Car insurance claims in another city: appraisal can be done locally, but repairs are best done back in your home city.
When going on an out-of-town self-drive trip and unfamiliar with the surroundings, your car is likely to encounter minor scratches or bumps. Professionals from Xiongfeng Nissan remind car owners that if you need to file a car insurance claim in another city, you should first obtain the insurance company's approval before driving the vehicle back to your home city for appraisal. As for vehicle repairs, if it’s just a small issue, it is more convenient to drive it back to your home city for repair.
1. Returning for appraisal might miss the reporting deadline
Generally speaking, local appraisal is the most common method for vehicles involved in accidents in another city. However, during holidays, due to insufficient manpower for appraisals, some car owners may choose not to wait patiently and instead drive their vehicles back to where the policy was issued for appraisal. In such cases, car owners must remember to report the accident beforehand and get the insurance company's consent; otherwise, it could be treated as missing the reporting deadline.
Moreover, in case of significant damage or casualties, the vehicle must undergo inspection at the accident site.
2. Repairs in another city might cause inconvenience
Some car owners choose to have their cars repaired locally, but this method is not recommended by insurance personnel. If the damage is not severe and does not affect normal driving functions, the owner should preferably choose to return to their home city for repairs. This is to avoid potential problems in the future, such as discovering quality issues after the car has been repaired, which could be very troublesome. If repeat repairs are needed, the car owner will have to travel between two places.
Of course, opting not to repair locally applies only when the vehicle has minor issues. If it affects normal driving, it must be repaired in the other city. In such situations, it is best to choose a repair point designated by the insurance company to prevent being taken advantage of by unfamiliar repair shops.
It is worth noting that if it's just a minor scrape, under mutual agreement, both parties can privately resolve the matter without involving the police. However, if you do involve the police, make sure to obtain the accident liability handling form, otherwise, if the vehicle is towed to a 4S shop for repair, the insurance company may refuse compensation.
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