What to do if the other driver flees

Note the plate number, even a partial one, along with the vehicle’s colour, make and direction of travel. With these, you are in a much stronger position than if the vehicle cannot be traced at all.

What should I capture at the scene?

1. The number plate, in full or in part, said out loud or written down immediately.
2. The vehicle’s colour, make and any distinctive marks or damage.
3. The direction the vehicle travelled after leaving.
4. Any dashcam footage from your own vehicle or a nearby vehicle.
5. Nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV), such as from a shop, petrol station or traffic camera, which can sometimes be requested afterward.

Why does identifying the vehicle matter?

A vehicle that fled but can be identified by its plate is treated very differently from one that cannot be traced. If the vehicle is uninsured but identified, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau may pay a claim for death or bodily injury, provided you claim within three years.^[1]

A hit-and-run where no plate number or reliable description exists generally has no compensation route in Malaysia.

Should I lodge a police report anyway?

Yes. Even without a full plate number, report what you remember. Vehicles are sometimes identified later, for example through CCTV reviewed afterwards, and a report made on the day supports that.

Next steps

What to do after a road accident covers the days that follow. Making a road accident claim explains the routes once you know whether the vehicle can be identified.

If you have a plate, a description or camera footage, an independent lawyer can take on the claim. Send the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no) and the police report status.