If you have a car, then you probably know that CASCO is a policy of insurance compensation for damage in the event of an unforeseen situation. Although the situations in this case are just foreseen, because they are described in the contract. CASCO payments are sometimes a real salvation for drivers, but sometimes they become just a headache. Why? Let's talk about it below.
CASCO: full and incomplete
Fully justifying its name (from the Italian casco - skeleton), this insurance policy does not cover damage from loss of cargo or injury to passengers. CASCO insurance company payments apply only to the vehicle, whether it be a car, a yacht or an airplane. Almost everything that can happen with a vehicle is covered by this insurance policy:
- Accident
- hijacking, theft, as well as damage caused by trying to do this;
- theft of parts and components of the vehicle;
- hooliganism, vandalism and other illegal actions;
- intentional damage to the car;
- fires, explosions, spontaneous combustion, floods, rockfalls, falling of any objects;
- any other natural disasters and force majeure.
Depending on how much you love your car and how much you are willing to pay for insurance, you can choose a full or partial CASCO policy. The difference is that partial will protect you from everything except theft or theft of the vehicle.
Disclaimer We read the contract carefully
Regardless of which policy you decide to purchase, the main thing is that CASCO payments should be made on time and in full. Therefore, before signing something, you need to carefully study the contract, because all the traps and pitfalls are hidden there.
The most common trap of a comprehensive CASCO agreement is that only a vehicle theft from a garage or theft from a guarded parking lot is considered an insurance event. Moreover, if the parking is paid, you will definitely require a check on the day of the theft. Therefore, if you decide to purchase a full CASCO, make sure that the contract states that the insured event occurs when the car disappears at any time and from anywhere.
Very often issues with payment may arise if at the time of the accident the driver was not the owner. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the contract states that this vehicle can be driven by anyone who has reason for this, for example, a power of attorney of the owner (notarized) and, of course, a driver’s license. Moreover, it is worth noting that in the presence of the owner a power of attorney is not mandatory.
Also, when concluding an insurance contract, pay attention to the clause that determines the examination for the presence of alcohol and psychotropic substances. Often a contract is drawn up in such a way that a driver is required to undergo a medical examination in any accident. If you do not do this, get failure insurance in the payment of hull. You must admit that this is not always justified, therefore, require that the agreement states that the examination should be carried out only at the request of a traffic police officer.
A little more about traps
Often difficulties arise with the repair of a vehicle, more precisely, with the cost of spare parts.If the contract does not clearly state at what price the cost of components and spare parts should be reimbursed, then you risk paying the lion's share of the missing amount from your pocket. Therefore, in the correct CASCO agreement, it should be indicated that the cost of spare parts and components necessary for repairing a vehicle is calculated based on the retail prices of an authorized dealer in your region at the time of the insured event or registration of payment.
The next pitfall awaits you when choosing a service station for repair. Most often, when it is necessary to repair a vehicle, insurance companies prefer to contact the station with fairly affordable prices and ignore the fact that the car is under warranty. In this case, you may be faced with a choice: repair the car at the warranty service station for your hard-earned money or get insurance payment, but lose the guarantee. To prevent this from happening, make sure that the contract provides for the possibility of servicing the car in a service center.
We prepare documents
What documents do I need to provide in order to receive CASCO payments? To begin with, in no case should you leave the scene of an accident, you should definitely call the traffic police. In a telephone mode, notify the insurance company: indicate the place, time and date of the accident, the nature of the damage, information about the vehicle owner and the number of the CASCO insurance policy. Already after, with a personal visit to the insurance office, you will need:
- certificate of participation in an accident (form No. 12);
- certificate of accident (form No. 748);
- copy of the protocol on administrative violation (compiled at the scene of an accident);
- passport, driver's license;
- power of attorney to drive a vehicle (if necessary);
- vehicle passport;
- CASCO policy (original);
- receipt of payment of the full amount under an insurance contract;
- preliminary account with service stations (if possible);
- incident statement;
- compensation application.
