Install
Filing a Claim terms
The process, step by step.
BettermentA deduction an insurer takes when a repair replaces a worn part with a new one, leaving the car in better condition than before the loss.Claim numberThe unique reference an insurer assigns when a loss is reported, used to track every call, document and payment on that claim.Claim reserveMoney an insurer sets aside on its books to pay a claim it expects to settle, based on its estimate of the eventual cost.Claims adjusterThe insurance company employee or contractor who investigates a claim, decides what the policy covers and sets how much is paid.Direct repair programAn arrangement between an insurer and approved body shops that accept its pricing and procedures in exchange for referred repair work.First notice of lossThe first report to your insurer that a crash, theft or other loss has happened, which opens the claim and starts the clock on handling it.First-party claimA claim you make under your own insurance policy, such as collision, comprehensive, PIP or uninsured motorist coverage.Loss of useCompensation for not being able to use your car while it is repaired or replaced after a crash someone else caused, usually paid as a rental car.Third-party claimA claim you make against another driver's insurance for damage or injuries that driver caused, rather than against your own policy.