How to lodge an accident police report
You know you need to report the accident and are not sure where to start.
Go to the nearest police station or district police headquarters covering the accident location, bring your identity card, driving licence and vehicle registration, and describe what happened as plainly and factually as you can. Malaysian law expects this report within 24 hours of the accident wherever reasonably possible.[1]
What to bring with you
- Your identity card and driving licence.
- The vehicle registration card, or a photo of it if the original is not with you.
- Photos from the scene, if you managed to take any.
- The other driver’s details, if you already have them.
- A written note of the time, location and what happened, even a rough one.
What actually happens at the station
An officer records your statement and opens an investigation file, and in more serious cases the traffic branch may later prepare a sketch plan showing the road layout and vehicle positions. You are usually given a report reference or a copy of your statement to keep for your own records.
This report is one of the central documents for any claim against the other driver’s insurer. Our page on the police report explains how it is used.
If you are already past 24 hours
A late report without a good reason is an offence under Malaysian road law, but it does not by itself destroy a genuine injury claim. A statutory declaration, a signed and sworn written statement explaining the delay, can support a report made later than the usual window.
Go as soon as you can, because a longer delay is harder to explain.
If the other party refuses to cooperate
You can still lodge your own report even if the other driver disputes what happened or refuses to give details. Note down anything you do have, such as a partial plate number or a description of the vehicle, and let the police take it from there.
After the report is lodged
What to do after a road accident covers the next steps. Making a road accident claim explains how the report feeds into your claim.
If you were injured, an independent lawyer can take the claim on. To request contact about representation, send only 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
Which police station do I go to?
Go to the district police headquarters or the nearest police station covering the area where the accident happened. Any genuine attempt to report at a reasonably close station is generally accepted, so do not delay searching for a specific one.
Can I make the report online instead of going in person?
For a minor accident with no injury and no damage to public property, PDRM (the police) offers online e-reporting. Where anyone is injured, a full report at the station is still needed rather than the online option.
What if the other driver already made a report before me?
You should still make your own report describing what happened from your side. Two accounts of the same accident are normal, and the details are compared afterward rather than one report simply overriding the other.
What exactly is the sketch plan I keep hearing about?
It is a rough diagram the police prepare showing vehicle positions, road layout and the direction of travel, often referred to by its Malay name, rajah kasar. It becomes one of the key pieces of evidence in a claim.
Sources
- Road Transport Act 1987, s.52 (Ministry of Transport) (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.