How to File a Car Insurance Claim
When should you file a car insurance claim?
After a car accident, you may choose to file an auto insurance claim with your insurance provider if:
- Your vehicle is damaged and you have coverage for vehicle repairs (e.g., collision coverage or direct compensation property damage)
- You or someone in your vehicle was injured
You may also need to file a claim after an event other than a collision, such as a severe storm that damaged your vehicle or a car theft.
While your insurance policy details may allow you to file a claim up to 90 days or more after an accident, insurance authorities including the Financial Service Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FRSA) and the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) advise informing your insurer within 48–72 hours and filing a claim no more than 7 days after the crash.
When filing a car insurance claim makes sense
If you or a passenger were injured in a crash, or if your vehicle damage exceeds your deductible amount, it may make sense to file a car insurance claim.
In Ontario, all car insurance policies include statutory accident benefits (SABS) to cover medical costs associated with a vehicle collision through your own insurance company. If you were less than 100% at fault for the crash, you can also file a claim for vehicle damage through your insurance company unless you chose to waive direct compensation property damage (DCPD).
You may also need to file a car insurance claim using collision coverage or comprehensive insurance if your vehicle was damaged by an at-fault accident or something other than a collision, like vandalism, animals, or fire.
When paying out of pocket might be better
If the cost to repair your vehicle is less than or close to your deductible amount, and nobody has been injured, it’s typically better to pay out of pocket.
Insurance exists to protect your finances against unexpected costs that would be too big for you to cover on your own. In the event of a minor accident or other incident that didn’t cause major expenses, you may not need to file a claim—or, if the total amount of vehicle damage is less than your deductible, you may not even be able to.
If the amount of damage exceeds your deductible by a small amount—say, less than $100 on top of a $500–$1,000 deductible—it may not be worth the added hassle and potential premium increase to file a claim.
Be wary of anyone who asks you to settle damages without involving insurance after a crash or other driving incident. While you may be tempted to not report a crash to keep your premiums low or avoid extra costs, reporting any loss to your insurance company—even if you choose not to file a formal claim—gives you a financial safety net if your costs end up higher than anticipated.
What you’ll need to file a claim
To file a car insurance claim, you’ll need certain documentation on hand to make the process smooth and efficient—and to maximize your final payout.
All claims
For all car insurance claims, be prepared to provide basic policy details and identifying information, including:
- Your policy number
- Names, driver’s licence numbers, and contact information for all parties involved
- Make, model, year, registration, and licence plate number of your vehicle
Collision-related claims
If you’ve been in a car accident and need to file a claim with your liability, accident benefits, uninsured automobile, DCPD, or collision coverage, you may need to provide some or all of the following:
- Your narrative description of the accident
- Date, time, and location of the accident
- Number of drivers and passengers involved
- Number and extent of injuries, with photograph evidence
- Extent of damage to your vehicle, with photograph evidence
- Medical bills, if applicable
- Insurance information for all drivers involved
- Accident report and badge number of reporting officer (if the accident was reported to police)
Keep any estimates, receipts, or invoices you receive from your repair shop over the course of the claim, as well as records of any conversation you have with a claims adjuster.
Accident benefits
To receive accident benefits, including coverage for medical bills, rehabilitation, and lost income, you’ll need to fill out OCF-1: Application for Accident Benefits. Depending on the benefits you want to claim, you may also need to fill out:
- OCF-2: Employer’s confirmation of income
- OCF-3: Disability certificate
- OCF-4: Death and funeral benefits application
- OCF-5: Permission to disclose health information
- OCF-6: Expenses claim form
- OCF-10: Election of income replacement, non-earner, or caregiver benefit
- OCF-21: Auto insurance standard invoice
- OCF-23: Treatment confirmation form
Your healthcare provider(s) may need to complete and sign portions of these forms. Your insurance claims team will help to determine which forms are required.
