Motor Insurance Claim Filing Process

A claim under a motor insurance policy can be classified as:

1. Own damage claim: If there is damage to your car, the claim is called as an own damage claim.
2. Third party claim: If there is an injury or worse to someone else or damage to someone else’s car, it is called as a third party claim.
3. Theft claim: If your insured vehicle is stolen, then the claim is called a theft claim.

Depending on nature of the claim, the process & documents needed to file the claim may vary. Let’s understand the process in details under all the 3 categories.

Own Damage Claim: In the event of damage to your car by an insured peril (Fire, Accident, Riot etc.)

1. First of all, intimate the insurance company as soon as possible at the given toll free customer care number.
2. Check with the insurance company to see if an FIR is needed. Then, call the police & report an FIR.
3. Once the insurer’s representative inspects & evaluates the damage to your car, the car can be towed to the nearest garage. (Don’t tow your car without approval & direction of the insurance company).
4. After survey & scrutiny of the claim-made is done, the insurer will send the approval on estimated repair cost to you & to the garage. If the garage is under cashless network, you can simply pay the normal excess and take the vehicle home after repair, otherwise keep all the bills & invoices ready to get approved repair costs reimbursed later by the insurance company.

Third Party Claim: In the event of personal injury/property damage to some third party.

1. Check with the insurance company then report an FIR at nearest police station & keep the copy of the FIR with you.
2. Share the policy copy/policy details with the third party.
3. Third party claim are settled under Motor Accident Claims Tribunal as per motor vehicle act 1988. The third party has to file the claim with the tribunal.
4. Death & Disablement compensation of third party is not limited. (It is decided by many factors such as age, dependents, earning capability etc.).
5. Property damage compensation of third party is limited to INR 7.5 Lakhs. Over & above this amount to be settled if at all, it will be borne by the car owner.

Theft claim: In the event when an insured vehicle is stolen

1. Intimate the Insurance Company.
2. Report an FIR at the nearest police station.
3. Submit the claim form along with FIR Copy, Registration copy, Driving license copy, policy copy and a letter to RTO.
4. Get a ‘Non traceable report’ issued by police department if the car is not traced within 6 months from the FIR.
5. Transfer the RC of stolen car in name of Insurance Company.