If you’ve ever searched for a “claims job” and felt like every role sounds the same… you’re not imagining it.
Claims is a huge world. And the day-to-day reality can feel completely different depending on whether you’re handling Motor, Property, or Commercial claims.

Some people thrive on speed and quick decisions. Others love the detail, the investigation, or the bigger-picture problem solving. None of them are “better”, they’re just different. This is here to help you find your fit.

The quick version (so you can instantly place yourself)

• Motor claims: fast-moving, lots of conversations, negotiation, decisions under pressure.
• Property claims: emotionally charged situations, evidence and assessment, coordinating repairs and reassurance.
• Commercial claims: higher-value, more moving parts, heavier documentation, stakeholder management and complex coverage.

Now let’s break it down properly.

1) The people you support (and what the claim means to them)

Motor is often about someone’s independence. A car off the road can affect school runs, work, caring responsibilities – everyday life.

Property can be even more personal. When someone’s home is damaged, it’s not “just a claim.” It’s their safe place. You’ll often be speaking to people who are upset, overwhelmed, or exhausted.

Commercial claims involve businesses, and the impact can ripple out to staff, customers and suppliers. The tone can feel more formal, but the pressure is real because decisions affect livelihoods and cashflow.

If you’re naturally empathetic and calming, Property can feel meaningful in a very human way.
If you’re comfortable staying professional under pressure, Commercial can suit you.

2) What you’re actually investigating

Motor investigations often revolve around:

• what happened, when, and who is responsible
• vehicle damage, repairs, hire, and sometimes injury elements
• inconsistencies in accounts (and occasionally fraud indicators)

Property investigations often look like:

• cause of damage (escape of water, storm, fire, impact, theft)
• the extent of damage and what’s needed to put things right
• photos, reports, quotes, scopes of work

Commercial investigations can include all of the above plus business-specific factors — and usually much more paperwork, negotiation and evaluation.

If you like a clear sequence of events and quick liability decisions, Motor can be a great match.
If you like “get to the bottom of it” problem solving, Property or Commercial may feel more satisfying.

3) Caseload and pace (how your day feels)

This is one of the biggest differences.

Motor roles often lean higher volume and faster turnaround. You’ll likely be moving through lots of live conversations and making quick decisions.

Property can vary, but cases often take longer because you’re coordinating repairs, waiting for reports, and managing expectations.

Commercial tends to run longer again — more stakeholders, more detail, more review points.

If you enjoy momentum and ticking things off, Motor can feel energising.
If you prefer digging into fewer, more complex files, Property/Commercial may be more your style.

4) The number of people involved (and the “team effort” around a claim)

Motor commonly includes:

• policyholder + third party
• repairers/engineers
• hire companies
• solicitors (depending on the claim type)

Property can bring in:

• loss adjusters
• surveyors/builders/restoration firms
• sometimes alternative accommodation teams/suppliers

Commercial can multiply stakeholders quickly:

• brokers
• landlords/tenants (depending on the risk)
• finance teams
• legal
• suppliers/contractors
• senior management sign-off

If you enjoy being the calm organiser, Property and Commercial are great arenas.
If you prefer keeping things direct and moving, Motor can feel cleaner and quicker.

5) Documentation: how “paperwork heavy” it gets

Let’s be honest: all claims roles involve admin.

But Commercial claims can be particularly documentation-heavy — you’re often dealing with more detailed policies, more evidence, and more formal processes.

Motor paperwork can be more standardised and system-driven.
Property sits in the middle — lots of evidence, but often more practical/visual.

If you’re someone who loves detail, structure and file quality, Commercial can be a very good fit.
If you’d rather balance admin with constant human contact, Motor or Property may suit you better.

6) The kind of coverage decisions you’ll make

Motor often centres on:

• liability decisions
• indemnity position
• repair vs total loss
• hire/credit hire elements depending on the role

Property tends to focus on:

• reinstatement and repairs
• scope, validation, and fair settlement
• managing expectations around wear/tear, maintenance, and policy limits

Commercial can include broader, more complex coverage decisions and may involve areas like business interruption, where the impact isn’t just physical damage — it’s downtime and lost income.

If you enjoy technical decision-making, Commercial and specialist Property can be rewarding.
If you enjoy practical resolutions, Property can be brilliant.

7) Negotiation and pushback (how often you’ll need a strong backbone)

You’ll find negotiation in all three — but it shows up differently.

Motor can involve assertive conversations around liability, hire costs, and settlement positions.

Property negotiations often revolve around scope of works, cash settlement vs repair, timescales, and supplier performance.

Commercial can involve more formal negotiation because the stakes are higher and more parties may be involved.

If you don’t mind a bit of challenge and you can stay fair but firm, you’ll do well in Motor and Commercial.
If you’re a patient explainer who can keep people steady, Property might feel natural.

8) The emotional load (the part nobody always warns you about)

This matters. A lot.

Property can be emotionally heavy – especially when people are dealing with damage, disruption, and fear about their home.

Motor can be stressful too, particularly after accidents, disputes, or where someone needs their car to live their life.

Commercial can be less personal in tone, but the pressure is still intense because decisions can be high-value and closely reviewed.

If you’re empathetic but good at boundaries, Property can be incredibly fulfilling.
If you prefer a more business-like environment, Commercial may feel more comfortable.

9) What “good performance” looks like (and what you’ll be measured on)

This varies by employer, but broadly:

Motor

• speed and accuracy
• good liability decisions
• clear customer communication
• managing costs/leakage

Property

• strong customer outcomes
• quality of scoping/assessment
• keeping claims moving despite dependencies
• complaint avoidance through great communication

Commercial

• technically sound decisions
• file quality and governance
• stakeholder management
• reserve discipline and strong reasoning

If you like clear targets and pace, Motor often aligns well.
If you like quality, detail and process excellence, Commercial can be a great home.

So… which one suits you?

You might love Motor Claims if you:

• enjoy a fast pace and variety
• like making clear decisions
• don’t mind negotiation and difficult conversations
• feel energised by a busy desk

You might love Property Claims if you:

• are naturally reassuring and empathetic
• like investigating and coordinating solutions
• enjoy seeing a case through from damage to resolution
• want work that feels genuinely meaningful to customers

You might love Commercial Claims if you:

• enjoy complexity and detail
• are confident managing multiple stakeholders
• like technical policy discussions and structured documentation
• want exposure to higher-value, higher-responsibility decisions

If you’re not sure where you fit, that’s completely normal

Lots of people start in one area (often Motor or FNOL) and later move into Property, Commercial, Technical, Complaints, Fraud, or Leadership. Your first move doesn’t have to be your final destination, it just needs to be a step that makes sense for you.

If you’d like, MPJ Recruitment can talk through what you enjoy, what you’re great at, and what kind of environment brings out your best, then point you towards roles that match.

Want a quick “best fit” chat? Send us your CV (or even just a short summary of what you’re doing now and what you want next) and we’ll guide you from there.