There are many car insurance customers who pay for their car insurance decade after uneventful decade--never having that fateful accident that they are protecting themselves against. Then, there are those who have the occasional accident every few years and are grateful they have that insurance policy. Lastly, there are those accident-prone people who seem to schedule accidents as regularly as they do hair appointments.

No matter what type of car insurance customer you are, there are many things you need to know about auto insurance claims before you file one.

• Is it in your best interest to file one? If you are in a small fender bender, it might benefit you to pay out of your own pocket for the repair expenses rather than file a claim with your car insurance company. Why? Well, your rates might increase for years after filing the claim, and that rate increase could equal more money than just paying for the repairs yourself.
• When should you file the claim? Once you have decided to file a claim, you need to do it immediately. Many insurers conduct interviews with the parties involved in the accidents, and these interviews need to be done relatively soon after the accident. Additionally, it begins to look suspicious if you wait too long.
• When can I get my car repaired after filing an auto insurance claim? Once you find out that your claim has been approved, you can begin the process of getting your car repaired.