Making a Claim
What should you do if you have road traffic accidents involving a foreign-registered vehicle? What is the process of claiming against the foreign-registered vehicle?
You are required to make a Traffic Police report as soon as possible or within 24 hours of the accident involving a foreign-registered vehicle. A written report can be made at any police station or Neighbourhood Police Post.
If you have a comprehensive motor insurance policy, you are advised to claim against your own policy in instances of accidents with foreign motorists either in Singapore or Malaysia. This will save you the inconvenience of making a claim against motorists from another country.
But if you wish to make a third-party motor claim against an insurer in Malaysia, you are advised to approach the insurer in Malaysia, and submit to the concerned insurer in Malaysia the following documents:
- Claimant’s vehicle registration card (photocopy);
- Certificate of Insurance, cover note or policy schedule (photocopy);
- Identity card (photocopy);
- Police report;
- A police sketch plan and key (if available);
- Result of police investigation (if available); and
- Proof of losses incurred.
- Additional documents that may need to be submitted include an adjuster’s report with original photographs, a repair bill and proof of payment, a rental-car bill (if a car was rented), as well as proof of payment and bills and receipt for other expenses incurred.
If your claim against the motorist in Malaysia is unsuccessful after all means have been exhausted, you can approach the GIA’s Malaysian counterpart, Persatuan Insurans Am Malaysia (PIAM) for assistance (with all evidence produced).
Persatuan Insurans Am Malaysia (PIAM)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 03-2274 7399
Website:https://piam.org.my/
Does the claims process take longer when the other vehicle involved is foreign registered?
The claims process may take longer if you decide to claim against the insurer of the Malaysian motorist, given that you are claiming against an insurer from another jurisdiction.
Can I choose who repairs my vehicle?
Your policy may have restrictions on where you could send your vehicle for repair when you are making an accident claim against your own policy. Please refer to the terms and conditions of your policy. If you require further clarification, please contact your insurer.
1. How do I apply for a third party motor accident report?
If you are or represent the owner/driver of a vehicle, please click here.
If you are or represent the pedestrian/passenger of a vehicle, please click here.
For any enquiries, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
2. How do I apply for my own/my client's motor accident report?
With effect from 1 Sept 2017, GIA has stopped the sale of own client's reports.
If you represent the owner/driver of a vehicle, please approach your client’s insurer. Please produce the Warrant to Act, along with your request. The insurer will provide you with a complete copy of your client’s accident report.
If you are the owner/driver of a vehicle, please approach your insurer. Please note that if your accident report is successfully submitted on or after 3 Aug 2021, a copy of the report will be sent to the email address(es) of the vehicle owner and driver indicated in the accident report.
You should alert your insurer promptly if you suspect the other party’s claim to be dubious or inflated. Be prepared to provide your insurer with supporting information and evidence that corroborate your suspicion.
Your insurer will look at the available evidence and decide if the claim can be contested. If your insurer concludes that there is enough evidence to support your suspicion, it will challenge the claim.
The general insurance industry, through the GIA, continues to find ways to address the problem of spurious claims. The GIA has introduced the GIA Insurance Fraud Tip-off (GIFT) scheme which rewards individuals up to S$10,000 - based on the equivalent value of the fraudulent claim - for reporting insurance fraud cases that lead to successful prosecution and conviction of offenders. If there is more than one informant for a case, the panel of investigators will decide on the reward allocation to each informant.
The GIFT reward scheme builds on the success of the GIA Fraud Management System (FMS) which employs data analytics and artificial intelligence to detect fraud cases for motor and travel insurance.
Individual insurance companies have also set up their own special investigative units to detect and deter insurance fraud.
