If your home or vehicle has been damaged, AAA is here to help. The following resources will help you know what to expect now and throughout the insurance claim process.
For claims assistance, call 800.922.8228
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Auto insurance claims
As a AAA Auto Insurance policyholder with comprehensive auto coverage, you are eligible to be paid for damage caused to your vehicle by something other than a collision, like wildfire, hail, a fallen tree or water. Your deductible — the amount of your claim for which you may be responsible — may apply to this claim. This amount may be subtracted from your offer of payment.
First steps after you’ve confirmed the damage to your vehicle:
Start your auto insurance claim
Start your claim by phone or in person. Please be prepared to provide basic information about your vehicle. Your Claims Representative will review your coverage with you, explain your deductible and answer your questions. You’ll receive the necessary paperwork to complete your claim, followed by a one-time payment. Talk with your Claims Representative about how you prefer to receive this payment.
Arrange transportation, if needed
If needed, your Claims Representative will assist you with the reservation of a rental vehicle or other transportation. Transportation expense coverages include costs such as rental cars and on-demand ride-sharing services, as well as other types of public transportation. AAA has preferred relationships with Hertz and Lyft.
Home insurance claims
From a small water leak, to the loss of your home, when life's uncertainties happen, we are here to help. When you file a claim, there are a few things that will happen right away.
When you file a claim, we will do the following:
Assign a Claims Representative to assist you through the process.*
Help you secure alternative housing, if needed.
Review your coverage with you and process any advance payments.
* We try to minimize changing the Claims Representative assigned to assist you, but there are times when we need to balance workloads to provide you with the best service. If a change occurs, all notes and documents pertaining to your claim will be shared so that everyone assisting with your claim has the same information.
The first 5 steps of a AAA home insurance claim:
Contact us to start your claim
Understand your coverage
Schedule a property inspection
Decide if you want to rebuild
Work with your claims rep
What to expect after a wildfire
If you have experienced the loss of your home from a wildfire, AAA is here to help. Your Claims Professional will help you through the following stages of the home insurance claims process:
Stage 1: Evacuation and confirmation of home loss
Estimated timeline: 0-4 weeks*
Depending on the nature of the wildfire, you may be displaced for some time. Once you are safe, start your claim and work to determine the condition of your property. Remember to take care of yourself during this difficult time.
Stage 2: Evaluations and estimates
Estimated timeline: 1-6 months*
You will work closely with your Claims Representative and others to verify the value of your home, other structures and/or personal property that was damaged. You will start to receive payments after initial estimates are made.
Stage 3: Rebuild, purchase or receive payment
Timeline varies based on decision*
You will eventually decide whether to rebuild your home, purchase another home or receive an offer of payment. The duration of your claim and the payments you receive will be impacted by your decision.
*Timelines and sequences of events are estimates only and vary by individual claim.
Claims FAQ
Get answers to frequently asked questions about home and auto insurance claims
You may have received a copy of your policy declarations page. This document summarizes the types of coverages you have.
We will settle your claim based on the market value of your vehicle just before it was damaged. Market value represents the dollar amount you could expect to receive if you sold the vehicle just prior to the incident. To arrive at the market value of your vehicle, we consult with a computerized automobile valuation service that determines the market values of comparable automobiles within your geographic area.
If you have personal property in your vehicle and you can retrieve it, please do so after filing your claim. We will arrange to dispose of your vehicle for you.
Consider getting professional help with your taxes to make sure you take advantage of any tax deductions and credits eligible to you as a result of your loss. In addition, contact your local government about lowering your property tax assessments.
Some people elect to “outsource” the process of working with the insurance company to a public adjuster and/or attorney, who you pay to represent you. Please know that they may take a percentage of your proceeds, which you might have received anyway. Take your time and always read any contract that you sign.
Until we have had the opportunity to inspect your property, please do not start the cleanup process.
Your Claims Representative will calculate your repair or rebuild estimate based on the condition of your home prior to the damage. He or she will work with a qualified, licensed contractor to ensure that all damages are taken into account and the estimate is in keeping with standard repair costs in your area.
Once the inspection, repair and rebuild estimate have been completed, please share it with potential contractors to ensure the contractor is bidding on the same work that we have determined to be covered by your policy. Once you determine which contractor you will be using, your Claims Representative can work with them on the next steps. At your request, your Claims Representative will refer you to our Network Resource Program of licensed, bonded and insured contractors—but the decision about whom you contract with for repairs is up to you.
Selecting the right contractor is critical. Consider these tips:
- Verify contractor insurance and licenses. Make sure that any contractor you hire is licensed and bonded, and has a valid local business license.
- Check references. Remember to get multiple local references for any contractor under consideration, and contact those references to verify the work was completed on time and up to code.
- Never pay upfront. Pay for the work in installments, as the phases of the job are completed. Avoid paying with cash, and instead use a check or credit card. Most importantly, verify that the work is complete before paying all the invoices. Never pay a contractor in full, or sign a completion certificate, until you are satisfied with the job.
- Get a written contract. Always get a detailed written contract that clearly states everything the contractor will do, including prices for labor, materials and permits. Make sure the contract includes clean-up procedures (if you are not participating in a government program), estimated start and finish dates, and the payment schedule. Don’t be pressured into signing a contract right away, and never sign a contract with blanks that can be filled in later by the contractor.
Yes. Your mortgage company is an important partner in this process.
No. Insurance only helps you rebuild a home similar to the one you lost. You have the option to make upgrades at your own cost.
If you are required to make code upgrades, talk to your Claims Representative.
We will need your assistance capturing the types of items that were in your home at the time of the event, and that are damaged or destroyed. We may utilize a vendor that will assist you with compiling your inventory. If so, the vendor representative will be in contact with you to determine the most convenient method (electronic or paper) to document the items, and will answer questions for you along the way.
The amount you will receive is based on the actual cash value of your items at the time of loss. For example, an insured couch you own might cost $1,000 brand-new today, but if it’s been owned for five years, it has depreciated by $400—so the actual cash value is $600.
If you have purchased the replacement cost option, which appears on your policy, you may be eligible for reimbursement once you have replaced the item. Your Claims Representative will confirm if you have this additional option, and will provide a more detailed explanation of the coverage and process.
Your policy provides coverage for alternate accommodations, subject to your available limits for temporary housing. Your Claims Representative will be able to support you in finding those accommodations. Your declaration page will also confirm your available loss of use limits.
Additional living expenses include necessary and reasonable costs above and beyond your normal cost of living incurred by you so that your household can maintain its normal standard of living.
The following are examples of items that could increase your reasonable living expenses temporarily:
- Restaurant meals made necessary by damage to your kitchen, or if you are staying in a hotel that does not have cooking facilities
- The cost of alternate accommodations, such as a hotel or rental unit
- Increased household costs for furniture rental, laundry, etc.
