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Business auto claims

Being in an auto accident can be stressful. Filing an auto insurance claim shouldn’t be.

File a business auto claim
File a glass claim
Find a repair shop
To file a claim by phone, call 1-800-421-3535.
To track a claim, log in.

What to do – and not do – after an accident

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If anyone is injured, call 9-1-1 immediately. Otherwise, contact the police department to file an accident report. Try to stay calm and focused.

Call us at 1-800-421-3535 or start your claim online.

Gather contact and insurance information from those involved. Collect witness names and numbers.

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From a safe spot, photograph any damage. Don’t offer an opinion regarding who was at fault for the accident.

Discuss accident details only with the police or your insurance agent. Don’t leave the scene until instructed by police.

If your vehicle was hauling product, also file a property claim.

If one of your employees is involved, be sure to gather their information.

Other auto insurance claims

  • Vandalism

    If your business vehicle has been vandalized

    At the scene

    • Call police at a non-emergency number to report the incident. Although most vehicle vandalism is random, if you believe yours is a result of harassment or revenge, provide that information to police including potential suspects.
    • If there are witnesses, collect their contact information.

    Secure your vehicle and its contents

    • Make sure your vehicle is safe to drive. If your vehicle is towed, remove your registration, insurance card, credit cards and personal belongings. Also, remove your house or office keys from your key ring or fob.
    • Don't attempt to clean up or repair any damage until a claims associate has made a full assessment. (In the case of rain, take necessary measures to keep your interior dry.)
    • Save receipts for any materials you buy to protect your vehicle for possible reimbursement.

    Document the damage

    • If the police don't come to the scene, take pictures of the damage from every angle to help document your claim. It also is helpful if you have fairly current pictures of your vehicle before the vandalism, in case there's any question of when the damage happened.
    • Document any items that were stolen or damaged and locate receipts, if possible.
    Safeguard your fleet from vandals

    Park vehicles inside

    Park under lights

    Install alarms

    Hide valuables

  • Accident with an animal

    What to do after you hit an animal in your business vehicle

    • Pull to the side of the road.
    • If anyone is injured, call 9-1-1 immediately and try to remain calm and focused.
    • Turn on your hazard lights or use flares to warn other drivers.
    • Don’t approach the injured animal. Wait for authorities.
    • Report the accident to police. (Some states have laws about leaving the scene of an animal-related accident.)
    • From a safe location, photograph the scene and any damage to your vehicle.
    Tips to avoid hitting animals

    Stay alert on 2-lane roads

    Use high beams at night

    Don’t swerve to avoid hitting a deer

  • Hail damage

    If you’re caught in a hail storm

    • Help protect your vehicle by seeking shelter under an overpass or in a structure with a strong roof. Or pull to the side of the road and cover your face with clothing to protect it from possible broken glass.
    • From a safe spot, photograph any damage.
    • Cover any broken windows to protect your vehicle from any further damage from the elements.

    Repairing hail damage

    There are generally 2 methods to repair hail damage to vehicles:
    • Paintless Dent Removal (PDR). Special molded tools are used on the underside of the vehicle panels to push out and smooth dents, so the painted surface is not disturbed. Generally, repairs may take only a few days. PDR is not effective on large dents or extensive damage by hail.
    • Conventional vehicle repair. Working mostly on the exterior of the vehicle, dents are pulled out and irregularities filled in with a body filler While the method is most effective on deep dents, repair time is generally longer because the repaired area must be primed and repainted.

    Your claims associate and body shop you selected can recommend which method is best suited to repair the damage to your vehicle.

    Addressing large-scale hail damage

    In the event of a major hail storm, we may send our Automated Mobile Hail Estimating units to an area where large numbers of members’ vehicles have been damaged.

    The mobile units use high-definition cameras to scan the dents and generate a highly accurate damage report within minutes.
  • Auto theft

    What to do if your vehicle is stolen

    • Call the police to file a report. They’ll likely add your information to national theft databases that will make it harder for the thief to sell or re-title your vehicle.
    • Give police the location of the theft, as well as a description of your vehicle and license plate number. If possible, include your vehicle identification (VIN) and registration numbers.
    • Let police know if your vehicle has a device that helps track and recover a stolen vehicle through GPS. Popular services include LoJack®, OnStar® and Safety Connect®.

    Locate and secure your title. If your vehicle is leased or financed, also alert the lender or leasing company.
    Tips to help deter car thieves

    Always lock your car

    Park in a well-lighted area

    Get an alarm system

    Hide any valuable

Starting a claim

Although all insurance claims may be different, our commercial auto claims process is designed to handle each one promptly, professionally and with minimal inconvenience to you and your business.

You may start your claim online or by calling us at 1-800-421-3535.

You’ll be assigned a claims associate to guide you through the claims process and answer any questions.

Your claims associate will:
  • Gather facts about the accident
  • Explain coverages in your policy and your deductible
  • Help schedule an inspection of your vehicle
  • Arrange for a rental vehicle if needed
  • Review your commercial auto insurance policy and explain the coverage that applies

Arranging for repairs

You have the option to choose the type of facility that best fits your business's needs for an estimate or repair:

If you choose one of our On Your Side repair facilities, you'll receive fast, seamless service. We work directly with these pre-screened, pre-qualified facilities to streamline estimates, repairs and payments.

If you already have a repair estimate, you can mail, email or fax it to your Nationwide claims associate. If the claim qualifies, we also can work directly with your repair facility. Even if it’s not in our Auto Repair Network.

If your work vehicle is totaled

If your vehicle is a total loss, your claims associate will work closely with you throughout the process. We work with a third party to determine the actual cash value of your vehicle. You’ll receive a vehicle valuation report.

Settling your claim

Once your vehicle is repaired or determined to be a total loss, you and your business receive payment and your claim will be settled, minus any applicable deductible.

You may choose to have the payment direct-deposited into a bank account or a check mailed to you.

If you still have questions about filing a Nationwide commercial auto claim, please read our business auto claims FAQs.
Need to file a personal claim? Visit the personal claims center. Or call us at 1-800-421-3535.

Each claim is handled on the basis of its individual facts and circumstances, in accordance with policy language, including applicable exclusions, conditions and limitations, as well as applicable controlling law.