In general, fleet owners and managers should file fleet insurance claims as soon as possible after an accident or incident occurs.
By filing the claim quickly, you give the insurance company enough time to investigate and figure out how much money it will be owed by each party involved in the accident or incident.
That’s why it’s important to call your insurance company as soon as possible after an accident or incident occurs, even if you don’t know exactly what happened and you’re not sure if you’ll be making a claim yet or not. Here is a detailed walkthrough on how and when to file fleet insurance claims.
When To File A Fleet Insurance Claim
Fleet insurance like that provided by Humn.ai with its Rideshur product protects your business by providing you with liability coverage if one of your drivers causes an accident while on the job. It also protects you against damage to your vehicles, so you can quickly get them back up and running without facing major expenses.
However, fleet insurance doesn’t come cheap, so it’s important to make sure you file a claim when you need to and don’t file one unnecessarily.
Here are some situations in which filing a fleet insurance claim will be more than worth the time and effort it takes to do so.
If You Got Into An Accident
If you get into an accident, it’s a good idea to file a fleet insurance claim right away. This ensures that any damage caused during an accident is fixed quickly and effectively. Keeping your fleet in tip-top shape is key for maintaining business operations.
If Your Vehicle Was Stolen
If your fleet vehicle was stolen and you have full-coverage insurance, report it stolen immediately. If you file a claim after a month or so, your provider might decline it because you didn’t report it promptly.
If Your Vehicle Was Vandalised
If your fleet vehicles were vandalised or damaged due to someone else’s carelessness, you will want to make sure that your vehicle insurance covers those damages. However, you must file an insurance claim for a fleet vehicle as soon as possible—the longer you wait, the higher the likelihood that coverage may be lost.
If You Don’t Have A Driver’s License Anymore
If you don’t have a driver’s license anymore and still need to drive for your business, you might be worried about how insurance will work. Don’t worry: most companies allow you to file a fleet insurance claim without a valid driver’s license as long as they have proof that you are legally allowed to drive. As long as you provide an alternative form of identification (and possibly additional documentation), fleet insurance claims should be relatively painless.
How To File A Fleet Insurance Claim
Depending on the nature of the claim, it might be an easy process or a long, complex one. First and foremost, you need to file a police report if your vehicle was stolen or involved in an accident.
If you are filing a property damage claim (also known as third-party), you’ll need to gather all the bills relating to the damages and prepare estimates for any repairs that have not yet been completed. Before contacting your insurer, remember to get quotes from repair shops and keep records of everything related to the claim.
In terms of time frames, you will usually hear back from your insurer within ten days with details about how they intend to proceed with the claim process.
You can only learn how to file a fleet Insurance claim by experience. It’s never a good idea to procrastinate when it comes to getting an insurance claim started, as any delays may result in additional costs and even legal action.
Your insurer or any insurance broker should be able to tell you what documents are required for each type of claim. If not, ask your insurer or contact their corporate office directly for assistance.
