Motorists could manage their own insurance claims with a smart card system, reducing the administration, complexity and costs of a claim.

IT specialist Steria is in discussions with a “leading UK insurance company” about a possible scheme, which could take just 12 months to implement. The smart card would enable claimants to manage their own claims through a self-service process, as the unique user information stored within it could also allow a protected log-on to an insurer’s website to manage a claim.

Bodyshops would be able to get accurate data quicker from insurers, speeding up the repair process and reducing administration costs.

“The technology is already present in our organization. It just needs companies in the UK to recognize that it can happen very quickly,” says Justin Balcombe, head of Insurance Consulting for Steria.