Writing a Car Insurance Complaint Letter (with Sample)
Use this sample car insurance complaint letter as a template for your formal complaint letter.
Last updated on December 2, 2023
Complaints to an insurance company about the way a car insurance claim was handled can be made by phone, and this may be the first step in the complaint process, but it is recommended to write a formal car insurance complaint letter for the consumer to be sure they have reached the right person to handle their complaint.
Emails also may go astray or to an employee of the insurance company who doesn’t forward them to the correct person. A letter is the best solution to these communication problems.
Insurance Company Lability
Consumers may take their insurance for granted and not realize there is a problem until they need to make a claim. The insurance company could have made an error on the policy or simply been negligent. The consumer should begin by researching the laws in their state for insurance company liability.
Consumers may take their insurance for granted and not realize there is a problem until they need to make a claim. The insurance company could have made an error on the policy or simply been negligent. The consumer should begin by researching the laws in their state for insurance company liability.
If a consumer considers an insurance settlement or lack of a settlement to be unfair or not in accordance with the consumer’s understanding of the terms of their policy, a complaint letter is the best way to get the facts clearly presented to the insurance company.
The complaint letter should clearly state:
The letter should be business-like, polite and formal. It is not the place to complain about insurance companies in general or to make unfair accusations. Insurance companies are a business and their employees do their best to make it a profitable business. If the consumer has a complaint, there are ways to get it rectified.
The complaint letter should clearly state:
- That it is a letter of complaint
- The consumer’s insurance policy number
- The reason for the complaint
- What the insurance company should do to the correct the mistake
- The proof that the insurance company made a mistake
The letter should be business-like, polite and formal. It is not the place to complain about insurance companies in general or to make unfair accusations. Insurance companies are a business and their employees do their best to make it a profitable business. If the consumer has a complaint, there are ways to get it rectified.
Request a Different Adjuster
In some cases, the consumer may be able to get action on their complaint if they request a different adjuster to review the claim. If all of their attempts fail to get the results they feel are fair, the consumer has the right to contact the department of insurance in their state to file a complaint.
The insurance commissioner’s office will investigate the insurance company’s decision and, if it is considered unfair, they will compel the insurance company to pay the fair amount. There are also lawyers who specialized in bad faith automobile insurance practices.
If there is a dispute about the amount the insurance company will pay, the consumer should not accept any money from the company because this may preclude them from getting help from another adjuster or lawyer. If the consumer does approach a lawyer for help, they should make every directive to the lawyer in writing and keep copies of all communications.
Complaint letters are usually the first step in a long process of appealing a claim. During the appeal process, if the insurance company offers a settlement, the consumer should know when it is better to take the settlement and when it is better to press forward with the complaint.
Before sending the letter, the consumer should gather all the relevant documents including:
In some cases, the consumer may be able to get action on their complaint if they request a different adjuster to review the claim. If all of their attempts fail to get the results they feel are fair, the consumer has the right to contact the department of insurance in their state to file a complaint.
The insurance commissioner’s office will investigate the insurance company’s decision and, if it is considered unfair, they will compel the insurance company to pay the fair amount. There are also lawyers who specialized in bad faith automobile insurance practices.
If there is a dispute about the amount the insurance company will pay, the consumer should not accept any money from the company because this may preclude them from getting help from another adjuster or lawyer. If the consumer does approach a lawyer for help, they should make every directive to the lawyer in writing and keep copies of all communications.
Complaint letters are usually the first step in a long process of appealing a claim. During the appeal process, if the insurance company offers a settlement, the consumer should know when it is better to take the settlement and when it is better to press forward with the complaint.
Before sending the letter, the consumer should gather all the relevant documents including:
- The police report
- Premium payment statements
- Notes from witnesses or photographs of the accident if applicable
- Email communications with the insurance company
- Name of the insurance adjuster they spoke to if they had telephone communication
Complaint Letter to Car Insurance Company Sample
Below is a sample complaint letter for car insurance company. It should be sent by certified mail, so the consumer has proof of the time and date the letter was sent and received.
Any documents that may be enclosed such as receipts, bank statements or insurance policies should be copies. No original documents should be sent. The consumer should save copies of all communications with the insurance company.
Complaint Letter to Car Insurance Company Sample
Consumer’s Name
Consumer’s Address
City, State, Zip Code
Consumer’s Policy Number
DATE
Claims Manager’s Name
Insurance Company’s Name
Insurance Company’s Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Claims Manager's Name,
I am sending this letter as a formal complaint about the settlement you made for my claim of DATE. I received your check for the amount of $$$ as the settlement you gave for the damage to my car when a tree branch fell on it during a storm. You mentioned that the amount was for the depreciated value of my ten-year old NAME of CAR.
For the past 10 years, I have paid a replacement value surcharge for the purpose of receiving replacement value on any claim made. I have enclosed a copy of my last premium statement that shows I regularly pay a replacement value surcharge.
The incorrect payment sent by you must have been an oversight. I request that you correct this mistake and send me a check for the difference as soon as possible. I can be reached at 555-123-4567 or a [email protected] if you have any questions.
Thank you for your quick attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Consumer’s Signature
Consumer’s Name Printed
List of Enclosures
By Andre Bradley
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