Everything You Need To Know About Car Insurance Claim Inspection
Are You Aware About Car Insurance Claim Inspection? Know Complete Details Here.
When you make a claim against your car insurance, there is a proper process that is followed to analyse the cause that caused the damage to your car or to a third party person or property and the intensity of the damage or loss. One aspect of this process is inspection. After reading this article you will be able to understand what is car insurance claim inspection, things to keep in mind during car insurance claim inspection and some frequently asked questions around it.
Table of Contents
What is Car Insurance Claim Inspection?
Car insurance claim inspection is a type of investigation that is carried out by a surveyor or professional automobile inspector who surveys your car, the accident zone (in the case of an accident), people or key witnesses and then informs your insurance company about the proximate cause of damage or injury. This surveyor is appointed by your car insurance company. Their task is to also check your car thoroughly for any sort of interior or exterior damage. This inspection can also happen when you are selling or buying a new car and you or the counterparty asks for an in depth inspection for finding out if the car is in good shape.
In simple terms, a car inspection is a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) carried out by your insurer when you raise a claim.
6 Things You Should Do During A Car Insurance Claim Inspection
There are certain facts that you must know about the inspection process which takes place after you ask for a claim. By knowing the following facts you will be able to get the most from your car insurance policy. Here are seven fundamental things that you must know:
1. Check The Type Of Car Insurance You Have
2. Avoid Having An Inactive Car Insurance Policy
3. Take Photos And Videos Of The Damaged Car
4. Avoid Any Delay To Inform The Insurance Company
5. Answer The Questions Of The Inspector Honestly
6. Produce The Necessary Documents To The Inspector
1. Check The Type Of Car Insurance You Have
There are broadly two types of car insurance policies available in the country. They are the third party car insurance policy and the comprehensive car insurance policy. The third-party car insurance policy covers any property damage, bodily injuries and death caused to a third party while a car accident occurs. On the other hand, a Comprehensive car insurance policy covers own damage caused to the insured’s car.
A vehicle inspector will always inspect your car according to the type of policy. While putting up a claim, you must be aware of the type of car insurance policy you have. You can only get a fruitful outcome of the claim if the coverages are included in the policy note.
2. Avoid Having An Inactive Car Insurance Policy
An inactive car insurance plan is dangerous as the coverage against your claim might be instantly denied if you have it. If you have a car insurance policy, you must always provide the monthly premiums and deliver the renewal charges within the deadline. It will help your insurance plan to be active.
The inspector will check the policy documents thoroughly on the above accord to make sure you have an active insurance policy. If it is found inactive, your claim might be denied.
3. Take Photos And Videos Of The Damaged Car
In case you are not severely injured by the car accident, try taking enough photos of the damaged car from different angles. You can also shoot a video clip where you can show all the damages clearly. This acts as vital evidence when you put up the claim. You can also take photos of the minor injuries that have occurred due to the accident.
In case the inspector reaches late to the accident spot, the proofs might lose. Your photos and videos can be considered as evidence there.
4. Avoid Any Delay To Inform The Insurance Company
Informing the insurance company late about the car accident might result adversely. The company might totally deny providing any coverage against your claim in case of an accident or theft of your car. You must put up a claim within a few hours of the accident of your car. In case, the car is not drivable after an accident, your insurance company can send a towing van to take it to the network garage. The assigned vehicle inspector also arrives shortly.
Some insurance companies have a certain deadline for putting up a claim which can be 24 hours to 72 hours from the theft/accident. You must make sure to raise a claim at the earliest.
5. Answer The Questions Of The Inspector Honestly
While the car inspection is in progress, the vehicle inspector might ask you several questions as an enquiry to gather relevant facts regarding the theft/accident of the car. You should be totally honest when you answer every question asked by the inspector. This can lead you to get enhanced coverages if you are found clean.
6. Produce The Necessary Documents To The Inspector
When a vehicle inspector visits the car accident/theft spot, you must provide the necessary documents to him. At present, many car insurance companies are allowing online document submission as a convenience. In this case, you can upload the scanned documents while putting up a claim.
Prior to starting the vehicle inspection, the inspector can ask for your ID proof and driving licence. You might also need to deliver him the policy papers at the earliest.
Hence, these are the six fundamental things that you must know about the car insurance claim inspection. Expect your insurance company to only grant coverage if you maintain total transparency regarding the accident/theft of the car.
FAQs
Q. Is an inspection required for car insurance?
Ans. Inspection of your car is part of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) while taking a car insurance or while making a car insurance claim.
Q. How to buy car insurance without an inspection?
Ans. You cannot buy a comprehensive or stand alone own damage car insurance without inspection. The only insurance that can be bought without inspection is third party liability car insurance which safeguards you from any legal or financial liability arising due to damaging a third party property or injuring a third party person.
Q. Why is car inspection necessary?
Ans. Car inspection is necessary to eliminate any potential risk to your vehicle and to evaluate its mechanical condition thoroughly.
Q. What is self-inspection in car insurance?
Ans. Self inspection is a way by which you can self inspect your vehicle using a mobile app. Although not as accurate as done by an automobile inspector, this will help you analyse your car’s current condition.
Q. What are the main types of inspections?
Ans. The key types of inspections in car are pre-policy and pre-claim inspection.
For further reading:
How to Claim Car Insurance After Meeting an Accident in India
Disclaimer: This article is issued in general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.
Source: Acko General Insurance
