Claiming Car Insurance – A Guide

You covered the basics – you went online, you compared car insurance in the UAE, you chose a policy that worked for you. Unfortunately, now you need to make a claim on your car insurance. Here’s a simple guide of things you should, and shouldn’t do when claiming car insurance in the UAE.

Claiming Car Insurance FAQs

How do I claim car insurance in the UAE?

Step 1: Inform the Police. At the time of the accident, call the police and meanwhile, you can examine the damages on your car

Step 2: Notify your insurer immediately

Step 3: Capture photos of your damaged car

Step 4: Go through your insurance policy

Can I claim insurance for car repair?

Once the insured car is repaired in the preferred garage of the insured, he/she can claim for reimbursement. However, it is mandatory to report the damage or the accident to the insurance provider and get the damage inspected by the appointed surveyor within 48 hours of the accident.

How do I claim car insurance after an accident in the UAE?

You need to prepare all these to claim car insurance after an accident in the UAE:

• A police report.
• Car registration document.
• Car modifying certificate (if there is any)
• Driving license of both drivers.
• Filled insurance claim forms (both parties are required to fill up the claim form received from their respective insurance providers)

Things You Should Do When Making a Car Insurance Claim

Accidents are inevitable. You can be as careful as possible, but sometimes things are no one’s fault, and an accident occurs. In these circumstances, it is best to do the following to make your car insurance claim as speedy as possible.

Know What Your Policy Covers

As a policyholder, you should know what it contains front to back. Not knowing what’s covered can be a source of anxiety in the event of a collision. Therefore, before buying insurance, make sure you discuss what is covered in the event of an accident, so you are aware of what to do when making a car insurance claim.

Inform Your Insurer Immediately

For the insurer to be aware that you’ve had an accident, they need to be informed immediately. Call your insurance company to start the claims process as soon as you’re done, calling the police or an ambulance if needed. Indeed, the more you wait to file the claim, the longer and more tedious it will be to come through.

Keep Photographic Evidence

Once you’ve ensured that all parties involved in the collision are safe, take pictures of the scene to bolster your car insurance claims file. It helps give an accurate picture of what happened and who is to blame. Moreover, these can even be used to report a collision by posting on to the Dubai Police app. For Abu Dhabi, use the Saaed app to report traffic violations, and for Sharjah, use the Rafid app.

Get Contact Information

Information is key. Get as much information as possible. Get the contact details of the other party involved in the accident. Also, get the details of their vehicle, their license plate number, and the make and model of the car. I, if possible, try to get an eyewitness account. It will help greatly when you make a car insurance claim.

Make and Keep Copies of Concerned Documents

Anything and everything related to the car insurance claim should be photocopied and kept with you. It includes car repair, towing fees, medical bills, accident reports, and your car insurance policy.

Things You Should Avoid Doing When Making a Car Insurance Claim

Don’t Admit it Was You Fault

An accident is a traumatic experience. It leaves you dazed and even confused about what happened. Incidentally, it is human nature to think that you are at fault and that the other party might take advantage of this guilt. Therefore, it is recommended that you shouldn’t admit to fault as soon as the accident happens. Wait for the report to reveal who was actually at fault.

Don’t Accept Immediate Compensation

In some situations, the insurance company might try to give you a lower compensation than you’re entitled to. In these cases, it is best to consult legal counsel and gather all the information you can about your insurance policy. See if you are being offered less and if they can pay more before accepting compensation.

Don’t Sign Documents Without Verifying Them First

It goes for any situation in life but is especially crucial during an insurance claim – don’t sign any document offered to you without reading it thoroughly and asking questions to help you understand it better. It always helps to know what compensation is owed to you, but if you’re confused, always consult a lawyer before signing anything.

Don’t Take Too Long to File a Claim

In many cases, claimants file claims so late after the incident that their claim is rejected outright. It is mainly because they don’t read their insurance policies thoroughly and don’t know that three years is the cut-off mark, after which any claims are rejected. Yes, you can be too injured after the collision to make a claim personally. In this situation, you should ask a relative or friend to file a claim for you. If you are alone in the country, you can task your lawyer with the job of filing the claim. Please don’t leave it too late. You might not get any compensation at all as a result.

Try Not to Buy The Cheapest Policy

It is tempting to buy the cheapest policy, especially if you’re a careful driver and have never been in an accident before. However, not everyone is a careful driver, and what if you get involved in an accident with someone who isn’t? A cheap policy will hardly cover the damage your car will take, not to mention the medical bills you will have to pay out of your pocket. Cheap policies end up costing more in the long run.

Claiming car insurance doesn’t have to be hard. Just follow the do’s and don’ts, and you should be fine. Happy driving!

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