All you need to know about filing motor, home insurance claims during natural calamities

After gusty winds and heavy showers lashed Mumbai and its neighbouring areas, the Tauktae cyclone is moving towards Gujarat. With hundreds of cars and homes damaged, the cyclone has shown no sign of receding. But do you know that your insurance policy can mitigate the hardship for you and your family? To help you navigate through the tough times here is how you can claim your motor and home insurance policy:

Motor insurance

The motor insurance policy has two components- own damage and third-party cover. While own damage is for the protection of your car, third-party cover is for covering third-party losses.

In case of any natural calamities like thunderstorms, cyclones, and hurricanes your own damage part of the motor insurance policy covers your vehicle. It is therefore advisable to always buy a comprehensive motor insurance plan. Hence, here are a few quick steps on how to file a motor insurance claim:

Step 1. Call on the insurer’s toll-free number and register the claim.

Step 2: Take photographs to show the extent of the damage.

Step 3: To avoid any subsequent damage don’t use the car.

Step 4: Get your car repaired at the nearest repair shop.

Step 5: Fill the claim form and submit all the required documents. Either take the form from the authorised workshop or download it from the company’s website.

Step 6: A surveyor comes to inspect the vehicle. Keep all the documents ready.

Step 7: Check the status of your claim on the company’s website.

Home insurance

Home insurance covers three kinds of risks. The basic policy protects the building against fire and allied perils such as earthquakes and floods. The second type of risk coverage protects the contents of your house from both natural and man-made calamities, including burglary. The third covers peripheral risks such as baggage, increased living expenses, among other things. So if you have a home insurance policy here are quick steps on how to make a claim:

Step 1. Intimate the insurance company and register your claim.

Step 2. The company will appoint a surveyor to visit your house

Step 3. Prepare a list of damaged/stolen to provide to the surveyor.

Step 4. The surveyor will assess and ask for requisite documents for processing the claim.

Step 5. The claim is generally processed within seven days of the submission of documents.

Claims during a calamity

Most of the insurers generally nominate a nodal officer for the affected states. The nodal officer then coordinates the processing and settlement of claims. The contact particulars of the nodal officer are generally shared on the website. For example, SBI General Insurance Company Ltd has set up a task force to manage queries relating to claims due to cyclone Tauktae in Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra. According to SBI General, the task force will manage cyclone damage-related queries and claims on fast track mode.

If you don’t have one, buy insurance without any delay to keep yourself covered against such calamities.