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Submitting A Car Insurance Claim 
By: Susan Tanner
After an accident, whether it is your fault or not, you will be required to submit a claim. Driving without insurance is illegal and it is vitally important that you become familiar with whatever policy you have. Understanding what types of coverage are out there, their limits, and what deductibles are is very important.
The first step is to shop around for the cheapest price for the most coverage you are comfortable with. Always compare prices before buying and, when you get into a situation where you need to submit a claim, you will find that one company may offer a quicker and easier way to take care of business. Beware, if you have purchased very cheap car insurance, it doesnat always mean you are a smart shopper. Sometimes it literally means you got what you paid for.
After an accident always make sure that you inform your insurance company immediately, making sure that they have all the correct information. Do not, under any circumstances, implicate yourself as the cause of the accident while speaking to a representative; that is for a police officer to decide, not you. Make sure to follow and instructions your are given carefully, making note of any case number you are given.
Insurance companies usually have a way to submit an insurance claim online. If this is a method you are comfortable with, you should definitely take advantage of it. Companies like Geico and Progressive offer ways to track the status of your claim online, so there should be no need to call a representative.
Should you decide it is necessary to call your provider, make sure to follow the directions you are given in a specific and timely manner. Chances are that there will be a lot of paperwork to organize (depending, of course, on the severity of the accident). You will definitely need a copy of the police report, which you will need to go to the police department to receive a copy of it. Also, if your car has been stolen, hope that you have receipts of all the items you plan to claim. This is the only way you will be reimbursed, minus any deductible you will have to pay.
Aside from paperwork, your vehicle will need to be inspected. No matter what the severity of the damage to your vehicle, it will be checked over so that an estimate can be made for repair. Progressive will often send a representative to your home or work. This is a convenient service you should take advantage of. Other companies will send you to an approved body shop for estimate.
You should have received information from your insurance company about a rental car. Sometimes, if you have really cheap car insurance, this benefit may not be included. It can be an optional choice when you sign up for your policy, an important point as to why you should understand your coverage. If you do have rental car coverage, you can use it while waiting for your vehicle to be fixed.
After getting your estimate from the mechanics you will set up a time to leave your car with them. Make sure to discuss when you can expect to pick it up again and, when you pick it up, do not settle for a sub-par repair job. If you are unhappy with anything, you have the right to speak up about it. The body shop should fix whatever you are unhappy with.
Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles
To find out exactly how I got car insurance rate, visit my website about auto insurance
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