Seven Steps to Filing Your Car Insurance Claim

Having even a teeny-tiny car accident can be one of life's least enjoyable moments. However, accidents happen, and sooner or later, we all have the experience of meeting one of our fellow road travelers up close and personal. Using the following seven steps to filing your claim will help you get over this speed bump as smoothly as possible.

Step 1: Understand your policy Before a loss, sit down and carefully read your insurance policy. Call your agent or company if you have any questions about what is or is not covered.

Step 2: Exchange information If you are involved in an accident, get the other driver's name, address, phone number, insurance carrier, and insurer's phone number. Be prepared to give the same information about yourself to the other driver. You can find insurers' telephone numbers on the proof-of-insurance cards that should be carried on your person when operating a motor vehicle.

Step 3: Identify witnesses Ask witnesses to the accident for their names and phone numbers in case their account of the accident is needed.

Step 4: File an accident report Contact local law enforcement officers to have an accident report prepared. If law enforcement is not reachable, accident reports and detailed instructions are available at all police departments, sheriff's offices, your local Department of Motor Vehicles office, and on your local Department of Motor Vehicles' web site.

Step 5: Notify your insurer Contact your insurance company about the accident as soon as possible. An insurance adjuster will review the accident report to determine who caused the accident. If the accident was not your fault, you can have either your insurance company or the at-fault driver's insurance company handle the repair or replacement of your vehicle. If you use the other driver's company, you will not have a claim on your automobile policy and you will not have to pay a deductible.

Step 6: Do not release insurers too early Do not relieve your insurance company of its responsibility until the damages are settled to your satisfaction. For example, have your insurance company handle the claim if the other party's insurance company questions its policyholder's negligence or offers an unacceptable settlement.

Step 7: Consider these settlement factors . Bodily injuries: You may be entitled to a monetary settlement for injuries caused by another at fault (liable) party. It can take several days for some injuries to become apparent. . Damages: The insurance company is responsible to pay for the reasonable cost of repairs to your vehicle. An insurance adjuster will assess the damage. Usually, insurance companies and auto body shops negotiate disagreements about what should be repaired. If you disagree with their conclusions, you have the right to obtain another appraisal at any auto body shop. . Appraisal clause: Most auto insurance policies include an appraisal clause, which can be used to help settle disputes about physical damage claims between you and your insurance company. (The appraisal clause does not apply for claims you file with the other party's insurance company.) If you cannot reach an agreement with your company, you or your insurer can initiate the appraisal clause. Your appraiser and your insurer's appraiser then select an independent umpire to try to resolve the dispute. Check your policy or ask your agent or insurance company for more information about the appraisal clause.

And that is it. While filing a claim is certainly no fun, following these seven steps will make the process almost as easy as getting free quotes and purchasing your car insurance at http://www.carinsurance.com.

How to Reduce Car Insurance Premiums

Here are some useful tips on how to reduce car insurance premiums. Firstly, you need to find a sense of balance between coverage and cost. Apart from negotiating a good deal, there are some other things that you can do to further bring down your car insurance premium for example;

Many insurers average yearly mileage at 12,000 miles. If you do not drive this amount, you can inform your insurer, thus resulting in a reduction in your premium.

Park the car - Parking your car in a secure location such as a locked garage or a secure designated off road parking spot can potentially reduce your premiums.



Bulk buying - Most of the big insurance companies offer all forms of insurance such as home, life etc. You may receive a discount for buying multiple forms of insurance with the same company.

Female drivers are statistically less prone to accidents. Women can avail their quotes from a firm that specialises in covering female drivers.

Anti-theft alarm - Equip your car with electronic central locking and alarm. Most insurance companies have a discount if you have these devices fitted in your car.

Avoid high interest rates - Interest charges are very high if you were to pay your premium in monthly instalments. It would work out cheaper to pay your premium in one lump sum.

Buy on the Internet - Financial products are far cheaper on the Internet than elsewhere. Car insurance is usually about 10% cheaper when you buy online.

Shop around - Be prepared to do the legwork, if you want a good deal.

Check the insurance rating - Some cars are considered to be of a higher risk than others. Before buying a car, check out its insurance group rating as car insurance premiums vary greatly between insurance groups.

Imported cars are expensive to insure - The price of a car bought abroad may be cheaper, but most likely, the insurance won't be. This is because, the parts can be more expensive and difficult to find, so take this into consideration unless you are buying a car fully catered for in UK.

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