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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
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25 years teaching risk management and insurance course
Former commercial lines underwriter
Updated
The Texas Insurance Code requires insurers to follow strict timelines for claims handling. Texas insurers have 15 days to acknowledge receipt of the claim and another 15 days to accept or reject it.[1]
That said, if your insurer is unable to make a decision by this deadline, it can extend it by 45 days. Your insurer must inform you of this extension in writing and explain exactly why it needs additional time. The exact deadlines may vary depending on Texas state law, policy terms, and other factors. Complex claims often require extensions.
Here’s what you should know about how long insurers have to investigate your insurance claim in Texas.
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Texas regulates insurance claims timelines through the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act. Claims investigations vary, but insurers often decide on simple ones within the first 30 days, while more complex ones can take up to 75 days.[2]
The clock starts as soon as you, the claimant, file your claim. Your Texas insurance company has 15 days to acknowledge it has received your claim and begin its investigation. It then has another 15 days to make a determination after receiving the necessary information to secure final proof of loss.
If your insurer still needs more time to make a decision, it can extend the period by an additional 45 days. If your insurer extends the investigation, it must inform you of the reason in writing.
During claims investigations, insurers typically look into the following:
Confirming vehicle damages
Determining fault
Reviewing coverage and policy limits
Verifying how the accident happened
It’s helpful to understand Texas’s claims-processing rules and timelines before filing your claim, so you know what to expect. The timelines below reflect how long Texas insurers have to take during each step of the claims process, from acknowledging the claim to approval or denial. Your lived experience may differ depending on your specific insurer and claim.
Here’s what the typical claims investigation timeline looks like in Texas. Note that these are general timelines, not legal advice.
Claims Process Step | Typical Duration in TX | Potential Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledge receipt of claim | Within 15 days of notice | Insurer confirms your claim and opens a case |
| Begin investigation | Within 15 days of notice | Insurer assigns an adjuster to begin the investigation |
| Request additional information | Within 15 days of notice | Policyholder submits additional documents |
| Notify policyholder of delay | Within 15 days of the acknowledgment of the claim | Insurer extends investigation by 45 days |
| Approve or deny claim | Within 15 or 60 days of acknowledgment of the claim, depending on if insurer required an extension | Insurer provides a written approval or denial of the claim |
| Issue payment after approval | Within 5 business days of accepting the claim | Insurer pays you the approved amount |
| Notify the policyholder how to appeal | With a claim rejection notice | You can choose whether to dispute the claim rejection |
Investigation and settlement are two different parts of any given claim. Settlement can’t happen without a claims investigation, as it’s crucial to the claims process. A claims investigation allows the insurer to gather evidence, review your insurance policy, and ensure it’s making the proper decision regarding your claim.
Insurers can only decide the claim settlement after an adjuster has completed a thorough claims investigation. For example, if you’re in a fender bender, you won’t receive a claim acceptance or rejection until your insurer has completed its investigation. In many simple cases, this takes a couple of weeks to one month, but can take up to 75 days if the claim is complicated.
Texas insurance companies investigate every auto claim by default. Claims investigations are not an indication of suspicion or doubt, but rather an essential step in any claims process. Before making a settlement offer, your insurer needs to confirm all the basic facts of your claim and your policy details. A typical claims investigation aims to:[3]
Confirm you had coverage when the incident occurred
Verify that your policy covers the damages you’re claiming
Assess the damages and injury costs
Determine liability and fault
Verify police reports and medical records
Liability rates average $110 per month
Once you submit your claim, your insurance company will assign an adjuster to investigate it. The insurer must do this within 15 days of receiving notice of the claim. From there, the adjuster will review your policy to confirm your coverage and begin gathering evidence on the car accident, damages, and injuries.
The adjuster will do a number of things, such as inspecting your vehicle, reviewing accident photos, reading the police report, speaking with witnesses, and speaking with you. The adjuster then uses this information to estimate repair costs and determine fault. Your insurer may ask you to submit a proof of loss document to back up your claim damages.
At this stage, the insurer has 15 days to make a decision to accept or reject your claim. Insurers can extend the deadline by 45 days in some cases if they’re unable to make a determination. If this happens, your insurer must provide you with a written explanation as to why.
