What you need to do to file a car insurance claim

No matter how much we avoid it, accidents on the road do happen. But having a vehicle insurance policy simply isn’t enough. It pays to be informed of what you need to do when you get into an accident and know how to file for an insurance claim.

Step 1: Read your Insurance Policy

1. Read and understand what your insurance policy covers (own damage, third-party liability, injuries, and free towing and roadside assistance). 
2. Make sure that you keep it inside your car.

Step 2: Secure the accident scene

In the case that you do get into an accident, remember these things:

1. Stay calm.
2. See that all passengers are ok. Call for help if you need medical assistance.
3. Protect your belongings.
4. Make sure that the surroundings are safe before stepping out of the vehicle.
5. Secure the accident scene. Turn on your hazard lights and/or put up your early warning device (EWD).

Step 3: Document the accident scene

1. Take photos of the scene with a camera or smartphone that shows your vehicle’s  damage, license plate, and its relation to the road.
2. If there is another car involved, take photos of it as well.
3. Do not settle things right away with cash.
4. Exchange information such as name, address, contact number, driver’s license number, and license plate.
5. Call the police or an immediate authority to report the incident.
6. Present your Driver’s License and Vehicle OR/CR.
7. Acquire a police report.
8. If it is a self-accident, a notarized affidavit may suffice.
9. If your vehicle is immobile, call a towing service (or your insurance company).

Step 4: Notify your insurance company

After everything has been taken cared of, you can begin processing your insurance claim. Contact your insurance company and report the damage. They should be able to provide you with a list of the required documents and accredited repair shops.

Here’s a shortlist of what your insurance company will ask from you:

1. Accomplished claim form.
2. Photos from the accident showing the accident scene and vehicle damage.
3. Police report or notarized affidavit.
4. Estimated cost of repair from accredited repair shop.
5. Photocopy of Driver’s License with original receipt.
6. Photocopy of vehicle’s Motor Vehicle Registration Renewal (MVRR) Official Receipt and Certificate of Registration. 

Step 5: Submit required documents

Forward all the required documents to the car insurance company as soon as you can to avoid delays.

Step 6: Letter of Authorization and Repair

After you’ve completed all the required documents, the insurance company will then issue a Letter of Authorization (LOA). Sometimes it takes a while, so you will have to follow them up. But ultimately, the accredited car repair shop will only commence with the repair once the LOA has been released.

After that, bring your car in for repairs and pick it up when it looks new again.

CAUTION!

You should know that there are several things that might disqualify you from filing an insurance claim. 

1. If you are doing something illegal, such as beating the red light, driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances, and even driving without a license.
2. If the damage was caused by a natural disaster, insurance policies will not cover this if you don’t have Act of Nature (AON) coverage.
3. If the damage was caused by riots, war, or public disturbance.

This only serves as a guide and some of the info here may differ from the actual process that your car insurance company requires. It’s strongly suggested to discuss things with them and comply to their requirements.

Nevertheless, it’s still best to not go through all these hassle at all. As the line goes, prevention is better than cure. Please drive safely.