Can I cancel an auto insurance claim after filing it? (2025 Coverage Rules)

Can I cancel an auto insurance claim after filing it? Yes, you can cancel the claim as long as you weren’t at fault in an accident with another driver (Read More: At-Fault Accident Defined).

If you’ve recently been in an accident but then decided to cover the damage from your own pocket instead, you might be unsure if you can now cancel the auto insurance claim. You’re probably also wondering what happens when you withdraw a car insurance claim and whether it will still show on your record.

In this article, we will explain how to cancel a claim after you have previously filed it and how this will affect your insurance premium. Ready to start comparing auto insurance rates? Take a minute to start your search for the best auto insurance rates by entering your ZIP code.

When You Can Cancel an Insurance Claim After Filing One

A top question readers ask is, “Can you cancel a car insurance claim after it has been filed?” Yes, most car insurance companies will allow you to cancel an insurance claim you previously filed.

You may want to cancel a claim if there is only minor damage like a small dent (Read More: Does auto insurance cover car dents?). In these cases, the claim payout may be less than the amount you would pay with your auto insurance deductible or the rate increases for filing a claim.

Your insurance company does require you to report any accident, whether you’re at fault or not. However, once you’ve filed a claim, you can cancel it at any time, regardless of your reasons. You can even cancel the claim after having received the check — that is, as long as you haven’t cashed it.

However, if the accident was your fault and someone has filed a claim against you, you won’t be able to cancel such a claim. You will have to go through the entire investigation to determine fault.

How to Cancel an Auto Insurance Claim

Now that you know the answer to, “Can I cancel a car insurance claim?” we’ll help you figure out how to cancel your claim. The first thing you should do is give your insurance agent a call. If you filed the claim yourself and the incident is still under investigation, you should be able to cancel the claim immediately.

If you have already received the insurance check, it will take a few days for the company to receive the check after you mail it back, but once the check is received your claim should be canceled promptly.

Learn More: Will my auto insurance claim check be made out to me?

What happens when you withdraw an insurance claim? The canceled claim will still show on your insurance file, but it will be registered as a withdrawn or a zero-dollar claim. Usually, there is no cancellation fee, and some companies will offer to cancel your claim online.

Situations Where You Can’t Withdraw an Auto Insurance Claim

There are two situations when you won’t be allowed to cancel a claim. Firstly, if you were the person who caused the accident and the claim has been filed against you, you have no power over canceling such a claim. Unless you are settling the accident without insurance, you have no control over their claim against you (Read More: How to Settle a Car Accident Without Auto Insurance).

The second situation is if you’ve already cashed in the reimbursement check you’ve received from your insurance company. In this case, give your insurance agent a call and ask if the company would be willing to cancel the claim if you return the received funds. Now that you know when you can’t remove a claim from car insurance, we’ll talk about how it affects rates.

How Canceling a Claim Impacts Car Insurance Rates

If you’ve been wondering, “Can you cancel a claim with insurance after it’s filed?” you might also be curious how canceling a claim affects your rates.

Filing an insurance claim will increase your risk profile and insurance rates. You will also probably lose your safe driver cashback or no-claims bonus if you previously had them (Learn More: How to Get a No-Claim Bonus (NCB) Auto Insurance Discount). This is the most common reason for canceling auto insurance claims.

Auto Insurance Discounts for Good Drivers & No Claims

So, will my insurance go up if I cancel a claim? Canceling your claim means that the insurance company has no reason to increase your risk profile since there were no funds spent on your payout. Therefore, even though the claim will still show on record, your rates will stay the same.

Also, if you decide to switch insurance companies, your new provider will see the canceled claim on file and will be able to give you a better rate intended for low-risk drivers.

Deciding When to Cancel an Auto Insurance Claim

Can you file a claim and then cancel it? Always think twice before canceling an insurance claim, but you can cancel in most cases. Filing an insurance claim is not an easy process, but if you change your mind about claiming your expenses, you can usually cancel it unless you are an at-fault driver with a claim filed against you.

The sooner you let your insurance company know that you wish to cancel your claim, the quicker the process will be. Speaking directly to your insurance agent is the best course of action so that you can be familiar with the specific terms of your policy.

And if you are not happy with the provided terms, don’t be hesitant to shop around for car insurance and find the best auto insurance companies for your needs. Before you go, take a moment to search for the best auto insurance quotes now by entering your ZIP code.