Most insurers try to ensure that their claims procedure is very straightforward. Assuming you are driving legally, with a valid driving licence and car insurance, you can claim at any time as long as your policy is valid. This means that if you take out insurance today and have an accident tomorrow, you will still be entitled to the same pay-out as if you were to have an accident in six months' time. A claim can be made by any of the named drivers on a policy and the process is the same whether the owner of the vehicle or one of the nominated drivers caused, or was involved in the accident.
There are certain duties you must adhere to if you are involved in a road traffic accident, such as swapping contact and insurance details with the other driver(s). It may not be immediately apparent who is to blame, but in any case you should never admit responsibility without first speaking to your insurer.
If the accident was the fault of a third party, you can make your claim against them. They will usually then refer the claim to their insurance provider. If they are uninsured or untraceable, you may not be able to recover your costs. There are certain procedures your insurer will expect you to follow before they process the claim.
A claim costs not only money but also time and effort. You may have to pay legal fees to solicitors who will help process your case, and you will often have to speak to your insurer several times to clarify the details of the claim.
There are certain terms and conditions you should bear in mind: your insurer can reject your claim if you do not adhere to them. For example, you must give your insurance provider accurate information: if you tell them that your car is parked in a garage every night and it is subsequently stolen overnight from your driveway, you may not be entitled to claim.
