How Social Media Can Cause Denied Auto Insurance Claims: What You Should Know

When you think of social media, auto insurance probably doesn’t come to mind, and you probably aren’t thinking about how social media can cause denied auto insurance claims when you post a selfie. However, what you post on social media could affect your auto insurance claims. Certain features, like photos, geotagging, and text messages, can be used as evidence in an accident.

To learn about how social media affects auto insurance claims, read on. We will go over how claims can be denied based on what you post on social media, as well as what you can do to protect yourself. If your claim was recently denied and you want to find a new insurance provider, use our free quote comparison tool to find the best auto insurance rates and coverages in your area.

How Social Media Can Cause Denied Auto Insurance Claims

Companies take a lot of information into account before offering a price for their services. Some of these factors you may not even consider, like social media.

Insurance companies often know a lot of specifics about their customers, and all their knowledge helps them determine a set coverage rate. In the new era of technology, social media is becoming a standard part of the insurance underwriting process.

Here are some habits that could directly impact your insurance claim.

Selfies and Pictures

Selfies in the car can be tempting. The lighting always seems just right. But you could be labeled a distracted driver if you’re behind the wheel while snapping pictures and uploading them to your social media profiles.

If you were taking a selfie or picture and got into an accident, your claim may be denied. In addition, if your insurance company notices this habit, they could choose not to renew your policy.

Learn more: What to Do If Your Car Insurance Claim is Denied 

Text Messages

It can be hard to wait until you reach your destination to respond to a text message. While it’s widely known that you shouldn’t text and drive, many people have a habit of using their phones while behind the wheel.

If you’re involved in an accident, your message time stamps can prove you were distracted during the time it happened. Because of this proof, your insurance company can deny your accident claim due to texting and car accident fault proof.

Geotagging

If you’re unfamiliar with geotagging, it essentially allows your phone to add your current location to photos you take. Even if you are familiar with geotagging, you might not know this setting can be automatically activated on your camera without you realizing it.

While this might not seem like a huge deal, it can be for your insurance company if your car is broken into while you’re away on vacation. Since the burglars knew you weren’t home due to your geotagged photos on social media, your provider may see the car break-in as negligence on your end and deny your claim. Be cautious when uploading photos while out of town. Often, it’s best to wait to post until you’re back home.

Other Ways Social Media Can Impact Your Auto Insurance

In addition to denied claims, social media posts can also raise your auto insurance rates. How can your insurance company use your social media posts and activities against you?

Well, one example is that if you don’t add your spouse to your auto insurance coverage but post pictures of them on social media or tag them in your relationship status, your provider could see the photos and assume there’s an uninsured driver at your home.

If you’re currently in a relationship, you should check in with your auto insurance about their requirements for coverage. Some states require both partners to be named on your policy.

In addition, you might not be required to give up your social media information to your insurance company, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t using it as evidence if auto insurance fraud is suspected.

Thanks to social media platforms like Facebook, insurance companies can now research information about the parties involved in a claim. So, if someone is attempting to commit insurance fraud, the provider can look through their social media posts and prove their accident claim is false.

Read more: How to File a Car Accident Claim 

You might be wondering how this all works in your favor! Well, fewer fraud claims mean lower premiums. So, when insurance providers can prevent fraud, you pay less for coverage.

How to Prevent Denied Insurance Claims From Social Media Activity

If you are concerned that your social media activity could lead to denied claims, here are some tips to protect yourself. There’s no need to be scared about your auto insurance policy being canceled due to something you said or did on your social media account as long as you take the time to double-check your social media.

• Check your privacy settings and safeguard your online identity. Try to keep your posts viewable to only your friends. Public posts can be seen by anyone and could easily lead to misinterpretation by your insurance provider.
• Turn off geotagging. To do this, go into your camera settings and see if geotagging is switched “on.” If so, turn it off so that your coordinates aren’t attached to the photos you take. This could lessen your risk of getting robbed or someone breaking into your car while you are away from home.
• Never omit information when getting your insurance. As a general rule, it’s best to be as upfront and honest as possible with your agent. Usually, something that could be used against you can be avoided at the beginning of obtaining your policy.

As long as you are ethical in your actions and honest toward your relationship with your insurance provider, you should never have any reason to worry that your social media footprint might affect your auto insurance policy.

The Final Word on How Social Media Can Cause Denied Insurance Claims

All in all, remember that the majority of insurance companies use social media for marketing purposes. Only a few have begun to use it to search for customer information. So, luckily, there is no indication that you’ll have to provide your social media account information to your insurance company.

By being honest about important details with your insurance company, you can avoid miscommunications and cancellation of your auto insurance policy. If you want to find a new auto insurance company today, use our free quote comparison tool to get started.