How to Claim Car Insurance after an Accident — Full DIY Step-by-Step India Guide

Clear, practical, and written for people who want to file a motor claim themselves. Follow these steps exactly, collect the documents listed below, and use the tips to avoid common mistakes and speed up approval.

Quick overview (what usually happens)

1. Report the accident to your insurer (intimation).
2. Insurer assigns a surveyor / inspection.
3. Surveyor inspects the car and prepares a report.
4. Submit the required documents & repair bills.
5. Insurer processes and settles the claim (cashless or reimbursement).
   Many insurers expect intimation within 24–72 hours and regulatory timelines require surveyor appointment and faster settlement—so act promptly.

Step-by-step: exactly what to do (DIY)

Step 1 — Immediately after the accident (safety first)

1. Ensure everyone’s safe. Move to a safe spot if the vehicle is drivable.
2. Call emergency services if needed (ambulance / police).
3. Take photographs of the scene, all vehicles involved, licence plates, skid marks, nearby landmarks, and injured persons (if any). Photos are your strongest early evidence.

Why: Photos prevent disputes later and help the surveyor/insurer understand the event quickly.

Step 2 — Call the police and file an FIR (when required)

File an FIR / police complaint when:

• There is injury or death, or
• Third-party property damage, or
• Hit-and-run, or
• Theft, or
• Accident on a highway.

For minor private-property bumps where nobody is injured, many insurers accept an accident report or a non-cognizable entry — but always check your policy wording and insurer helpline. Keep a copy/acknowledgement of the FIR or the police report.

Step 3 — Intimate your insurer (claim intimation)

• Call the insurer’s claims helpline / use their mobile app / use the insurer’s website. Most insurers allow 24×7 intimation.
• Give facts: policy number, date/time/place of accident, brief description, whether there are injuries, and whether police were informed.
• Note the Claim/Reference number given by the insurer — save it.
  Best practice: Intimate within 24–72 hours. Delay harms credibility and can increase rejection risk.

Step 4 — Expect a surveyor (insurer will appoint one)

• The insurer will usually appoint a motor insurance surveyor to inspect the damage (for Own Damage claims). The surveyor is an independent assessor who inspects damage, estimates repair cost, and advises on liability.
• Per IRDAI / insurer timelines, surveyor appointment and report timelines have been compressed—insurers commonly appoint a surveyor within 72 hours and expect a survey report in a set number of days. Keep following up if appointment is delayed.

Step 5 — Choose cashless repair (network garage) or reimbursement

• Cashless claim: Take the car to the insurer’s network garage. The garage will coordinate with the insurer — you normally pay only non-covered amounts or deductibles. This is the fastest route.
• Reimbursement: If repaired at a non-network garage, pay the bills first and submit originals to the insurer for reimbursement after settlement.

Tip: For fast approval use an insurer network garage (cashless), but ensure the garage and surveyor agree on the repair scope and parts.

Step 6 — Submit documents (see full list below)

Give the insurer all required documents (digital copies are accepted by many insurers). Missing paperwork is the top cause of delay.

Step 7 — Track the survey report & follow up

• Get the surveyor’s expected inspection date & follow up if delayed.
• If you disagree with the survey report, raise the concern immediately with the insurer and request re-inspection or escalation. Keep a written record (email / message).

Step 8 — Claim decision, settlement & vehicle release

• After the surveyor and documents are in, the insurer will approve or reject partially/fully. IRDAI guidelines and many insurers aim to settle quickly once the survey report is received.
• For cashless: the garage completes repair after insurer nod. For reimbursement: you submit final original bills and are reimbursed per policy terms.

Required documents (keep copies ready)

Core documents common to most accident claims:

• Policy document / policy number / cover note.
• Claim intimation form (signed) — many insurers have online forms.
• Registration Certificate (RC) of the vehicle.
• Driving licence of the driver at time of accident.
• FIR / Police report (if applicable — injury, third-party, theft, hit-and-run, highway).
• Repair estimate (garage estimate) — original if reimbursement later.
• Final repair bills & receipts (originals).
• Photos of damage & accident scene (your mobile photos).
• KYC of insured (Aadhaar / PAN / address proof) if requested.
• NOC from financier if vehicle is under loan (for settlement in insured’s favour).

