How to File an Insurance Claim After Hitting Your Own Car?
4 Answers
Here are the steps for filing an insurance claim after hitting your own car: 1. Report the incident: Bring your insurance policy, vehicle registration, and driver's license to the insurance company in your own car. 2. Fill out the 'Vehicle Accident Registration Form' and 'Accident Notification Form' at the claims department. 3. Damage assessment: Take the 'Vehicle Accident Registration Form' to the claims department's assessor to determine repair items and costs. After assessment, you will receive a 'Damage Assessment Form'. Do not omit any repair items; repair costs should not be set too low. 4. Vehicle repair: Submit the 'Damage Assessment Form' to the repair shop. The shop will repair the vehicle according to the form and provide you with a 'Vehicle Pickup Slip' as proof. 5. After repairs, pay the repair fee with the 'Vehicle Pickup Slip' to retrieve your car, and request the following documents from the repair shop: 'Repair Invoice', 'Repair Order', 'Work Order', and 'Material List' (all must bear the repair shop's official seal). 6. Submit documents: Provide the 'Accident Notification Form', 'Damage Assessment Form', 'Repair Invoice', 'Repair Order', 'Material List', 'Work Order', and 'Claim Settlement Form' to the insurance company's claims department. 7. Claim approval: Normally, insurance companies will reimburse all reasonable rescue expenses. For towing services, standard vehicles are typically covered for one tow regardless of the number of tows, with only one reimbursement provided. Just submit the invoice for reimbursement.
I accidentally drove into a wall myself, and I really regret not being more careful. My first reaction was to stop the car, turn on the hazard lights, and make sure I was safe, checking if anyone else or anything inside the car was hurt. I took out my phone to take photos: the impact point, the license plate number, and the surrounding environment, just in case of disputes later. Then I immediately called my insurance company, providing my name, policy number, the time and location of the accident, and briefly explaining what happened. They asked me to fill out a claim form online, and I took some time to write down the details—be honest and don’t lie, or the insurance won’t cover it. The whole process took a few days for assessment, and then the car was sent to the repair shop to get fixed. I recommend always paying attention to road conditions, as premiums might go up; choosing an approved repair shop makes things easier, and my experience went relatively smoothly.
I always make such silly mistakes, like hitting a pole while reversing! First, stay calm, park the car, turn on the hazard lights, and take photos for evidence to prove it was my own doing. Call the insurance company's hotline, report the location and accident details; they usually ask you to fill out an online claim form—make sure to include all the details. I remind you: don’t delay reporting the incident for more than 24 hours, as it may affect your no-claims discount. For repairs, communicate the budget with a reputable shop. In the future, avoid distractions while driving to save yourself the hassle and money. Overall, it’s not too troublesome—just stay composed.
Reporting a self-caused accident to insurance is straightforward: First, stop and check for safety; second, take photos as evidence; third, contact your insurer via phone or app to report the incident; fourth, fill out forms describing the accident; fifth, wait for assessment and repairs. I've handled it this way before without much delay. The key is not to move the car and preserve the scene to avoid disputes. Cooperate with authorized repair shops; drive carefully to prevent accidents, as insurance premiums may adjust. Simple solution.