Members of the public who have been approached to participate in insurance fraud - such as by making false or inflated claims, or have first-hand information and relevant and specific evidence about others carrying out insurance fraud - can do your part by submitting reports online at: https://gia.org.sg/consumers/contact-us.html
After a report is received, GIA will review the information and evidence provided. If the report has enough evidence to make out a case, GIA will send the details to the affected insurers() to investigate, and co-ordinate cases involving more than 1 insurer. If the insurer(s) conclude that there is strong suspicion or evidence of fraud, they will report the case to the law enforcement agencies. The law enforcement agencies will investigate and prosecute the suspect where evidence has been made out.
Motor insurance fraud involves conspiring to make false or exaggerated claims involving property damage or personal injuries as a result of an accident. Some common examples include staged accidents, where fraudsters deliberately “arrange” for accidents to occur; the use of phantom passengers where persons not even at the scene of the accident claimed to have suffered grievous injury, and making false personal injury claims where personal injuries are grossly exaggerated.
Motorists are advised not to inadvertently be enticed by the “promise” of monetary rewards by participating in such fraudulent motor accident claims. Insurance companies will strenuously investigate any suspicious motor accident claims and will not hesitate to escalate the matter to the Police.
Please see newspaper clippings of cases which have been brought to justice.
Motor Insurance Fraud Articles
- Mastermind jailed over motor insurance fraud (Date: 20 Feb 2016)
- 74 months’ jail for helping to stage 21 car accidents in $1.1m insurance scam (Date: 15 Mar 2016 )
- Serial cheat who re-offended multiple times while on bail, will have to serve 60 months jail (Date: 13 Oct 2016)
Benefits of an In-Vehicle Camera
In-vehicle cameras can act as 'witnesses' in case of disputes in motor accident claims.
In the event of an accident, video recordings often provide clear and objective evidence of circumstances leading to the accident, and can assist insurers to understand how the accident took place. In many cases, the settlement of insurance claims can be expedited when liability can be clearly determined from the recording. Furthermore, claims costs are likely to be minimised without the need for a lengthy investigation.
More importantly, with timely and accurate information plus recording of the event, the opportunity for filing exaggerated and fraudulent claims is also minimised.
Vehicle owners are strongly encouraged to install in-vehicle cameras.
Additional Information in connection with an Accident
Please inform the insurer of the vehicle which you are driving at the point of accident upon knowledge of any impending prosecution, inquest, fatal inquiry or offer of composition. Failure to do so may lead to insurer’s repudiation of liability under the motor policy.
An important change in procedure concerning third party property damage claims came into effect on 1 Apr 2016. Motorists making third party property damage claims and potential defendants are encouraged to jointly appoint a motor surveyor as a single joint expert to conduct a pre-repair survey of the claimant’s vehicle, prior to the commencement of repairs.
The Motor Claims Framework (MCF) provides the following clear and common procedures for the reporting of motor accidents:
Do's
STEPS TO TAKE AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT
-
Exchange Particulars of Parties Involved in the Accident and take note of the vehicle numbers
-
Take photos of the scene of the accident and the damages to all vehicles
-
Call Your Insurer's Hotline for a Tow-Truck or further advice on the accident
-
Report the accident to your Insurer within 24 Hours or by the next working day
If you do not report an accident:
- Your insurer may repudiate liability
- Your No-Claims Discount may be docked upon the renewal of your policy;
- Your insurer may cancel or refuse to renew your policy. -
If there are injured parties in an accident, call for medical assistance and the police immediately.
-
Make a Traffic Police report as soon as possible or within 24 hours of the accident if the accident involves:
- Fatality;
- Damage to government property;
- Foreign vehicle;
- Pedestrian or cyclist;
- Hit-and-run case; or
- Injury cases where
(a) at least one person involved in the accident was taken to hospital from the accident scene by an ambulance/self-conveyed or
(b) any party involved in the accident was injured and obtained outpatient medical leave for 3 days or more. -
Filing a Traffic Police report is not equivalent to making a report to your insurer. Please note that after filing a Traffic Police report, you are also required to report to your insurer within 24 working hours or by the next working day.
