How to File a Car Insurance Claim With Geico (2024)

If you’ve recently been in an accident, you may be wondering — how do I file a car insurance claim with Geico?

This is a common question, and conveniently, there are multiple answers. You have three choices: using the company’s app, going online, or calling the company. The more important thing is making sure you have what you need to file a claim with Geico.

We’ll share what you need to do so you don’t have to do online searches for “file insurance claim geico” or “geico reporting a claim.”

Wondering if another provider has lower rates? Find out by entering your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool (below/above).

How to File a Car Insurance Claim With Geico

Once you have all the information you need, your first step is to choose which method you’d like to use: the Geico mobile app, the online portal at geico.com/claims, or the Geico claim phone number (800) 841-3000.

If you don’t have it already, you can download the Geico app from all major app markets, such as Google Play and the Apple App Store. If you go online to geico.com/claims, you get the option to either report a new claim or track an existing one.

While you may already know how to correctly handle a car accident, the site also provides information on how to file a claim with Geico for a glass-only claim or request roadside assistance.

Read more: What happens if I disagree with Geico’s decision on my car insurance claim?

The Most Important Information You Need to File a Geico Car Insurance Claim

The most important info you’ll need when filing your auto claim is your policy number, when and where the incident happened, and the details of what happened and the people involved.

You may also want to gather the following information:

• The state, city, and intersection or other landmarks near where the incident occurred
• The full name of any other parties involved
• The insurance information of others involved
• The date and time of day of the incident
• The damage your vehicle sustained

These are the basics when it comes to what you need to file a claim with Geico. Even if you can’t provide any other documentation, this can be enough to get the ball rolling.

Accident Documentation When Filing a Car Insurance Claim With Geico

Your goal when filing a claim is to give Geico an accurate picture of what happened. Without enough information, Geico may not be able to provide you with everything you need to get your vehicle back on the road again and get care for any injuries sustained.

This is particularly important if you have coverage with one of the best personal injury protection (PIP) car insurance companies, like Geico.

With that in mind, you should try gathering the following:

• Pictures of the damage sustained to your vehicle
• Photos or videos of the scene of the accident
• Information regarding the weather conditions at the time of the accident
• A police report of an officer that came to the scene after the incident
• The statements and contact information of anyone willing to serve as a witness on your behalf regarding what happened

Keep in mind that Geico can only act on what the company knows and can prove. By giving the company this information, you put it in a better position to give you what you deserve.

Read more: Can I track the progress of my car insurance claim with Geico?

What You Can Expect From Filing Your Geico Claim

Filing a claim is a relatively quick process. Your Geico agent may ask for you to give a recorded statement in the direct aftermath. It is important to not admit fault at any point during the process.

Here’s Geico’s overview of what happens after you file a claim:

After filing your claim, you can expect it to be processed within a month. What your settlement entails will depend on your insurance coverage. For better help understanding this, you can check our guide on car insurance coverage.

Your coverage will dictate what the settlement covers. Drivers with full coverage can expect more financial compensation than someone carrying just the bare minimum car insurance requirements of their state. Vehicular damages and medical expenses can be expensive, so read up on what to expect.

How to Work With Your Geico Car Insurance Claims Adjuster

If Geico assigns you a claims adjuster, you’re going to want to provide them with all the information they ask for, regardless of how much you’ve already submitted. For example, the adjuster may ask you to provide a written statement of what happened or request a police report. (For more information, read our article Do I need a police report to file a car insurance claim?).

It’s also not uncommon for the adjuster to ask for repair estimates, especially if you choose where to get your vehicle repaired after the incident.

The faster you provide this information, the quicker Geico can settle your claim. Often, an adjuster has no choice but to “check off the boxes” when it comes to the data needed to move a claim forward. Otherwise, they may not be able to move forward due to a lack of information. This can result in significant delays.

Effects of Geico Auto Insurance Claims

Will Geico raise my rates after a claim?

According to Geico, the effect of a Geico claim is that the provider won’t raise your rate if the at-fault accident is your first, if the accident isn’t your fault, or if the damage is less than $750.

Geico, like many of its competitors, has an accident forgiveness program, which pertains to your first at-fault accident. You can earn it, getting the upgrade for free, as long as you keep a clean driving record for at least five years.

You can also add it to your policy initially or at renewal time. It’s an affordable coverage, ranging from $1.25 to $5 monthly.

Read more: Will my insurance premium increase if I file a car insurance claim with Geico?

Accident forgiveness may not apply to under-21 drivers, since insurance providers inherently see them as higher-risk drivers in part because of their lack of driving experience.

Also, unfortunately, for drivers in California, accident forgiveness isn’t an option. Proposition 103, which passed in the state in 1988, outlaws “excessive” insurance rates, and accident forgiveness was deemed excessive as you’re essentially paying for coverage on an accident that hasn’t happened yet.

Accident forgiveness is also not available in Connecticut or Massachusetts.

Does your insurance go up after a claim that is not your fault? Under California law, an insurer cannot increase your premiums when you aren’t at fault. But that’s not the case in every state.

So while filing a claim doesn’t mean your insurance rate will automatically increase, you could still be seen as higher risk, fault or no-fault, especially if you have multiple claims. Your insurer could re-evaluate your driving record and offset your perceived higher risk with a rate increase, which would be a lesser increase if you were not at fault. 

This table shows what you can expect to pay after one accident if you don’t have accident forgiveness from Geico or other major insurers.

Full Coverage Car Insurance Monthly Rates for Clean Record vs. One Accident by Provider

You can see more about Geico’s rates in our Geico Insurance Review & Complaints.

Case Studies: Filing Claims With Geico

Case Study 1: John’s Accident

John was involved in a car accident and needed to file a claim with Geico. He made sure to gather all the necessary information from the other driver, including their contact details and insurance information. He also took photos of the accident scene and the damage to both vehicles.

John filed his Geico auto insurance claim online and provided all the required information. Geico processed his claim within a month, and John received a settlement based on his insurance coverage.

Case Study 2: Sarah’s Quick Claim

Sarah’s car was hit by another driver, and she needed to file a claim with Geico. She contacted Geico through their mobile app and provided the necessary details about the accident. Since there were no injuries and the damage was minor, Sarah didn’t need to file a police report.

She took photos of the damage and submitted them along with her claim. Geico settled her claim within a month, and Sarah received compensation for the repairs to her vehicle.

Case Study 3: Mike’s Comprehensive Coverage

Mike had Geico comprehensive coverage when his car was vandalized. He immediately reported the incident to the police and obtained a police report. Mike then filed a Geico vandalism claim,  providing the police report and photos of the vandalism as evidence.

Geico processed his claim and covered the cost of repairing the damage to his vehicle. Mike was pleased with the prompt settlement and the support he received from Geico throughout the process.

Read more about Geico being one of the best comprehensive car insurance companies.

The Last Word on How to File a Car Insurance Claim With Geico

Whether you prefer to use the Geico app, the online system, or the phone, the info you need to gather is the same. Take a little time to write down the details of the incident as best you can.

Also, in the immediate wake of an accident, it’s a good idea to gather the other person’s info, if applicable, and get a police report. With all of this in hand, you can increase your chances of enjoying a relatively smooth claims process with Geico.

We hope you now have the information you need on how to file a car insurance claim with Geico so you don’t need to waste time doing an online search on topics such as “geico file a claim” or “geico report a claim.

If you’re shopping for car insurance and looking for a Geico car insurance quote, as well as quotes from other major car insurance companies, use our easy online quote comparison tool. Simply enter your ZIP code to get started.