If you've taken out insurance and something happens, you might need to make a claim.
This page tells you what you need to think about before you contact your insurer and also what to do if someone tries to make a claim against you.
Making a claim
If you need to make a claim contact your insurer as soon as possible and ask them to send you a claim form. They may be able to email this to you to speed things up. Complete the claim form carefully and keep a copy for yourself.
The Association of British Insurers have more information on flooding and insurance, including what you can expect after a flood atwww.abi.org.uk.
Check the following things before you send off your claim:
you're within the time limits for making a claim
you're covered for what you're claiming for
how much the excess is. The excess is the amount of money that your insurer will take off the claim. It may not be worth making a claim if the amount you're claiming for is less than this
the small print. Make sure there's nothing in the terms and conditions that prevents you from claiming
whether it's a new for old policy. If it isn't, the amount you get for items you're claiming for will be less than the cost of replacing them. This is because the insurer takes off money for wear and tear.
You'll need to include copies of all paperwork that will help your claim, including receipts or medical certificates. You should also keep copies of the originals in case your claim is queried or refused.
Your insurer may ask if you have other insurance that may cover the claim. You'll need to let them know if you have other insurance that may also offer cover, for example, home contents insurance.
It's important not to exaggerate your claim since this could lead to the whole claim being rejected.
If you're making a large claim you may want to use a loss assessor, who can help you prepare the claim and arrange for items to be valued. You can find a loss assessor by searching online.
Do you have to claim on your insurance?
You don't have to make a claim on your insurance policy, even if you're entitled to do so. In some cases, if the amount is quite small, you may not want to make a claim because if you do so your future premiums could increase by more than the amount you have claimed.
However, it's a good idea to make an insurance claim if someone has been injured. Personal injuries can be expensive, and they can leave long-term health problems.
Even if you don't want to make a claim on your insurance policy, you must always tell your insurer about an event. If you don't report it, you may find that this leads to problems later on if you do want to make a claim.
Someone is making a claim against you
If you find out that someone is making a claim against you should tell your insurer as soon as possible and send them any paperwork you receive. You should not admit anything is your fault without talking to your insurer first. This is called admitting liability.
Next steps
FAQs
What happens if someone claims on my insurance? If both you and the other driver agree that the accident was your fault, then your insurance provider will simply handle the claim and pay out. You shouldn't have to do anything once you've reported the accident.
What happens when someone makes a claim on your insurance? ›
What happens if someone claims on my insurance? If both you and the other driver agree that the accident was your fault, then your insurance provider will simply handle the claim and pay out. You shouldn't have to do anything once you've reported the accident.
Is it worth claiming on the insurance? ›
In some cases, if the amount is quite small, you may not want to make a claim because if you do so your future premiums could increase by more than the amount you have claimed. However, it's a good idea to make an insurance claim if someone has been injured.
What are three important tips on filing an auto insurance claim? ›
Important Tips
- Read your policy. ...
- If you don't understand your policy, ask your agent and/or company for clarification.
- If you have an accident, call the police. ...
- Get as much information as possible at the accident scene to furnish to your agent and/or insurance company.
Will my car insurance go up after an accident? Unfortunately, the simple answer to this is yes. Whether the accident was your fault or not, making a claim will usually lead to an increase in your car insurance premium the next year and you could see an increase even if you don't make a claim.
Does your insurance go up after a claim that is not your fault? ›
Under California law, an insurer cannot increase your premiums when you aren't at fault.
Do I pay excess if I am not at fault? ›
You pay the excess in the event of any claim made on your insurance policy regardless of who is to blame. However, if it's proved the accident was the other person's fault and the full cost is recovered from their insurer, you may be able to recover this amount.
Is it worth making an insurance claim? ›
In general, it's better to report an accident to your insurance company than not to, especially if another party is involved. But there are some instances where not filing a claim makes more sense.
What is the downside of filing an insurance claim? ›
It could increase your premiums
The higher your perceived risk, the more likely you are to pay more in premiums. Your claims history tends to play a direct role. If you've filed homeowners insurance claims in the past, your insurer may see it as a red flag that you'll continue to do so in the future.
When not to make an insurance claim? ›
If repair costs are less than your deductible, if no one else's property is damaged, and if no one else is injured, there is generally no reason to file a claim. Remember, your deductible is the amount of money that you commit to paying out of pocket before your insurance company begins to pay you any benefits.
10 Things to Consider Before Filing an Insurance Claim
- File Quickly. It's best not to wait to file a claim. ...
- Show Your Knowledge. ...
- Be Diligent. ...
- Find Experts to Help. ...
- Make a List. ...
- Work With Insurance Adjusters. ...
- Document Insurance Adjuster Interactions. ...
- Report and Document Damages.
Almost every major car insurance company advises potential claimants to file a claim first, and then get a repair estimate. While you can almost always choose where to get your vehicle repaired, the insurance company is usually going to want to be involved in the vehicle inspection/damage estimate process.
What happens when you submit a claim? ›
The insurance company will assign an adjuster to your case. This adjuster will investigate what happened and determine if they believe you suffered a covered event. In the case of a liability claim, they will also decide who they believe is liable for the accident that caused your injuries.
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.
Do I lose my no-claims bonus if I have an accident? ›
If you decide to claim for any damage, it will affect your no-claims bonus until your insurer can recover the costs from the other driver's insurer. But a no-claims bonus is only relevant at the annual renewal of the policy.
Will my insurance go up if I have protected no-claims? ›
You have to pay for it, and the cost and number of times you can claim varies significantly across providers. Important. Having no-claims bonus protection will not stop your car insurance premium from increasing.
What does it mean when someone makes a claim on your insurance? ›
An insurance claim is a formal request from the policyholder to their insurance company asking for payment after a covered incident, such as a hospital stay, a natural disaster, theft, and more.
Will I lose my no claims if someone hits me? ›
A no claims bonus (NCB), or more correctly a no claims discount, is awarded if you don't claim in the latest policy year. Even if you have an accident that wasn't your fault – you're hit by an uninsured driver, or your car gets stolen – you could lose your NCB, and your premium could even go up at renewal.
Will an insurance claim affect my insurance? ›
In general, when you make a claim against your insurance policy above a specific amount due to an incident that is primarily your fault, an insurer will increase your premium by a certain percentage.
What happens if you or someone you know lies about an insurance claim? ›
If the insurer thinks you lied, they might deny the claim and cancel the policy. You could even face criminal charges for insurance fraud.
