Can auto insurance companies check your phone records? (2025 Insurance Rules)
Can auto insurance companies check your phone records? Companies can request to check your phone records during a claims investigation to see if you are at fault, but you may not have to comply unless there is a court order. Auto insurance rates for drivers with an at-fault accident start at $155/mo.
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Merriya Valleri is a skilled insurance writer with over a decade of professional writing experience. Merriya has a strong desire to make understanding insurance an easy task while providing readers with accurate and up-to-date information. Merriya has written articles focusing on health, life, and auto insurance. She enjoys working in the insurance field, and is constantly learning in order to ...
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Updated December 2024
Wondering can auto insurance companies check your phone records? You do not have to show phone records unless there is a court order.

Your car insurance company will request a lot of different information from you when you file a claim (Read More: How to File an Auto Insurance Claim). Claims adjusters will want to examine the damage, police reports, eyewitness statements, and more to determine if your insurance coverage applies, and that may include pulling your phone records.
Insurance can get a court order to track your phone logs for evidence if they have reason to believe you were distracted on the phone at the time of the accident.
Read on to explore what happens when insurance companies ask for phone records and how you can respond. Need to find a new insurance company after a claim? Enter your ZIP in our free quote finder.
- Insurance may attempt to pull phone records to investigate accident claims
- Unless you receive a court order, you don’t have to share your phone records
- If you’re confident that your records can’t be used against you, you’re free to comply
Why Auto Insurance Companies Ask to Check Phone Records
Wondering why would an insurance company ask for phone records? Generally, the only situation in which your auto insurance company should request your phone records is when you’ve had an accident and seek to file a claim.
If there is evidence that you were talking on the phone, sending text messages, or otherwise distracted, your insurance investigator may seek to confirm those facts in order to deny your claim. They may also request records if they suspect you're involved in any form of insurance fraud.Kristen Gryglik Licensed Insurance Agent
In many cities around the United States, it’s illegal to use a phone while driving. Drivers are expected to pull over to the side of the road to make a call or use a hands-free device. If your records show that you were talking on the phone while driving, it could hurt your claim or result in a denied claim.
Likewise, denied claims may occur due to suspected insurance fraud. Some insurance fraud examples would be lying about how an accident happened to migate fault or staging an accident.
Bear in mind that denied claims aren’t the only consequence. Drivers may also face higher rates if they get a ticket for reckless driving or are in an accident while on the phone.
Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Driving Record & Provider| Insurance Company | Clean Record | One Ticket | One Accident | One DUI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $120 | $145 | $180 | $210 | |
| $110 | $135 | $170 | $200 | |
| $115 | $140 | $175 | $215 | |
| $100 | $125 | $160 | $190 | |
![]() | $130 | $155 | $190 | $225 |
![]() | $105 | $130 | $165 | $195 |
| $120 | $150 | $185 | $220 | |
| $110 | $140 | $175 | $210 | |
| $125 | $150 | $180 | $215 | |
| $95 | $120 | $155 | $185 |
If your phone records result in being charged with a DUI, ticket, or at-fault accident, make sure to shop around for affordable, high-risk auto insurance.
Insurance Checking Your Phone Records When a Lawsuit Is Involved
Wondering why does my insurance company want my phone records? If you’re at fault in an accident, the other driver or injured party may file a lawsuit to seek damages (Learn More: At-Fault Accident Defined). Likewise, if the other driver was at fault, you might file a lawsuit. Either way, this gets the courts involved and increases the need for various forms of evidence to prove you were at fault for the accident.
The question is, do you have to show your phone records to your insurance company? If the courts request to pull your phone records, you will have to comply or risk being held in contempt. You will likely receive a written request for your phone records.
If needed, they can go around you and subpoena the phone records directly from your cellphone provider, so there’s no reason to resist the request. At this stage, you might want to consider hiring an attorney to help you navigate the situation.
Legal Requirements for Providing Phone Records to the Insurance Company
If you’re asking, “Do I have to provide phone records to my insurance company?” The answer is not necessarily. If your insurance is asking for phone records, that doesn’t mean you are required to turn over the logs. Typically, unless there has been a lawsuit against you, you don’t have to comply with the request.
In fact, it may be in your best interest not to turn over your phone records unless you’re legally required to do so. Remember, your insurance company will happily find a reason to deny your claim, and your phone records may be sufficient — even if you didn’t do anything wrong. Your auto insurance company can sue you, and that might change things.
Read More: Can my auto insurance company sue me?
Note that it’s important to review your insurance policy documents, too. In some cases, your insurance agreement may include language requiring you to turn over phone records upon request. In that case, you’d have to comply regardless of a court order.
