Filing a State Farm Claim in Yonkers: What Happens Next

General information, not legal advice. Insurance policies and state laws differ. Check your own policy, and for a legal question ask a licensed attorney or your state insurance department.

State Farm lets you start a claim the way that suits you: online, in the State Farm app, or on State Farm's claims line, 800-SF-Claim (800-732-5246), which State Farm says you can call anytime, day or night. State Farm then reviews the claim and gets the damage estimated, either from photos you take in its app or at a shop. Repairs can go to a Select Service shop or any shop you like. State Farm's own claims page says the choice of repair shop is yours.

This is an independent guide built from State Farm's own pages, and Fast Life Collisions is not affiliated with State Farm.

How do you start a State Farm claim?

State Farm gives three ways to file, plus your agent for questions:

• Online at statefarm.com.
• In the app: the State Farm mobile app, which you can also use to upload photos and documents.
• By phone on State Farm's claims line, 800-SF-Claim (800-732-5246), anytime.
• Your agent. State Farm suggests talking it over with your State Farm agent if you have questions.

State Farm asks for the date and time, the vehicles involved, what happened, what was damaged, and where it happened. After that, State Farm says it reviews your claim and tells you what happens next.

If another driver caused the crash, you can often claim on their insurer instead of your own. Your insurance or theirs compares the two, and how to file a car insurance claim covers what to collect at the scene.

How does State Farm estimate the damage?

You have two ways to get the number:

• Photo Estimate in the app. State Farm's repair page says the Photo Estimate tool guides you through photos of the damage to get an initial estimate and payout. Its claims page calls this virtual estimation: you capture images of the damage with your phone.
• At a shop. Schedule an appointment at a Select Service shop, or at any shop you like, to get the estimate. To use a shop outside Select Service, State Farm's repair page says to contact a claims associate at 800-SF-Claim (800-732-5246).

Note the word "initial." An estimate built on photos covers what the camera sees. State Farm says that if the shop finds additional damage related to your claim, it will work directly with the shop and pay the additional amount it owes. Shops call that a supplement; insurance vs. shop estimates explains how one gets approved.

One more line from State Farm is worth knowing: only you can authorize repairs to your vehicle. The shop needs your go-ahead, not just State Farm's.

What is State Farm Select Service, and is it required?

Select Service is State Farm's name for a network of auto body shops that have agreements with State Farm. According to State Farm, at a Select Service shop:

• You get an estimate and the repair, and State Farm pays the shop directly when the authorized repairs are complete.
• You pay your deductible, if any, to the shop.
• The shop gives you a guarantee of the completion date and what State Farm calls a "limited lifetime warranty," which it says is honored nationally.
• The shop can pick the car up and bring it back to you, if needed.

State Farm notes the program may not be available in all service areas, and it describes the warranty as coming from the shop. That is the catch for any shop outside the program: its warranty is whatever it puts in writing, so ask. See repair warranties.

Select Service is optional. State Farm says you can choose any shop you like and are free to select repairers that have no agreement with State Farm. Its repair page even carries a New York reminder that you have the right to select the repair facility of your choice.

There is one condition to keep in mind. State Farm also says you may be responsible for any amounts it has not agreed to, which can include storage fees and rental expenses. Before work starts at any shop, make sure State Farm has agreed to the estimate, and ask the shop in writing about storage charges.

Your right to choose a body shop and direct repair programs go deeper, and our insurance claims page lists other insurers' networks.

Does State Farm pay for a rental car?

If your policy has rental coverage, yes, within its limits. State Farm says it helps cover the cost of a rental while your car is in the shop when you have rental coverage, and you may be able to choose a replacement vehicle. Its coverage page ties the benefit to damage that would be payable under your comprehensive or collision coverage, with a daily limit and a limit for each loss.

State Farm lists what the coverage does not pay: gas, mileage, extra coverage, security deposits, and anything above your policy's limits. See rental car coverage after an accident for how this compares with a rental paid by an at-fault driver's insurer.

How does State Farm pay the claim?

State Farm's claims page offers three ways: it will pay the shop, direct-deposit the money into your account, or send you a check, "whatever works."

At a Select Service shop, the payment goes to the shop when the authorized repairs are done, and you hand the shop your deductible. With Photo Estimate, State Farm's repair page describes an initial estimate and payout sent directly to you. If a shop later finds more damage, State Farm says it works with that shop and pays the additional amount it owes.

If State Farm pays you and a different shop asks you to sign a direction to pay, read it before signing. What you sign at the body shop shows what to look for.

How fast does State Farm have to act?

State Farm says it works to resolve your claim as soon as possible, subject to your policy. New York puts firm limits on that for every licensed insurer, State Farm included.

What if you disagree with State Farm's estimate?

Ask your shop to document the difference with photos and its own estimate, and send it to your claim handler, copying your agent if you have one. Ask for a written reply on each item.

If you and State Farm still cannot agree on the amount, look for an appraisal clause in your policy. Many auto policies contain one: each side picks an appraiser, and an umpire decides what they cannot. The appraisal clause walks through it, and claim denied or lowballed covers other steps.

If you think State Farm is handling the claim unfairly, the state takes complaints.

State Farm claim dos and don'ts

The repair steps are the same at any shop; see collision repair.