Making a car insurance claim might not be the easiest task as most people think. If you happen to be a driver, the chances are that you’ll find yourself in a vehicle-related accident once or more (unfortunately) in your lifetime. While car insurance takes your few bucks every month, still it’s something you may not want to use, ever.
Different countries possess different processes for a car insurance claim, but this guide covers everything related to the process of making a car insurance claim in South Africa. Therefore, if you’re there as a visitor or are a native and happen to be in an accident, here’s how to make a car insurance claim.
When Should You File a Car Insurance Claim?
When in South Africa, you should readily contact your Car Insurance provider if any of the following occur:
- Your vehicle has been vandalized
- Your vehicle has been stolen
- Your vehicle has been damaged in any way due to a collision
- Your vehicle has been damaged by a natural disaster
How to Make a Car Insurance Claim in South Africa
In case you end up in a road accident, or your vehicle gets damaged in any way, it’s time to make a car insurance claim. However, when in South Africa, you must submit a claim as soon as possible because some insurers have a claims window that you must file the claim within. Make sure you have all the driving license details and the policy number.
In a way, the claim process mainly depends upon your insurer. Some of them ask you to file the claim while you’re on the phone and send you a claim form afterwards. It must be filled out and sent back by you, along with supporting documents. On the other hand, some may ask you to submit the claim online. As a claimant for a successful car insurance claim in South Africa,
- You must prove the damages suffered by you and your property are a direct result of the accident.
- You must prove the recklessness or negligence on the insured party’s behalf, such as driving at a fast speed or while talking on the phone.
- You must prove that compensation will be able to restore the original state of the vehicle.
The RAF will mediate the process of apportioning in a just manner. Suppose the responsible party does not have insurance, such as a public vehicle. In that case, you can peruse your claim through the government channels and contact the Road Accident Fund.
In case the integral reason for the damages caused was criminal conduct, you should lay a charge at the police station and, if possible, call the police to the scene. If there’s any witness of the incident, he/she would be requested to testify in defence of your case. Additionally, if you pursue criminal charges, any police investigation must be included in your claim.
Types of Car Insurance Claims
There are many types of car insurance claims that you can make.
- If you’ve had an accident, you must provide full details of the accident along with all the parties involved. Analyzing the seriousness of the accident, you may need to get in touch with the police and send the police report to the insurer. Another good idea is to take some statements from witnesses or pictures of the exact place to support your claim.
- Suppose your car has been stolen, and you’re about to make a car insurance claim. In that case, you must provide the insurance company with all the details of where your vehicle was located, along with any other necessary information or security systems designed to protect the car.
- If you’ve been involved in a vehicle accident involving another’s property, where you weren’t at fault, and your vehicle has been damaged in any way, you can claim back for the damages from the insured party. However, to do this, you must try your best to prove the extent of loss you suffered from the accident. It’s important that as a third party, you are not eligible to claim directly from the insurer of the responsible party. Instead, you should directly claim from the responsible party, who in turn will hand over legal documents to his/her insurer.
- Generally, your insurer needs to deal directly with the dealership. The excess has to be settled by you for the release of a new or repaired vehicle. If you want to get the car repaired at a particular garage, send the garage details and repair quotes to the insurer.
Documents Needed for a Car Insurance Claim in South Africa
To save yourself from the hassle of the whole process of ‘Insurance Claim’, have a look at some of the documents that you must need when submitting the claim. Different types of claims require different types of information/documentation.
1. Motor Collision Claim
- Driver’s license
- SAP (case) number
- Public Driving Permit (PDP)
2. Motor Collision Third Party Involved
- SAP (case) number
- Driver’s license
- Public Driving Permit (PDP)
- Third-party details
3. Stolen Motor Vehicle
- SAP (case) number
- Vehicle engine number
- Vehicle chassis number (VIN)
4. General All Risks (lost/damaged)
- Invoice (if the item has been repaired/replaced)
- Quotation to repair
- Quotation to replace
- Report from the service provider (Damage Report)
5. General All Risks (stolen)
- Invoice (if the item has been repaired/replaced)
- SAP (case) number
- Quotation to replace
6. Geyser With or Without Resultant Damage
- Invoice (if the item has been repaired/replaced)
7. Cellphone
- Invoice (if the item has been repaired/replaced)
8. Jewelry
- Quotation to replace
- SAP (case) number
In a nutshell, you need to be extra careful when driving your way through the streets of South Africa, as it’s not necessary that you’ll always be getting timely car insurance because the laws have been advancing over time, and many car insurance claims have been rejected in the past few months. The new rules require you to take reasonable precautions to prevent loss, death, damage, or liability. Any kind of breach by you, as an insured, might warrant the rejection of the claim.
How do I make a claim for my car?
There are a few important steps to take in order to make a claim for your car. The first step is to report the accident to the police. They will create an accident report, which will document the accident and the damages. You will need a copy of this report when you file your insurance claim.
The next step is to contact your insurance company. They will assign you a claims adjuster who will help you through the process. You will need to provide your adjuster with a copy of the police report, as well as any other documentation related to the accident.
Your adjuster will work with you to determine the damages to your car and will help you file a claim for those damages. It’s important to remember that you may be responsible for paying a deductible, depending on your insurance policy.
How long does a car insurance claim take to settle in South Africa?
There is no definitive answer to this question as the length of time it takes to settle a car insurance claim depends on a variety of factors. Some of the factors that could affect the length of time it takes to settle a claim include the severity of the accident, the insurance company’s processing time, and whether or not the claim is disputed. Generally speaking, however, car insurance claims in South Africa tend to be settled within a few months.
