Surveyor in Car Insurance

When you file a claim against your insurance for the four-wheeler, it is up to the insurance company to review it fairly and settle it properly. To do this, they need a technical report from a professional who knows about cars.

Think of a motor surveyor as an independent inspector working for your insurance company. They are not there to blame anyone for the accident but to accurately assess your car's damage.

A car insurance surveyor is the person who checks the damage, determines what caused it, and determines how bad it is.

They look at the broken car, talk to the repair shop about the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged parts, and then send a report to the insurance company.

Basically, motor surveyors are automotive professionals with a keen eye for detail. They will meticulously examine your car, identifying everything from scratches and dents to bent frames and malfunctioning parts.

A motor insurance surveyor's job is to ensure that the damage is inspected fairly and quickly. They have to be unbiased and objective. Their assessment should follow the rules laid out in the car insurance policy to ensure that the claim is settled fairly.

When Does the Insurer Deploy a Car Insurance Surveyor?

According to the law, the insurance company sends a general insurance surveyor if the claim amount is less than ₹20,000. But they send a licenced surveyor if the claim amount is over ₹50,000.

The IRDAI Regulations for Insurance Surveyors and Loss Assessors, 2015 lays out clear guidelines regarding the roles and responsibilities of insurance surveyors.

Let us learn more about some of the important regulations that motor insurance surveyors need to follow:**

• Investigation and Validation: Motor claim surveyors are tasked with thoroughly investigating and validating the loss incurred and determining the extent of the damage caused by an accident or unforeseen event.

• Reporting: Depending on the specific case, they must report the survey details to either the insurer or the policyholder.

• Neutrality: motor surveyors must maintain a neutral stance throughout their work to ensure that the interests of both the insurer and the policyholder are safeguarded.

• Disclosure: Surveyors must disclose to the insurer any relationship they may have with the policyholder. The insurer may reject the surveyor's report if such a relationship exists. Therefore, it's important for surveyors to declare any such associations in advance to avoid potential issues later on.

• Thorough Inspection: Car insurance surveyors are required to conduct thorough inspections and re-inspections, if necessary, to assess the loss incurred accurately.

• Verification of Insurable Interest: They must verify that the policyholder is the insured property's owner and holds a genuine insurable interest in it.

• Providing Advice: Surveyors should offer valuable advice to both the policyholder and the insurer to minimise further losses by implementing safe and secure measures.

• Seeking Expert Advice: Surveyors should seek expert advice when necessary to ensure an accurate assessment of the loss.

• Claim Repudiation: If a claim is repudiated, motor insurance surveyors must provide proper justification, indicating that the cause of loss is not covered under the policy, thereby absolving the insurer from making any payment.

• Depreciation Consideration: Surveyors need to recognise instances where depreciation must be taken into consideration while assessing a particular case.

• Salvage and Disposal: They may provide recommendations regarding salvage and its proper disposal.

• Timely Reporting: Motor surveyors are required to submit their reports to the insurer promptly upon completion of the assessment or within 30 days of their appointment.

• Extension Requests: In cases where special or complicated circumstances arise, surveyors may request an extension from the insurer, with prior intimation to the insured. However, such extensions are typically not granted for more than six months.

• Incomplete Submission: If the insured fails to submit relevant documents, surveyors are required to send reminders and, if necessary, provide additional reports within three weeks of the insurer's request for completeness.

In order to meet the surveyor after an accident, you need to follow a few rules. These tips will help you communicate effectively with them:

• Leave the Accident Spot Untouched: After an accident, it is best to leave everything as it is until the surveyor arrives. Do not rush to repair your car. Wait for the surveyor to assess the damage and gather information. Using your damaged car before the survey can lead to your claim being rejected.

• Provide a Detailed Claim Report: If your car is damaged, complete the claim form thoroughly. Describe the incident in detail, including any scratches or dents. Adding photos of the damage and statements from witnesses can strengthen your case. If there is a police report (FIR), include that too, especially if there are injuries or third-party damage.

• Keep Records of Communication: Save any emails or messages you receive from the insurance company or their surveyor. These can be useful for future reference or if there are any disputes.

• Differentiate Old and New Damages: Be honest about any existing damage on your car before the accident and clearly mention any new damage caused by the incident. Failing to report new damages promptly might lead to your claim being denied, as the insurer could mistake them for old damages.

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