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Insurance Claims

INSURANCE CLAIMS IN A NUTSHELL

All you need to know to make informed decisions.

This is a guide for all the information you might need after a car accident.
It is important to take note that even though we are happy to assist, it is still possible that we are not authorised to repair your vehicle.

The following are some terminologies which are frequently used and often misunderstood by the layman:

Own Damage / Windscreen Claims

Own damage and windscreen claims covers against loss of or damage to your vehicle caused by accident and theft via your own policy. This is usually straight forward and takes less time.

Reporting: Report at any Authorised Reporting Centre (ARC)
Repair: Any authorised workshop¹

Third Party Claims

Third party claims are applicable when the accident involves other insured driver(s) and you intend to claim against them. This usually takes longer as liability needs to be established.

Reporting: Report at any Authorised Reporting Centre (ARC)
Repair: Any preferred workshop

Reporting Only

This is for recording purposes because you cannot be fully certain that the other party will not file a claim against you later. Otherwise, your claim may be prejudiced or declined later by insurers.

Reporting: Report at any Authorised Reporting Centre (ARC)

Eurokars Group is the Authorised Reporting Centre (ARC) for these 10 insurers.
AIG
Auto & General
Aviva
AXA
China Taiping
Direct Asia
Liberty
MSIG
QBE
Tokio Marine

¹ You are advised to check your policy document or with your insurer on the use of dealer or authorised workshops.

Disclaimer: This is a general guide as not all unique cases can be covered. When in doubt, please clarify with your insurer or with our claims officers.

What should you DO after an accident?

Do: Take photos before shifting cars
  • Licence plate number of involved cars must be visible.
  • Capture the surrounding scenes as well.
  • Refer to our Photo & Video guide.
Do: Exchange contact information

Please ensure the following is noted of the other driver:

  • Full name
  • Mobile number
  • Licence plate number
Do: Liaise diligently
  • Call your insurer for assistance and towing services.
  • Maintain contact with other affected parties.
  • Contact traffic police for:
    • Injuries or fatality (call an ambulance as well).
    • Damage to government property.
    • Foreign vehicle cases.
    • Pedestrian or cyclist cases.
    • Hit-and-run cases.
Do: Lodge report within 24 hours
  • Report at the correct Accident Reporting Centre (ARC).
  • If unsure, please make a call to clarify.
  • Bring along the following:
    • Certificate of Insurance
    • Identification card
    • Driving licence
    • Photo & Video evidence
    • Police report (If applicable)
    • Company stamp (If applicable)

What should you NOT DO after an accident?

Don’t: Move your car before taking photos
  • Protect the integrity of your photographic evidence.
  • Do not jeopardise the success of your claims by tampering with the evidence.
Don’t: Discuss liability with other parties
  • Refer to your insurance company for assistance and negotiation.
  • The other parties may change their account of the accident after speaking to their insurer or reporting centre.
Don’t: Allow unauthorised towing
  • Unauthorised tow trucks may pose as authorised operators.
  • Confirm the identity of the authorised tow truck with your insurer.
Don’t: Compromise the quality of your car’s repair
  • There are workshops that offer inexpensive options but may compromise the quality of repair.
  • You have the right to choose your preferred workshop, especially for Third Party claims. Select a trustworthy one to restore your car to avoid compromising the safety of you and your passengers.

Disclaimer: This is a general guide as not all unique cases can be covered. When in doubt, please clarify with your insurer or with our claims officers.

Badly taken photos with poor angles and insufficient information can impact the success of your claims.

Photos need to accurately reflect the incident account reported in the sketch plan.

Clear views of the entire scene
  • Take wide-angle photos to capture a clear description of the entire scene.
  • Panoramic photos or 360° videos will be helpful.
The licence plates of all vehicles
  • Take photos of the cars with the licence plate numbers in full view in order to render them as admissible proof and facilitate with the identification of the cars.
All damaged vehicles
  • Have multi-angle photos with close up and zoomed out views.
  • Photos taken must represent what you will depict in the sketch plan which will be submitted together with your accident report.
All damaged objects and properties
  • Take photos of any object or property that has been damaged.
  • Make a police report in cases whereby government property has been damaged.
Surrounding road conditions
  • It is a requirement for the road and weather conditions to be included in the report. These details will help substantiate your claims.

