Another important part of the claims process is understanding your auto insurance policy and what it covers. Here are some things to know or ask about when filing a car insurance claim:

Your deductible.

When you purchased car insurance, you selected deductibles for certain coverages, such as collision or comprehensive coverage. Make sure you know how much your deductible is — it's the amount you'll have to pay out of pocket toward repairs to your vehicle before insurance coverage kicks in.

For example, say you have a $500 collision coverage deductible and the damage to your vehicle totals $1,500. Your deductible will be subtracted from your covered claim, and your insurance company would pay $1,000 for repairs.

Transportation expense coverage.

If your car insurance policy includes transportation expense coverage (sometimes known as rental reimbursement coverage), it may help pay for a rental car or other forms of transportation while your car is being repaired. Ask your insurer for details on how you'll be reimbursed, especially before you drive a rental car off the lot. You should also confirm your policy's coverage limits (for example, your insurer may provide up to $30 per day for a rental car for a certain amount of time).

How long you have to submit a claim.

It's a good idea to ask your insurer about time limits that may be in place for submitting a claim, the III says. That's because if you don't submit the claim and necessary documents within your insurer's time limit, you may not be eligible to receive any money to help with things like vehicle repairs or medical bills. You should also keep in mind that deadlines for filing a claim may vary depending on the type of claim you're filing. For example, the timeline for filing claims for vehicle damage may be different than filing claims for personal injuries. Time frames for filing a claim may vary by insurer and are determined in compliance with any state laws that exist, says Thomson Reuter's FindLaw.