After a material-damage accident, two very different documents are often confused with each other: the mutual report that drivers fill out themselves, and the official report prepared by a licensed insurance adjuster. They are not the same thing, and the difference can decide how smoothly your insurance claim goes. Let us clear it up.
The simple mutual report
The mutual report (the form drivers complete between themselves) is the lightweight option. The two drivers describe the accident, sketch what happened, sign it, and submit it to their insurers. It is quick and requires no third party.
But that simplicity is also its weakness:
- It relies entirely on the drivers’ own account, which can be incomplete or contradictory.
- It carries no professional opinion — no expert is assessing the scene.
- If the drivers disagree on fault, the form often cannot resolve it.
- Mistakes, missing fields, or an unclear sketch can leave the fault undetermined, slowing or complicating the claim.
For a tiny, undisputed bump it can be enough. For anything with real damage or any disagreement, it leaves too much to chance.
The licensed-adjuster report
The stronger document is an official material-damage traffic accident detection report drawn up by an SBM-registered insurance adjuster under Law 5684, article 22/17. This is not the same as the simple mutual report — it is a far more authoritative service.
What makes it different:
- A licensed, SBM-registered adjuster examines the accident.
- The report includes the adjuster’s professional opinion and a fault assessment — not just the drivers’ say-so.
- It contains a proper scene sketch and structured documentation.
- Because fault is professionally established, insurers can process the claim with far less back-and-forth.
In short: the mutual report is what drivers say happened; the adjuster report is what a qualified expert determines happened. That distinction is exactly what insurers rely on.
Side-by-side
| Mutual report (self-completed) | Licensed-adjuster report |
|---|
| Who prepares it | The drivers | An SBM-registered insurance adjuster |
| Legal basis | Self-completed form | Law 5684, art. 22/17 |
| Fault assessment | Drivers’ own claim | Professional expert opinion |
| Scene sketch | Hand-drawn by drivers | Prepared as part of the report |
| Strength for a claim | Limited | Strong |
Why this matters for your claim
When an insurer reviews a thin, self-completed form with an unclear sketch and disputed fault, the claim can stall, get questioned, or require additional evidence. When the file contains an adjuster’s report with a clear fault assessment, there is far less to argue about. The cleaner the evidence, the faster you are made whole.
The best part: it is free for you
Many people assume the stronger option costs more. It does not. With Alo Tutanak, the service is free for you — the adjuster fee is allocated from the traffic insurance under Law 5684, so there is nothing out of your pocket. You call our 7/24 line, our experts guide you, and a licensed adjuster prepares the official report.
Learn more about the adjuster-approved accident report and the online accident report flow.
Bottom line
A self-completed mutual report is fine for the smallest, friendliest fender-bender. For everything else — real damage, any dispute, anything you want resolved cleanly — a licensed-adjuster report is the right call. It is more authoritative, far better for your claim, and free for you. Download the Alo Tutanak app and have the stronger option ready before you ever need it.
To get a licensed-adjuster report right away: Mutual vs Adjuster Report solution.
