Claiming off your car insurance can be a daunting task particularly if you've just had a scare in an accident.
It is often part of the insurance process that people don’t think about until it happens and that is when being insured with an insurance broker really comes into its own. Same thing with a damaged windscreen, it can be a real hassle getting it sorted out.
We’ve pulled together our quick guide to making a claim to bring you up to speed on what actually happens and what you can do to make the process as hassle free as possible:
How to Claim on Your Car Insurance
1. This one is really important and one that is often not very well known. If you’ve been involved in a car accident involving another car, the first thing you need to be sure of is not to admit fault. Let your insurance company advocate on your behalf.
2. You should take down details of the third party in the immediate aftermath and it is always recommended that you take photos from the scene if appropriate to help with the claims process. You’ll also need the other driver’s:
- Car registration
- Full name
- Address
- Phone number
- Car insurance details
You should also take note of any witnesses or injuries caused by the accident.
3. If you believe the accident to be unlawful or there are serious injuries involved, call the police and file a report. Your insurance company may need this.
4. Call us. When the worst happens, we get you just want to speak to someone who can help, who will put our mind at ease and get everything sorted out. You can call our dedicated claims teams and they will take care of your claim, guiding you through the whole process if the incident wasn't your fault.
You can of course go to the insurer directly, but then you are pretty much on your own. You will have to navigate your way through the whole process yourself and try and make sense of all the jargon, so using a broker can be a big help.
5. Either way when you’re making a claim, there are a few things that a claims team will want to know, so its handy to have all of this info on hand before you get in touch.
This is where information from step 1 will come in handy. They’ll also want to know:
- the exact date and time the accident happened
- what the weather conditions were like
- how the accident happened and any photos that you may have taken of the scene.
Sometimes you might need to fill in a claims form as well. It’s important to provide as much information as possible on the form and provide all relevant documents.
*Note that it’s still important to report an accident even if it was only minor or if you’re not seeking to make a claim. The other party involved in the accident may decide to make a claim against you without your knowledge.
Also, let's explain fault and non-fault
An area that many find confusing is the difference between fault and non-fault claims as they are known in the insurance world.
If you are in a car accident and the other driver (third party) accepts the blame, it is regarded as non-fault which means their insurance provider pays out to cover the cost of any damages.
So, a non-fault claim is when your insurance provider hasn’t made any payments or has been able to claim back any payments from the other driver.
If any other claim is made against your policy, then these are known as fault claims which in a nutshell means that your insurance provider has had to pay out on it.
Don’t mistake fault claims for you being to blame though – sometimes it can be events that are outside of your control e.g. your parked car was hit by another car and they drove on or your car has been stolen. In cases such as this, your insurance provider has to pay out and that is what makes it at fault.
So, it’s worth bearing in mind that just because you didn’t cause the damage, it doesn’t mean it is going to be non-fault.
Claiming Under Comprehensive Insurance
Should you need to claim against your fully comprehensive car insurance, you can contact your broker or go directly to the insurer. They will seek reimbursement from the third party’s insurance provider.
If this is paid, then the claim is settled and considered to be non-fault. If it is not paid or only partly paid, then it is labelled at fault
Claiming Under Third Party Insurance
If you’re covered under third-party fire & theft then your own insurance provider won’t cover personal injury or damage to your car in the event of a car accident.
In cases like this, you’ll need to make a claim against the other driver. If you’re not at fault, then that insurer will pay out.
If, however, you’re responsible for the accident then you’ll have to pay for your own repairs.
If your car is stolen however, you’ll need to get a crime reference number from the police then you will need this number when making your claim.
How Long Do Insurance Claims Take?
When you make an insurance claim, the hardest part is the waiting period between when you first make the claim until you find out whether or not your claim is covered by your insurance policy.
This could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks or even a few months. The time it takes depends on factors such as:
- Disputes → the process can be delayed if another party decides to dispute the claim.
- Evidence → the process can’t be finalised until your insurer can gather enough evidence to support your claim.
- Severity of the accident → minor car accidents take shorter times to process compared to more severe accidents.
To speed up the process, the best thing you can do is to ensure clear communication with your broke/insurer and provide all relevant documentation from the moment you make the claim.
