CTPL claim process explained: What Filipino drivers need to know

CTPL insurance - An overview

Before understanding the CTPL insurance claim process, let us first get a better understanding of the CTPL insurance.

What is CTPL insurance?

CTPL refers to Compulsory Third Party Liability. It is the most basic car insurance policy on offer, which every motor vehicle owner must get, without fail. No CTPL insurance means no LTO vehicle registration, and no legal permission to drive on public roads.

What coverage does CTPL insurance offer?

CTPL insurance covers injury, death, and permanent disability caused to third parties due to the insured vehicle. Meaning the insurer will pay for the third party’s hospital bills, medication costs, and funeral expenses. Furthermore, CTPL handles the claims and settlements on the policyholder’s behalf.

Wondering what ‘third-party’ refers to?

Third-party refers to any individual who has been injured/died in an accident involving the insured vehicle. They can be anybody other than the driver, owner, or passenger of the insured vehicle. So, the pedestrians and driver/passenger of the other vehicle on the road.

Note that a member of the motor vehicle owner's household or family within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity is not considered a third party.

Legal requirement CTPL

All motor vehicle owners in the Philippines are legally bound to secure a CTPL insurance before registering the car at the LTO. Without the latter, you can not proceed with the registration or renewal process.

Also Read: What is covered (and not covered) in a car insurance policy in the Philippines

CTPL vs. Comprehensive insurance

To properly understand CTPL insurance, it is essential to know how it is different from comprehensive insurance. To simplify things, here’s a table representing the key differences -

Conclusion? Between the two, comprehensive insurance offers better protection, or, in other words, protects your vehicle and you. Its expensive nature is the reason why many Filipinos choose to omit this coverage.

When to & who can file a CTPL claim

When to file a CTPL claim? A CTPL claim should only be filed when a third party is injured or killed due to an accident involving your vehicle.

Note that CTPL insurance does not cover damages or injuries to you, the driver, or the passengers in the car. It does not even cover the car (insured vehicle).

Who can file a CTPL claim? This can be done via the victim, a third party or their family in case the victim was killed in the accident. Alternatively, the vehicle owner (policyholder), on behalf of the victim or an authorised representative of the victim, can do so.

Coverage scope of CTPL insurance

Who is covered under CTPL insurance? As mentioned, only third parties are covered under CTPL; this includes the driver & passengers of another vehicle, pedestrians, and others affected by the accident.

CTPL coverage limit -

• Injury to the third party - Medication of up to PHP 20,000, hospital accommodation of PHP 500 per day (for a max of 45 days), surgical expenses of up to PHP 7,500, and anesthesiologist fees of up to PHP 2,500.
• Death of a third party - Immediate family member gets PHP 70,000 + PHP 30,000, for death indemnity and funeral expenses, respectively.
• Permanent disability of third party - Victim receives total disability compensation of up to PHP 50,000.

What are the limitations of CTPL coverage? CTPL insurance does not cover the following: damages to the insured vehicle, injury/death of the driver or passenger of the insured vehicle, theft or loss of the insured vehicle, and accidents outside the Philippines.

Also Read: Why buying car insurance online is SMARTER in 2025

How to file CTPL insurance - A step-by-step guide

Step 1: Stay calm and gather details
After the accident, first and foremost, check for your safety and the safety of others. Call for medical assistance if required. Gather all the essential details, including date and time of the incident, contact details, policyholder’s name, policy number, and nature of claim.

Step 2: Report the incident
Before contacting the insurance agent, first report the incident to the nearest police station. Do this as soon as possible. Here you’ll be able to secure an official police report with details of the incident.

Step 3: Get a medical certificate
Advise the victim to seek medical attention at a clinic or hospital. Ask to get a medical certificate, as it would be required for insurance purposes.

Step 4: Contact the insurance provider/agent
Try notifying the insurance provider as soon as possible. You can do so by calling the 24/7 hotline number or the claim support team.

Step 5: File the claim
Duly complete the claim form provided by the insurer along with complete documentation. This can be done online or in person at the provider’s office.

Step 6: Get ready for the investigation
After filling out the claim, the provider gets to work, which involves verification of the documents, fact-checking the accident, and sometimes even an interview with the involved parties.

Step 7: Wait for the verdict
If everything is in order, the form, documents, etc, the insurer will approve the claim and reimburse for medical expenses or death benefits to the victim or their family.

Requirements for filing a CTPL claim

Insurance providers will ask for certain documents to process the CTPL claim. Some of the basic requirements you need to secure include a police report, driver’s license photocopy, and the vehicle’s Official Receipt (OR) & Certificate of Registration (CR) photocopy.

While the requirements mentioned above are generic, insurers ask for some specific requirements depending on the third-party claim - injury or death. Let us now discuss each one-by-one.

