Car insurance claims are a complex process of documentation and fact-finding. Not many people realize this but by following a few simple tips, they can not only make the process much simpler but also reduce the risk of claim delays and denials by a very significant margin. Before everything else, it is very important to inform the insurance company promptly about the incident that caused damage to your car. If required, you should file an FIR with utmost urgency. Take as many photos of the accident as you can on your own. Stick with the cashless garage network as far as possible. Service centers authorised by the car insurer are recommended. Do your own record keeping and choose digital payment modes.
The very nature of car insurance is such that the conditions and circumstances of no two claims can be considered the same. If you are about to file a claim for your policy, the following tips will simplify life for you considerably.
- Immediately inform the insurance company: This is a common mistake most people do. They fail to inform the insurance company immediately that a mishap has taken place and there is a possibility of a claim. To smoothly process the car insurance policy claim, the insurance company needs all possible details about the event that caused damage to the car. If you fail to instantly inform the insurance company, they may not be able to form the chain of events leading to the claim. This may significantly delay the claim process.
- Take photos of the site. Photos of the accident or car damage are the basic evidence that car insurance companies use to cross-check your claim. When the insurance company sends a surveyor to analyse the event and take stock of all the damage that has occurred, they will take necessary photos. However, on your own part, you need to take as many photos of the event and site as you can. This will be needed in case the company wants to refer to some more photos for some extra information, the need of which may arise later.
- Do not delay the filing of the FIR: This is an aspect that many people tend to avoid because they do not want to get into the police procedures. However, in case of an accident, a police FIR may be legally mandatory, particularly if a third party has got injured in the incident. If you have been involved in an accident, it is generally recommended that a preliminarily FIR be lodged with the nearest police station because in several cases, insurance companies may not be able to proceed with the claim in the absence of an FIR.
- Choose cashless garage claims: There are a number of reasons why insurance companies tend to have their own cashless network. First, they have negotiated set processes and procedures for claims. Second, they have inspected the quality standards of the work done by these network garages. Third, they have negotiated discounted prices and good deals with them. A cashless garage will always be a better choice for anyone who wants to make a claim on their car insurance policy.
- Choose a service centre authorised by the vehicle manufacturer: Even when choosing a cashless garage network, it is very strongly recommended that you pick a service centre that has been authorised by the manufacturer of your car. Modern cars have complex systems with a large being electronics and computers. Your friendly neighbourhood garage may simply not have the tools and expertise to fix a modern car up to the standards to satisfy your car insurance policy.
- Ensure that all your paperwork is in order: Different kinds of documentation may be needed for filing your car insurance claim. This will include your driving license, vehicle registration certificate, pollution under control certificate, vehicle insurance copy, claim forms, your banking details, incident report, garage repair estimate, part purchase invoice and many more. It is very important that before you submit your car insurance policy, you do proper due diligence with all of these. Rectify even the smallest of discrepancies. Sometimes, mistakes can even lead to claim denials.
- Keep a personal copy of all documents you submit for a claim: You must retain an exact copy of all the paperwork that you have submitted to the insurance company. Keep a scanned copy or soft copy on your email and phone and a printed hard copy as well. This will allow you to clarify in case any confusion arises later. Retain these copies for as long as possible even after you have received the claim amount because sometimes, you may need them later.
- Choose online modes for funds transfer: While the insurance company allows you a choice to receive the claim amount in the form of direct debit or a cheque or a demand draft in case of out-of-network claims, it is better to avoid using paper-based payment modes and choose for money to be transferred to your account directly. This is not only faster but also simpler and safer.
- Regularly remain abreast with the changing terms and conditions of your car insurance policy. Since the car insurance sector is a very dynamic one, it is very important for every person who holds car insurance to remain abreast with the latest changes and updates in their car insurance terms and conditions as it can save a lot of effort later.
Above all else, it is extremely important for you as a car owner to see if there is a need to make a car insurance claim on every instance or not. Car insurance is supposed to come to your rescue in case something is really severe. However, in many cases, the damage to the vehicle is simple scratches and fender benders. These can be fixed at your own cost because the money involved will be less. Avoid car claims unless absolutely necessary.
Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales