Should you claim through your own insurance?
It is the automatic reaction after a crash: phone your own insurer. If the accident genuinely was not your fault, that call can quietly cost you money, and it is very difficult to unwind once the process has started. This guide explains the difference between the two routes in plain terms. It is general information rather than advice about your own situation.
Contents
What happens when you claim on your own policy
Claiming on your own comprehensive cover usually means paying your excess up front and recording a claim against your policy. Your insurer may then attempt to recover those costs from the other side, and if they succeed your excess is often refunded and the claim may be recorded as non-fault. If they do not succeed, or only partly succeed, you can be left out of pocket and with a claim on your record that may affect future premiums. None of this is automatic either way, which is the point: you are handing control of the outcome to someone else.
What the non-fault route looks like instead
Where another party caused the crash, the costs can be pursued directly against them and their insurer. Riders in this position may avoid paying an excess at all, and can often arrange a replacement bike while theirs is repaired, with those costs pursued through the other side. Whether that route is available depends on the circumstances of the accident and how clear liability is, which is what an initial assessment is for.
Why the order matters so much
Once a claim is registered against your own policy, the process is under way and reversing it is not straightforward. That is why it is generally worth understanding your position before you make the call, not after. Reporting an incident to your insurer is not the same as making a claim, and most policies require you to notify them of an accident regardless. Notifying and claiming are different things, and the distinction is worth being clear about.
What to do first
Get medical attention if you need it. Photograph the scene, the vehicles and the road layout. Get the other party details and any witness contact details. Check whether you or anyone nearby has dashcam footage, because it is often overwritten quickly. Then find out where you stand before you commit to a route. A free, no-obligation check takes about a minute and does not oblige you to do anything at all.
Need specific advice for your situation?
Every accident is unique. Speak to our specialist team for a no-obligation assessment of your case.
Start your no win no fee claim enquiryQuestions riders ask
Answers to common queries regarding the claims process.
Related Guides
Will My Insurance Go Up?
It is the ultimate insult. You get wiped out by a bad driver. Your bike is ruined. You do everything by the book, and then next year, your insurance company hikes your premium anyway. We believe in brutal honesty. Here is exactly how insurance companies treat non-fault claims, and how using independent specialists can protect your wallet.
What to Do After a Crash
The minutes immediately following a crash are chaotic, painful, and confusing with adrenaline pumping through your system. But what you do at the side of the road can make or break your future compensation claim. If you have been knocked off, follow these brutal but necessary steps.
Start your enquiry
Crashed your bike? We can connect you with specialists.
If the accident wasn't your fault, join the riders who've been connected to legal partners and explored their options for replacement bikes and compensation.
No upfront fees. Introductory service.