Having a car accident is absolutely unfortunate! But thankfully, car insurance in the UAE is mandatory for every owner, which not only covers car damages but also medical expenses and third-party liabilities. By the way, the UAE has multiple insurance companies offering two different types of policies.
Whether you choose a Comprehensive Insurance Policy or a Third-Party Liability plan, sometimes the process of claiming the fund becomes hectic, especially when you’re not well aware of these things.
However, there’s nothing to worry about. In this blog, we’ve added all the crucial steps to claim your car insurance in the UAE. Read till the end for a comprehensive guide.
What is an Insurance Claim?
In simple words, an insurance claim is an official request by the policyholder (car owner) to the insurance company to cover the damages that happened to the insured car. Remember, in the UAE, every vehicle on the road is mandatory to have insurance.
How to Claim The Insurance
Now let’s see what you need to do if your car has an accident causing damages. Check out the following steps closely for a detailed view.
Step 1: Contact The Police
Keep in mind that the insurance companies in the UAE don’t allow claims without an accident report provided by the police. Hence, first, you should report the accident to the police. You should also gather evidence like pictures or videos of the damages, bodily injuries, and some of the surroundings. This can help you claim the insurance without any trouble.
After that, the police will arrive and inspect the accident. If the accident occurred between two vehicles, they will give a red and a green form to the drivers. The red one is for the driver who caused the accident, and the green one is for the affected driver. In this form, you need to write the accident summary and your contact details.
However, motorists in Dubai can file minor accident reports through the Dubai Police App. People in Sharjah can use the Rafid Accident Reporting app, and those in the capital can use the Abu Dhabi Police app for minor accident reports.
Step 2: Inform the Insurance Company
After successfully reporting the accident to the police, you can inform your car insurance company. However, make sure you have all the documents regarding your car ownership. Share all the information and necessary evidence to make the claiming procedure smooth and steady.
Step 3: Submit Required Documents
The insurance companies will ask for some of your official documents for verification.
Make sure you have these documents:
- Police report
- Emirates ID
- Driving license
- Car ownership documents
- Car modifying certificate (if there is any)
- The filled claim form with accident details
- Photos or videos of the damage to your car.
Step 4: Agreement & Settlement
After you submit the required documents, an official from the insurance company will inspect the damages to your car. Moreover, they may also want to see the injuries you had from the accident.
Once your claim is approved, the company may directly send the repair cost to the authorized repair workshop.
When You Should Apply for the Insurance Claim
Although a car insurance claim in the UAE is a great relief, you cannot apply for it in any random accidents. Here are the circumstances when you should consider filing a claim:
1. When there is bodily Injury during the accident
If an accident causes you or anyone to suffer bodily injuries, you must inform the police and your insurance provider immediately. Remember, timely reporting is crucial because medical expenses can quickly increase.
Moreover, assess the extent of damage in accordance with your car insurance policy to determine your eligibility for compensation.
Also, keep in mind that you can only file a claim for bodily injury if your car insurance policy includes collision or accident coverage. Without this, your insurance provider may not process your claim.
2. When your car is damaged
If your vehicle gets damaged during an accident, you can file a claim. However, the compensation here depends on your insurance coverage.
Third-Party Liability Cover: If another vehicle caused the damage to your car, their insurance would compensate you for repairs.
Comprehensive Insurance Cover: If you were at fault, this type of policy covers the damages of both yours and the other party’s. Additionally, it also provides protection for damages caused by natural calamities like floods, sandstorms, or fires.
Keep in mind that comprehensive insurance offers more coverage than third-party liability for better financial security. However, it comes with a higher premium. Hence, while choosing an insurance policy for your car, make sure to look at your needs and budget.
What happens when the claim is accepted?
You might be curious to know what the insurance companies do after accepting the claim. Well, here’s what they do:
- First, you need to submit all the required documents and proofs of the accident.
- The insurance company permits you to take your car to the authorized repair workshop for an estimate.
- The repairer will inspect the damages and report to the insurance company about the repair cost.
- Once the company transfers the repair cost, the repair work starts.
- When your car is ready, you can take it to your home.
Well, this is all how you can claim your car insurance after an accident. We hope this blog has given you all the necessary information to make a smooth insurance claim.