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Most guides cover what to do when someone else causes the accident. But what if you caused it? The claims process is different, and a lot of drivers are surprised to learn their own car may not be covered the way they assumed. This guide walks through how at-fault collision repairs work in California, what your insurance actually covers, and what to expect when you bring the car to a shop.
What at fault means for your own car
California is a fault state. The driver who caused the accident is responsible for the damages. Your insurance handles two separate things when that happens: paying for the other person's car and injuries through your liability coverage, and paying for your own car's repairs through your collision coverage, if you carry it.
Liability coverage is required in California. Collision coverage is optional. If you carry collision coverage on your policy, you can use it for your own vehicle's repairs even when you were at fault. If you dropped collision coverage to lower your monthly premium, you are responsible for your own repair bill out of pocket. That is a distinction worth knowing before you ever need it.
Steps to take when you caused the accident
Be honest with your insurer from the start. They investigate fault through their own process, and trying to avoid the conversation creates complications later. Here is what to do in the first 24 to 48 hours.
Report the accident to your insurer right away. Tell them you were at fault. Get your claim number and write it down. You will need it at the shop.
Document the damage at the scene. Photographs of both vehicles, both license plates, the road, and any visible impact points help your claim and give the shop more to work with during the estimate.
Get a free estimate from a shop you trust. You do not have to wait for your insurance company to send you somewhere. In California you generally have the right to choose the shop that repairs your car. We cover this in our guide on whether you have to use the body shop your insurance recommends.
Open the collision claim for your vehicle. An adjuster will review the damage and approve an estimate. Your deductible applies regardless of fault. If your deductible is $500 and the repair estimate is $3,200, your insurance pays $2,700. You pay $500 at the shop when you pick up the car.
What happens to the other driver's car
Your liability coverage handles the other driver's repair and any medical claims separately. The other driver files their property damage claim against your liability coverage, and your insurer manages that side. You do not coordinate their repair directly. Both claims run at the same time, but they are completely separate tracks with separate adjusters.
Choosing your own shop when you're at fault
Yes, you can still pick the body shop that repairs your car. Your insurer may suggest a direct repair program shop, but in California the choice is yours. The short version: a good body shop works with every insurance company and manages the paperwork regardless of which shop the insurer preferred.
At a family-owned shop that has been repairing vehicles since 2006, the same people who answer your first call are the ones who hand you your keys. That is different from a high-volume franchise where your car is a number in a queue. When something unexpected shows up mid-repair, a shop that knows your name handles it differently. You hear about it directly, from the people actually doing the work.
Will filing an at-fault claim raise your premium
Almost certainly yes, at least at renewal. California insurers generally factor at-fault accidents into your rate calculation. How much the premium changes depends on your carrier, your claim history, and the dollar amount of the claim.
When it makes sense to pay out of pocket instead of filing
If the damage is minor and the repair estimate is close to your deductible, paying cash can make more sense than filing a claim that follows your policy at renewal. The calculation is straightforward: if the repair costs $600 and your deductible is $500, you are filing a claim for $100 of insurance coverage while potentially triggering a rate increase at renewal. That is usually not worth it.
Get a free estimate first before you decide. We look at the car and tell you exactly what the repair involves at no charge. A lot of customers expect a large number and leave relieved. Others learn the damage is more extensive than it looked and decide to file. Either way, the estimate gives you the real information before you commit to anything.
What to have ready when you come in
When you bring the car in for an at-fault repair, a few things speed the process along. Your claim number helps us reach the right adjuster on your insurer's end. If your insurer requires you to get a competing estimate before authorizing repairs, let us know and we will tell you how we handle that. Photos you took at the scene are useful when an adjuster questions whether certain damage came from this accident or was pre-existing. You do not need any of this to get a free estimate. We will look at the car and tell you what we see. But if you have it, bring it.
What the repair looks like from here
Once the claim is open and the estimate is approved, the repair moves the same way as any other collision job. Parts get ordered. We do structural work first, then body work and paint. We match your factory color so the repair disappears. You get updates by call or text at each stage. We walk through the finished work with you before you drive away.
The full repair process is covered in our complete guide to collision repair in Brentwood, CA.
Frequently asked questions
If I was at fault, will my insurance still pay for my car's repairs?
Yes, if you have collision coverage on your policy. Collision coverage pays for your own car's repairs even when you caused the accident. Liability coverage, which is required in California, handles the other driver's vehicle and injuries separately.
Do I have to tell my insurer I was at fault?
Yes. Your insurance company will investigate fault independently, and being straightforward from the start makes the claims process run more smoothly. Trying to minimize or obscure fault can create bigger problems than the claim itself.
Does my deductible apply when I was at fault?
Yes. Your collision deductible applies regardless of who caused the accident. If your deductible is $500 and the repair costs $2,800, your insurance pays $2,300 and you pay $500 at the shop when you pick up the car.
Can I choose my own body shop when I caused the accident?
Yes. In California you generally have the right to choose the shop that repairs your car regardless of who caused the accident. Your insurer can suggest a preferred shop, but the decision is yours. We work with every insurance company and handle the coordination for you.
What if I do not have collision coverage? Can I still get my car repaired?
You can get your car repaired anywhere you choose, but you pay out of pocket. Without collision coverage on your policy, your own insurer does not cover your car's repairs in an at-fault accident. Getting a free estimate before you decide how to proceed is a good first step.
Will an at-fault accident affect how long the repair takes?
No. The timeline for an at-fault repair is the same as any other collision repair. It depends on the extent of the damage and parts availability, not on who caused the accident. We give you a realistic estimate at the free inspection and update you if anything changes.
Next step
If your car was just in an accident, whether you caused it or not, the first step is a free estimate. We work with every insurance company and handle the back and forth so the repair stays as painless as possible on your end.
Call (925) 516-1930 or stop by 44 Sycamore Ave, Suite A in Brentwood. Estimates are free. Read about our how we work with your insurance company, how we work, or get directions and hours. We serve Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch, Discovery Bay and Byron.