How to File a Vehicle Insurance Claim the Right Way

Filing a motor vehicle insurance claim can be easy as long as you follow the correct steps. You do not want to pay your policy premiums for so long, only to have your claim for vehicle damage rejected. So pay attention to the correct vehicle insurance claim procedure below:

1. First step

If an accident really happens, say another car or motorbike sideswipes your vehicle and causes serious damage to the body or engine, do not panic. The first thing to do is photograph the damage as evidence. You must have this evidence as an absolute requirement to make your insurance claim easier later.

2. Prepare the documents

Before you file a claim, every insurance policy requires you to prepare certain documents. They are:

1. A photocopy of the insurance policy
2. Photocopies of your driver's license (SIM) and vehicle registration certificate (STNK)
3. A police report, which is also needed if the vehicle was badly damaged in an accident

3. Go to the workshop

Once you have prepared these documents, you can go to a workshop that works with your insurer. Just tell the partner workshop that you want to make an insurance claim. The workshop will contact your insurer before it surveys the damage to your vehicle. Remember that the workshop you visit must be a partner workshop, meaning one that has a cooperation agreement with the insurer.

If the accident happens outside your city, you must contact your insurer's representative office in the area where the accident took place. You can also call its call center. Note that the maximum time limit for filing an insurance claim after an accident is 3 days.

4. Fill in the form

After the workshop finishes surveying the damage, you will be asked to fill in the motor vehicle insurance claim form. Fill it in clearly and describe the accident honestly and in detail. Do not take details such as the time of the incident, the location, witnesses and so on lightly. The insurer will check right away after you file the claim.

If the data on the form does not match what you described and the facts on the ground, do not be disappointed if your insurance claim is rejected.

If the insurer approves your claim, though, the workshop will contact you and will repair your vehicle right away. The repair time depends on how severe the damage is: it can be 1 to 3 days, with a maximum of 7 days. Some damage, however, takes up to a month to repair.

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