If I damage my own car can I claim on my insurance? This depends on the type of insurance you have. If you have comprehensive insurance, it should cover you for damage caused by someone else or by yourself.
If you only have a third party, or only have a third party in case of fire and theft, you may not be covered if you damage your car.
However, always check the policy first or contact your insurer for car insurance claims advice as they will tell you exactly what you can claim.
If I Damage My Own Car Can I Claim On My Insurance?
You can report damage you cause to your own car if you have an accident and/or have comprehensive coverage. However, if you have liability insurance, damage to your own car is not covered. The liability insurance only compensates for the damage and injuries of the other driver.
In contrast to liability insurance, comprehensive and comprehensive insurance are not required by law. But you were probably required to carry both if you leased or financed your car. Collision insurance covers damage to your car caused by an accident, such as: For example, hitting another vehicle, your car rolling or overturning, or hitting an object such as a telephone pole or tree. Comprehensive coverage covers damage caused by events beyond your control, such as vandalism or falling objects.
Both usually have an excess that you must pay before the insurance company covers the rest of the bill. Even with “fully comprehensive” the insurance does not cover your own fault. For example, if you didn’t close your windows before it rained, you’ll have to pay for it yourself.
Should I make an insurance claim or pay out of my own pocket?
It may make sense to skip reporting and pay out of pocket if you damaged your own car and no one was hurt, especially if the damage is close to the cost of your excess. If you make a claim it will be added to your book of insurance and your rates will go up. Drivers who make a single claim of $2,000 or more can expect their premium to increase by an average of 20% to 40% over three to five years.
Let’s say you broke into your mailbox, caused $700 in damage, and have a $500 deductible. That means insurance will only cover $200 of the cost. It’s probably in your best interest to foot the entire bill yourself since the higher premiums you pay over the next three years will likely be more than the extra $200 you currently have out of your pocket.
If you’ve made other claims in the past three years, it’s worth checking the numbers before filing another claim for damage you caused to your own car. Multiple claims lead to significant premium increases – two in one year can almost double your rate. Depending on your history and other relevant factors, you could even be dropped by your insurer.
You might think that you should always make a claim because that’s what insurance is for, but insurance is for major damage. While no one wants to pay for out-of-pocket repairs, claiming minor damage isn’t usually worth it.
How to report a car insurance claim
The worst has happened and you’ve had an accident, or your car has been damaged or stolen. Now you need to contact your car insurer and make a claim on your car insurance.
You don’t have to call your insurer right away, but most require you to contact them within 24 hours of the incident.
It may be possible to report car accident insurance online if your insurer allows it.
Usually, you have to pick up the phone and tell them exactly what happened.
This will start the claim process and will tell you exactly what to submit and how the claim will be processed.
When you speak to your insurer, you should have certain documents on hand, so try to have them ready. This includes:
- The registration data of both vehicles
- Name and address of the car’s registered owner (if not driving)
- Date and time of the incident
- The file number for criminal offenses if the police are involved
- Your insurance number
- Name(s) and contact details of the other driver, any passengers, and witnesses
- Photos of the damage to your car and other people involved (if you took them)
- The location, including the street or street name and the nearest house or business number
- Any other relevant information such as road or weather conditions
Claims settlement car insurance
Each insurer has its own way of handling a claim, but in general, they usually follow a similar pattern. Here we take a look at some of the most common questions related to the car insurance process.
What happens when you make a claim?
You speak to your insurer, usually on the phone, and they will ask you for details about the incident.
You should tell us in as much detail as possible what happened to your car. You must also provide information such as contact details and addresses of other drivers.
The insurer tells you how much you have to pay for the excess and how much you get to repair or replace the car. It will either be handed to you or someone will be paid to repair it directly.
Conclusion – If I Damage My Own Car Can I Claim On My Insurance
Now, back to the main topic, “if I damage my own car can I claim on my insurance?” Yes, you can report damage you cause to your own car if you have an accident and/or have comprehensive coverage. However, if you have liability insurance, damage to your own car is not covered. The liability insurance only compensates for the damage and injuries of the other driver.
