One-Stop Guide To Vehicle Inspection During A Car Insurance Claim

With most of the processes related to vehicle insurance being available online, it is becoming less common to have to engage with insurance provider representatives offline. However, even today there are instances where you may have to engage with a person associated with the insurance provider’s office, for various reasons. It could help you make the policy purchase by offering you clarity on your options, or it could be to alter any policy details that you may prefer to do in person. One of the processes that you may need to meet an insurance provider representative in person for, or at least have the process conducted offline, is your car inspection. What is a car inspection? As a car owner and a person who buys car insurance and may have to claim it sometime in the future, you ought to be fully aware of what car inspection entails. There are two main car inspection processes to know about when buying insurance for a car. Let’s take a look at both these processes before we take a deep dive into all that you need to know about car inspection during a car insurance claim.  

Types of Car Inspection

A car inspection refers to the process of your vehicle being inspected, usually by a surveyor appointed by your insurance provider. Commonly, there are two scenarios where a car inspection might be required. These are:

• When buying insurance
• When making a claim^

Let’s take a quick look at the first instance. In some instances, your car may be subject to inspection when buying insurance. Some exceptional situations may call for it. For example, if you have opted for an add-on cover when you did not already have it as part of your previous policy, such as the zero depreciation cover when the vehicle is at least a couple of years older, or a return to invoice cover, you may be asked to opt for an inspection.* This is necessary to ensure your car’s health to assess whether the add-on covers can be offered to you. A company-appointed surveyor will inspect your car. Based on the assessment, the covers will be offered to you and the premium rates will be determined. Covers may also be denied based on the health of your vehicle. This step may add to the time taken to make an insurance purchase.* The other common instance where the insurance company will require your car to be inspected by a surveyor is when you have made a car insurance claim. When this is done, the insurer is expected to issue a pay-out to you. This pay-out is issued on the basis of the damage sustained by the car and which of it is covered by your insurance for your car. This is commonly referred to as ‘pre-claim inspection’. ^Claims are subject to terms and conditions set forth under motor insurance policy.  

The Need for Pre-Claim Car Inspection^

As a car owner, who is either claiming their car insurance at present, or is planning to do so in the future, you ought to know everything about how to claim car insurance, and the process that ensues. For example, how can you initiate the claim process, what steps need to be followed once the claim is made, and how and when is the pay-out made, are all details that the policyholder needs to be aware of. Claims are subject to terms and conditions set forth under motor insurance policy. Pre-claim car inspection, or inspection of your car made before the claim can be processed by the insurance provider is one of the most important steps in the insurance claim process. Once you make the claim, you will be assigned a surveyor. This surveyor will visit the site where your vehicle currently is and make assessments about the overall health of the vehicle. For example, if your vehicle was in an accident and sustained damages, the surveyor will assess the extent of the damages. They will inform the insurance company of the same. The insurance company will then assess which of these damages are covered by your policy and determine the pay-out you should be receiving for the same, based on your coverage. Without the car inspection, your claims process will not be complete. This is a step that allows to insurance provider as well as the policyholder to get a clear idea of the damages sustained by the car. ^Claims are subject to terms and conditions set forth under motor insurance policy.  

Claiming Car Insurance^

Remember that claiming your vehicle policy can lead you to lose any car insurance NCB (No-claims bonus) that you may have earned thus far.## Hence, ensure that you are not making claims that are not necessary. Once the inspection process is conducted, the claim will be processed. ^Claims are subject to terms and conditions set forth under motor insurance policy. Car inspection is a crucial step when it comes to car insurance. Both pre-insurance and pre-claim inspection helps you (the policyholder) as well as the policy provider to determine what the next best step is and how to proceed further.   *Standard T&C Apply ## All savings are provided by the insurer as per the IRDAI-approved insurance plan. Standard T&C Apply Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.