After a car accident in Texas, your vehicle may need to head to the shop for repairs (or worse, if your car is totaled, you may need to shop around for a new one altogether). During this in-between time, you’re going to need a rental car to get to and from all the places you need to go on a daily basis. That said, the timeline for getting a rental car will vary depending on factors like who was at fault in the accident and how fast the insurance claim gets processed.

When this process is prolonged, it can be incredibly frustrating. If you’re waiting for an insurance company like Geico to approve your rental car, you may be wondering what you can do to get Geico to move faster.

Here are some things you can try to speed up the rental car process after an accident in Texas. If you have questions or need any help keeping the process moving along, call our office at (512) 457-8991.

File Your Claim Immediately

Insurance companies like Geico can’t approve a rental car until a claim has been opened. The sooner you report the accident to them, the sooner the process for getting a rental car can begin.

Speak Directly with Your Adjuster

Often insurance companies have online portals for reporting car accidents. Once you’ve initiated a claim, pick up the phone and call your assigned adjuster. Be polite yet persistent in asking about your rental car timeline. Don’t hesitate to follow up frequently to keep the case moving.

Review Your Insurance Policy for Rental Coverage

If you have rental reimbursement coverage on your insurance policy, you can often get a rental car immediately, even if liability hasn’t been established yet. Double-check your policy to see if you have coverage and what the daily and total limit is.

Promptly Provide Documentation

Just as you should file the claim as soon as possible, you should also ensure that Geico has everything they need from you in terms of documentation to process the claim. This may include the police report number, photos of vehicle damage, and contact information for the other driver, among other required documentation. Don’t let something small like forgetting to supply documentation hold up your rental car approval.

What if Geico Still Won’t Move Quickly?

If you’re facing long delays, poor communication, or denied rental authorizations that you believe are valid, you still have options. Perhaps the simplest one is to speak with a car accident lawyer. Our team at McKinney Vos can step in and streamline the entire claims process so you don’t have to carry the burden of going it alone.

Contact our Austin office today if you’ve been involved in a car accident or hit-and-run. We offer free case evaluations to discuss your situation and get you on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.