Can I Claim Compulsory Traffic Insurance for Self-Inflicted Reverse Scratches?

[McMaggie]

No, you cannot. The Compulsory Traffic Insurance (CTI) does not cover damages you caused to your own vehicle, as CTI is designed to compensate third-party vehicles and individuals. To claim for vehicle damage, you must have purchased a separate vehicle damage insurance policy. CTI is a mandatory insurance required by the state, and without it, you cannot legally drive on the road. According to the "Road Traffic Safety Law," the traffic management department of the public security authorities may detain the vehicle, notify the party to provide the corresponding license, mark, or complete the necessary procedures, and may issue a warning or impose a fine ranging from 20 to 200 yuan. Compulsory Traffic Insurance for Automobiles: The full name of CTI is "Compulsory Traffic Accident Liability Insurance for Motor Vehicles." It is a mandatory liability insurance where the insurance company compensates for personal injuries, deaths, and property losses of victims (excluding vehicle occupants and the insured) caused by road traffic accidents within the liability limits. The premium is based on a nationally unified standard, but the price varies depending on the vehicle type, primarily influenced by the number of seats. Compared to the over 20 exemption clauses in commercial third-party liability insurance, CTI's exemption scope is much broader, covering losses caused by intentional actions of the victim, the insured's own property losses, related arbitration and litigation costs, and some indirect losses from accidents. Moreover, regardless of whether the insured vehicle is at fault in the accident, CTI will compensate within the liability limits without any deductible or exemption. Introduction to Electronic Insurance Policies An electronic insurance policy refers to a digital policy issued by an insurance company using digital signature software and corporate digital certificates that comply with the PKI system, bearing the electronic signature of the insurance company. An insurance policy, abbreviated as a policy, is the official written proof of the insurance contract between the insurer and the insured. It must fully record the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of both parties to the insurance contract. The content of the insurance policy serves as the basis for both parties to fulfill their obligations. The insurance policy is proof of the establishment of the insurance contract. Advantages of Electronic Insurance Policies: Saves paper resources, eliminating the need to print insurance proof marks on paper; Saves time and is convenient, not restricted by time or location, with information universally accessible online anytime, quickly and easily; Allows for reissuance and resending, eliminating worries about losing it. If a paper version is needed offline, it can be printed or mailed; Facilitates management, as electronic unification makes it easier for insurance companies and traffic police departments to manage the insurance information of various vehicles.

[DiLucy]

Answer 1: I've encountered several instances of scraping my car while reversing. Compulsory traffic insurance is actually a mandatory liability insurance, mainly covering compensation if you hit another car or pedestrian, so it only covers third-party losses and doesn't cover your own car's damage at all. Such scrapes caused by your own reversing can only be considered as a single-vehicle accident, and compulsory insurance is completely ineligible for reimbursement. I suggest you check if you have commercial insurance like vehicle damage insurance, which covers repairs for your own car. If it's just a minor scrape, like a bit of paint loss that's not serious, I usually pay for the repair myself, finding a roadside shop to spray paint for a few hundred yuan to fix it. Filing a claim with commercial insurance will increase next year's premium, which isn't worth it. Remember, always check the rearview mirror and rear camera before reversing, don't rush, take it slow to reduce such incidents, saving both money and hassle.

[LaKylie]

Answer 2: As a novice driver with only a few years of experience, I accidentally scraped the wall while reversing last time. At that moment, I thought the compulsory traffic insurance would cover my repair costs, but after checking, I realized it was completely useless. Compulsory traffic insurance only covers damages to others, such as when you hit someone else's car or person—it's mandatory to compensate the other party but doesn't include any damage to your own car. Only after studying the insurance policy did I understand that commercial insurance, like vehicle damage insurance, is needed to handle such minor accidents involving your own car. Now, I make sure to check the blind spots in advance and rely more on parking sensors when reversing. Additionally, for minor scratches, I choose to fix them myself with a touch-up paint pen, which is cheaper than filing an insurance claim. The key takeaway is to learn from the experience and practice reversing skills more to avoid trouble. Don’t panic like I did at first—staying calm will prevent accidents.

[Tony]

Answer 3: I've also scratched my own car while reversing before. Compulsory traffic insurance doesn't cover this because it's a statutory third-party liability insurance that only covers damage you cause to others. If you scratch your own car while reversing, you can only claim through commercial insurance like vehicle damage insurance or pay out of pocket. I've noticed some car owners want to file claims for minor issues, but that actually leads to faster premium increases. I suggest assessing the extent of the damage - if it's minor, it's better not to bother with insurance and just get it fixed at a repair shop for a few dozen yuan. Developing the habit of reversing slowly can save you a lot of trouble, taking care of both safety and your wallet.

[LaManuel]

Answer 4: I once scratched something while reversing and wanted to save money, so I looked into insurance. Compulsory traffic insurance is useless—it only covers others' losses, not your own car. To claim, you’d need the vehicle damage coverage under commercial insurance. But I found that for minor scratches, paying out of pocket is more cost-effective, as filing a claim would raise next year’s premium by at least a few hundred bucks. I keep some simple tools handy for quick fixes, like sanding down the scratch and covering it with a small sticker—hardly costs anything. Using a reversing camera and being extra cautious about surroundings can prevent such incidents. In the long run, maintaining good driving habits is the real money-saver.