Can I claim insurance if I only have compulsory traffic insurance and get into an accident?
4 Answers
If you only have compulsory traffic insurance and get into an accident, you can still claim insurance. Here is some additional information about compulsory traffic insurance: 1. Coverage: Compared to the more than 20 exemption clauses in commercial third-party liability insurance, compulsory traffic insurance has fewer exemptions, such as "losses caused intentionally by the victim," "property loss of the insured," "related arbitration and litigation costs," and certain indirect losses caused by the accident. The coverage is much broader. Moreover, regardless of whether the insured vehicle is at fault in the accident, compulsory traffic insurance will provide compensation within the liability limit, and there is no deductible or exemption rate. 2. Claims process: If the compulsory traffic insurance claim involves third-party injuries, fatalities, or property damage in a road traffic accident, the insured should first call the 120 emergency number, dial the 122 traffic police number, and then contact the insurance company's customer service hotline to report the incident. They should cooperate with the insurance company in surveying the scene and may request the insurance company to pay or advance the rescue fees based on the situation.
Of course, you can claim insurance with only compulsory traffic insurance in case of an accident, but the coverage is very limited. Having worked in car repairs for over a decade, I've seen too many similar cases. Compulsory insurance mainly compensates for the other party's injuries and property damage. For example, if you hit someone else's car, the insurance will pay for their repair costs, up to a limit of 2,000 yuan. If someone is injured, the maximum medical expense coverage is 18,000 yuan. The key point is that the insurance won't cover a single penny for the damage to your own car, nor for injuries to the driver or passengers. If you hit a Mercedes or BMW, 2,000 yuan is far from enough for repairs, and you'll have to pay the rest out of pocket. In fact, my neighbor learned this the hard way last year when they hit a utility pole and had to pay 30,000 yuan out of their own pocket for repairs. So, I really advise beginners not to skimp on insurance just to save a little money. At the very least, adding vehicle damage insurance and third-party liability insurance is the safer choice.
A car owner asked me this question just last week. If you only have compulsory traffic insurance and get into an accident, you can indeed file a claim, but there are three key points to remember. First, the compensation only covers third parties—meaning the people or vehicles you hit—while your own losses must be paid out of pocket. Second, there are compensation limits: property damage is capped at 2,000 yuan, medical expenses for injuries at 18,000 yuan, and death or disability compensation at 180,000 yuan. Third, it depends on the traffic police's liability determination—if you're fully at fault, you'll be compensated up to the limit, but if you're not at fault, the payout will be even less. Honestly, these amounts are hardly sufficient nowadays. A minor scrape with a new energy vehicle on the street could easily exceed 2,000 yuan—that wouldn’t even cover a door repair. I recommend car owners get at least 1 million yuan in third-party liability insurance; the premium is just a few hundred yuan and can be a lifesaver in critical moments.
I've been driving for over 20 years, and compulsory traffic insurance is basically just basic coverage for others. If you damage someone else's property, it can cover some repair costs, and if you injure someone, it will reimburse medical expenses. But there are several major drawbacks: for repair costs exceeding 2,000 yuan, you have to pay out of pocket, and if the victim's medical expenses exceed the medical compensation limit, you're also responsible for the excess amount. More importantly, no matter how badly your own car is damaged, you have to pay for the repairs yourself, and if the driver is injured, the medical bills are also your responsibility. I remember when I was driving a taxi, I saw many car owners who only had compulsory insurance end up bankrupt from compensation. I sincerely advise everyone to get third-party liability insurance—with so many luxury cars on the road these days, compulsory insurance simply isn’t enough if you hit one.
