How to File a GEICO Car Insurance Claim
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Written byMandy Sleight
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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
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Edited byLequita Westbrooks
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Lequita WestbrooksSenior Editor
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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After an accident, the last thing you want is a chaotic insurance claim filing process. This process varies by insurer, vehicle and incident type, and your vehicle coverages, so it’s good to know what to expect ahead of time.
If you’re a GEICO policyholder or looking to purchase a policy with the insurer, it’s important to know how the company’s claims process works.
GEICO — the nation’s third-largest auto insurer by market share — insures over 28 million vehicles nationwide. The company went from just above average in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study to seven points below industry average in 2023.
We’ll walk you through the steps of filing an auto insurance claim with GEICO, so you’ll know what to expect.
Key Takeaways
GEICO policyholders can file claims online, over the phone, and through its mobile app.
File a police report when necessary, and never leave the scene of an accident.
You should file a GEICO auto insurance claim if your car is a total loss, you live in a no-fault state, or you can’t determine who’s at fault for an accident.
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5 Steps to File a GEICO Car Insurance Claim
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GEICO aims to streamline the car insurance claim process and make it as stress-free as possible. There are multiple ways to file and monitor GEICO car claims.
Here is the step-by-step guide to filing an auto insurance claim with GEICO.
1. File a police report if necessary
While a police report is beneficial, you can file a car accident claim without one. An officer can ensure that the incident details are accurately documented.
It may be worth it to file a police report if:
Someone is hurt and needs medical treatment
The other driver won’t exchange insurance and contact information
You’re not comfortable, or in a remote area
A driver is under the influence, not licensed, or uninsured
A vehicle isn’t drivable
GEICO offers 24/7 roadside assistance, but, if you don’t have roadside assistance, the police can help you arrange a tow.
2. Gather relevant evidence and documentation
After you’ve moved your car off the road or called for roadside assistance if it’s not operable, it’s time to gather documentation and evidence.
Make sure to collect the following:
The location of the accident
Photos of the scene, including all sides of the vehicles involved and license plate numbers
Names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers of the driver, passengers, and witnesses
The other driver’s insurance information, including company name, phone number, and auto policy number
You should also review your insurance policy coverage and deductibles to know what’s covered.
3. Contact GEICO to file your auto insurance claim
You can file a GEICO car accident claim in several ways:
By phone
Online
The GEICO mobile app
Be ready to give your agent details such as the state where the accident took place, the date and time of the accident, and a general description of the incident. Your agent may ask for police report details and the contact information for other parties — but these details aren’t required to start the claim process.
Next, GEICO will assign a claims adjuster to your claim. The claims adjuster will review the claim and your policy coverages, interview you and other parties, and determine who’s at fault. You can reach out to your adjuster by email or phone if you have any questions about the process or your options.
4. Receive a claim settlement and payouts
Part of the claims process is determining fault. If you’re at fault, your GEICO policy will cover the other drivers’ and passengers’ injuries and property damage up to your policy limits.
The policy will pay for your vehicle damages or determine a total-loss claim settlement if you have collision insurance. If you only have liability insurance, GEICO won’t pay for your vehicle damage.
If you weren’t at fault, GEICO will complete a payment recovery process on your behalf for reimbursement of your vehicle damage.
Once GEICO approves your claim, it works quickly to get funds to you by mail or electronically. You can negotiate compensation if you’re not satisfied with GEICO’s first offer.
5. Fix your vehicle
If your vehicle is fixable, you can choose a repair shop or use GEICO’s Auto Repair Xpress program to inspect and repair your vehicle. GEICO’s Auto Repair Xpress facilities promise fast and hassle-free repair services and offer a lifetime guarantee (for as long as you own the car).
You can drive your car to the shop or have it towed if it’s not drivable, and the shop will inspect it and write up a repair estimate. If your car is totaled, you’ll need to give the vehicle title to GEICO, remove your belongings, and release the car to GEICO. Then, you’ll sign some paperwork and receive your settlement payment.
How GEICO Investigates Car Insurance Claims
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GEICO will assign a liability examiner to your claim, who then completes the liability investigation to determine what caused the accident and who’s at fault.
The liability examiner issues bodily injury settlements and collision and property damage payments. They can also work the medical claim for you in some states.
The claim investigation involves:
Contacting the involved parties and witnesses (if applicable)
Taking a recorded statement
Asking questions
Gathering basic information like police reports, state laws, and accident scene photos
Completing the evaluation
Issuing the accident claim report
You can track your claim status 24/7 online or through the GEICO mobile app.
When Should You File an Auto Insurance Claim With GEICO?
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There are several scenarios when it makes sense to file a claim with GEICO. Here are a few situations.
To determine fault
If you’re insured with GEICO and unsure who’s at fault in the crash, you can file a claim. The GEICO liability investigator will complete a claims investigation to determine fault.
If you have collision coverage, you can get your car fixed through your own insurance policy. GEICO adjusters will file a third-party claim on your behalf to get reimbursed.
Your car is a total loss
You can file a claim under your GEICO car insurance policy to get what’s called a “total-loss settlement” if your vehicle is totaled. In this case, GEICO will determine the actual cash value (ACV) of your vehicle and pay you or your financing or lease company directly.
In some states, you can keep your car or buy it back from the insurance company even though it’s totaled. You’ll get the car’s ACV minus its salvage value and any applicable deductible amount.
Living in a no-fault state
When you live in a no-fault state, each driver files with their own insurance company, regardless of fault. Your insurance pays for your injuries and medical bills, plus your vehicle damage or total-loss settlement.
If your injuries are severe, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering. In this case, it might be worth getting legal advice from a personal injury attorney.
The other driver is uninsured or underinsured
If the other driver doesn’t have insurance or enough to cover your injuries and property damage, you can file a claim for the rest under your GEICO policy.
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FAQs About GEICO’s Claims Process
GEICO insurance makes filing and tracking a car or injury claim easy on its website or mobile app. We answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the GEICO auto claims process below.
Is GEICO good at paying off claims?
Yes. GEICO is good at paying out claims.
An insurance company’s financial strength rating shows how well it can pay off claims. GEICO’s A++ (Superior) rating is the highest available from AM Best. The rating means it’s financially stable, so when the insurer approves a claim, it should have no problem paying it quickly and in full.How long does it take for GEICO to settle an insurance claim?
GEICO advertises that it can settle a claim in as little as two days. But claim complexity can vary, and it could take several weeks to finalize a more complex claim. How long it takes to settle an insurance claim depends on the situation and complexity of the claim.
Can GEICO deny my auto claim?
Yes. GEICO can deny your auto claim. For instance, if GEICO suspects fraud, it may deny your claim.
The company may also deny your claim if you don’t have the right coverage or enough coverage. You can appeal the decision if you think your claim was wrongfully denied.Will GEICO drop you after you file a claim?
It’s possible, but it’s more likely if you file multiple claims. Any insurance company, including GEICO, can drop your coverage after you file a claim. Although you likely won’t be dropped after the first claim, multiple claims in a short time period could cause GEICO to drop you. Having accident forgiveness can protect your insurance rates after an at-fault accident.
Sources
AM Best, “002205 Government Employees Insurance Company,” Accessed November 5, 2023.
J.D. Power, “2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study,” Accessed November 4, 2023.
J.D. Power, “2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study,” Accessed November 4, 2023.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “2022 Property and Casualty Market Share,” Accessed November 4, 2023.
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Mandy SleightInsurance Writer
Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
Lequita WestbrooksSenior Editor
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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