Accidents and damage to vehicles are unpredictable events and can cause significant financial loss if you are not insured. Motor insurance can be a beneficial tool to provide a helping hand during such times. At the same time, a motor insurance claim process can seem stressful after a sudden accident or damage. Understanding the steps involved in the process can help you have a peaceful and hassle-free claim.
This article examines National Motor Insurance and outlines the various types of claims covered under motor insurance. It also discusses the step-by-step process of filing a claim using the National Insurance motor claim form, the important details to fill in, and the claim submission criteria.
Table of Contents
- About National Insurance Company
- Understanding Motor Insurance Claims
- Types of Motor Insurance Claims
- Motor Insurance Claim Settlements
- Step-by-Step Process of Filing a National Motor Insurance Claim For
- National Insurance Motor Claim Form Details
- Documents Required for National Motor Insurance Claim
- Conclusion
- FAQs
About National Insurance Company
National Insurance Company India’s oldest government-owned insurance company. It was registered as a General Insurance Company with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). In 1972, 21 foreign and 11 Indian companies merged, and the National Insurance Company was formed.
Understanding Motor Insurance Claims
To understand the claim process involved in a national motor insurance policy, it is essential to know the types of claims that can be made by a policyholder.
Types of Motor Insurance Claims
The following are the types of motor insurance claims. Comprehending these can help make filing the National Insurance Motor Claim Form easier.
Own-Damage Claim
This claim can be made when the insured vehicle is damaged in an accident, explosion, fire, or in a natural disaster. The claims made will be settled by the insurer after depreciation and deductibles, based on the policy. This claim can be made under a standard own-damage policy or a comprehensive motor insurance policy.
Third-Party Claim
A third-party claim can be made under a comprehensive policy and a third-party-only policy. The claim covers damages caused to a third-party vehicle by the insured vehicle. It also covers death or bodily injury to a third-party individual and damages to a third-party property. The claim settlement will be made after an investigation by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal.
Theft Claim
This claim is made when the insured vehicle is stolen. The process involves filing an FIR at a police station. An investigation will be conducted, following which, if the vehicle cannot be found, the police station will issue a report deeming the vehicle untraceable. This report should be submitted to claim the insured amount from the company.
Total Loss Claim
An insured vehicle will be declared as a total loss when the repair or replacement costs for the incurred damage exceeds 75% of the vehicle’s Insured Declared Value. In such cases, the policyholder will receive an amount based on the IDV or the original invoice amount if a return-to-invoice add-on is purchased.
Personal Accident Claim
This covers injury or death of the owner-driver (and sometimes passengers, if covered). Compensation is paid as per the sum insured under the personal accident cover.
Motor Insurance Claim Settlements
Once a claim is filed, the insurer follows a structured process to assess the damage, verify documents, and settle the claim. Claims can be settled in two ways:
Cashless Claim
When the insured vehicle is repaired in one of the insurer company’s network garages, the claim settlement will be cashless. The insurer directly settles the bill with the garage. It is commonly considered faster than a reimbursement claim due to its minimal documentation process.
Reimbursement Claim
A reimbursement claim is a claim process in which the policyholder pays the repair bill to a garage outside the insurer’s network and then makes a claim for reimbursement. This claim is made when the insured vehicle is repaired in any garage of the policyholder’s choice. The claim settlement may be slightly longer as document verification is required after the repairs.
| Feature | Cashless Claim | Reimbursement Claim |
| Garage | Network garage | Any garage of choice |
| Payment | The insurer pays the garage directly | Policyholder pays first, then gets reimbursed |
| Documentation | Minimal | More extensive |
| Claim Processing Time | Usually faster | May take longer due to verification |
| Upfront Cost | Low (only deductibles payable) | High (full repair cost paid initially) |
| Convenience | More convenient | Less convenient |
| Approval Process | Pre-approved by insurer | Verified after submission |
| Control Over Repairs | Limited to network options | Full flexibility in choosing a garage |
| Risk of Rejection | Lower (aligned with insurer network) | Slightly higher if documents/issues arise |
Step-by-Step Process of Filing a National Motor Insurance Claim Form
The following section explains the process of filing a National Insurance motor claim form for a hassle-free claim settlement.
