How A Knock For Knock Claim Works
Your insurer mentioned knock for knock and you want to know what it actually changes for you.
A knock for knock claim, sometimes written as OD-KFK, is an arrangement where each driver’s own insurer pays for that driver’s vehicle damage, without waiting to settle who was at fault first. It is a shortcut for repairs, not a decision about blame. It sits alongside the wider road accident claim process rather than replacing it.
Two cars collide at a junction, and both drivers are convinced the other ran the light. Instead of waiting months for fault to be argued out, each driver’s own insurer repairs their own car under this arrangement. The insurers can still sort out the fault question between themselves afterwards.
What actually happens step by step
- You report the accident and claim under your own comprehensive policy.
- Your insurer arranges repair without first proving who was at fault.
- The two insurers settle any recovery between themselves later, separately from your repair.
When it does not apply
- There is an injury, not just vehicle damage.
- A bus or taxi is involved in the accident.
- One of the vehicles carries only third party cover, not comprehensive.
Then the claim usually follows the ordinary fault-based route, which can take longer. Ask your insurer early which route applies to your accident.
The catch with your no-claim discount
Even if you were not at fault, your insurer may record a knock for knock payout against your policy. Your no-claim discount and a claim explains why and how to check in advance.
What to check before you agree
Ask your insurer whether this repair will affect your discount. Compare the answer with claiming from the other driver’s insurer for your damage, which can protect your discount but usually takes longer.
Ask before repairs start. Once your own insurer has paid out, switching to the other route is much harder.
What to do now
Report the accident to your insurer while the facts are fresh. Regulators are working on reforms to protect a not-at-fault driver’s discount, so ask your insurer what its current practice is.[1]
If you were injured, or the other driver’s insurer is resisting, an independent lawyer can take the claim on for you. Send the accident date, the place, whether anyone was injured (yes/no) and the police report status.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
What does knock for knock actually mean?
It is an arrangement where each insurer pays its own policyholder for vehicle damage, without first arguing over who caused the accident. The insurers settle the fault question and any recovery between themselves afterwards, separately from your repair.
Does knock for knock decide who was at fault?
No. It is a claims-handling shortcut, not a finding of fault. Liability can still matter later, particularly if there is an injury involved or if one insurer pursues the other to recover what it paid.
Will a knock for knock claim affect my no-claim discount?
It can, even when you were not at fault, depending on how your insurer records the payout. Your no-claim discount and a claim explains the specific trap to check before you agree to this route.
When does knock for knock not apply?
It generally does not apply where someone was injured, where a bus or taxi was involved, or where one of the vehicles only carried third party cover. In those situations the claim usually follows the ordinary fault-based route instead.
Sources
- Malay Mail, on Bank Negara's motor claims reform (accessed 2026-09-22)
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.