Laws and regulations regarding car insurance claim checks may vary from state to state. If you lease or finance your car, pocketing the claim money may be considered fraud. However, if you own the car outright and the insurer sends your claims check directly to you (not an auto body shop), then the check is yours and you can use it how you want. Keep in mind that not making necessary repairs to your vehicle may be unsafe (and even illegal depending on the severity of the damage), and claiming the same damage again on a future claim would be considered fraud.