Step 1: Claim Intimation
The first step of a claim procedure is to inform the insurer as soon as possible, without any delay.
To initiate a claim online, the policyholder should visit the company’s website. Under the claim option, you must click the intimate claim option, following which the website will direct you to the next page. Then you will be required to fill in your policy number and mobile number to receive an OTP. After logging in, fill in the required details for intimation.
Step 2: File an FIR
After the intimation, an FIR must be filed at the nearest station in case of accidents, vandalism, or theft.
Step 3: Collect the Claim Form
Get the relevant claim form and fill it out with accurate details.
Step 4: Submit the Form
After filing the form, make sure to submit it directly to the office or through an agent with the required documents.
Step 5: Vehicle Inspection
Following the submission of the form, the insurer will send a surveyor or loss assessor to inspect the damage incurred to the vehicle.
Step 6: Claim Settlement
The damaged car can be taken for repair after the inspection, following which the insurer will settle the claim amount for the repair expense. In terms of total loss, the claim settlement will be based on the vehicle’s Insured Declared Value.
National Insurance Motor Claim Form Details
The following explains the details asked in the National Insurance Motor Claim Form.
The claim form requires:
- Policy number of the insured
- Claim number (after the intimation of the claim, the policyholder will get a unique claim number)
- Vehicle number, engine number, and chassis number
- Insured’s details (name, mobile number, and email ID.
- Policy details
- Loss details (date and time of accident or occurrence, place of loss, type of loss, and a short description of the incident)
- Driver’s details (name, age, whether the driver is the owner or a relative, driving license details, validity, and the license issuing authority)
- Additional details in case of commercial vehicles (permit number, validity, issuing authority, and weight and nature of the goods carried)
- Injury or death details (information about the third party if it’s a death, injury, or property damage)
- Signature of the policyholder
Documents Required for National Motor Insurance Claim
The following documents may be required along with the claim form:
- Copy of driving license
- Registration Certificate (RC) of the insured vehicle
- Copy of policy documents
- Bills and receipts of all repairs (in case of reimbursement claims)
- FIR copy (if needed)
Note: The insurance company may ask for further documents if required.
Conclusion
Motor insurance claims may seem complex, but understanding the process can make them much easier to handle. Knowing the types of claims, required documents, and correct steps helps avoid delays and ensures smoother settlement. Timely intimation and accurate information are key. By staying informed and prepared, you can navigate the claim process efficiently and make the most of your motor insurance coverage when it matters most.
FAQs
1. Is FIR necessary for a claim process?
Filing an FIR is a necessary step in cases of accidents or theft. In case of theft, the claim process will be taken forward when the police issue an untraceable report, since the report will determine the total loss. Accidents also require a FIR in case of severe own and third-party damage.
2. How can I track the national motor insurance claim status online?
To track the claim status, you can visit the National Insurance Company website. After selecting the track claim option, you will be required to fill in details, like the customer ID, date of loss, policy number, and the claim number.
3. What happens when I make no claim for a year?
When a policyholder has a claim-free year, the insurer will offer a no-claim bonus that acts as a discount applicable to the renewable premium. The no-claim bonus increases by a certain percentage with every consecutive claim-free year, reaching up to a 50%.
4. What is National Motor Insurance?
National Motor Insurance is one of the insurance services offered by the National Insurance Company Limited. It offers insurance policies for two-wheelers, cars, passenger-carrying vehicles, and commercial vehicles
5. How do I initiate a claim?
A policyholder can make a claim by seeking the help of the policy-issuing office, authorised agent, the customer team or the website of National Insurance. Through the website, you will be required to log in, after which you will receive a claim registration number that will be used while filling out the National Insurance motor claim form.
