# Car Insurance Claim Process: Cashless, Theft & Total Loss

> How to file a car insurance claim in India, from cashless accident repairs to reimbursement, theft, and total-loss claims.
- **Published**: 2026-08-16
- **Modified**: 2026-08-16
- **Category**: auto-insurance
- **URL**: https://www.tldr.money/articles/auto-insurance/car-insurance-claim-process

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Use this with the full [car insurance guide](/auto-insurance). A smooth claim starts with the right insurer, so also see the [best car insurance companies](/articles/auto-insurance/best-car-insurance-companies-india).

## First steps after any incident

1. Ensure safety and move to a safe spot if possible.
2. Inform your insurer immediately, through the app, website, or helpline. Most policies require prompt intimation.
3. Photograph the damage, the scene, and other vehicles involved.
4. For accidents involving injury, theft, or third-party damage, file a police FIR.
5. Do not authorise major repairs before the insurer or surveyor approves them.

## Cashless accident claims

Cashless is the smoothest route because the network garage bills the insurer directly.

1. Take the car to a cashless network garage.
2. The garage raises the estimate and the insurer assigns a surveyor.
3. The surveyor assesses the damage and approves the covered amount.
4. You pay only the deductible and any non-covered items; the insurer settles the rest.

Confirm your preferred workshop is on the insurer's cashless list, ideally before you ever need it.

## Reimbursement claims

If you use a non-network garage, pay for the repair yourself, keep all bills and the surveyor report, and file for reimbursement. The insurer pays back the approved amount after review.

## Theft claims

1. File an FIR immediately and inform the insurer.
2. Submit the FIR, both sets of keys, the RC, and the policy.
3. After police investigation, if the car is untraced, the insurer processes a total-loss settlement up to the [IDV](/articles/auto-insurance/idv-car-insurance-explained).

## Total-loss claims

If repair cost approaches or exceeds the car's value, the insurer declares a total loss and pays the IDV, minus any deductible. This is why setting a fair IDV matters so much, and why a [return to invoice add-on](/articles/auto-insurance/car-insurance-add-ons-explained) helps on newer cars.

## What can reduce or reject a claim

- Delayed intimation or delayed FIR.
- Driving without a valid licence, or under the influence.
- Repairs done before survey approval.
- Using the car against its declared use, or breaching policy terms.

## Protect your bonus

A claim can reset your No Claim Bonus unless you hold NCB protection. For small damages, weigh the repair cost against the bonus you would lose; see the [renewal and NCB guide](/articles/auto-insurance/car-insurance-renewal-guide). Compare insurers on the [all car insurance companies](/auto-insurance/insurers) page.
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