How Soon to Report an Accident to the Insurance Company

I had a car accident in which no one was injured but my vehicle was damaged. How much time do I have to report the accident to my insurance company?

Answer

In general, you should file a claim as soon as possible in order to expedite the process. The sooner you file the claim, the sooner the insurer will reimburse you for the damages and/or injuries. States and insurance companies all have different laws and policies on the time limit of claims, but usually the time frame matches your state’s statute of limitations for property damage. For most states, the statute of limitations is one year. If you had the accident less than a year ago, you should still be able to file a claim. For specific information on the statute of limitations in your state, visit the department of insurance website for your state.