If you wish the Car insurance claim settlement to be smooth, do not hide any details from the car insurance company.
However, one accident can spoil that dream. Your car may break down in a water-logged road, it may come under a falling tree damaging the roof top, or it may meet with a freak accident. A Car Insurance covers the financial loss due to any such damage to the car. There are two-types of a car insurance claim processes –comprehensive insurance claim and third-party insurance claim.
Your car might have suffered losses and damages in a minor or a major accident. With comprehensive car insurance in place, you can make a claim for damages to your car in an accident or for theft of your car. With a comprehensive car insurance plan, you can claim injuries/damages that are caused to a third-party other as well as to your own car.
If your car is involved in an accident damaging someone else’s property or vehicle, or injuring a third-party, this third-party will expect you to pay for the damages or for the disabilities or injuries suffered. What would you do? Well, this is when your third-party car insurance would come into the picture.
Intimating your car insurance company: Informing your car insurance company as soon as the incident occurs is very important. There might be timelines that your insurer may have, so do follow the same. You may call on the toll-free number of your car insurance company to register a claim.
Lodging a FIR: Yes, informing the cops is very important. If you think you are smart enough and that you can conveniently miss out on this step, you are absolutely WRONG! Your car insurance claim won’t be settled without a FIR in place. Do keep a copy of the FIR for your future reference too
Evaluation of the damages caused: The insurance company will assign a verifier or a surveyor to inspect your car once you intimate the claim. If you wish to avail the cashless claim, you can get your car towed at the nearest network garage to get the repairs done. Experts suggest not to tow the car on your own. Mostly, car insurance companies align a schedule for the inspection within a day or two of the car insurance claim.
Claim settlement: Once the scrutiny of your car takes place your car insurance company will send you as well as the garage a letter of approval for the estimated repair costs. The settlement would be done by your car insurer directly to the garage in case you go the cashless way. However, if you follow the reimbursement style, you will have to pay from your pocket first and then claim the amount from your insurer.
Share the car insurance policy documents: Even if you do not wish to, you will have to share your car insurance policy documents to the third-party for them to make a claim.
Claiming in the Motor Tribunal: The third-party would be required to make a claim at the Motor Tribunal as per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. This can be done either at the accident spot or at a place where the victim resides or the driver involved resides or the owner of the insured car resides.
It is best to consider the following factors, before comparing car insurance plans:
• Premium and coverage: The premium that you pay should be lighter on your pocket along with a wholesome coverage. You can buy add-ons as per your requirement at an additional cost
• Network garages: Ensure that the car insurance that you opt for offers a good number of empaneled authorized garages.
• Claim settlement: Before you buy a car insurance plan, check the claim settlement ratio, credibility of and time taken to settle these claims by the insurance provider.
A comprehensive car insurance offers coverage against any damages or loss occurred due to natural disasters such as hurricane, floods, earthquake, heavy rains, etc. However, it is important that you go through the car insurance policy document thoroughly before opting one.
Usually a comprehensive car insurance policy covers any loss or damage caused due to rodents, pests, animal collision and attacks. But, your third-party insurance doesn’t offer coverage for any damages caused due to animal attacks. Therefore, it is best to opt for a comprehensive car insurance policy.
It is important that you keep the following documents in your car while plying on Indian roads:
• Car Insurance Copy
• The Registration certificate (RC) book copy
• The Pollution Under Control copy (PUC)
• Driving license copy of the person driving
A comprehensive car insurance offers coverage against any damages or loss occurred due to natural disasters such as hurricane, floods, earthquake, heavy rains, etc. However, it is important that you go through the car insurance policy document thoroughly before opting one.
You may have bought an insurance policy, yet have thousands of queries and doubts. Our ‘Your Policy’ section is the fastest way to resolve your insurance related doubts and queries. All you need to do is attach your active insurance policy and write to us about your queries. We never let our customers down.
If you need help in making claim please reach out to us at
Many questions may come in your mind before buying an insurance policy. ‘How much insurance I would need, how many years I shall invest for, what would be the premium, etc.. Insurance Calculators are life-savers. They help you know your insurance needs and assess the potential costs. Grey Font brings to you various Insurance Calculators and interactive tools to help you calculate your insurance needs. In order to get better results, ensure to enter a value in all the possible fields.