Note: Additional forms (Form 28/29/30, consent letters, discharge vouchers) may be needed for total loss/constructive total loss/theft—insurer will advise.

Timeline expectations (typical / regulatory)

• Claim intimation: Immediately; preferably within 24–72 hours of accident.
• Insurer acknowledgement: Often within 3 days of intimation (varies by insurer).
• Surveyor appointment: Usually within 72 hours of intimation.
• Survey report submission: Insurers/surveyors typically aim to submit within 7–30 days depending on complexity; IRDAI has pushed for shorter timelines in recent updates.
• Claim settlement after documents & survey: Often within 30 days of receiving all documents (some IRDAI directions shorten certain timelines).

Role of the surveyor — what they check and why they matter

A surveyor is an independent assessor who:

• Inspects vehicle damage and photographs it.
• Estimates repair cost and whether parts need replacement.
• Checks whether damage is consistent with the accident statement (liability input).
• Prepares the survey report for the insurer (used to accept/deny or quantify the claim).
  Surveyor findings strongly influence the claim decision; cooperate, provide documents and photos, and be present (or have your garage rep) during inspection.

Common mistakes that delay or cause claim rejection

• Late intimation beyond insurer-specified time without a valid reason.
• Missing or incomplete documents (FIR, RC, licence, bills).
• Unauthorized repairs before insurer/surveyor inspection (insurer may reject). Wait for surveyor unless vehicle is unsafe to drive — take photos first.
• Wrong or false information about the accident — this is fraud and leads to rejection.
• Not using network garage for cashless claims (makes process slower if you choose reimbursement).

Tips to get faster claim approval

1. Inform insurer immediately and get a claim number.
2. Use a cashless network garage for quicker processing.
3. Upload clear photos of damage and scene right away.
4. Keep originals handy (RC, licence, policy copy, FIR).
5. Be cooperative during the survey—answer truthfully and provide requested documents.
6. Keep communication in writing (emails / insurer portal messages) so you have timestamps.
7. Follow up politely with insurer if timelines slip and escalate to the insurer’s grievance cell or IRDAI if needed.

If your claim is rejected — what to do

1. Ask for the rejection reason in writing.
2. Review the survey report and documents they relied on.
3. Provide supporting evidence (photos, witness statements, repair bills).
4. Escalate within insurer (nodal officer / grievance cell).
5. If unresolved, approach IRDAI or consumer court — keep all records.

FAQs (quick answers)

Q1 — How soon should I intimate the insurer after an accident?
Preferably within 24 hours, and in any case within 48–72 hours unless there’s a valid reason. Delays increase risk of queries or rejection.

Q2 — Do I always need an FIR?
No — but FIR is mandatory when there’s injury/death, theft, hit-and-run, or major third-party damage. For minor private-place bumps, insurer guidance varies; keep proof of incident.

Q3 — Can I get cashless repairs if I go to a non-network garage?
No. Cashless is available only at network garages. At a non-network garage you will have to pay first and claim reimbursement.

Q4 — What if the other party is at fault?
You should still intimate your insurer. The insurer may recover costs from the other party’s insurer later (subrogation). Keep all evidence and the other vehicle’s details.

Q5 — How long does settlement take?
Once survey report and all documents are received, many insurers aim to settle within 30 days, though IRDAI has pushed for faster timelines in recent updates. Complex cases take longer.

Final checklist (print or save)

• Photos of accident & damaged vehicle (multiple angles)
• FIR / police report copy (if applicable)
• Policy number & claim reference number
• RC copy, driver’s licence, KYC docs
• Repair estimate & final bills (originals)
• Garage contact & surveyor name/date
• All communications saved (emails / messages / receipts)