What should I do if my car has been damaged by a windstorm, tornado, hail, fire or flood? Am I covered?

If you have comprehensive coverage, you’ll be covered for the cost of repairs.

What should I do if the damage to my car is minor and it’s still drivable?

  1. Take your car to a body shop and get an estimate.
  2. Decide if you want to make a claim or absorb the cost yourself, based on the estimate compared to the amount of your deductible.
  3. Call us or the insurance company we placed you with to start a claim.

What should I do if the damage to my car is major and not drivable?

  1. Be safe, don’t try to drive it if you’re not sure if the car is drivable.
  2. Don’t try to clear debris by yourself.
  3. Call the police or fire department, to make sure the area is safe.
  4. Call us or the insurance company we placed you with to start a claim.
  5. Call a tow truck to take your car to a body shop.

Quick tip: Should I make a claim?

It’s a known fact that certain things like an at-fault accident or traffic ticket will cause you to pay more when you renew your car insurance. But even if you didn’t do anything wrong, you should always think carefully about whether or not you want to file a claim, especially for minor damage to your car or home.

Although insurance companies can’t technically increase your premium for making a claim for a not-at-fault accident, theft, fire or weather damage, multiple small claims could cause you to lose a claims-free discount, your insurer could limit coverage and/or increase your deductible.

In extreme cases, say if you make 3 or more small claims in a short period of time, your insurer may even refuse to renew your policy. If you have $700 damage and a $500 deductible, paying the extra $200 yourself may be well worth it to keep the claim off your record, especially if you’ve made other claims recently.

Ask Adam Special: To Claim or Not to Claim

Who’s going to fix my car?

If you have a tow truck company or repair shop you trust, the insurance company we placed you with will usually say its ok to use them for repairs. If you don’t already have a shop you trust, there are some advantages to using one of your insurance companies certified tow truck companies, body or repair shops, car rental agencies, and more.

Preferred Vendors

If you don’t have a trusted body shop, there are some advantages to bringing your car to a shop that’s on your insurance company’s list of certified repair shops. Here’s a few benefits to you:

  1. A quicker claim. You car will be fixed and back to you sooner when your insurance company and repair shop have established processes.
  2. The price is the price. There’s no double checking of estimates when you use your insurance company’s certified shops.
  3. The repairs are guaranteed. If something fails later, the insurance company will pay to have it fixed.

If you have a claim, call us at 1-800-731-2228, or email us at claims@nullmitchinsurance.com. We’re here to help you with the claims process if you need help.