1) Notify the insurer
Contact your insurer as soon as you can. Some policies have time limits for reporting incidents.
Glossary • Definition
What is an insurance claim?
An insurance claim is a request you make to your insurer after a covered event (such as an accident, theft, or damage) asking them to pay or help cover the loss, in line with your policy terms.
- âś” What a claim is
- âś” Typical steps
- âś” What to check before claiming
In simple terms
If something goes wrong and it’s covered by your policy, you contact your insurer and “make a claim”. The insurer then assesses what happened and decides what support or payment applies under the policy.
- Claims are assessed against your policy wording
- You usually pay an excess for many claims
- Evidence and timelines often matter
Typical claim process (general)
Exact steps vary by insurer and policy type.
2) Provide details & evidence
You may need photos, receipts, a crime reference number, witness details, or repair estimates.
3) Assessment
The insurer checks the event, the cover you have, and whether exclusions or conditions apply.
4) Settlement
Settlement could be repair, replacement, a cash payment, or another method depending on your policy.
Indemnity explained →What you may need for a claim
Keep it simple: prove what happened and what was lost/damaged.
Common examples
Evidence requirements vary, but these items are commonly requested. Always follow the insurer’s instructions.
- Photos/video of damage
- Receipts or proof of ownership (where available)
- Serial numbers for devices (if applicable)
- Crime reference number for theft (where relevant)
- Repair quotes or approved repairer details
- Witness details (accidents)
How excess and premiums relate to claims
Two key terms that often determine the real cost of claiming.
Excess
The excess is what you contribute towards a claim. If the claim value is close to your excess, it may not be worthwhile to claim.
Excess explained →Premium
After a claim, premiums can change at renewal because the insurer may assess risk differently.
Premium explained →No-claims bonus (car insurance)
A claim may reduce NCB depending on the insurer’s rules (even if you’re not at fault in some cases).
NCB explained →Sum insured
Claims may be limited by the maximum payout (sum insured) and any item/section limits.
Sum insured explained →Where claims work differently
Broadly similar idea, but the practical process varies.
Car insurance
Accidents, repairs, write-offs, third-party damage, and fault/no-fault processes.
Start car comparison →Home & contents
Property repairs, replacing items, and value/limits for valuables.
Home guides →Life insurance
Claims can involve documents and eligibility checks, and may work differently to general insurance.
Life guides →Browse providers
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Providers directory →Affiliate disclosure
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