Home / Guides

Auto insurance claim denied or disputed

This page is about disputes with your insurer. It does not cover repair-shop disputes, lemon laws or towing; for those, see the independent Vehicle Rights Guide.

1. Ask for the decision and the policy provisions in writing; ask for any valuation or appraisal report.
2. Send a reconsideration letter with your estimates, photos and bills.
3. Check the policy for dispute steps such as appraisal and for any deadline to act.
4. If unresolved, file with your state insurance department. Arizona's department, as one example, says it can help with claims that are delayed, wrongly denied or unpaid, but cannot decide who was at fault in an accident or decide whose version of disputed facts is true.

Fault disputes with another driver's insurer are handled differently: you are not their customer, and your state department may not be able to help (Texas's page says it cannot help with complaints against another person's insurance company).