How to file a car insurance claim in Texas, step by step
What to do at the scene, what to say, how the adjuster process works and what to do if you disagree with the estimate.
What you do in the first hour affects how the claim goes for the next month. None of it is complicated, but it is easy to skip when your hands are shaking.
At the scene
- Check for injuries and move vehicles out of traffic if they can be driven
- Call the police. In Texas a report is required when there is injury, death or apparent damage over a threshold, and the report matters to the claim either way
- Photograph everything: both vehicles, all four corners, license plates, the road, skid marks, traffic controls and the other driver's insurance card
- Get the other driver's name, phone, license number, plate and insurance information
- Get names and numbers for any witnesses, because they disappear fast
- Do not discuss fault. Exchange information and let the adjusters determine it
Filing
Call your carrier or use the app the same day if you can. You will need the date, time and location, the police report number if there is one, the other driver's information and your photographs.
You can file through your own carrier or through the other driver's carrier if they were at fault. Filing through your own is usually faster, and your insurer pursues theirs to recover your deductible.
The adjuster and the estimate
An adjuster inspects the vehicle or reviews photos and issues an estimate. You choose the repair shop in Texas. An insurer can recommend one, and cannot require it.
If the shop finds additional damage once the vehicle is opened up, that is normal. The shop submits a supplement to the adjuster. Let them handle that conversation directly, it is routine.
If it is a total loss
The insurer pays actual cash value, which is what the vehicle was worth just before the crash. If you disagree, provide comparable local listings for the same year, mileage and condition. Documentation moves that number more often than argument does.
If you get stuck
Texas has prompt payment rules for insurers and a complaint process through the Texas Department of Insurance. Before it comes to that, call your agent. Most disputes are a missing document or an adjuster who has not seen the photos.
We advocate for our clients
If you bought the policy through us, call us first and we will get in the middle of it. (956) 687-3334. Se habla español.
Common follow-up questions
Should I file a claim for minor damage?
If it is close to your deductible and only your car is involved, it may cost more in surcharge than it pays. Damage to another vehicle should always go through the policy.
Does filing a claim always raise my rate?
Not always. Not-at-fault claims and comprehensive claims are treated differently from at-fault collisions.
How long do I have to file?
Report it promptly. Policies require timely notice, and delay is a reason claims get complicated. Texas has longer legal deadlines for suits, but your policy's notice requirement comes first.
Want this looked at properly?
We are an independent agency in McAllen serving Hidalgo, Cameron and Starr counties. No cost to talk it through.
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