Making a Claim
Every UK insurance company will have a different claims procedure, so it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with your insurer's claims system before you need to make use of it.
Whichever insurer you are protected by, it is necessary to inform them of any incident as soon as it occurs. Most UK car insurance companies have twenty-four hours claims lines so you needn't wait until office hours to report your claim. Your insurer will usually issue you with an accident report form, but you should ask them exactly what you should do and what evidence you need to supply them with.
Be sure to keep any receipts for expenses for which you expect to be reimbursed, and make copies of any correspondence associated with your claim. By following the advice of your insure and by providing them promptly and accurately any information that they require you can ensure that your claim is dealt with as swiftly as possible.
If your car needs repairing then it is a good idea to ask your insurer what action you should take. Your insurance provider will probably recommend a garage to which you should take your car. If you follow your insurer's recommendations then it is likely that your claims procedure will be quicker and simpler as your insure can deal directly with the repairer. You might also benefit from benefits such as a courtesy car for the duration of your vehicle's repair. If you do not take your car to a recommended repairer then you will need to get an estimate approved by your insure before any work can take place.
Remember that your car's repair costs are your responsibility until your insurers have agreed to pay. If you are unsure about the state of your claim then it is a good idea to get concrete confirmation before you proceed with repairs. Also do not forget that even if your insurer is prepared to meet the costs of your repairs, you are still required to first pay your level of excess. This payment should usually be made straight to the garage that is repairing your car.
If you are only protected by third party car insurance and the accident in which you were involved was not your fault then you will need to claim from the other driver. Read more about this here.