How to Handle a GEICO Insurance Claim
Founded in 1936, the GEICO Insurance Agency has grown to be the second-largest auto insurance company in the United States. GEICO has earned a reputation for offering low car insurance rates and of being one of the more affordable car insurance companies. Today, it offers a wide range of coverage options, including underinsured and uninsured motorist, comprehensive, collision, and personal injury protection coverage, making it a top choice for many drivers.
If you’ve chosen to insure your vehicle with GEICO, then hopefully you’ll never have to find out what the GEICO insurance claim process is like. But, it’s certainly something you want to understand in case you’re involved in an accident, need roadside assistance or a rock hits your windshield on the highway.
Below you’ll find an overview of how to handle a GEICO insurance claim.
How to File a GEICO Insurance Claim
Reporting a claim to GEICO is simple, and you can do so in three easy ways.
Call GEICO
You can make a phone call to GEICO at (800) 841-3000 to report your claim. GEICO’s experienced agents will gather information from you and provide details on the next steps of the claims process. GEICO’s hours aren’t just Monday-Friday. The company is open 24/7, so you can report a claim the same day the damage occurs.
Report a Claim Online
With just a few clicks, you can report your claim online through the GEICO Claims Center. With the online system you can report an accident or glass-only damage or request roadside assistance. You’ll need to login to your account with your user ID, but if your claim is eligible, you can immediately schedule a repair and a rental vehicle online. Talk about easy!
Use the GEICO Mobile App
You can report a claim through your phone using the GEICO Mobile App. The app is available for both iOS and Android, and it gives you quick access to your ID cards.
What to Do After an Accident
It’s understandable to be stressed and upset after an accident occurs, but it’s important to take the right steps to gather the information you’ll need to file your claim.
Call 911
First, find out if anyone involved in the accident was hurt, and call 911 immediately. If you’re in the road, you may need to move your vehicle out of the path of traffic if it’s possible and safe to do so. But no matter what, don’t leave the accident scene.
Wait for the police to arrive, and avoid admitting fault for the accident or identifying your car insurance policy limits. Provide the police office with your contact information, and call for roadside assistance for your car if it can’t be driven.
Gather Information
It’s also important to gather specific information that you’ll need to submit to GEICO:
- Time and location of the accident
- Police report number
- Name, badge, and phone number of the responding officer
- Contact information, including email addresses, names, phone numbers, and mailing addresses of the other driver, passengers, and witnesses
- The other party’s insurance company information, including the company name, auto policy number, and phone number
- Photos of the scene of the accident, including vehicle information like the license plate numbers
Having this info can help to make your claims process smoother.
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How GEICO Handles Your Claim
Once you’ve reported a claim, GEICO will make an appointment to inspect your vehicle for damage. This appointment takes approximately 30 minutes. If your vehicle can’t be driven, GEICO will send an auto damage adjuster to examine your car. You don’t have to be present for the appointment.
Once your vehicle has been inspected, you can have it repaired at any location that you choose. The company suggests using GEICO Auto Repair Xpress, since the locations can inspect and repair your car, and also provide you with a rental for your convenience.
GEICO tries to process payments as quickly as possible, but the speed will depend on your claim, how quickly the vehicle is inspected, and how long an accident investigation takes.
How to Track Your GEICO Insurance Claim
You can track your insurance claim progress online through GEICO’s site. You’ll need your claim number, first and last name, or you can log in with your user ID and password.
That online portal provides general information about your claim’s progress, any changes that have occurred, and related paperwork.
When shopping for car insurance, it’s essential that you’re comfortable not only with the coverage, pricing, and discounts, but also that you’re working with a company that you can rely on in case you ever do have to file a claim.
If you want to save money on your insurance, then it’s important to get quotes from multiple companies and compare not only the potential savings on the insurance products, but also the overall experience that you’re likely to have with each company.
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GEICO Insurance Claim FAQs
How do I contact GEICO claims?
If you have questions for insurance specialists or need help understanding your policy service options and want to speak with a customer service agent at GEICO, you can contact GEICO claims by phone. You can also file a claim online through the Claims Center, or through the GEICO Mobile App.
How long does it take GEICO to settle a claim?
When your vehicle is damaged, you want to get it fixed quickly. GEICO states that many claims are paid within just 48 hours, but the exact duration can vary. If you’re in an accident, GEICO will investigate that accident before making a payment, so you may need to be patient until that investigation is finished.
Can GEICO refuse to pay a claim?
GEICO must consider all claims filed, but it can decline to pay a claim for certain reasons. Some of those reasons include:
- You didn’t pay your insurance premium, so your insurance lapsed
- You filed a claim for collision coverage but only have a liability policy
- You were driving a new vehicle that you hadn’t yet added to your insurance
- You’re looking for a compensation amount that’s above your policy limits
Does GEICO drop you after an accident?
Most insurance companies, including GEICO, won’t drop you for a single at-fault accident. You will see a rate increase, and if you have multiple at-fault accidents in a short period of time, your insurer might determine that you’re a high-risk driver and drop you.
If you want to avoid those rate increases after an accident, consider signing up for GEICO Accident Forgiveness. You can add this valuable coverage onto your existing insurance, so you can save money on your premiums and avoid these higher payments. If you’re in an at-fault accident, your insurance rate will remain the same.
Does GEICO handle claims well?
GEICO has a 1.13 out of 5-star rating on the Better Business Bureau, indicating poor customer satisfaction. The company has received 2,425 complaints in the last three years, and many of those complaints describe poor claims experiences.
Given the negative feedback that GEICO has received, the claims process doesn’t go well for all customers. It’s important to consider how comfortable you are with that potential problem, and whether that means that GEICO isn’t the right insurance company for you.
