Accidents are stressful, but knowing the exact claim steps prevents delays and rejections. This guide walks through what to do immediately after an accident, when an FIR is mandatory, cashless versus reimbursement claims, the documents you need, and the IRDAI-mandated timelines for settling a car insurance claim in India.
Loading interactive experience…
The moments after an accident decide how smoothly your claim is processed. Ensure everyone's safety first and call emergency services (112) if anyone is injured. Then photograph everything before moving the vehicles — the position of the cars, all damage, skid marks and number plates. Call your insurer's 24-hour helpline immediately and log the claim; most insurers accept intimation through their app. Do not start repairs before the surveyor inspects the car.
An FIR at the police station is mandatory for: theft of the vehicle, accidents involving third-party injury or death, and hit-and-run cases. For minor two-car accidents with no injuries, an FIR is not compulsory but is still advisable. For theft claims you also need a Final Non-Traceable Report (Form 54), issued after roughly 90 days of investigation.
A cashless claim at a network garage is settled directly between the garage and your insurer — you pay only the compulsory deductible, non-covered items, and depreciation on parts (unless you hold zero depreciation). A reimbursement claim at a non-network garage means you pay upfront and submit invoices; the insurer settles within 15–30 working days. Cashless is faster and simpler wherever available.
Your insurer assigns a surveyor within 24–48 hours. Under IRDAI rules, reimbursement claims are settled within 30 days of complete documents. If a claim is rejected or underpaid, you can escalate to the Insurance Ombudsman or IRDAI's Bima Bharosa portal. Remember that an own-damage claim resets your NCB unless you hold NCB protection, and a compulsory deductible of ₹1,000 (up to 1500cc) or ₹2,000 (above 1500cc) applies to every claim. For background, see the car insurance guide and the difference between comprehensive and third-party cover.
Policy conditions require prompt intimation, often within 24–48 hours. A delay alone is not automatic grounds for rejection under IRDAI guidelines — the insurer must show the delay caused prejudice — but very long delays without reason are risky. Always inform as early as possible.
IRDAI mandates a compulsory deductible on all car claims: ₹1,000 per claim for cars up to 1500cc and ₹2,000 for cars above 1500cc. This is deducted from every settlement regardless of policy type. Some policies also have a voluntary deductible chosen by the policyholder.
Yes. Filing an own-damage claim resets your NCB to zero at renewal. If you hold an NCB protection add-on, you can make one claim per policy year without losing NCB. For very minor repairs, it is often better to pay out of pocket than to claim.
If repairs exceed 75% of the IDV, the car is declared a Constructive Total Loss. The insurer pays the full IDV minus the salvage value of the wreckage. You surrender the RC and keys to the insurer, who then sells the salvage.
Yes. After filing a written complaint with the insurer and either being rejected or getting no response within 30 days, you can escalate to the Insurance Ombudsman, which covers motor insurance disputes up to ₹50 lakh. File on IRDAI's Bima Bharosa portal; the process is free and the award is binding on the insurer.