number. I recommend going to a 4S shop for damage assessment as they are more familiar with the prices of original parts. During repairs, ask the shop to check hidden areas like headlight brackets—last time my headlight looked fine, but upon disassembly, the clips were found broken. After repairs, remember to collect the invoice and damage assessment report. If the other party is at fault, submit these documents to their insurance company for reimbursement.
