Honestly, I don’t bother with a log. I just take a bunch of dated photos whenever something changes—way easier than writing stuff down, and adjusters can’t really argue with timestamps. If you keep a log but miss one thing, they’ll still try to pin it on you anyway. Has anyone actually had an adjuster accept a repair log as proof? Feels like they just look for any excuse to deny coverage, no matter what you hand them.
Has anyone actually had an adjuster accept a repair log as proof?
Honestly, I’m with you—photos with dates are way less hassle. I tried keeping a spreadsheet once, but it felt pointless when the adjuster barely glanced at it. What worked for me: I keep a folder on my phone for every little thing—new tires, oil change, even a scratch. If you’re worried about them nitpicking, I’d say back up your pics to the cloud too. Learned that the hard way after my phone died mid-claim...
I’ve had similar luck—adjusters seem to trust photos way more than any kind of written log, no matter how detailed. I do keep receipts for bigger stuff, but honestly, half the time they just want a timestamped photo or two. The cloud backup is a good call; I lost a bunch of maintenance records when my laptop crashed last year and it was a pain trying to piece things together.
Here’s something I’ve wondered: has anyone tried using those car maintenance apps that let you upload receipts and photos? I’m tempted, but I’m not sure if adjusters would actually accept screenshots from an app as proof. Seems like it’d be easier than juggling folders and spreadsheets, but maybe it’s just another layer of hassle. Curious if anyone’s gone that route or if it’s just overkill for insurance claims...
“I’m not sure if adjusters would actually accept screenshots from an app as proof. Seems like it’d be easier than juggling folders and spreadsheets, but maybe it’s just another layer of hassle.”
- Agree 100% on photos being king. Written logs are basically ignored unless you’re dealing with a super old-school adjuster.
- I’ve tried a couple of those maintenance apps (like Drivvo and Fuelly). They’re handy for tracking stuff, but when it comes to claims, adjusters only cared about the original photo files—not screenshots from the app. Screenshots felt like extra work for nothing.
- Cloud backup is non-negotiable. Had a hard drive die on me last year—lost everything except what was in Google Photos. Never again.
- Receipts: I keep paper copies for big repairs, but honestly, most adjusters just want to see a dated photo of the part installed or the odometer reading.
- Apps are nice for reminders and stats, but for insurance? Feels like overkill. Just snap photos, back them up somewhere safe, and call it good.
If you’re already organized with folders and cloud storage, I wouldn’t bother adding another app into the mix unless you really love tracking every oil change down to the penny...
Honestly, I’ve seen adjusters get picky about what counts as “proof.” Screenshots from an app? That’s a hard sell unless you’re dealing with someone unusually tech-savvy. Photos of the actual part or odometer, though—those are gold. I’m with you on cloud backups. Lost a thumb drive once and nearly lost my mind. Apps are fun for stats, but for claims, it’s really just about clear photos and receipts. Anything else is just extra work, unless you’re a data nerd.