What To Do When an Insurance Company Asks for Phone Records
If an insurance company does ask for your phone records, the first thing you should do is clarify why they need the information. It’s best to request that they provide their reasons in writing. This gives you the documentation you’ll need if you have to argue that your records were used inappropriately and dispute a claim outcome(Learn More: How to Dispute an Auto Insurance Claim).
You can also ask for a revision of the insurer’s request. For example, if you think they’re looking at too broad a time period, you can ask to provide more limited records that relate only to when the accident occurred.
At this point, you must decide whether to provide the records or deny the request. Again, as long as the court isn’t involved and your policy doesn’t require it, you don’t have to provide phone records to your insurance company. However, if you’re confident there’s no evidence to deny your claim, you’re free to turn over your phone logs.
Knowing Your Rights When Auto Insurance Asks for Phone Records
If an insurance company gets your phone records — whether from you or through the courts — it can’t deny your claim without due cause. You can take steps to challenge a claim denial if you feel you’ve been treated unfairly. Consider reporting your insurance company to the state insurance department or filing a lawsuit against the company (Read More: When to Take Your Auto Insurance Company to Court).
Before it comes to that point, though, be sure you know your rights when an insurance company comes asking for your phone records.
You should consider shopping around to get an insurer that will provide favorable rates after an accident. Enter your zip code above to begin finding the best rate for coverage today!

Frequently Asked Questions
Can insurance companies check your phone records?
Yes, auto insurance companies have the ability to access and check your phone records under certain circumstances. However, it is important to note that this practice may vary depending on your jurisdiction and the specific insurance company policies.
Why would an insurance company ask for phone records?
Auto insurance companies may be interested in checking your phone records for various reasons. One common scenario is when investigating an auto accident claim. They may want to determine if distracted driving, such as using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle, was a factor in the accident.
Phone records can provide evidence of calls, text messages, or app usage during the time of the incident. If your auto insurance has increased after an accident, shop for affordable coverage today with our free quote tool.
How do auto insurance companies obtain access to my phone records?
Auto insurance companies typically obtain access to your phone records through a legal process, which may involve obtaining a court order, a subpoena, or your consent. The specific procedures and requirements can vary depending on local auto insurance laws and regulations.
Do auto insurance companies check every policyholder’s phone records?
Auto insurance companies generally do not check the phone records of every policyholder routinely. Phone record checks are typically conducted on a case-by-case basis, usually in situations where there is suspicion of distracted driving or when investigating an accident claim.
Are there any privacy concerns related to auto insurance companies checking phone records?
Privacy concerns can arise when auto insurance companies check phone records. However, these concerns are usually addressed by legal safeguards and regulations that govern how companies handle personal information. It is important to review your insurance company’s privacy policy to understand how they handle and protect your data.
Can insurance companies track your phone?
Wondering can insurance investigators track your phone? Insurance companies can listen to phone calls and read text messages, but they must have your consent to do so. Insurance companies must also have permission to track your phone for usage-based insurance programs, such as State Farm Drive Safe and Save (Learn More: State Farm Drive Safe and Save Review).
Can I refuse to provide my phone records to my auto insurance company?
Whether you can refuse to provide your phone records to your auto insurance company depends on the specific circumstances and the laws of your jurisdiction. However, it’s worth noting that refusing to cooperate with an insurance company’s investigation may have consequences, such as delaying the claims process or potentially having your claim denied.
Consulting with a legal professional or contacting your local insurance regulator can provide you with more specific guidance based on your situation.
Can insurance companies tap your phone?
Insurance companies cannot legally tap your phone, which includes listening to your calls or reading your messages, without explicit permission or a legal warrant. So you don’t need to worry about can insurance investigators tap your phone, as they can’t do so without permission.
Can insurance companies check your driving record?
Insurance companies can see your driving record history as part of the process of issuing or renewing auto insurance policies (Learn More: How Auto Insurance Companies Check Driving Records).
Do insurance companies record calls?
Insurance companies often record phone calls, but they do this primarily for customer service, training, and quality assurance purposes. Curious do insurance companies record every call? Insurance companies often record many of their calls, especially those involving customer service, claims, and sales.
Can insurance companies read your text messages?
Do insurance companies share information about claims?
How long do insurance companies keep recorded phone calls?
Can an insurance company pull your phone records?
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Can my phone records be subpoenaed without my knowledge?
Do phone records show text messages?
How do insurance companies decide who is at fault?
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How do insurance companies track your driving?
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How do insurance companies investigate car accidents?
Can an insurance claim be canceled if I refuse to provide my phone records?
How long does an insurance company have to investigate a claim?
Who can access my phone records?
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What can be found in phone records?
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How can I hide my phone records?
Can someone check my phone history?
How do you know if someone is recording your call?
Is there an app that records all phone activity?
Can deleted call logs be recovered?
How can I check phone records online?
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