There are some important things to keep in mind when taking photos of your vehicle so that they are useful for accident claims. Below are detailed guidelines:
1. Preparation for photoshoot
Consider lighting and angles:
- Take photos in daylight, preferably in the morning or afternoon, to get good details.
- Avoid shaded areas or very bright light, as scratches or dents may not be visible well.
Adjust the resolution of your phone or camera:
- Keep the resolution of your phone or camera at the highest setting so that the details remain clear.
Keep the car and surroundings clean:
- If there is dust or dirt on the car, wipe it off so that any stains or damage are clearly visible.
- Try to keep the background clean.
2. Take photos from the main 8 angles of the car
Take photos from the front, back, both sides, and all four diagonal angles to capture the full condition of the vehicle .
Basic angles (8 shots)
Front view – from the entire front of the car (straight ahead).
Rear view – from the entire back of the car. Right
side view – the entire right side of the car.
Left side view – the entire left side of the car.
Front right corner – diagonally from the front right side (45° angle).
Front left corner – diagonally from the front left side.
Rear right corner – from the rear right side.
Rear left corner – from the rear left side.
Additional photos (if needed)
- Car interior – steering wheel, dashboard, seats, odometer (to show mileage).
- Engine Bay – To show the condition of the engine.
- Wheel and tire closeup – to prove if the tires are damaged or new.
- VIN Number – for vehicle identification number.
3. Special pictures in case of accidents
Take clear pictures of the damage.
- Take a close-up of the damaged area.
- Take pictures from multiple angles to show how serious the injury is.
- Take two types of photos, from a distance and up close.
To show the environment and road conditions
- Take pictures of the accident site, road signs, traffic signals, and skid marks, if any.
- If there are any CCTV cameras nearby, take pictures of them too.
Number plate and damage to another vehicle
- Take pictures of the license plate and damage of the other vehicle involved in the accident.
Save the police report image.
- If you have a report on paper or on your mobile phone, take a picture of it.
4. Saving and sharing images
Upload to the cloud:
- Back up to Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox.
- It will be easier to share with the insurance company after an accident.
Enter the file name:
- Save the image with a name like “Car_Accident_Date_Location.jpg” so that it can be found quickly.
Conclusion:
Taking accurate photos of your vehicle can make it easier to file an insurance claim after an accident and get the compensation you deserve. Take clear photos from every angle and separate photos of significant damage.
