Filing an insurance claim is one of those things you don’t think about until you have to, and then you wish you’d known the steps in advance. Here they are.
Step 1: At the Scene, Gather Information
Before you leave the accident scene:
- The other driver’s name, phone, address, driver’s license number, and insurance card (photo)
- The license plate and vehicle make/model
- Photos of damage to both cars, position on the road, signs and signals, road conditions, license plates, any injuries
- The police officer’s name, badge number, and report number
- Witness information if anyone saw what happened
- Time, date, weather, road conditions
See our full “what to do after an accident” checklist →
Step 2: File the Claim (Same Day If Possible)
Call your insurance carrier’s claims hotline or use their app. Most California carriers have 24-hour claim filing:
- GEICO: 1-800-841-3000 or the GEICO app
- State Farm: 1-800-732-5246 or the State Farm app
- Allstate: 1-800-255-7828 or the Allstate Mobile app
- AAA: 1-800-672-5246
- Progressive: 1-800-776-4737
- USAA: 1-800-531-USAA (8722)
- Farmers: 1-800-435-7764
- Mercury: 1-800-503-3724
Tell them:
- Your policy number
- When and where the accident happened
- Brief description of what happened (stick to facts, don’t speculate about fault)
- Other driver’s information
- The police report number
They’ll generate a claim number. Write it down. You’ll need it everywhere from here on.
Step 3: Decide Who’s at Fault, and Who Files
There are two paths:
Option A: File With Your Own Carrier (First-Party Claim)
- Pros: Faster, your carrier works for you, fewer obstacles to repair
- Cons: You pay your deductible up front (refundable if the other driver is found at fault, your carrier “subrogates” against theirs)
Option B: File With the Other Driver’s Carrier (Third-Party Claim)
- Pros: No deductible if they’re at fault and accept liability
- Cons: Slower (their adjuster has no incentive to expedite), they may dispute fault, and your repair waits while they investigate
Best practice: If the other driver clearly admitted fault at the scene, third-party is fine. Otherwise, file with your own carrier, they’ll handle the legal back-and-forth with the other carrier on your behalf.
Step 4: Choose Your Body Shop
You have the right to choose your own shop in California (Insurance Code §758.5). The insurer can suggest a shop on their DRP (Direct Repair Program), they cannot require it.
Why this matters: DRP shops have agreed to lower labor rates and parts standards in exchange for steady work. Their financial incentive is aligned with the insurance company, not with you.
Choose a shop with:
- A lifetime workmanship warranty
- Real customer reviews
- An honest answer about OEM parts and ADAS calibration
- A specific service advisor as your point of contact
Read more on choosing a shop →
Step 5: Insurance Adjuster Inspection
The adjuster will want to inspect the damage. They can do this:
- At the body shop you chose (preferred, the shop can advocate for the right repair scope)
- At a drive-up inspection location
- Via photos (most common for minor damage)
For the inspection at our shop, we coordinate directly with the adjuster, you don’t have to schedule it yourself.
Step 6: Authorization and Repair Begins
After inspection, the adjuster writes an estimate and authorizes repair. We start teardown immediately under our Rapid Repair process (we order parts in parallel with disassembly).
Almost always, teardown reveals hidden damage that wasn’t in the initial estimate. We document with photos and submit a supplement to the insurer. They review and authorize the additional repair. You don’t pay more out of pocket, supplements are part of the same claim.
Step 7: Rental Car
If your policy includes rental coverage, you get a rental during repair. Common rental coverage levels:
- $30/day with a $900 max (basic policies)
- $50/day with a $1,500 max (mid-tier)
- $75+/day with no daily cap (premium policies)
If your repair runs long because of supplements or back-ordered parts, push the carrier for a rental extension, they often grant it.
We have on-site rental cars for same-lot pickup, billed directly to your insurer.
Step 8: Repair Completes, You Pick Up
We bill the carrier directly for their share. You pay only your deductible (in person or via your shop’s online billing). Drive away with a vehicle backed by our lifetime workmanship warranty.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t admit fault at the scene, on the phone with adjusters, or in writing. Stick to facts.
- Don’t sign anything from the other driver’s insurance without consulting your own carrier.
- Don’t accept the first repair estimate as final, supplements are normal and expected.
- Don’t get pushed into a shop you don’t trust. California law gives you the right to choose.
- Don’t delay filing. Most policies require prompt notification.
Got a claim? Bring it to us. We work with every major and non-standard carrier in California.