What we'll do for you
- report the claim to the at-fault driver's insurer (OC) or to your own (AC),
- gather the documents and respond to the insurer's letters,
- arrange the inspection – an assessor can see the car in our workshop as well,
- check the estimate and the decision before you accept anything,
- if the valuation is too low – prepare an appeal and pursue the additional payment.
Estimate too low? It happens
Insurers most often cut the amount with low labour rates, cheaper replacement parts instead of originals, wear deductions on parts, or by leaving items out, such as paint materials. Under OC you are generally entitled to the necessary and economically justified costs of repair – without wear deductions, unless the insurer proves the repair increased the car's value.
The insurer generally has 30 days to respond to an appeal (complaint), and up to 60 days in particularly complex cases.
Deadlines
For a claim under the at-fault driver's OC, the insurer should generally pay within 30 days of the report. If the circumstances can't be clarified within that time – within 14 days of clarifying them, but no later than 90 days from the report (unless the outcome depends on criminal or civil proceedings).
Claims under the at-fault driver's OC generally become time-barred 3 years from the day the injured party learned about the damage and who is liable – but no later than 10 years from the incident (or 20 years if the damage results from a crime).
What to prepare
- the at-fault driver's statement or the police report number,
- the at-fault car's registration number and its insurer,
- your registration certificate and driving licence,
- photos of the damage and of the scene,
- if the claim is already reported – the claim number and the insurer's letters.