Making an insurance claim

Once you are armed with all the details you collected at the scene of the accident, it is time to start the claiming process. In the old days, this meant filling out endless forms, but today most people claiming on their car insurance rate the process much higher.

• Telephone your insurance company and ask to be connected with the claims department. Most will take your details and fill out a claim form for you.
• Most companies have now sped up the car insurance rate and claims are dealt with very quickly. They can go from taking your details, to arranging for an assessor to inspect the vehicle, in one phone call.
• If your insurance company has a website, there may be a 24-hour online claiming facility. The benefit of claiming online is that you can track the progress of your claim from beginning to end without getting stuck in a telephone hold system.
• If you are filling in forms or drawing a diagram of the accident scene, be accurate. If you try to mislead insurers, your policy will be invalidated.
• An insurance assessor may need to inspect your car in order to come up with a quote to repair the damage.
• Depending on the details of your claim, your car insurance rate may be affected. Your insurer should be able to advise you about this.
• Repair work will usually be carried out at a garage approved by the insurance company and they will pay the bill. However, you will have to pay the excess amount dictated by your policy.