How Many Times Can You Claim Car Insurance?

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How Many Times Can You Claim Car Insurance? Claiming Often vs. Not Claiming at All – What’s the Impact?

Many people purchase car insurance for peace of mind but may not fully understand how making a claim affects their future benefits and costs. Questions like “How many times can I claim?” “Does claiming often increase my premium?” or “What happens if I never make a claim?” are common concerns.

Let’s break it down to help you make the best decisions and avoid unnecessary costs!

Types of Car Insurance Claims

There are two main types of claims: on-the-spot claims and delayed claims. Each type has different conditions:

On-the-Spot Claims (Immediate Reporting at the Accident Scene)

When an accident occurs, you can contact your insurer to send an agent to inspect the damage on-site. This can be divided into two cases:

• Claims with a Third Party
  • Example: Your car collides with another vehicle.
  • If you are at fault, you may have to pay the deductible according to your policy.
  • If you are not at fault, you don’t have to pay anything.
• Claims Without a Third Party
  • Example: Hitting a curb, a tree, or being hit by an unknown driver.
  • You may have to pay an excess fee depending on your policy.

Delayed Claims (Filing a Claim Later)

Used for minor damages, such as scratches or minor dents, with no third party involved. You need to collect evidence—photos of the damage, date, time, and location—before notifying your insurer to arrange an inspection.

*Note: Delayed claims may incur an excess fee of 1,000 - 4,000 THB, depending on the insurer.

How Many Times Can You Claim Per Year?

In general, there is no limit to the number of claims per year. You can claim as needed, but claiming frequently may have consequences:

• Higher premiums for the following year
• Loss of No-Claim Bonus (NCB) discounts
• Some policies may impose an annual coverage limit

How Does Frequent Claiming Affect Insurance Premiums?

Your insurance premium may or may not increase depending on the type of claim:

• If you claim and are not at fault → No impact on your premium
• If you claim and are at fault or have no third party → Your premium may increase

(Photo Credit: freepik)

Understanding the “No-Claim Bonus” (NCB)

The No-Claim Bonus is a discount on your insurance premium for drivers who do not make at-fault claims. This discount increases each year without a claim:

If you make an at-fault claim:

Example: If you currently have a 30% NCB and make an at-fault claim, your NCB may drop to 20% next year.

If you make more than 2 at-fault claims and the total damage exceeds 200% of your insurance premium, your NCB may be reset to 0%.

Claiming vs. Not Claiming – Which Is More Beneficial?

File a claim if you are not at fault

• No need to pay the excess fee.
• The insurer will handle the repair costs.

Think carefully before claiming if you are at fault or there is no third party

• If repair costs are lower than the deductible + the potential loss of NCB → Do not claim.
• If repair costs are higher → Claiming might be the better option.

Example Decision Making:

• If the repair cost is 3,000 THB, but the deductible is 5,000 THB → Not worth claiming.
• If the repair cost is 10,000 THB, the deductible is 5,000 THB, and your NCB discount is at risk → Do the math to see which option is better.

For severe accidents involving injuries or fatalities:

• Always notify your insurer and call the police immediately.
• The insurer will assist with medical expenses and legal procedures as per the policy.

Conclusion

• You can claim as many times as needed, but frequent claims may affect your premium.
• At-fault claims may lead to higher premiums and loss of NCB.
• No claims = Higher NCB discounts (up to 50%).
• For major accidents, always file a claim.

Now that you know, use your claim rights wisely! Claim only when necessary and calculate costs carefully to save on your next premium.

Looking for the best car insurance deal? Let Motorist help you find the most suitable and cost-effective policy for your car!

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