Reporting your accident to the police
You know you should make a police report and are not sure exactly how.
A police report tells the authorities, and later your insurer, what happened, when, and to whom. Make it at any police station as soon as you reasonably can, and within 24 hours of the accident wherever possible.[1]
How do you make the report?
- Check that everyone is safe first; the report can wait a few minutes if someone needs help.
- Note the time, the exact location, and the other vehicle’s plate number while it is fresh.
- Go to the nearest police station, or one along your way home.
- Bring your identity card, driving licence, and the vehicle registration card.
- Describe only what you saw and did. Do not guess at speeds or assign blame.
- Ask for the report reference number before you leave the counter.
A plain, factual account is what officers expect.
Why does the report matter to a claim?
The police report is one of the first pieces of evidence anyone reads, because it fixes the basic facts before memories fade. It later feeds into the sketch plan, a diagram of how the vehicles collided, which matters most when liability is disputed.
Without a report, a claim is not impossible, but you rely more on photos, dashcam footage or witnesses.
What if you missed the 24 hours?
A late report does not mean your claim is over. Reporting late without a lawful excuse is an offence, but a statutory declaration, a signed sworn statement, can explain the delay.[2] Report as soon as you realise. No report at all damages a claim more than a late one.
What should you say, and what should you leave out?
Stick to what you directly observed: where you were, which direction you were travelling, and what happened on impact. Do not guess distances or speeds, and do not state who you think was at fault, since that is a conclusion, not a fact.
What to do next
Get medically checked even if you feel fine, and gather the scene evidence and dashcam or photo evidence while it is available. What to do after an accident gives the fuller sequence, and the claim process shows where the report fits in making a claim. If you need a medical report later, a timely police report makes that easier.
Once you have the report number, an independent lawyer can take your claim on. For the first contact, share general dates, location, case status and a short summary only. Keep documents private. Only after an identified lawyer or law firm contacts you and specifically asks for them should you provide that identified lawyer or firm with the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no) and the report number and station.
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Common questions
What if I only realise a few days later that I should have reported it?
Go to the police station now and explain the delay honestly. A late report without lawful excuse is an offence, but a statutory declaration can be used to explain why it was late, and a late report does not by itself end your claim.[2]
Which police station do I go to?
The station nearest to where the accident happened is usually simplest, though most stations can take your report. If you are unsure, ask the officer on duty when you arrive rather than driving around looking for the right one.
The other driver will not report it. Should I still go?
Yes. Your report stands on its own and does not depend on the other driver making one. Waiting for them to act first is one of the more common reasons people miss the window.
Is it worth reporting a small bump with no visible injury?
Usually yes. Injuries can show up later, and insurers commonly expect a report before they process a claim. A short report now is far easier than explaining its absence months afterward.
What do I actually get from the police afterward?
A report reference number, and later a copy of the report and the sketch plan showing how the accident is understood to have happened. Both become part of the paperwork a claim relies on.
Sources
- Road Transport Act 1987, s.52 (Ministry of Transport) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- AskLegal.my, on the Road Transport Act 1987 s.52 reporting duty (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.