We often get clients who contact us in an understandable panic because, despite the fact they have taken out an insurance policy, they have had an accident and in the heat of the moment, they don’t know what they are required to do.
The good news is, this is totally normal ! This is where we come in. This is what we do!
In this post, we outline in laymans terms, what happens when you wish to make a claim :
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Be prepared & make things simple for yourself by always keeping a copy of the following two documents in your glove box:
- Memo d’Assurance » This is the document that has now replaced the old « carte verte » (the green insurance document that had to be displayed on the windscreen,) which proves you have insurance in France.
- Constat Amiable Auto. This is the document that needs to be completed by both yourself and any other third party involved in the accident before, contacting your insurance company to open your claim. You can get this form either from your insurance agent, or the local Tabac. Alternatively, It is now also possible to complete this document on-line.
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Make sure everyone is safe ! If you have had an accident and you need assistance getting your your vehicle to a garage, either in France or abroad, both the National & International telephone numbers are listed on your Memo d’Assurance.
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You have 5 days to complete the Constat Amiable and submit it to your insurer. We advise, that, as soon as everyone is safe, you find a quiet spot to sit down and complete the form while the details of the accident are still fresh in your mind.
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It is important that the form is completed in its entirity and, that both parties sign confirming that they are in agreement with everything stated. Ideally, you want your insurer to be able to look at the form and fully understand the circumstances of the accident and, who is responsible. It is also a good idea to take photos that substantiate your claim.
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Once the form is completed, contact your insurance company to open your claim. At this point, your insurance company will have access to your policy and will be able to answer any questions you may have relative to your level of cover.
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In certain cases, your insurance company may need to assign an Expert Assesor to evaluate your claim. When this is the case, your insurance company will contact you to programme the Assesor's visit at a garage convient to you. It is vital that no repairs are carried out until after the Assesor’s visit. If the Expert Assesor is unable to assess the damage it is highly probably that it will negatively impact your claim.
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Insurance companies have partnerships with many of the local garages. Working with a partner garage will avoid you having to pay for the repairs up front (except from any excess or TVA that you are liable for.) Alternatively, if you prefer to work with a garage of your choice that does not have a partnership with your insurance company, you will be required to settle your bill with the garage directly and then submit your invoice to your insurer for reimbursement.
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Whether or not you are entitled to a replacement vehicle while your car is being repaired will depend on your policy. If this is something that is vital to you, we advise that you liaise with your insurance agent to ensure you have the correct level of cover in place.
At First Insurance, a real plus for our clients is the fact that, if the language is a barrier, we have native English speaking staff who will happily open the claim on your behalf. In the case of an accident we actively encourage our clients to simply get in touch either by phone or email and we’ll guide them through the entire process.
We hope you found this article helpful. If however, you have any questions that we haven’t answered or indeed if you would like to talk through your car insurance requirements with one of our consultants please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
