"I have car insurance, how can they deny me a claim?" Well, it turns out there are a number of reasons your claim could be rejected, and they are all located in your insurance policy.
Take a look at the top five reasons your insurance provider may deny your claim:
Non-payment of car insurance premiums
This may sound completely baffling but we have all had those "bad months" where money is tight and we are unable to pay all expenses at once. Unfortunately, missing even one payment on time each month may result in a lack of
insurance coverage when you really need it.
Incorrect driver or incorrect conditions
As is commonly known, an insurance policy will cover a named driver (or drivers) in a certain car and in a certain condition.
When an accident occurs and none of the above are in order, you may find yourself footing the bill to pay for the repairs. Similarly, if you try to claim for an accident of a car that is not named in your policy, your claim will be denied.
This is largely due to the need to assess the roadworthiness of all cars in your policy. If your insurance provider is unaware of a certain vehicles' condition and roadworthiness, you can pretty much forget having a claim pay out.
All cars that
are on your insurance policy and are
not in working order or have not adhered to a maintenance schedule may be denied a payout.
Your insurance details are not up to date or you did not disclose everything
We are all aware of the copious amounts of information insurance providers ask us to fill out. Details usually include your age, insurance record, driving record, credit history and the state of your health.
Any details you may have left out could result in your policy becoming invalid, even though you pay monthly premiums.
Hey there, Speedracer.
You may not be entirely familiar with the "failure to take care" clause. If the insurance company can prove you were driving recklessly such as missing a stop street/ robot or speeding, they reserve the right to deny your claim.
Insurance providers may even take it a step further and insist that your car is fitted with a 'dash cam' to fully identify whether or not you have been driving recklessly.
While this may sound bizarre, a ‘dash cam’ can in fact insure your claim is approved seeing that you now have physical evidence that you were not at fault at the time of your accident.
Was your car secured?
Lose the impression that simply because you are claiming for your car being stolen and not a road accident it will be an easier process. Car insurance providers will want to know you took every precaution to insure your car was secured and/or parked in a safe place. Many insurance companies will need you to show how you have taken the adequate safety precautions.
So what does this mean exactly? Parking your car in a garage and having a clutch lock would help your case when claiming for a stolen car. Failure to show safety precautions will usually indicate that you have put your car in an unsafe position, making it easier to be stolen or apprehended.
Simply put, your claim will be denied if the safety precautions mentioned in the initial signing of the insurance policy are not present and/or have not been sufficiently implemented.
If you are ever unsure of certain clauses that you currently abide by in your insurance policy, it may be a good idea to clue yourself in.
As your lifestyle changes you may find yourself wanting and needing different services from your car insurance provider. It is thus a good idea to understand everything you are currently covered for.
The best way to avoid claim rejection is to know your insurance policy and make sure you stick to it to avoid setting yourself back financially.
If you are not satisfied with your current insurance plan, let CompareGuru find you an insurance deal that suits you needs down to the tee.