Can I Claim Insurance for a Second-Hand Car Without Transferring the Policy?
2 Answers
Insurance claims cannot be made for a second-hand car without transferring the policy. Below is an introduction to car insurance claims: 1. Overview: Car insurance claims refer to the process where the car owner files a claim with the insurance company after a traffic accident. The basic workflow of a claim includes steps such as reporting the incident, damage assessment, signing and receiving claim documents, calculation and review, approval, and final settlement. 2. Characteristics: Public nature of the insured: In China, car insurance policyholders were primarily companies and enterprises in the past. However, with the increase in personal car ownership, the proportion of individual car owners among the insured is gradually rising. These policyholders often purchase insurance passively and, due to limitations in culture, knowledge, and education, have limited understanding of insurance, traffic accident handling, and vehicle repairs. On the other hand, driven by interests, there can be significant communication barriers between inspectors, claim processors, and the insured during the claim process.
I've bought several used cars before and deeply understand the importance of transferring insurance. If you buy a car but don't complete the insurance transfer procedures, claims are usually problematic when an accident occurs. Insurance companies settle claims based on the owner information in the insurance contract. If the policy is still under the previous owner's name, the insurer won't compensate you directly. Last time I bought a car without handling this, the side mirror got hit, and when filing the claim, the insurance company required the original owner to be present—it took a lot of effort to resolve. To avoid such hassle, I recommend transferring the insurance as soon as you get a used car, or simply buying a new policy. The process is straightforward: just bring the required documents to the insurance company and fill out a form. Don’t underestimate this—delayed claims can also involve legal risks. By the way, when buying a used car, remember to check the tire pressure and brake pads—safety first.
