Knowing what to do after an accident will help the claims process go as smoothly as possible – find out what happens if you need to make a car insurance claim
If you’re involved in a car accident, it’s vital that you tell your insurer about it as soon as you can so not to invalidate your cover.
When you take out car insurance, insurers set out time periods in which you must contact them after a crash. Check your car insurance policy for the details – time periods can vary from two days to two weeks after the accident.
What to tell your insurer
If the accident involved another car you’ll need to provide:
- The vehicle registration number of the other car
- Name and address of the other driver
- Phone number of the other driver
- Car insurance details of the other driver
If the other driver is uninsured, report the accident to the police and your insurer who should be able to help you.
You should also tell your insurer the time and date of the accident, the weather conditions at the time, and how the accident happened.
Making a car insurance claim
Once you’ve contacted your insurer you’ll usually be sent a form to complete – try to give your insurer as much information as possible and provide all relevant documents.
Follow our car insurance claim checklist to help you make a successful claim:
- Unless you’re certain you were at fault, don’t admit liability at the scene of an accident
- Make sure to exchange personal details with the other driver, including your name and address, phone number, car registration number, and make and model of the car
- Note the time, date and location of the accident and make a drawing of the accident if possible and include any photos you may have taken at the scene
- Complete all details on the claim form and provide extra details if required
- Provide the contact details of any witnesses to the accident
- Get a crime number from the police if the car insurance claim is as a result of a theft or vandalism, or you believe the accident was unlawful – such as suspected speeding or drunk driving
Notify your insurer even if it’s only a minor accident – failure to do this could invalidate your car insurance.
Car insurance claims – what happens next?
If other people were involved in the accident, your insurer will contact the insurance companies of the other people to resolve the claims.
Some insurers only agree to pay for car repairs carried out by their own approved mechanics – wait for your insurer to contact you with the garage details before rushing to have your car fixed as you could end up paying for the repairs yourself.
