How to File Car Insurance Claim with Temporary Registration Number?

Posted on: Jun 21, 2022 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

How to File Car Insurance Claim with Temporary Registration Number?

Buying a new car is one of the biggest milestones for most people, and a moment of pride too. When you buy a new car, for the world, it often means, you have ‘made it' in life!But there's a flip side to buying a new car too, and that's the ensuing paperwork.While dealerships these days take care of that, to smoothen the process of buying a vehicle, there are two major formalities that need to be completed, before the car can be driven out of the showroom. First, you need a temporary registration number. And second, you need car insurance. Read on to understand this better

What is a temporary registration number?

It is a unique number used to identify your vehicle. This is in place of a permanent registration number which is later issued by the RTO (Regional Transport Office). Every car on the road must have a permanent registration number issued by the RTO. However, this often takes a while to issue, whereas buying the vehicle can even be instant. So, in order to a drive the vehicle out of the showroom, a temporary registration number is issued, with the help of the dealership, which is valid for a month. During this period, you are required to go to the RTO and apply for a permanent registration number. If you do not get your permanent registration number within the month, you can apply for your temporary registration number to be extended.

How to apply for a temporary registration number?

The dealership usually helps with this process, requiring you to fill up a Form 20, and submit the relevant documents such as Form 20, 21, and 22, car insurance, pollution under control (PUC) certificate, address proof of the owner, PAN card, etc.

If the dealership does not assist with this, you will need to do so yourself. Download Form 20, 21, and 22 from the Road Ministry's website. Assemble all the documents required. Visit the appropriate RTO, submit the forms, pay the fees, and obtain your temporary registration number. Now, coming to car insurance. It is mandatory to have third party insurance, while the recommendation is to get a comprehensive car insurance policy.

This, too, is often provided by the dealership to make the process of buying a car easier. The dealership bundles a car insurance policy with the car, so you don't need to worry about the formalities. However, that may not be the best choice for you, as the policy chosen is not based on your needs, but that of the insurer, and the dealership's own interests.

That is why it's recommended to do your own car insurance research before you buy the vehicle. Just like you like to research about the car you intend to buy, you must research about the appropriate policy to go with it. Choose a policy that fits your needs and provides cost-effective coverage. A comprehensive car insurance plan is ideal to go with your new car, as it provides total coverage against a host of potentially adverse situations.

Can you claim insurance with a temporary registration number?

Yes, you can. The temporary registration number and your car insurance policy are tied to the chassis number of the vehicle. The temporary registration number works just like the permanent registration number, so long as it's within the validity period. The insurer first issues the policy with your temporary registration number, and updates it later, when you would have received your permanent registration number. Therefore, if there's a claim that needs to be filed before you receive your permanent registration number, it will work like a regular insurance claim, and you will be eligible to receive the claim benefits, as mentioned in the policy document.

The process of filing a car insurance claim with a temporary registration number is the same as that with a permanent number. Call your insurer after the unfortunate event, fill and submit the claim form. The insurer will deploy a surveyor to assess the damage and provide recommendations for the next step. Get your car repaired - either at the network garage (for cashless settlement) or go to a non-affiliated garage and submit the bills to the insurer for reimbursement.

Conclusion

While the temporary registration number works just like the permanent registration number, ensure you get your car registered within the month of having purchased it. You can only extend the period twice, following which you will need to pay fines for further extensions. Additionally, you will also need to provide a valid reason as to why you haven't been able to register your car permanently. As far as car insurance claims are concerned, ensure you intimate the insurer immediately after the accident and await instructions from them about the damage repair. This will help smoothen the claims process later.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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