Disclaimer: This is a general guide as not all unique cases can be covered. When in doubt, please clarify with your insurer or with our claims officers.

Your sketch plans must be submitted for insurers to assess what exactly happened at the accident scene.
Accurate sketch plans can make the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful claim.

  • Draw the direction of the cars and road clearly.
  • Properly indicate the impact points to show damage sustained on the car(s).
  • Be succinct and draw only what is relevant.
  • Refer to the following examples – Click, hold and drag the arrow left and right to see scenario/sketch.
Straight Road

This sketch plan tells us that Car A and Car B were moving on the straight road and Car A collided into the rear of Car B.

X-Junction

This sketch plan tells us that Car A was turning right at the X-junction when it collided onto the side of Car B which was moving straight.

T-Junction

This sketch plan tells us that Car A was turning into the main road when Car B collided into the side door of Car A.

Y-Junction

This sketch plan tells us that Car A was turning out of the side road when it collided onto the side of Car B which was moving straight.

Disclaimer: This is a general guide as not all unique cases can be covered. When in doubt, please clarify with your insurer or with our claims officers.

Need more details?

Here are our customers’ frequently asked questions.
For further enquiries, please call our hotline at (+65) 63310680 and our customer service officers will do our best to assist you.

1. Why must I report the accident promptly and what are the consequences for not doing so?

Why:

  • You cannot be fully certain that other party will not file a claim against you later.
  • Your claim may be jeopardised or declined by insurers.

 

Consequences:

  • Your insurer may repudiate liability because you have breached policy conditions for failure to report an accident.
  • You will therefore not be protected under the policy and will have to deal with your own repair costs and/or any third party claims made against you.
  • Your No Claims Discount (NCD) will be docked upon the renewal of your policy.
  • Your insurer may also cancel or decline the renewal of your policy.

2. If I make a claim, will I automatically lose my No Claims Discount (NCD)?

Not necessarily. All insurers in Singapore use a guide called the Barometer of Liability Agreement (BOLA) to determine how much each party is liable in an accident. The BOLA is designed to speed up claims processing. It does not diminish your right to contest liability under the law.

Under the BOLA:

  • Your NCD will not be affected only if your liability is 20% or less in an accident involving an identified vehicle (the vehicle licence plate number must be included in the accident report).
  • In all other cases, your NCD may be affected.

3. Why should I file a claim against my own policy instead of third party?

If you have a comprehensive policy, your insurer may recommend that you file an own-damage claim, (i.e. a claim against your own policy, regardless of which party might be at fault.)

 

If the other party is clearly at fault, and you file an own-damage claim:

  • Your insurer will settle your claim as soon as possible, after deducting your excess.
  • Your NCD will not necessarily be adjusted.
  • If your insurer successfully recovers your claim including your excess from the other party’s insurer, your excess will be passed on to you.

 

(For cases where insured is not at fault, we provide services to do a direct claim against the other party)

4. Can my insurer assist me to file a third party claim?

You are encouraged to lodge a damage claim under your own policy. After you have been indemnified, you insurer will commence recovery against the other driver’s insurer if it can be proven that the respective driver is fully liable for the accident. Your insurer will not dock your No Claim Discount (NCD) at next renewal if recovery is successful.

 

(For cases where insured is not at fault, we provide services to do a direct claim against the other party)

5. Will I be compensated for the loss of use of my vehicle and what to take note?

Some insurers may provide a replacement car under their policy terms and conditions or a cash compensation to pay for alternative transport.

6. Can I choose which workshop repairs my vehicle and what difference does it make?

Your insurer may impose some restrictions on who can repair your vehicle. You are advised to check your policy document or with your insurer on the use of dealer or authorised workshops. Select a trustworthy one to restore your car will avoid compromising the safety of you and your passengers.

7. How much do I have to pay for the inspection, survey and accident e-filling process?

If you bring your accident vehicle to the authorised reporting centre or workshop, there are no fees or charges involved in the reporting process.

8. Can someone else report the accident on my behalf?

Under special circumstances, this would be permitted with supporting justification. Please contact your insurer for advice and instructions.

Source: General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA) and Motor Claims Framework (MCF)

 

Disclaimer: This is a general guide as not all unique cases can be covered. When in doubt, please clarify with your insurer or with our claims officers.