How to Claim Compensation for a Traffic Accident Without Vehicle Damage Insurance?
4 Answers
Vehicle damage insurance is used to compensate for the loss of your own vehicle. If you don't have it, you can only pay for repairs out of pocket. If the other party in a traffic accident is unable to compensate, the victim can file a civil lawsuit through the People's Court and apply for compulsory enforcement of the other party's property. The Traffic Safety Law stipulates that compensation within the scope of compulsory traffic insurance is covered by the insurance company. If the other party's vehicle owner violates the regulations and does not have insurance, the responsibility lies with the vehicle owner.
Not having car damage insurance is indeed troublesome in case of an accident. I experienced a similar situation before when I rear-ended a taxi. The traffic police determined I was fully at fault, and my car's hood was even deformed, but the insurance company said they wouldn't cover it since I didn’t have car damage insurance. In the end, I had to pay over 8,000 RMB out of pocket for repairs—it was really painful. The key to claims lies in liability determination: if the other party is fully at fault, their insurance can cover your car damage; but if it’s your own fault, you’ll just have to swallow the loss. I remember the taxi’s repair costs were covered by my third-party liability insurance, but my own car’s repairs were entirely on me. Saving a bit on premiums may seem fine, but when an accident happens, the losses outweigh the savings. I recommend at least getting supplementary coverage like glass insurance as a safety net.
It depends on who is at fault in the accident. Last month, my client Mr. Wang encountered this situation when he changed lanes and scraped the guardrail. Without car damage insurance, he had to pay over 30,000 yuan for repairs out of his own pocket. If the other party is fully at fault in the accident, you can directly claim compensation from their insurance company. However, it's the worst when you're at fault—compulsory traffic insurance only covers 2,000 yuan for the other party's property damage, and third-party liability insurance also only compensates others, leaving your own car unprotected. I recommend contacting a 4S shop immediately after an accident for damage assessment, rather than going to small repair shops. I've seen too many people suffer from exorbitant repair costs due to lacking car damage insurance. It's really better to spend 2,000 yuan annually for peace of mind.
Without purchasing vehicle damage insurance, claims are generally divided into two scenarios. If you are fully at fault, unfortunately, you'll have to cover the entire repair cost for your own car. However, compulsory traffic insurance can still compensate the other party for up to 2,000 yuan in property damage, with any excess covered by third-party liability insurance. If the other party is fully at fault, things are much easier—their insurance company will handle all repair costs for your car. The key lies in the accident liability determination report; don't sign any agreements before obtaining it. Last time, my buddy had to pay 40,000 yuan for repairs due to his own fault and now complains about penny-wise and pound-foolish with every meal. It's advisable to include vehicle damage insurance when buying a car—a few hundred yuan in premiums can cover tens of thousands in risks.
