How to make a claim on your car insurance

What is the car insurance claim process?

If you’re unfortunate enough to find yourself involved in a car accident, there’s a process you should follow to make sure your insurance claim runs smoothly.

At the scene:

• If anyone is injured, call the police and ambulance immediately

• Don’t accept blame, as this could be used if an insurance claim is made against you

• Exchange details with the other drivers involved – names, addresses, car registration numbers and insurance policy numbers (if they have them)

• Get the contact details of any passengers and witnesses

• Take photos and/or video footage to help back up your claim

• Note the location, day and time of the accident

• If the police are involved, you’ll need a copy of their report and a crime reference number.

After the accident:

• Make sure you have your insurance documents to hand

• Call your insurance provider’s claims team – most have a dedicated 24/7 helpline

• Explain what happened as clearly and accurately as you can

• Give details of anyone else involved.

You’ll probably need to fill in a claims form – some insurance providers let you do this online.

Include any photos or video footage, as these will back up your statement and show any damage first-hand.

Your insurance provider may ask you to have your car repaired in an approved garage, so don’t do anything until you’ve spoken to them.

If you get your car fixed in an unapproved garage, your insurance provider might charge an additional amount on top of your excess.

You don’t always need to make a claim. Doing so is likely to push up your insurance costs so you may decide not to – but you still need to tell your insurance provider about an accident.

How long does an insurance claim take?

A claims process can take anything from a few days to several months. The speed of the process depends on:

• How quickly you report the incident – the sooner you get your claim in, the sooner the insurance provider can start processing it.

• The seriousness of the incident – minor claims should be pretty quick and straightforward; serious claims could take a lot longer.

• Evidence – the more evidence you have to back up your claim, the more straightforward the process is likely to be.

• Disputes – if anyone challenges your claim, it can hold up the process.

How long after a car accident can you claim for damage in the UK?

There’s a car accident claim time limit, which is usually stated in your policy documents. Follow the instructions in your policy or your claim could be invalidated.

Do I have to make a claim if I have an accident?

No, you don’t have to make a claim on your car insurance if you’ve had an accident. However, you do need to let your insurance provider know about it.

Most insurance providers state in their terms and conditions that you need to tell them about any accident you’re involved in, even if you weren’t at fault. If you don’t, you could invalidate your policy.

You won’t always need to claim on your insurance after an accident. In some cases, it might be cheaper to pay out for repairs.

For example, if you have an insurance excess of £500 but repairing your car only costs £200, it won’t be worth claiming.

If you decide you don’t want to make a claim, tell your insurance provider in writing. Email them saying that the details you’re providing are for information purposes only.

Why do I need to tell my insurance provider about an accident?

Personal injury claims can be made against you years after you have an accident, so notifying your provider means they can be prepared, if necessary. It also means your insurance provider won’t compensate anyone without your knowledge.

What information will my insurance provider need if I make a claim?

Your insurance provider will need:

• Your policy number

• Your personal details

• Details of the other parties involved, including registration numbers and insurance details

• Details of any witnesses

• If the other driver isn’t the registered keeper, you’ll need details of the person who is

• Details about the time, day and location of the accident, including what the weather was like and if there were any roadworks in the area

• A crime reference number if your car was stolen or vandalised.

The insurance provider’s claims team will then take you through the process and help you with any queries.

Will making a claim affect the cost of my insurance?

Making a claim will likely increase the cost of your car insurance when you come to renew. This is likely even if the accident wasn’t your fault.

If you make a claim and your insurance provider can’t recoup all the costs from another driver’s insurance provider, your premium is likely to rise.

You could also see an increase in your insurance premium even if you don’t claim. This is because some insurance providers assume that drivers who’ve had an accident are more likely to be involved in another one.

But that doesn’t mean that you should avoid telling your insurance provider about an accident. The cost of having a claim rejected or your car insurance invalidated could be much higher.

Will making a claim affect my no claims discount (NCD)?

If you haven’t protected your NCD, making a claim for an accident that was your fault will almost certainly affect your NCD years.

If you’ve protected your no claims discount, you can typically make one or two claims a year without affecting your NCD.

However, your car insurance premium could still increase, even with NCD protection. This is because your premium is calculated before your NCD is applied.