• Requirements for a third-party injury claim include the victim submitting a valid ID or birth certificate (depending on the age), a medical certificate & medical receipts with a prescription (original copy), and an income tax return (in case of loss of income).
• Requirements for a third-party death claim include the victim submitting a valid ID of heirs, birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable), death certificate, funeral bill or receipts, and income tax return (in case of loss of income).

Factors that may delay the CTPL claim

Several factors may lead to the delay of the CTPL claim, which otherwise takes 7 to 15 days to process. These include incomplete documentation, delay in medical bill submission, identity verification issues, and issues with the accident report.

To ensure a smooth claim process, make sure to follow these tips -

• Make photocopies of all the original documents like OR/CR, diver’s license, etc
• Maintain open communication with the insurer
• Follow up on claim status regularly
• Make sure to file the claim within 7 days of the incident

CTPL claim denied? Here’s what to do

Denial of the CTPL claim may be caused by the following reasons, including the victim not being legally certified as a ‘third party’, the accident not involving a third party, altered documents, or missing the claim filing deadline.

What to do now? After the claim is denied, you can do the following -

• Request a written explanation of the denial from the insurer
• Appeal to the Insurance Commission
• Take legal action, if needed

Also Read: How to save money on your car insurance premium

Bottom line

There are a few traits of a good and responsible driver, including driving safely, obeying traffic rules and speed limit, and getting insurance, LTO car registration, & license. Other than that, it is essential to have proper knowledge about the claim process, as just having insurance won’t get you a settlement. In this article, we have shed light on the CTPL claim process, thus ensuring your third-party liability (injury/death) is taken care of by the provider.

Do not worry, the CTPL claim process is not that complicated. Just by understanding the concept, its scope, documentation requirements, and acting quickly, you can get the job done.

We’d like to end by saying that while CTPL is mandatory and comes with its benefits, comprehensive insurance is equally essential for better protection and complete peace of mind. So, don’t stop here; invest in a comprehensive plan as well.

FAQs

Q1. Do all motor vehicles in the Philippines require CTPL insurance?
Ans. Yes, all motor vehicles, be it a car, motorcycle, or truck, must have CTPL insurance to be able to drive around legally.

Q2. Amongst the parties involved in an accident, who can file a CTPL claim insurance in an accident?
Ans. The third-party victim or policyholder, on their behalf, can file a CTPL claim.

Q3. Can a policyholder cover vehicle damages via a CTPL claim settlement?
Ans. Not at all. CTPL claims settlement only covers bodily injuries or the death of a third party, due to an accident involving the insured vehicle.

Q4. I only have CTPL insurance. Is it enough to protect my car?
Ans. No. CTPL insurance only takes care of third parties involved in an accident; therefore, a policyholder needs additional coverage for the vehicle.

Q5. If involved in an accident, what is the appropriate time to file a CTPL claim?
Ans. It is recommended to file the CTPL claim as soon as possible. Ideally, it should be done within seven days of the incident.

Q6. Can I file a CTPL claim online?
Ans. Most car insurance providers these days are moving towards digitisation, allowing policyholders to file a claim online.

Q7. Is a police report required to file a CTPL claim?
Ans. Having a police report strengthens the claim, as it validates the incident for a third party.

Q8. Can I check the activation status of my CTPL policy?
Ans. The status of your CTLP insurance can be confirmed either by contacting the provider/agent or by checking the insurance documents.

Q9. Will CTPL cover accidents involving intoxication or drinking & driving cases?
And. Accidents resulting from drivers being under the influence of drugs or alcohol are typically excluded from an insurance policy.

Q10. From where can I get CTPL insurance in the Philippines?
Ans. You can get CTPL insurance from any IC-certified insurance provider in the country.

Q11. Can passengers in the insured vehicle claim CTPL insurance?
Ans. No, they can not, as CTPL insurance only covers third parties involved in the accident; they can be pedestrians, drivers or passengers in the other involved vehicle.

Q12. Is there a penalty for not getting CTPL insurance?
Ans. Not having CTPL insurance will prevent you from registering your vehicle at the LTO. And driving a non-registered vehicle in the Philippines is an illegal and punishable offence.

Q13. Can I switch my CTPL provider mid-term?
Ans. Yes, you can; however, a mid-term switch requires you to follow a specific procedure and fulfil requirements.

Q14. What happens if the victim or third party refuses to claim CTPL insurance?
Ans. In such a case, the claim won’t be processed. The victim’s participation is required for the initiation of the claim. Note: necessary documents and persuasion from the victim's end are needed.

Q15. What documents are required to file a CTPL claim?
Ans. Basic requirements for filing a CTPL claim include a police report with a detailed account of the incident, a photocopy of the vehicle OR/CR, and a photocopy of the driver’s license. All this, along with the duly accomplished claim form and other requirements depending on the nature of the claim, i.e., bodily injury or death.

Also Read: Don't panic after an accident — Here's how to file a comprehensive claim