Comprehensive claims
To file a claim for damage to your vehicle if it’s stolen or damaged by something other than a collision (such as severe weather, animals, or vandalism), you may need some or all of the following:
- Your description of the incident
- Date, time, and location of the incident
- Photographs of all damage to your vehicle as well as the scene of the incident
- Police report and badge number of reporting officer (if the incident was reported to police)
After any car accident, always prepare to file a claim, even if you expect to cover the damages out of pocket. A crash could cause extensive damage that isn’t immediately apparent, and the more documentation you keep on hand, the easier it will be to recover payment from an insurance company.
How the car insurance claim process works
The car insurance claims process can feel opaque and frustrating, but it follows a series of basic steps or phases.
Total loss claims work slightly differently from other car insurance claims. If your insurer determines during the investigation and review phase that your vehicle would cost more to fix than its actual cash value, they’ll declare it a total loss and you’ll receive a payout for the full cash value of your car at the time of loss.
Does filing a car insurance claim increase premiums?
Filing a car insurance claim may increase your premiums because it adds evidence of risk.
All car insurance premiums are based on risk. Apart from your actual driving record, which shows how you’ve fared on the road in practice, most of the risk calculations that insurance companies make are based on actuarial data and statistical probabilities. Your prices are shaped by the statistical likelihood that someone of your age and driving experience, with your car, in your location, will need to file a claim in the future.
An actual claim is hard data that raises your overall likelihood of filing claims, but the details of that claim still matter. You’re more likely to see a significant increase in the cost of your coverage if:
- The claim was related to an accident in which you were found 50% or more at fault
- The claim uncovers evidence of any driving violations (e.g., speeding)
- You’ve filed multiple claims of any kind in a short period
You’re less likely to see an increase after a no-fault claim of any kind, including comprehensive claims—but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Car insurance rates may also increase slightly at renewal to adjust for inflation even if your driving record hasn’t changed.
If your insurance premium increases after a claim, you’ve got a couple of options:
- First, reach out to your insurance representative to discuss the increase, confirm the reason for the higher price, and ask about any discount opportunities.
- Next, compare new car insurance quotes from a few other insurers to see if a different carrier has more favorable rates for your updated driver profile.
- Finally, pick the best offer, whether it means staying with your current trusted provider or switching to a more affordable alternative.
How fault impacts a car insurance claim
Fault determinations made by your insurance company can impact the type of claims you’re able to make, the amount you’re owed, and even whether you’re able to make a claim at all.
After a collision, one key role of insurance adjusters is to investigate the evidence surrounding the crash and assign fault. In Ontario, adjusters use the Ontario Fault Determination Rules, a set of possible crash scenarios with fault assignments laid out, to determine the share of each driver’s fault. You can be found 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% at fault for an accident.
The table below summarizes which types of claim you may be able to make depending on your level of fault.
Can you make a claim?
3 tips to make the claims process smoother
Car insurance claims can be frustrating and slow, but a few simple tips can help to expedite the process.
- Report as soon as possible: Insurance experts recommend reporting a claim within 72 hours of the incident whenever possible, if not sooner. As soon as you know you’ll need to make a claim, reach out to your insurance agent immediately.
- Maintain detailed records: Keep a record of everything involved in your claim, from photos of the scene and invoices from repair shops to the date, time, and content of any conversation with an adjuster or insurance representative. Thorough record keeping can help you move through the claims process more quickly.
- Understand your deductible: Work with an insurance advisor to choose the best collision and comprehensive deductibles. Knowing in advance what your deductible is and how much damage is worth filing a claim for can help to streamline the process.
FAQ: Car insurance claim
This article is for general information only and is not insurance or legal advice. Examples and any sample quotes or rate ranges are illustrative and do not constitute an offer or guarantee of coverage, price, or eligibility. Actual coverage, discounts, and premiums depend on your individual circumstances and the insurer provider; if there is any discrepancy, your policy and insurer documentation govern. For advice about your situation, speak with one of our licensed insurance professionals.