Last updated: October 2026
Quick answer: To make a car insurance claim in Nigeria: (1) make the scene safe and take photos, (2) collect the other driver’s details and insurer, (3) get a police report where required, (4) notify your insurer quickly, (5) submit a claim form with photos and a repair estimate, and (6) allow the insurer to inspect the car before repairs. Under the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act 2025 (NIIRA 2025), an admitted claim must now be paid within 60 days of notification, down from 90 days.
Get the other driver’s full name, phone number and address, plate number, driver’s licence number, and their insurer and policy number. Note witnesses’ names and phone numbers too.
Check the other driver’s insurance on the spot at askniid.org or by dialling *565*11#. If their policy isn’t on the NIID database, it may be fake. See our car insurance check guide.
Insurers generally ask for a police report when another vehicle or person is involved, when someone is injured, or when the car is stolen. For theft claims you will usually need both an interim and a final police report.
Most Nigerian motor policies have a notification clause requiring you to report incidents within a set period, even if you are not sure you will claim. Late notice is one of the most common reasons claims are delayed or rejected. Use your insurer’s claims line, app, email or website, and keep proof of when you reported.
| Claim type | Documents insurers commonly request |
|---|---|
| Accident damage | Completed claim form; photos of the damaged car showing the plate number; repair estimate; police report (where a third party is involved); witness statements; copy of your driver’s licence and vehicle papers |
| Theft | Claim form; interim and final police reports; original insurance certificate; original vehicle licence; all ignition keys; purchase receipt or invoice; last service invoice |
| Third-party claim (someone else hit you) | Photos; police report; at-fault driver’s details and policy number; repair estimate; letter of claim to their insurer |
| Fire or flood | Claim form; photos/videos; repair estimate; fire service report (fire) or evidence of the flood event |
For example, AXA Mansard says a motor claim needs a repair estimate, photos of the damaged vehicle showing the plate number, and third-party details where applicable. Requirements vary slightly by insurer, so ask for their checklist.
The insurer (or an appointed loss adjuster) will usually inspect the car to confirm the damage. Don’t start repairs before approval unless your insurer authorises it in writing. Many comprehensive policies set an “authorised repair limit” (Leadway’s ranges from ₦150,000 to ₦400,000 depending on car value) below which you may repair first and claim after.
Once the claim is agreed, you sign a discharge voucher and the insurer either pays you, pays the garage directly, or replaces the car (total loss). Any policy excess is deducted. Some plans, like Leadway’s comprehensive cover and AXA Mansard’s AutoClassic, include excess buy-back so nothing is deducted.
The Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act 2025 (signed 5 August 2025) tightened claims rules:
If your insurer delays without reason, write to them citing NIIRA 2025, then escalate a complaint to the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).
If another driver caused the accident, their third-party insurance should pay for your repairs, up to ₦3 million for property damage, even if you only have third-party cover yourself.
Few Nigerians use this right: an industry report reported by BusinessDay in 2026 found only about 21.6% of motorists whose cars were damaged by another driver were compensated through that driver’s third-party insurance. Read more in our third-party insurance guide.
Under NIIRA 2025, once an insurer admits a claim it must settle it within 60 days of notification. Simple claims with complete documents are often faster.
For minor single-vehicle damage, some insurers may not require one. For accidents involving another vehicle, injuries or theft, expect to need a police report.
No. Your own third-party policy only pays other people. But you can claim from the at-fault driver’s third-party insurer, up to ₦3 million.
Third-party premiums are fixed at ₦15,000 for private cars. For comprehensive cover you may lose a no-claim bonus where your insurer offers one.
It is the document you sign to accept the agreed settlement amount. Read it carefully: signing usually closes the claim.
Not sure your cover is right? Compare third-party vs comprehensive insurance or see the best comprehensive insurers.
Sources: Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act 2025 (sections 210–212, as analysed by Jackson, Etti & Edu and Babalakin & Co.); ThisDay and BusinessDay reporting; Leadway Assurance and AXA Mansard claims guidance (checked October 2026). Information only, not legal advice.
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