The Answer in 60 Seconds

Per the General Insurance Association of Singapore's Motor Claims Framework (gia.org.sg/motor-insurance), the driver must (1) stop, exchange particulars, take photos, do NOT admit liability, (2) call the police if injury, fatality, government property, foreign vehicle, pedestrian/cyclist or hit-and-run is involved, (3) call the insurer's 24-hour hotline, and (4) report the accident to the insurer within 24 hours or by the next working day, by bringing the vehicle to an Authorised Reporting Centre or Workshop (ARC). Failure to report can dock No-Claim Discount, void cover, or trigger non-renewal. The MCF is "fully supported by all insurers in Singapore."

The Step-by-Step

Step 1 — At the scene: safety, photos, particulars.

  • Hazard lights on, deploy warning triangle, move vehicles only if absolutely necessary for traffic flow.
  • If anyone is injured: call 995 for ambulance; call 999 for police.
  • Photograph: vehicle positions before moving, all damage, road conditions, traffic signs, both drivers' licences, insurance certificates, the other vehicle's registration plate.
  • Exchange: name, NRIC/FIN, address, phone, vehicle plate, insurer.
  • Per GIA: "Do not admit any liability, negotiate, or make any offer or settlement to a third party."

Step 2 — Decide if Traffic Police report is required. Per GIA, file a Traffic Police report "as soon as possible or within 24 hours of the accident if the accident involves: Fatality; Damage to government property; Foreign vehicle; Pedestrian or cyclist; Hit-and-run case; or Injury cases where (a) at least one person involved in the accident was taken to hospital from the accident scene by an ambulance/self-conveyed or (b) any party involved in the accident was injured and obtained outpatient medical leave for 3 days or more." Filing a Traffic Police report is not the same as reporting to your insurer.

Step 3 — Call your insurer's 24-hour hotline. The insurer arranges towing (if needed) via authorised tow operators. Avoid all unauthorised tow truck operators or workshops — using one can void your claim. AIG's Singapore guidance is explicit on this.

Step 4 — Report to the insurer within 24 hours or the next working day. Bring the vehicle (drivable or not) to an Authorised Reporting Centre (ARC) or Authorised Workshop. Bring:

  • NRIC and driving licence
  • Vehicle registration card
  • Certificate of Insurance (current)
  • Company stamp (commercial vehicles)
  • Authorisation letter / email if driver is not the owner
  • Photos taken at the scene

The MCF FAQ clarifies the weekend rule: "if the accident happens on a Saturday night, then Monday would be the next working day." Genuine reasons (e.g., serious accident in Malaysia, hospitalisation) excuse late reporting — but communicate them in writing.

Step 5 — Online accident report (Myinfo / GEARS). Per GIA: "Myinfo reporting will be the default reporting process going forward." The driver scans a SingPass QR at the ARC; Myinfo data auto-populates the report. Drivers without SingPass complete the report manually with ARC staff.

Step 6 — Vehicle assessment by surveyor. Insurer-appointed surveyor inspects the damage. For third-party claims (you not at fault claiming against the other party's insurer), formally notify the third-party insurer and wait for their joint survey before commencing repairs (typically 2 working days; if no response, document and proceed).

Step 7 — Repair authorisation. Repairs proceed at an authorised workshop. Don't approve repairs above the policy excess without written insurer authorisation.

Step 8 — Settlement. Insurer pays the workshop directly (own-damage claim) or settles with the third party (liability claim). Your No-Claim Discount (NCD) is affected by the outcome — even non-claimable accidents reported can affect NCD per GIA: "If you do not report an accident…Your No-Claims Discount may be docked upon the renewal of your policy."

Common Mistakes / What Goes Wrong

  1. Settling privately with the other driver. GIA: "Even if the parties agree to a private settlement, a report to the respective insurers is still required for record purposes." A "minor" private settlement that the other party renounces six weeks later leaves you defending an unreported claim.
  2. Using an unauthorised tow truck. Workshops not on the insurer's panel may inflate repair quotes; the insurer can refuse payment.
  3. Missing the 24-hour window. The MCF allows next-working-day reporting; longer than that without documented justification can dock NCD or void cover.
  4. Repairing before joint survey (third-party claim). Pre-repair photos and a third-party surveyor's inspection are critical to a defensible third-party claim.
  5. Running a private car for "hire and reward" without disclosure. Using a private motor policy for ride-hail or delivery without expanding cover is a non-disclosure that voids the policy. GIA: "approach insurers to expand their motor policy to cover 'hire and reward' usage."

What This Means for Your Business

If your business runs commercial vehicles — vans, lorries, motorbikes for delivery — three operational habits prevent most claim disputes:

  1. Driver pack in every vehicle. Includes: insurer hotline number, accident reporting cheat-sheet, ARC list, blank exchange-of-particulars form, and a "Do NOT admit liability" reminder card.
  2. Telematics or dashcam. Footage settles ambiguity. Some insurers offer premium discounts for verified dashcam installation — ask your IFA which insurers in your fleet's risk class currently apply such discounts.
  3. Quarterly review of all reported incidents (claimable or not). Trend data identifies the high-risk routes, drivers, or vehicle types and feeds into renewal negotiations with your insurer.

The Motor Claims Framework was designed to standardise reporting and contain claim costs. Working with it (not around it) protects your premium and your NCD.

Questions to Ask Your Adviser

  1. Is my fleet on individual policies or a fleet policy — and how does NCD work for a fleet?
  2. Does my policy cover named drivers only, or any authorised driver?
  3. For commercial vehicles, is "hire and reward" or "carriage of goods for trade" explicitly endorsed?
  4. What is the policy excess (own damage) and is there a separate young/inexperienced driver excess?
  5. Does my policy include breakdown assistance, courtesy vehicle, or only repair cover?

Related Information

  • Commercial fleet vs. private car insurance: what changes
  • How to read your commercial insurance policy schedule
  • LTA OneMotoring for commercial vehicle owners

Published 3 May 2026. Source verified 3 May 2026. COVA is an introducer under MAS Notice FAA-N02. We do not recommend insurance products. We provide factual information sourced from primary regulators and route you to a licensed IFA who can match a policy to your specific situation.