If you do not report an accident,
- Your insurer may repudiate liability;
- Your No-Claims Discount may be docked upon the renewal of your policy; and
- Your insurer may cancel or refuse to renew your policy.
Dont's
-
Do not move your vehicle before taking photographs of the accident scene.
-
If someone is injured or there has been a fatal accident, please do not attempt to move the injured person or vehicle(s).
-
Under the MCF, motorists are strongly advised not to have any dealings with unauthorised tow-truck operators at the scene of accident.
Myinfo Reporting
With effect from 31 Jul 2024, vehicle owners and drivers are able to experience an improved and accelerated motor accident reporting process:
-
Authenticate identity securely and easily via Singpass
-
Retrieve accurate personal data from Myinfo for seamless incorporation into the accident report
Regardless of location, driver or owner can initiate an accident report:
-
Authenticate identity via Singpass – to allow retrieval of personal and/or vehicle particulars via Myinfo for reporting purpose.
-
Submit accident scene photos and video
-
Accident Reporting Centres (ARCs) will assist in completion of the reporting
What do vehicle owners and drivers need to do?
Vehicle owners and drivers can initiate an accident report either before going down to an accident reporting centre (ARC) or at the ARC.
Here are the steps:
Initiate accident report BEFORE going down to the ARC
-
Authenticate identity using Singpass
-
Select profile:
I am both the driver and owner of the vehicle
I am only the driver
I am only the owner -
After auto-population of Myinfo data, fill in the additional required information. Submit your accident report. After you have done so, you will receive an email with the Accident Report Number that you will need to provide to the ARC.
Next steps (At the ARC)
-
Provide your Accident Report Number and the Vehicle Registration Number to the ARC. The Accident Report Number can be found
- On the GEARS Myinfo Reporting website when connected through Singpass
- In the email sent to you upon submission of the partial report -
The ARC will assist you to complete and submit the final Accident Report.
-
After the report is submitted, you will receive a copy of the report by email.
Initiate accident report AT the ARC
-
Provide your profile to the ARC:
- I am both the driver and owner of the vehicle
- I am only the driver
- I am only the owner -
When requested by the ARC, scan the Singpass QR Code displayed on the ARC’s PC. Myinfo data corresponding to the selected profile will be auto-populated into the accident report.
-
The ARC will assist you to complete and submit the final Accident Report.
-
After the report is submitted, you will receive a copy of the report by email.
-
In the event:
i) owner and driver are different, and both are present at ARC, driver is to scan QR code.
ii) only corporate owner is present at ARC, accident report has to be filed manually
-
The driver has initiated an accident report at the accident scene. Does this mean that the driver is not required to visit an ARC to file an accident report?
The driver can connect to the Myinfo reporting website anytime, anywhere, and retrieve his / her information from SingPass and initiate an accident report. However, this is not completed. Driver will receive an email with the Accident Report Number that he / she will need to provide to the ARC. The ARC will use this number to pick up the accident report from GEARS, fill in the rest of the required information, and submit as a complete Accident Report. -
The driver has initiated an accident report at the accident scene. Does this constitute reporting under the GIA Motor Claims Framework (MCF)?
Submission of a GEARS Online Accident Notification does NOT constitute reporting under the GIA Motor Claims Framework (MCF). Failure to do so within the stipulated timeframe may impact your claim and/or policy renewal terms. -
What about the foreign workers? Do they also have Myinfo?
As long as the Driver has SingPass / Myinfo account, he / she can use Myinfo reporting.
Please refer to Myinfo website for the eligibility: https://www.singpass.gov.sg/myinfobusiness/eligibility -
The driver will need to take photos showing the damage to the vehicle. Is this correct?
Yes, this is correct, and the photos can be uploaded via Myinfo reporting. -
Is the use of Myinfo reporting compulsory?
Myinfo reporting will be the default reporting process going forward. This has benefits to the owner/driver such as shorter waiting times at the ARCs.
