The risks of driving without insurance

To make an informed decision on whether to cancel your vehicle insurance policy, consider how much it will cost you every month before cancelling your vehicle insurance. Getting an insurance quote is possible by talking directly to an insurance agent and comparing the quotes with the amount you would be forced to pay if you were involved in an unforeseen accident without car insurance.

In light of this, you will understand how costly it will be not to have vehicle insurance. Unfortunately, we cannot predict the future, but accidents happen, and you can take steps to protect yourself from them. In this case, getting a quote for vehicle insurance is best and then adjusting your budget accordingly.

Car insurance: 4 reasons not to drive without it

Listed below are the four main reasons you shouldn’t drive without car insurance and how they can affect you.

1. The cost of an accident is your responsibility

If you drive without car insurance, and you make an accident that’s your fault, you’ll be required to not only cover your repair cost but theirs too.

Even though the other driver may be insured, and you crashed into them, their insurance will not pay for everything, and you will be named the guilty party responsible for paying the other driver's damages.

2. Your vehicle finance is not absolved in the case of an accident

If you financed your vehicle, you’ll still be required to continue making monthly instalments. And in the worst-case scenario, your car is written off, leaving you without a car, and a ton of debt.

3. You still owe money on your stolen car

People may likely experience car theft or hijacking at some point. If your vehicle is uninsured, you will consequently be reliable for the replacement of your vehicle, and financially this can be devastating and stressful. Also, financed vehicles legally require comprehensive vehicle insurance cover.

4. An accident caused by another uninsured driver

Have you thought about what could happen if a driver crashes into your car and their vehicle is also not covered with insurance? You will not be able to apply to their insurer to pay out the costs for the damages to your vehicle they've caused; thus said, it can also be a financial risk.

Not only that, but you’ll have to file a civil case, which is a lot of attorney’s fees, and unnecessary headaches.

To make an informed decision on whether to cancel your vehicle insurance policy, consider how much it will cost you every month before cancelling your vehicle insurance.

10 Steps to take after an accident

Here we have listed ten steps on car insurance you can take after being involved in an accident:

Step 1:

After any minor or major accident, your first step should be to ensure your engine is switched off, then stop your vehicle and turn the hazard lights on.

Step 2:

Regardless of the type of accident, whether minor or major, you must check if anyone is injured. If an accident involves an injured person, please do not remove them from the vehicle; instead, contact the appropriate emergency services to assist.

Step 3:

If a person is not injured and your vehicle has minimal damage due to an accident, you can then move your vehicle out of the way of traffic flow. If you cannot move your car, place hazard markers on the road or call for a tow truck.

Step 4:

Inspect your vehicle thoroughly for damage after a car accident. If possible, take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and the other driver's vehicle with your cell phone.

Step 5:

When reporting your car accident, try to draw a picture of the scene that shows where you were and in which direction you were travelling from. Include road names, landmarks, intersections, and robots.

Step 6:

The most important thing is to ask for the other party's details which include the following particulars:

• Full Names
• ID number
• Registration number
• Physical address
• Contact details
• Insurance company details
• The make, model, and colour of their vehicle
• Date and time the accident occurred
• Details of any witnesses

Step 7:

To file a report, both parties must visit their nearest police station within 24 hours.

Step 8:

Call your insurance company, even if the damage to your vehicle is suspected to be minor and you don't plan to claim from your policy.

Step 9:

If your car is damaged, you will need to bring it to a vehicle assessing centre for the damages to be evaluated by a qualified assessor. You will then receive a few comparative quotes to know how much your car will cost to be repaired.

Step 10:

If you are looking at submitting a claim from your insurance company, you only need to say the word, and they will get cracking. However, if you decide to pay for the damages yourself, you will need to inform them that you won't be submitting a claim so that your insurance pay-out cannot be affected.

When should a claim be filed?

Contact your Car Insurance provider immediately if any of the following occur:

• Your vehicle gets stolen or hijacked.
• There is vandalising to your vehicle.
• Your vehicle gets damaged from a natural disaster such as a hailstorm.
• There are damages to your vehicle from an accident.

It is also important to remember that whilst you speak to your insurance company, you'll need to provide them with your policy number and the full details of the incident.

How does a claim get filed, and what steps do I take?

The following information will help you if you've been in an accident or wish to find out how to claim from your policy.

Step 1:

Firstly, you need to call your insurance provider immediately and inform them about the incident. To file a claim, you must submit required documents like a copy of your driver's license and car registration certificate among the two first pages of your insurance policy.

Step 2:

Capturing photos of the scene of the incidents can be helpful. You can snap photos of the incident involving the damages to your car and the other driver's car and any bodily injuries you have to serve as valid proof for settling a claim. You will need to note down the names and contact numbers of any witnesses, if there are any, to help you with the entire procedure.

Step 3:

The next step of the procedure to file a claim is to submit all the crucial documents and information to the insurance company as listed above in this article. You can also raise a claim online if your insurance company provides this service.

The insurance company will send someone to assess the damage to your vehicle, and if need be, they will send a tow truck to help get your vehicle to a repairer.

At Kiwis Auto body, you'll find experienced staff qualified in all aspects of auto body repair. We have over 40 years of industry knowledge and offer many services to restore your vehicle to its original state. We remove dents, repair scratches and dings, reshape car panels, and polish and spray-paint automobiles.

When something goes wrong with your car, it's a relief to know that you are insured and that the company will take care of everything. It's important to have car insurance because it covers you for any accidents or incidents that may occur. And when it turns out that an accident is your fault and damage is caused to another vehicle, your insurance company will cover that too.

Car insurance removes the burden when settling claims from other drivers or damage caused to your vehicle. When damage is caused to your vehicle by another driver, your insurer can resolve the matter on your behalf.

If your vehicle has been damaged in an accident or incident, Kiwis Auto Body can restore it to its original condition and get you back on the road within a short time frame. Please get in touch with us for a free quotation.