Sometimes, insurers may request additional documents or information from you so that they can properly and fully investigate your claim. Common documents that insurers request include:
Photos of the accident
Repair estimates from a body shop
Police report
Proof of loss statement
Contact information for witnesses
Medical bills
Several things can delay an insurance claim investigation in Texas. Some of the most common causes of delays are:
Missing or incomplete information
Unclear liability
Extreme damages
Severe injuries
Suspected fraud
A high volume of claims after a natural disaster
Texas insurers can extend claims investigations past the initial 30 days if they’re unable to properly accept or reject the claim, as long as they inform you why in writing. Insurers can’t just extend the claim for no reason — they must provide a valid reason for the extension. Once your insurer informs you of the extension, it has another 45 days to make a settlement decision.
If your insurer misses a deadline and ultimately ends up owing you a claim payout, Texas law can penalize the insurer, requiring it to pay an 18% annual penalty on your claim amount.
If you feel your insurance claim is taking too long, you can take a few actions. The first and most important thing you can do to speed up your insurance claim is to work closely with your adjuster and provide them with everything they need promptly. This allows your adjuster to get the process moving along.
These are some additional steps you can take:
Review your policy. Make sure you have a good grasp of your policy details and your responsibilities in the claims process.
Check Texas’s claim deadlines. Confirm the state deadlines to see if your insurer is actually behind schedule.
Request a status update. Reach out to your insurer and ask for an update on why the claim investigation is taking longer than expected.
Escalate the issue. If your adjuster isn’t responding to you, you can ask to speak with a supervisor.
File a complaint. If your insurer is completely avoiding you or acting in bad faith, consider filing a complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI).[4]
You can also file a complaint with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Start at the NAIC consumer page, choose your state, then follow the link to Texas’ complaint page. You’ll then fill out an online or paper form with your complaint details and any supporting documents.[5]
Contacting the TDI is a major step to take as a last resort if your insurer is completely avoiding you or ignoring your questions. If your adjuster stops responding, gives vague reasons about delays, or your insurer denies your claim without explaining why, it’s time to reach out to the TDI.
Before you contact the TDI, make sure you have all the necessary information ready. Have your policy number handy, records of communications with your insurer, photos of the damage, repair estimates, medical bills, police reports, and claim documents.
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Texas drivers can minimize delays mainly by filing right away, staying organized, and responding to their insurer’s requests right away. Make the process as easy as possible for the adjuster and insurer.
Here’s how to keep your Texas auto insurance claim moving along smoothly:
File your claim right away. This allows your insurer to begin the investigation as soon as possible.
Take thorough photos of the damage. This makes it easy for the adjuster to confirm damages and estimate repair costs.
Organize your documents. Get all your necessary information and documents for your adjuster right away. Have the repair estimates, police reports, medical bills, and photos of the damage ready to go when your adjuster requests them.
Respond quickly. When your adjuster or insurer reaches out, respond as soon as you can to keep the process moving along.
Follow up. Check in with your adjuster to see their progress and get an update on the time frame. Don’t imply that they’re causing the delay; just inform them you want them to keep you updated.
It’s useful to understand Texas’s claim timelines to ensure a swift investigation process. Take a look at these answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about car insurance claims investigations in Texas.
The longest an insurance claim can take in Texas is 75 days from submission of the claim. Insurers have 15 days to acknowledge your claim and another 15 days to make a decision, but they may request a 45-day extension if needed.
Simply filing an auto claim triggers an auto claim investigation in Texas, as they’re a standard part of the insurance-claims process. Investigations aren’t a sign of distrust from your insurer, but rather an essential part of the process to properly determine damages.
Progressive and State Farm had the most complaints in Texas in 2025, according to data on Texas.gov’s Open Data Portal.[6] But this isn’t necessarily indicative of an insurer’s quality, as larger insurers often have a higher volume of complaints than smaller insurers. It’s important to consider an insurer’s reputation and coverage options, and to compare car insurance quotes.
Insurance claims in Texas are straightforward. Once you submit your claim, the insurer has 15 days to acknowledge it and another 15 days to make a decision. If your insurer needs more time to make a decision, it can request a 45-day extension. Once your insurer makes its decision, it must pay any approved claims within another five business days.
Once a Texas insurer has accepted and notified you that it will pay out your claim, it has five business days to do so.
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years in content creation and marketing
Featured in
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Featured in
25 years teaching risk management and insurance course
Former commercial lines underwriter
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