A car insurance claim in Malaysia goes one of three ways, and which one depends on who was at fault and what cover you have. If the accident was your fault, you claim on your own comprehensive policy and lose your no-claim discount. If it wasn't, you can claim from the other driver's insurer, or, usually faster, from your own insurer under knock-for-knock without touching your NCD. Whatever happens, the police report comes first.
The three kinds of claim
| Claim | When it applies | Who pays for your repair | Your NCD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Own damage (OD) | You were at fault, and you have comprehensive cover | Your insurer | Lost |
| Third-party property damage (TPPD) | The other driver was at fault | Their insurer | Not affected |
| Own damage knock-for-knock (OD-KfK) | You weren't at fault, and you have comprehensive cover | Your insurer, which settles with theirs | Not affected |
Knock-for-knock is the one most drivers who weren't at fault should take. Bank Negara Malaysia's claims rules require insurers to offer it when you report an accident, and a BNM officer told Malay Mail in May 2026 that comprehensive policyholders should choose it. Going after the other side's insurer through a TPPD claim usually means paying the workshop and adjuster yourself first and waiting longer to be reimbursed.
Knock-for-knock doesn't cover every case. It isn't available if the other vehicle is a bus, taxi, other hire-and-reward vehicle or a government vehicle, if someone was injured and is claiming against you, or if the other vehicle is foreign-registered or uninsured. Those go through the at-fault driver's insurer.
Step by step after the accident
- Don't admit fault or sign anything at the scene. Exchange names, IC numbers, phone numbers, plate numbers and insurers with the other driver.
- Photograph both cars, the plates, the road and any skid marks before the cars move, if it's safe.
- Use only a tow truck sent by your insurer or its assistance line. Bank Negara's claims guide says to use authorised tow trucks only.
- Make a police report at the nearest station within 24 hours. The Road Transport Act requires it, and an insurer can reject a claim without one. A late report can still be accepted by the police with a good reason, but don't rely on it.
- Tell your insurer within seven days, or within seven working days if you're making a knock-for-knock claim, and say which kind of claim you want.
- Take the car to one of your insurer's panel workshops, where an adjuster assesses the damage.
- Send the documents the insurer asks for. Expect the claim form, a certified copy of the police report, the IC and driving licence of the driver and the policyholder, and the police investigation result.
Our guide to what to do after a car accident in Malaysia covers the scene itself in more detail.
Loss of use: CART
If you weren't at fault, you can claim compensation for the days you're without your car, known as CART. It's paid only when the police find you weren't to blame, and it's worked out from the number of days the adjuster says the repair should take, not from how long the car sits in the workshop. Ask about it when you make a third-party claim.
Your NCD
Your no-claim discount is the reduction on your premium for years without a claim. An own-damage claim when you were at fault loses it. A knock-for-knock or third-party claim when you weren't at fault leaves it alone. Our guide to NCD in Malaysia explains how it builds up.
If the car isn't yours
On a rental, a subscription or a lease-to-own car, the claim isn't only between you and an insurer.
- A Grandpride rental comes with Basic Cover, under which you pay for damage up to the standard excess. A Loss Damage Waiver lowers that excess, and Grandpride Protection+ brings it to zero for damage and theft, glass and tyres included. Tell Grandpride straight away and make the police report within 24 hours; how a claim on a rental is handled after that is CHECK: who files the insurance claim after an accident in a rental car, and what the renter pays and when. Our rental protection guide explains the three levels.
- On a Grandpride subscription, insurance is part of the monthly price, so Grandpride's policy covers the car CHECK: claim process and any excess a subscriber pays after an accident.
- On lease to own, insurance is arranged in-house by Grandpride but isn't part of the lease itself CHECK: whose name the policy is in on a lease-to-own car, and who makes the claim.
Claims questions people ask
How long does a car insurance claim take?
There's no fixed time. It depends on the claim type, the workshop and how quickly the documents arrive. Knock-for-knock is usually quicker than a third-party claim because your own insurer handles it.
Can I claim if I didn't make a police report within 24 hours?
The police can accept a late report with a valid reason, but your insurer can still refuse the claim. Make the report the same day if you possibly can.
What if my insurer rejects the claim or drags its feet?
Ask the insurer's complaints unit for a written answer first. If you're still unhappy, unresolved motor claim disputes can be referred to the financial ombudsman scheme. Whether to repair a cracked windscreen through your policy is a separate question, covered in our windscreen claim guide.
