Can Compulsory Traffic Insurance Cover My Own Car in a Two-Vehicle Accident?

[LeKiara]

After a two-vehicle accident involving compulsory traffic insurance claims, you can repair your own car if both parties have compulsory traffic insurance, no third parties are involved, and both parties reach an agreement. Both parties have compulsory traffic insurance: According to the new "mutual collision self-compensation" rule for compulsory traffic insurance implemented after February 1, 2009, if two or more vehicles collide, all vehicles involved must have compulsory traffic insurance, the damage to each vehicle must be within 2,000 RMB, and only the vehicles themselves are damaged (including property and goods on board). No third parties involved: No other third-party losses or personal injuries are involved. The accident is handled by traffic police or through mutual agreement at a local rapid processing center, with all parties bearing responsibility (including primary, secondary, or equal liability). Mutual agreement: If all parties agree to adopt the "mutual collision self-compensation" approach, each can go to their own insurance company to claim compensation for their own vehicle within the 2,000 RMB limit of the compulsory traffic insurance.

[DelTravis]

Last time I accidentally hit someone while driving my car, only to realize that compulsory traffic insurance doesn't cover repairs for my own vehicle—it only compensates for the other party's losses. In that accident, we were fully at fault. The other car's repairs cost over 8,000 yuan, which was fully covered by the compulsory insurance. But my own car's front bumper was damaged, costing me over 4,000 yuan out of pocket to fix—it was heartbreaking! Later, I learned that compulsory insurance is mandatory by the state and mainly covers third-party property and personal injuries. It's useless for your own vehicle damage; you need commercial vehicle damage insurance for that. So now, whenever I buy car insurance, I always add vehicle damage insurance and third-party liability insurance. This way, if a similar accident happens, I won't have to pay out of pocket for my own car's repairs. Bumps and scrapes are inevitable on the road, so planning your insurance coverage in advance can save you a lot of money and hassle.

[Kayla]

Actually, compulsory traffic insurance (CTI) is designed solely to cover injuries caused to third parties in an accident—it won't help repair scratches or damage to your own car. I've assisted friends with several accidents, like two-car collisions. If the other party is injured or their vehicle is damaged, CTI can provide quick compensation. But if your own car is damaged, you'll need to rely on additional commercial insurance, such as vehicle damage insurance. This mechanism exists because CTI is low-cost and mandatory but only covers basic liability, so don't expect it to handle everything. After each accident, report it immediately, gather evidence, and if your car is damaged, either pay for repairs out of pocket or let your commercial insurance cover it. It's advisable to fully understand the details of your coverage to avoid confusion when an accident occurs.