FAQs
-
How can you make sure your workshop is not charging more than it should?
You are advised that following an accident, you should go to an authorised workshop of your insurer for repairs (even if you are claiming against the other party).You are strongly advised not to have any dealings with unauthorised tow-truck operators at the scene of accident. You are also advised not to send your damaged vehicle to any unauthorised repair workshop to avoid complications of your claim.
Please exercise caution when signing any documents you are presented with.
-
What to do in the event of an accident outside Singapore?
You should make a report at the nearest Police Station in the country the accident occurred. If you require advice and assistance, please call your insurance company. -
Do I need to report an accident if a private settlement is made?
Yes, always report all accidents to your insurer even if you have made a private settlement. This is for recording purposes because you cannot be fully certain that the other party will not file a claim against you later. By not reporting the accident, your claim may be prejudiced or declined later by insurers. -
What do I need to do if I would like to use my private car to ferry passengers for a fee?
You should approach insurers to expand their motor policy to cover “hire and reward” usage.
The Motor Claims Framework (MCF) was set up to provide clear and common procedures for the reporting of motor accidents. The MCF is fully supported by all insurers in Singapore. The MCF provides motorists with an enhanced claims experience and at the same time, helps contain claims costs for insurers.
MCF FAQs
Even if the parties agree to a private settlement, a report to the respective insurers is still required for record purposes.
If the other motorist is not cooperative in furnishing his particulars, you should still take down the vehicle registration number. The GIA reminds all motorists that according to the MCF all motorists now have to report to their insurers any accident, no matter how small.
The GIA introduces the 3 steps reporting process to make it easy for drivers to remember what to do in an accident. If the circumstances are such that it is impossible for the motorist to follow the 3 steps, insurers will give special consideration to the claim. Just as a reminder to everyone, the three steps are:
1) Exchange particulars and take note of vehicle numbers – riders can do this;
2) Call your insurer’s hotline for a tow truck – this may be applicable to riders in some cases;
3) Report and take your vehicle, damaged or not, to the approved reporting centre or authorized workshop within 24 hours – riders can do this in most cases.
If the other motorist is not cooperative in furnishing his particulars, the owner should still take down the vehicle registration number. For an accident involving a Malaysian vehicle, a police report is required.
Please refer to your own insurer on the terms and conditions of the policy you purchased from them.
Please refer to your own insurer on the terms and conditions of the policy you purchased from them.
The MCF states that the end of the next working day is the timeframe for reporting – meaning if the accident happens on a Saturday night, then Monday would be the next working day.
You will not be penalised for late reporting if you have a valid reason like the example cited above.
A memorandum of agreement would be a private matter between the two parties, but it would not alter the requirement under the MCF that both parties now have to make a report to their insurers. A memorandum of agreement should not supercede or be regarded as a substitute for this process.
The GIA reminds all motorists it is now their duty to report all accidents, no matter how small and regardless of whether or not there has been damage to their vehicle. The consequent impact on NCD and premiums are not affected by the MCF and will be determined by the outcome of the insurer’s investigations into the accident.
i) Our main concern is that as most of our hirers are foreigners, they would therefore be unfamiliar with this. And furthermore if the accident vehicle is still drivable, they would likely to report to us only when they return the vehicle to us which might be more than 24 hours after the accident. If this is the case, how would this affect us? Would the insurance company still extend coverage after the given 24 hour period?
Kindly refer to the terms and conditions of your insurance policies regarding your rental fleet. The 24 hour requirement will apply to all vehicles including rentals. We also encourage you to highlight this requirement to your hirer when he collects the car.
ii) It is also reported in the newspapers that in the event of accident, vehicle owners will contact the insurance companies and the insurers will make the necessary arrangements for the insured. Does this apply to us? If our hirers have an accident in Malaysia, what would the procedures be like?
Please check with your own insurer on the procedure for accident in Malaysia. Each insurer may have his own arrangements with towing companies in Malaysia.