Can I Get Compensation Without Repairing the Car If the Other Party Is Fully at Fault?
3 Answers
You can get compensation without repairing the car if the other party is fully at fault. Here is an introduction to relevant auto insurance: 1. Compulsory Traffic Insurance (CTI): A mandatory national auto insurance that provides coverage for the other party's property and personal safety. 2. No-Deductible Special Coverage: The most important aspect of this insurance is the absolute deductible waiver. 3. Vehicle Damage Insurance: This insurance primarily covers the car. If the car is involved in an accident or suffers damage due to natural disasters, these losses can be compensated by the insurance company through vehicle damage insurance. 4. Third-Party Liability Insurance: This insurance mainly covers the personal injury and property damage of a third party in a traffic accident. To supplement the coverage limit of CTI, a comprehensive third-party liability insurance is necessary.
Last time I was in an at-fault accident, I simply asked for cash compensation. I remember the rear bumper had minor scratches, and the other party voluntarily offered 800 yuan privately. I took the money and didn’t repair the car. But honestly, this method has risks—if internal damage is discovered when selling the car next year, it’ll be hard to explain. It’s best to record a video on the spot confirming both parties’ voluntary agreement and then draft a written agreement waiving the right to future claims. However, if the damage exceeds 5,000 yuan or involves safety components, I’d advise you to go through the formal claims process. Otherwise, if issues like suspension deformation are found later, it’ll be impossible to clarify.
As a practitioner who has handled hundreds of claims, I recommend you do this: After keeping the traffic police liability determination, first have the insurance company assess the damage and determine the repair cost of 3,000 yuan. At this point, you have two options: either have the responsible party directly transfer the assessed amount and sign a "Compensation Agreement," or have the car repaired at a 4S shop but hand the invoice to the responsible party for reimbursement. Please note that the 2023 insurance regulations require amounts above 5,000 yuan to be processed through a corporate account, as cash settlements may be considered insurance fraud.
