List of Documents Required for Car Insurance Claim Process

Uncertainties never knock at your door, and neither do road accidents. In such cases, you must know how to raise an insurance claim under your car insurance policy. But, the process of filing an insurance claim will remain incomplete if you don't submit all the required documents. In this article, we have discussed the documents required for car insurance claims in India.

Read more

Types of Claims Under Car Insurance

There are three major types of claims you can file under your car insurance. They are as follows:

1. Third-Party Insurance Claim

   Third-party claims are the ones that are raised to seek coverage for third-party liabilities. If your car has caused any damage to a third person's life or property, then you must report it to your nearest police station and your insurance company.

   In case you are a victim, you must take all the information about the vehicle that has caused damage to you as well as the contact details of the vehicle owner. In this case, too, you need to intimate your insurer and police about the accident. A third-party insurance claim can be filed under a third-party car insurance or a comprehensive car insurance policy.

2. Own Damage Claim

   Own damage claims are raised when your own car is damaged in an accident. In such cases, try to inform the police and your insurer about the incident as soon as possible. The insurer will send a surveyor to assess the damages to your car. Until then, do not move the car from the accident spot.

   In case you have opted for a cashless facility at a network garage, your insurer will pay the repair cost to the garage directly. If not, then you will have to raise a reimbursement claim and submit the documents required for the motor insurance claim to your insurer. You can raise your own damages claim if you have Standalone car insurance or a comprehensive car insurance policy.

3. Vehicle Theft Claim

   Theft claims are raised if the insured car gets stolen. In such a situation, the first thing that you should do is to inform the police, the RTO, and your insurer about the theft. Keep all the required documents for the car insurance claim ready. Also, submit the keys of the lost car to the insurer if asked.

Documents Required for Car Insurance Claim

To raise a motor insurance claim under different situations mentioned above, you will require the following documents:

1. Motor Insurance Claim Documents In Case of Accidental Damages

   To process a car insurance claim in case of an accident, the insurer will require the following documents-

   • Proof of Insurance - Policy Copy/ Cover Note
   • Claim form along with your signature
   • Tax receipts
   • Copy of your insurance policy
   • Copy of your car registration certificate (RC)
   • Driving licence of the driver
   • Copy of the Police FIR.
   • An estimated bill of the car's repair cost.
   • Original repair bills and payment receipts
   • Vehicle inspection address, if not done at a garage

2. Car Theft Claim Documents

   In case of theft of the insured car, you need to submit the following motor insurance claim papers to the insurer:

   • A copy of the car insurance policy
   • Theft declaration from the RTO
   • Police FIR copy
   • Letter of Subrogation
   • Tax payment receipts
   • Original car registration book
   • Previous policy details like insurer company name, duration & time of insurance policy number, etc.
   • Items like booklets, warranty cards, duplicate keys, etc.
   • Forms 28, 29, 30 and 35
   • Official intimation to the RTO about theft and discontinuation of the vehicle
   • Claim Discharge Voucher along with signature over a revenue stamp

3. Documents Required for Third-Party Insurance Claims

   For raising third-party claims, the following documents are required-

   • Claim form (Duly filled and signed)
   • Copy of the Police FIR
   • Copy of the Registration Certificate (RC) and Driver's Licence (DL)
   • Stamp needed for company-registered vehicle's original documents

Process of Raising Car Insurance Claim

The process of claiming car insurance involves a number of steps. Follow the below guide for raising a claim under your car insurance policy-

1. Intimate your Insurer: The first step is to intimate your car insurance company about the car mishap and provide them with detailed information about the damages. Be transparent with your insurer regarding details of the incident as it will prevent any chances of claim rejection.
2. Register an FIR at your Nearest Police Station: File an FIR (First Information Report) at your nearest police station, especially in case of theft, accident, third-party loss, or fire explosion.
3. Take Pictures of the Damaged Car: Take clear photographs of the damaged car and the place of the incident from all angles. They will be beneficial to share with your insurer as proof as they will help in the faster settlement of claims.
4. Assessment & Evaluation: A surveyor is assigned by your insurer to evaluate the damages to your car. After the inspection, the surveyor will send an assessment report to the insurance company based on which your claim will be settled.
5. Submit Required Documents to the Insurer: You need to submit car insurance claim documents to your insurer for completing the claim process. It includes the FIR copy, the driving licence of the driver, a copy of your insurance policy, car registration certificate, etc.
6. Get Your Car Repaired: Get your car fixed at a network garage of the insurer or take it to a non-approved garage for repairs. In the case of a cashless network garage, you can take your car home without paying the bill as it will be settled by your insurer. In the case of a non-network garage, you will have to settle the bill after repair and file a reimbursement claim with your insurer. Once the claim is approved, you will be reimbursed for your expenses.

Points to Remember While Raising a Car Insurance Claim

Below are a few points to keep in mind while raising a car insurance claim-

1. Inform your insurer and local police station to raise an FIR within 24 hrs of the accident/mishap
2. Ensure that you have all the documents required for car insurance claim process
3. Check and evaluate the situation for raising a successful claim
4. Fulfil all the legal paperwork in case of an accident or theft
5. Try to take advantage of the cashless claim facility and get your car repaired at a network garage.

Conclusion

With the right car insurance policy, you can raise a claim for the damages caused to a third party and sustained by your car effortlessly. But for that, make sure that you have all the documents required for the car claim process. Remember that your insurance company will check all the details related to the mishap before approving your claim and compensate accordingly. Therefore, take enough evidence of the damages and cooperate with the surveyor to have a quick and seamless experience.