Car insurance claim time limits are set by each state government, so the rules vary depending on where you live. Read this guide on car insurance claim time limits to learn more.

Written by Jason Tushinski

Reviewed by Kathleen Flear

Updated on Mar 23, 2023

Table of Contents

How long to wait
Car insurance claim time limits
Reporting to the police
Shop with Jerry
FAQs

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The time limit for filing a claim for car insurance varies by state, with a range of between a year to as long as a decade. Time limits can also vary by jurisdiction within states for different types of claims, such as

comprehensive

injury damage

claims.

Hopefully, you’ll never need to file a car insurance claim and are destined for a life of safe, accident-free driving. But even still, you need

car insurance

to protect you just in case you’re involved in a collision and need to file a claim.

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Of course, if you ever do have to file a claim, Jerry is there for you. Here’s what you need to know about car insurance claim time limits.

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How long to wait before filing a lawsuit or a claim

If you’re set on filing a claim, you must do so within your state’s statute of limitations, or the time allotted to file a claim. Every state has different rules, so it is best to ask your insurer what the time limits are in the state where you live.

Keep in mind, your insurer may tell you to file your claim as soon as possible—but this is not a hard and fast rule.

Sometimes, injuries or damage take weeks, months, or sometimes years to reveal themselves. So long as you file within your state’s allotted time limits, you should be able to proceed with your claim.

MORE:

When should you not make a car insurance claim?

Key Takeaway Statutes of limitations vary between states, so check with your insurer about the time limits for filing a claim in your state.

Filing a claim may be harder if you wait too long

Insurers may raise a suspicious eyebrow about claims filed long after an accident, even if injuries or damage to your car took time to appear.

If you file a claim well after an accident took place but still within your state’s statute of limitations, be prepared to answer some questions about why you’re filing at that particular moment in time. If your insurer doubts the veracity of your story, they’ll likely deny your claim—waiting too long to file is one of the most common reasons claims get denied.

Car insurance claim time limits

If you’re filing a bodily injury claim, there is typically a time limit to abide by. That being said, there may be different time limits if you're filing a claim for:

Property damage to another car

Collision damage for your car

Comprehensive damage (from vandalism, theft, or weather) to your car

Here’s a breakdown of those insurance claim time limits for each state:

State	Bodily Injury	Property/Collision/Comprehensive Damage
Alabama	2 years	2 years
Alaska	2 years	2 years
Arizona	2 years	2 years
Arkansas	3 years	3 years
California	2 years	2 years
Colorado	3 years	3 years
Connecticut	2 years	2 years
Delaware	2 years	2 years
Florida	4 years	4 years
Georgia	2 years	4 years
Hawaii	2 years	2 years
Idaho	2 years	2 years
Illinois	2 years	5 years
Indiana	2 years	2 years
Iowa	2 years	5 years
Kansas	1 year	2 years
Kentucky	1 year	2 years
Louisiana	1 year	1 year
Maine	6 years	6 years
Maryland	3 years	3 years
Massachusetts	3 years	3 years
Michigan	3 years	3 years
Minnesota	6 years	6 years
Mississippi	3 years	3 years
Missouri	5 years	5 years
Montana	3 years	2 years
Nebraska	4 years	4 years
Nevada	1 year	1 year
New Hampshire	3 years	3 years
New Jersey	2 years	6 years
New Mexico	3 years	4 years
New York	3 years	3 years
North Carolina	3 years	3 years
North Dakota	2 years	2 years
Ohio	2 years	2 years
Oklahoma	2 years	2 years
Oregon	2 years	6 years
Pennsylvania	2 years	2 years
Rhode Island	3 years	10 years
South Carolina	3 years	3 years
South Dakota	3 years	3 years
Tennessee	1 year	3 years
Texas	2 years	2 years
Utah	4 years	3 years
Vermont	3 years	3 years
Virginia	2 years	5 years
Washington	3 years	3 years
Washington D.C.	3 years	3 years
West Virginia	2 years	2 years
Wisconsin	3 years	3 years
Wyoming	4 years	4 years

Keep in mind, you’ll have to file a claim under your

collision

personal injury protection (PIP)

policy before filing a claim against an at-fault driver within a

no-fault state

If you end up suffering long-term or prolonged injuries and your treatment costs are more than your policy provides coverage for, you can then pursue the at-fault driver—even in a no-fault state.

Key Takeaway Waiting to file a claim can make things more complicated and you may have to answer some questions from your insurance company.

MORE:

Does a no-fault accident go on your record?

How long should you wait before reporting an accident to the police?

How much time you’ve got to report a collision to the police varies on a state-to-state basis. Most states make it mandatory to report any accident in which there is bodily injury involved or there is property damage assessed upwards of $2,000.

Still, it's a good rule of thumb to report any accident as soon as possible to the police. This is because insurers use police reports as evidence in assessing who is at fault in an accident.

The following list offers time restrictions for each state when it comes to reporting an accident to the police. If your state requires immediate reporting, that typically means you’ll be calling from the collision scene.

State	Time Limit
Alabama	30 days
Alaska	10 days
Arizona	Immediately
Arkansas	30 days for filing motor vehicle accident report, 90 days for providing your proof of insurance
California	10 days
Colorado	Immediately
Connecticut	Immediately
Delaware	Immediately
Florida	10 days
Georgia	Immediately
Hawaii	Immediately
Idaho	Immediately
Illinois	10 days
Indiana	Immediately
Iowa	Immediately
Kansas	Immediately
Kentucky	10 days
Louisiana	Immediately
Maine	Immediately
Maryland	15 days
Massachusetts	5 days
Michigan	Immediately
Minnesota	10 days
Mississippi	Immediately
Missouri	30 days
Montana	Immediately
Nebraska	10 days
Nevada	Immediately
New Hampshire	15 days
New Jersey	Immediately
New Mexico	Immediately
New York	5 days
North Carolina	Immediately
North Dakota	Immediately
Ohio	6 months
Oklahoma	Immediately
Oregon	3 days
Pennsylvania	5 days
Rhode Island	21 days
South Carolina	15 days
South Dakota	Immediately
Tennessee	20 days
Texas	10 days
Utah	Immediately
Vermont	5 days
Virginia	Immediately
Washington	4 days
West Virginia	5 days
Wisconsin	Immediately
Wyoming	10 days

MORE:

Can I make a claim on my car insurance six months after the damage was done?

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Frequently asked questions

Is there a time limit to claim on car insurance?

Yes, there are different time limits—or statutes of limitations—in every state. The time limits often vary depending on whether you’re filing a claim for bodily injury versus a collision, comprehensive, or property damage claim.

The time limits for each state are listed in the table above for your reference.

How long does an auto insurance company have to settle a claim?

Most states require that claims be settled between 30 and 45 days, but certain types of claims may take longer to settle. For example, a personal injury claim with significant medical bills will usually take longer to settle than a minor property damage claim.

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