Is It Appropriate to Use Compulsory Traffic Insurance for Vehicle Scratches?
3 Answers
If your own vehicle is scratched, you cannot claim under compulsory traffic insurance. However, if you scratch a third-party vehicle, you can use compulsory traffic insurance because it covers damages to third-party vehicles and individuals. For your own vehicle's damage, you need to have purchased vehicle damage insurance to file a claim. Compulsory traffic insurance is mandatory by the state, and you must have it to legally drive on the road. Otherwise, according to the Road Traffic Safety Law, the traffic management department of the public security authorities can impound the vehicle, require the party to provide the corresponding license, certificate, or complete the necessary procedures, and may issue a warning or impose a fine ranging from 20 to 200 yuan. Compulsory Traffic Insurance for Vehicles: The full name of compulsory traffic insurance is 'Compulsory Liability Insurance for Motor Vehicle Traffic Accidents.' It is a mandatory liability insurance where the insurance company compensates for personal injuries, deaths, and property losses of victims (excluding vehicle occupants and the insured) caused by road traffic accidents within the liability limits. The premium is based on the nationally unified standard rates. However, the price of compulsory traffic insurance varies depending on the vehicle type, primarily influenced by the number of car seats. Compared to the over 20 exemption clauses in commercial third-party liability insurance, compulsory traffic insurance covers a much broader range, including losses caused intentionally by the victim, the insured's own property losses, related arbitration and litigation costs, and some indirect losses from accidents. Moreover, regardless of whether the insured vehicle is at fault in the accident, compulsory traffic insurance will compensate within the liability limits without any deductible or exemption. Introduction to Electronic Insurance Policies: An electronic insurance policy is a digital policy issued by an insurance company using digital signature software and enterprise digital certificates that comply with the PKI system, bearing the electronic signature of the insurance company. An insurance policy, abbreviated as a policy, is the formal written proof of the insurance contract between the insurer and the insured. The policy must fully record the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of both parties to the insurance contract. The content recorded in the policy serves as the basis for both parties to fulfill their obligations. The insurance policy is proof of the establishment of the insurance contract. Advantages of Electronic Insurance Policies: Saves paper resources, eliminating the need to print insurance proof labels; Time-saving and convenient, unrestricted by time or location, with information accessible online anytime, quickly and easily; Can apply for reissuance or resending, eliminating concerns about losing it. If a physical copy is needed offline, it can be printed or mailed; Easy management, as electronic standardization makes it easier for insurance companies and traffic police departments to manage the insurance information of each vehicle.
I've encountered a similar situation where I accidentally scraped my car against the curb and hesitated about whether to claim compulsory traffic insurance. To be honest, this isn't appropriate. Compulsory traffic insurance is mandatory, but it only compensates the person or property you hit, such as damage to someone else's car or personal injury – the insurance company pays for that. If only your own car is damaged, like scraping against a pole or wall, compulsory traffic insurance is completely useless as it doesn't cover that. You should check if you have commercial insurance like vehicle damage insurance, or for small amounts, it might be more hassle-free to pay for the repairs yourself. Claiming compulsory traffic insurance will be recorded as a claim, potentially increasing next year's premium, and for repairs costing a few hundred bucks, it's better to handle it yourself. Don't waste time and energy on the wrong insurance. Last time I had a minor scrape, I spent 300 bucks to fix it myself – saved money and hassle, dealing with insurance would have been more trouble than it's worth.
From a practical perspective, filing a compulsory traffic insurance claim for minor vehicle scratches is not advisable. Compulsory insurance is designed to cover third-party liabilities, such as when you collide with another vehicle or pedestrian, where the insurer compensates the affected party. However, it does not cover damage to your own vehicle. If you scrape an object without involving others, your claim will be invalid. Moreover, even if successfully filed, it triggers an insurance record, potentially raising next year’s premium by 20% or more. A smarter approach is to assess the incident: use commercial vehicle damage insurance or pay out-of-pocket for self-inflicted damage; only involve compulsory insurance when others are affected. Balancing cost and convenience, handling minor damages privately is often better. I recommend familiarizing yourself with policy terms to avoid unnecessary expenses.
