Imagine you driving on the bustling streets of your city or town, and suddenly, a distracted driver comes into your path, resulting in a collision! And, you think – what was my fault?
Despite being a cautious and skilled driver, accidents do happen. Your car gets damaged and there is no way making it good except having insurance. Own Damage Insurance Cover in your car Comprehensive Insurance policy provides you financial protection when you need it most.
Hence, when you buy insurance, the first step is to have an appropriate cover. Then navigating the process of claiming car insurance for your damage demands careful attention to detail.
From assessing the scene of the incident to coordinating with your insurance provider, each step is crucial in ensuring a smooth journey toward resolution.
Let’s look at what an own-damage car insurance claim is:
What Is an Own Damage Car Insurance Claim?
Under a comprehensive policy or standalone damage coverage, this type of claim allows you to seek compensation for damages incurred by your car due to accidents, fire, theft, and other covered perils.
Once the incident occurs, it’s imperative to notify your insurer promptly and gather all necessary documentation to kick-start the claim process. Your insurer will then dispatch a surveyor to assess the extent of the damages firsthand.
Once the surveyor’s report is in hand, you can proceed to file your claim for reimbursement of repair or replacement costs. But here’s where it gets interesting you have the control to choose between two paths: the ’cashless claim settlement’ or the ’reimbursement claim.’
Think of it as choosing between two different routes to your destination: one offers convenience and efficiency, while the other provides flexibility and control. Let’s explore these options further to ensure your journey to claim settlement is as smooth as can be.
Types of Claim Settlements – Own Damage Car Insurance Claim
Let’s look at the two types of claim settlements cashless claim and reimbursement claim, in detail.
Cashless Claim
As the name suggests, everything happens without cash changing hands.
You won’t need to pay any money to the insurer’s authorized garage for the repair work. Instead, the insurer directly pays the garage for the repairs, covering the claim amount.
The only costs you might have to cover are the compulsory deductible and any voluntary deductible you opted for when you purchased the policy.
Reimbursement Claim
Now, let’s say you decide to get your car repaired at a garage outside the insurer’s authorized network. This triggers a reimbursement claim settlement process. Here’s how it works: You foot the bill for the repairs at your chosen garage, and later, you can claim the repair costs back from your insurer.
After reviewing your claim, the insurer reimburses you the entire claim amount, taking into account any applicable deductibles—compulsory and voluntary, if you choose one.
Documents Required To Claim Car Insurance
In the car insurance claims process, having the right documents is crucial. Here’s a detailed checklist
- Completed Claim Form: Fill out and sign
- Insurance Policy Copy: Confirm your
- Tax Payment Receipt: Provide proof of tax
- Repair Cost Estimate: Get a signed estimate from the
- Original Repair Invoice: For cashless claims, only the invoice is
- Claims Discharge Cum Satisfaction Voucher: Sign across a revenue
- Driver’s License Copy: Provide a verified
- Registration Certificate Copy: Include a verified
- Proof of PAN (PAN Card): Provide proof of your
- Proof of Aadhar (Aadhar Card): Provide proof of your
- Pollution under Control Certificate Copy: Include a
- Cancelled Cheque/Passbook: For reimbursement
Remember, requirements may vary by insurer. Always double-check for a smooth claims process.
Now you know, the types of claims & documents required. The main struggles start with the process.
In the next part, we will cover the step-by-step process of making your insurance claim against your own damage car insurance policy.
