The purpose of buying car insurance is to get coverage in case of an accident, theft or damages caused due to man made or natural calamity.
To avail the benefits of the policy, the insured vehicle owner has to file a claim to receive the financial compensation for the damages caused. If you are looking to register a car insurance claim, then here’s how you can go filing the same.
What is own damage car insurance claim?
Own damage car insurance claim can be made only with comprehensive car insurance that provides coverage for the damages caused to your car. This type of claim can be filed for damages caused due to an accident, theft, natural or man made calamity.
To file claim for own damage car insurance, you must first inform the insurance company within 48 hours of the incident
The insurance company will then send a surveyor to assess the damages and give an estimate of the repair costs
The vehicle will then be sent to the nearby garage for repair work
If the vehicle is being repaired at a network garage then you can claim cashless coverage in which the repair bills will be directly settled by the insurance company
If the vehicle is repaired at a non network garage, then reimbursement claim has to be made in which the insured has to first pay the repair amount and the bills can be reimbursed later
Difference between cashless and reimbursement car insurance claim settlement
Cashless Car Claims: As the name suggests, the entire claims process is cashless i.e. you don’t have to spend anything out of pocket as the claim amount is settled directly between the insurance company and the garage.
Reimbursement Car Claims: As the name suggests, the claim amount has to be reimbursed which means that the repair costs have to be borne by you first and later can be reimbursed. The reimbursement claim can be filed by filling the claim form and submitting required documents such as bank account details, FIR copy, identity proof, address proof, etc.
Documents required to file car insurance claim for own damage
Given below is a list of documents you need to submit to file car insurance claim for own damage
- Copy of your insurance policy
- FIR copy in case of serious damages
- Duly filled and signed claim form
- Vehicle registration copy
- Copy of driving license
- Identity proof
- Address proof
- Vehicle estimate repair cost
- Original copy of medical bills in case of physical injuries
- Copy of other expenses incurred
Points to remember when filing car insurance claim
Insurance companies will only entertain your claim if you have a comprehensive car policy. It is important that you keep in mind the below points before you proceed with the claims process.
File a car insurance claim on time i.e. within 48 hours. However, each insurance company has a stipulated time within which the claim has to be filed.
Note down the registration number of the third party involved in the accident
For quick approval of claims, record video or take photographs of the accident site
Note down the details of the eyewitnesses present at the site of the accident
It is advised not to file a claim in case of minor dents or scratches as it can affect your accumulated no claim bonus
Do not move the vehicle from the spot till the police doesn’t arrive at the spot
Submit the necessary documents for the completion of the claims process
Conclusion
Compared to third party cover, own damage insurance does attract a high premium, however, it is best to insure your car with this type of policy as it offers overall protection. When driving a car on Indian roads, ensure you don’t miss out on policy renewal too as driving without a valid car policy is illegal in India.
