You can claim on your car insurance when you've suffered any loss or damage that your policy covers.
When you have a car accident, contact your insurer as soon as possible. Some policies have time limits for claiming. Also ask them if you're entitled to any emergency benefits, for example, free car hire or accommodation.
1. Gather information about the accident
To make a claim, you have to meet the terms and conditions of your policy.
If your accident involved another car, your insurer may ask for details of the other driver, including:
- contact details (name, address, phone number)
- drivers licence and car registration
- insurance company
- car make, colour and model
Your insurer may also ask for:
- the location of the accident
- a description of what happened and any damage to cars or property (plus photos)
- a police report number (if the police attended or you reported your car stolen or damaged)
- details of the tow truck company (if one attended)
- contact details of any witnesses
2. Check what you can claim for
Check your policy to find out what you can claim for. For example, if you have third party insurance, you can only claim for damage to other cars.
Also check if there are any exclusions to your cover. You may not be covered if the person driving your car was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or if your car was unregistered.
3. Check if you have to pay an excess
Generally, you have to pay an excess when you make a claim whether you're at fault or not. Some policies will waive the excess in limited circ*mstances.
Check your policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the excess amount and conditions where it might be waived.
4. Make a claim
There are different rules and processes for claiming. Check the claims process on your insurer’s website.
If you do decide to claim, you'll need to fill out a claim form. You may be able to do this with your insurer over the phone or online.
Ask your insurer if you can start a claim to find out how much the repairs will cost. Then you can decide if it's worth going ahead. For example, if the damage is minor, the repairs may cost less than your excess.
If the other party has admitted it was their fault, their insurer may pay for your costs.
The General Insurance Code of Practice sets out what insurers should do to handle claims. If they do not meet these standards you can complain to the insurer.
5. After you make a claim
After you've made your claim, the insurer must contact you within 10 business days. They may accept or reject your claim, or ask for more information.
If they reject your claim, they must do this in writing.
Your insurer may contact any other drivers, their insurers, and any witnesses who saw the accident.
They may also investigate to confirm the details of what happened and who was at fault.
If you're not happy with how your insurer has handled your claim, make a complaint to their Internal Dispute Resolution team. If you are still not happy, contact the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).
Alisha was not at fault, but still has to pay her excess
Alisha's car was hit by a person driving a stolen car, who drove off after the accident.
Alisha contacts her insurer to make a claim. They tell her she will have to pay the excess, even though the damage wasn't her fault.
Alisha checks her policy. She finds a condition stating she has pay the excess if the 'at fault' party can't be found.
FAQs
Under California law, an insurer cannot increase your premiums when you aren't at fault.
How do I claim money from my insurance company? ›
Contact your insurer for the insurance claim process. Inform about the incident and provide all relevant information and documents as requested. This includes your policy number, date, and location of incident. You also need to provide medical records or police reports if any, and other evidence.
How much does car insurance go down after 1 year no claims? ›
In many cases, your insurance will go down by 5-20% in the first year of no claim, depending on your insurer. After the first year, this discount increases each year, usually by 5%, if you don't make a claim. But it only increases up to a maximum discount, usually 50-60%, and a number of years — usually 5-6 years.
How to claim car insurance in Australia? ›
Make a claim
Check the claims process on your insurer's website. If you do decide to claim, you'll need to fill out a claim form. You may be able to do this with your insurer over the phone or online. Ask your insurer if you can start a claim to find out how much the repairs will cost.
How does insurance work when it's not your fault? ›
If you file a claim with your carrier when you are not at fault, your carrier will eventually begin a process called subrogation. Essentially, this means that once liability is determined, your insurance carrier will send a demand to the at-fault party's carrier to pay back the damages that were paid out to you.
Why does insurance drop you after a claim? ›
Too many insurance claims
If you file claims often your insurer may view you as a greater risk, which may lead them to non-renewing your policy. Insurers may not drop a customer after their first one or two incidents. The first step is often to increase your car insurance rate.
What are the four stages of an insurance claim? ›
The insurance claim life cycle has four phases: adjudication, submission, payment, and processing.
What are the steps in the claim process? ›
Your insurance claim, step-by-step
- Connect with your broker. Your broker is your primary contact when it comes to your insurance policy – they should understand your situation and how to proceed. ...
- Claim investigation begins. ...
- Your policy is reviewed. ...
- Damage evaluation is conducted. ...
- Payment is arranged.
That said, you'll usually be looking at an increase of 20%-50%. Unless it's protected, you should also expect to lose any no-claims discount you've built up. Even if it's protected you could still see your premiums rise – this is because a no-claims discount is a reduction from a baseline car insurance premium.
Is it better to pay car insurance monthly or every 6 months? ›
If you pay in full, a six-month car insurance policy will typically cost less due to its shorter coverage period. However, if you're paying month-to-month, you may not notice much difference in price between a six-month and 12-month policy.
Is car insurance cheaper if you own your car? Car insurance premiums don't automatically go down when you pay off your car, but you can probably lower your premium by dropping coverage that's no longer required. Banks and financing companies who loan you money for your car are called lienholders.
What is the time limit for car insurance claims in Australia? ›
Is There a Time Limit on Car Insurance Claims?
| State/Region | Claim Duration | Special Conditions |
|---|
| NSW | 3 months | Back pay entitlement if claimed within 28 days |
| Vic | 12 months | Exceptions up to 3 years with TAC approval |
| Qld | 9 months | 1 month if managed by a solicitor |
| SA | 6 months | Claim ASAP if vehicle unidentified/unregistered |
4 more rowsDec 8, 2023
Your U.S. policy likely only covers you in the U.S. and Canada, so you'll need a separate policy when driving in all other countries. Whether you plan to drive across a border or rent or purchase a car overseas, you have plenty of options for getting the international auto insurance coverage each country requires.
What is the most common car insurance claim in Australia? ›
Car claims data compiled by QBE Personal Lines claims for car insurance in 20211 (from 1 January to 31 Oct 2021), reveals the top 3 car claims: Vehicle collision. Windscreen damage. Storm or hail damage.
Will my insurance go up if I make a lot of claims? ›
The greater the number of claims filed, the greater the likelihood of a rate hike. File too many claims—especially in a very short amount of time—and the insurance company may not renew your policy. If the claim is based on the damage you caused, your rates will almost surely rise.
Should I call my insurance if it wasn't my fault progressive? ›
Technically, you're required to report a claim even if it's not your fault. We're here to protect your interests and help when you're involved in an auto accident, no matter who was at fault. Reporting a claim is particularly important when people are injured or there's damage to another person's car or property.
How many claims before car insurance cancels? ›
How many claims can you file before an insurance company drops you? There is no limit on the amount of insurance claims you can file, but most experts say filing more than one claim per year could result in an insurance company canceling your policy. It's best to avoid filing multiple claims in one year.
