Have you gotten insured recently but want to understand the do’s and don’ts of insurance claims? Then you’ve come to the right place! Let’s be honest, doing anything new and “adulty” can be a little confusing and daunting. So, it’s important you understand exactly what’s going on, and how it works, so that you can continue with confidence.

We’ll go over the information you need to know when filing for an insurance claim and share tips on how to avoid pitfalls experienced by claimants.

First, let’s look at what you need and when to file for an insurance claim.

Before you do anything, it’s very important you contact your insurance provider before anyone else. This first step is often overlooked and can cause complications later on and just make things difficult and possibly even more expensive.

So, step one:

Contact your insurance broker immediately if any of the following events have occurred:

Your vehicle has been involved in a collision
Your vehicle has been vandalized
Your vehicle has been stolen
Your vehicle has been damaged by a natural disaster

When you speak with your insurance provider you must ask about the insurance claim procedure. You have to provide them with every detail from the accident or damage including location, time and date, people involved (names and contact numbers) and your driver’s license. You’ll also have to provide your policy number.

They will tell you the next steps to take, and depending on the company, you might receive a claims form to fill in which will record all the necessary information about the event.

Useful information you need to know when filing an insurance claim

Be aware of what your insurance policy covers

To make everything much easier, it helps to know exactly what you’re covered for when you settle on your insurance policy. If perhaps you’ve forgotten, ask your insurer again when you file for an insurance claim. Ask specific questions such as:

Am I covered for this month? If you’ve missed a payment on your premium or your payment hasn’t gone off yet, ask and make sure you are covered.
Does my policy cover loss of this specific item? If personal items have been stolen from your car such as a laptop, handbag or item of clothing – find out first if you’re covered for theft of personal items.
What will excess payment be? This can catch a lot of people out, so make sure you’ve spoken to your insurance provider about excess payments and keep money aside in case it’s required.

Do not allow a towing company to take your car

This one is extremely important to remember; do not ever let a tow company tow away your car or offer repairs without the go-ahead from your insurer. Most insurers have a list of companies they accept quotes from, so before you do anything, wait for a referral from your insurer or if you have a preferred tow and repair company, don’t continue until the quote has been accepted.

Report the accident to the police

Another important tip is to phone the police to report an accident. Your insurance provider will often ask for a police case number as part of the accident report. So make sure you have ALL the necessary information ready to be provided when you file for a claim.

Conclusion

By following these tips and knowing this information, you can avoid unnecessary pitfalls and it’ll help make the claim procedure less stressful too.