Do you have to report an accident to insurance?

Drivers usually have 30 days to report a car accident to their insurance provider. Policies don’t always give a specific timeframe, though, and could simply state that a driver needs to report the accident “promptly.”

You should almost always report accidents to your insurance as soon as possible, since waiting too long could jeopardize a future claim or cause an at-fault driver to lose certain protections. There are certain situations where it might not be necessary, however.... read full answer

When You Can Skip Notifying Insurance (All Must Be True)

1. The accident happened with just your vehicle.
2. It was on your property.
3. There were no injuries involved.
4. The only damage was to your property.

Reporting a Car Accident vs. Filing a Claim

A common misconception is that reporting a car accident to insurance is the same as filing a claim. While filing a claim means you’re making a formal request to an insurance company for compensation, reporting an accident simply means you’re notifying your insurer that it happened.

In most cases, you’ll want to report an accident as soon as possible in order to get the claims process started. But even if you don’t initially plan on filing a claim, you should notify your insurance company just in case you discover additional damage or change your mind.

What Happens If You Delay Reporting a Car Accident?

If you wait too long to report your accident to insurance, it could cause problems down the road. For example, if you don’t initially report but realize later on that you need to file a claim, the insurance company has no way of knowing whether the damage is the result of the accident or something else that happened later. Or, if the accident was your fault and the other driver files a claim against you later on, your insurance company might deny you certain protections because you failed to promptly report.

Even if you don’t think you need to report the accident, it’s always in your best interest to do so. Many insurance companies have mobile apps and 24-hour hotlines to make the reporting process as quick and easy as possible. Also, keep in mind that even though you’re not legally obligated to notify your insurance company after a car accident, most states will require you to at least report it to the police if anyone is injured or if there is a certain amount of property damage.

Yes, you can file an insurance claim with no police report after a car accident. Having a police report is helpful and can simplify the claims process, but it’s not required to file or authorize a claim. Whether or not you are legally required to file a police report depends on your state’s laws, however.... read full answer

In most states, you are required by law to file a police report if anyone is injured. You may also have to file a police report if property damage exceeds a certain amount, but the exact number varies greatly by state.

When You Don't Have to File a Police Report

You don’t have to call the police after an accident if no one was hurt, the damage was minor, and everyone involved is licensed, insured, and cooperative. In fact, the police can’t and won’t come to the scene of every accident. For example, you only need to contact the police after a minor fender bender if the other driver is uncooperative, uninsured, or intoxicated.

If you don’t file a police report right after a car accident, at least make sure to exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver, and photograph the damage to both vehicles as well as the full scene of the accident. Write down the date, time, and location of the accident, too, along with the weather and road conditions and a description of the vehicles involved.

You can always take this information to a police station to file an incident report if the police don’t come to the scene.

What happens if there is no police report for a car accident?

When a claim is filed after an accident, insurers want to know who was at fault so they can decide whose insurance will cover the damage. A police report is a detailed and official account of the accident that includes whether anyone was cited, eyewitness accounts, the officer’s opinion of how it happened, and any on-the-scene evidence – like the length of skid marks or the position of the wreckage on the road.

These details are useful when making an insurance claim, and a police report can make the process faster and easier. But not having one won’t bar you from being able to file a claim or lawsuit.

Reporting an Accident vs. Filing a Claim

Whether you decide to file a police report or not, it’s always in your best interest to report a car accident involving another driver to your insurance company. Making a report is not the same thing as filing a claim. Most insurance companies require you to report an accident as soon as possible, and failing to do so could give them an easy reason to deny your claim. The only time it is OK to skip reporting an accident to insurance is if it happens in your car, no one is injured, and only your own property is damaged.

Yes, a fender bender counts as an accident for insurance purposes. Most insurance policies require drivers to report any accident, including fender benders, and an at-fault fender bender will usually disqualify you from your insurer’s safe driver or good driver discount. The specific requirements for these discounts vary by company, but they usually require at least three years without an at-fault accident.... read full answer

It’s important to treat a fender bender like any other accident for a few reasons. With the technology in cars steadily advancing, even a seemingly-small fender bender can result in expensive repairs. Similarly, injuries sometimes take a while to appear, leading to unexpected claims. By the way, these are also reasons why you should take photos and document evidence, as well as exchange names and insurance information with the other driver(s) involved in a fender bender.

Plus, if you don’t report a fender bender to your insurance company, they will be caught off guard if you or another driver decide to file a claim down the road. Depending on the terms of your policy, the insurance company could even drop you for failing to report an accident. Keeping your insurer informed can help protect you if another driver makes a fraudulent claim in the future, too.

It’s also important to note that in most states, you are required to file a police report for any accident, including a fender bender, if the damage exceeds a certain dollar amount or if anyone is injured. Each state has a different threshold, though, and a few states only require police reports for serious accidents. However, since it’s hard for drivers to assess the cost of damage in the heat of the moment, reporting a fender bender is the safest choice.

Ultimately, the bottom line is that by taking a fender bender seriously, you can prevent missteps that could harm you and your finances in the future. For more information, check out the complete WalletHub guides to What to Do After a Car Accident and When & How to File a Claim.