Also, detailed photographs of a damaged car may sometimes be required in cases where a personal examination is not possible.
Damage is different
CASCO insurance payments are made for any damage to the car, and not just as a result of participation in an accident. Therefore, depending on the situation, other documents may be needed. For example, if a tree, an icicle or a stone thrown by a bully fell on a car, then first of all it is necessary to contact the police. The incident will be recorded there, a decision will be made to institute criminal proceedings, and you will be given a certificate in form No. 3.
As soon as the car was damaged in a fire, you should contact the State Fire Supervision Service for help, and if the car was damaged by a hurricane, then the Ministry of Emergencies. There you will be given a certificate confirming the onset of a natural disaster or natural disaster.
Pull-pull the cat for the hitch
Unless otherwise specified in the contract, the insurance company must make CASCO payments no later than in fifteen days. However, in practice, everything happens very differently. The insurance company is trying to delay payments as much as possible - maybe there is a reason and completely refuse.
CASCO payment terms for each company are different and are usually set out in the annex to the policy. If you signed the contract at the branch of the company, and not at the main office, then one of the reasons for delaying payments may be that all decisions are made by the center, for the actions of which the regional branch is not responsible.
Very often, the insurance company offers repairs to replace the insurance payment, such an item is entered into the contract in advance. At the same time, a full-time expert of the insurance company is invited to determine the amount of damage, however, it should be remembered that if you have doubts about the objectivity of the assessment, you have the right to contact a third-party specialist.
Refuse cannot be paid
Most often, full-time employees of an insurance company are interested in minimizing the amount of payment, or even finding a reason for refusal.
A refusal of payment under CASCO can be made for the following reasons:
- the event is not recognized as an insured event;
- a decision is made that the car was not damaged as a result of an accident;
- it is assumed that the theft occurred as a result of leaving documents or keys in the car;
- the vehicle at the time of the accident was technically faulty, had significant natural wear or was used for other purposes;
- the necessary package of documents was missing or incorrectly executed.
CASCO payment deadlines violated. What to do?
Regardless of what is stipulated in the contract, the terms of payment under CASCO are sometimes extended for 6 months or more, but you should not wait so long. If the reasons seem objective to you, you can help the insurance make a decision. For example, if a response to a request does not come from the traffic police for a long time, you can try to get it yourself. However, if you see that the insurance company deliberately delays the process in order to find a reason for refusing to pay, you do not need to hesitate.
An appeal against the actions of insurers in court has a limitation period of 2 years, moreover, it is usually counted from the moment the insured event occurs. If you are confident in your innocence and have all the necessary documents in hand, you can safely go to court. Of course, it is very advisable to enlist the support of an experienced lawyer.
Is it possible to recover insurance compensation?
In order to file a statement of claim, it is not at all necessary to wait for the official refusal of insurers, because getting it in your hands can be quite problematic. Sometimes receiving a copy of the statement of claim speeds up the reimbursement of the insurance indemnity under CASCO, because a lawsuit is not only long, but also expensive, legal expenses can be added to the amount of the policy, which are most often exacted from insurers.
Be patient, the trial can take quite a while, however, as practice shows, most often the court takes the side of the consumer, that is, yours. There is an opinion that it is better to file a claim not at the place of registration of the company, but at your place of residence. So, insurers have less chance of “negotiating” with a judge, because in a district court at the place of registration of the insurance office such cases are most likely to be common.
Conclusion
So that after the occurrence of an insured event not to think about how to get a CASCO payment, you need to take a very balanced approach to choosing an insurance company.
Carefully study the reviews of other customers, especially negative ones, try to personally contact those who have already received insurance payments and who were refused.
But it is especially worthwhile to study the CASCO agreement before signing it, and it is advisable to do this in the company of an independent lawyer. Follow these simple rules - and CASCO will reliably protect your car from any troubles.
