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Secure the Evidence Before Choosing the Route
A minor-looking collision still starts a reporting clock. Under Singapore’s Motor Claims Framework, an accident must be reported to your insurer within 24 hours or by the next working day. That applies even when there is no visible damage or both parties intend to settle privately.
Separate the first-day process from the later money decision. Safety, evidence and reporting come first. Private settlement, an own-policy claim, a third-party claim, or self-funded repair can be assessed after the file is protected.
First-day rule
Report the incident; a report is not the same as making a claim. Completing the insurer report preserves the evidence and lets you decide the financial route with better information.
At the scene: complete these steps in order
- Stop and make the scene safe. Switch on hazard lights. If anyone is injured, call for medical assistance and the police. Do not put yourself in traffic to collect evidence.
- Photograph before moving vehicles when it is safe. Capture the wider scene, lane markings, traffic controls, vehicle positions, registration plates, all sides of the vehicles, close-ups of damage, debris and relevant road conditions.
- Exchange particulars. Record names, identification or passport details, telephone numbers, addresses, vehicle numbers and insurers. Record witness contacts and save in-vehicle camera footage.
- Call your insurer’s accident hotline. Use its towing and workshop instructions. Avoid an unauthorised tow or repair that may complicate the claim.
- Write a factual account. Record the date, time, exact location, travel direction and what happened. Separate what you observed from what another person said.
If another motorist refuses to cooperate, GIA advises recording the vehicle registration number and still reporting the accident. Do not argue or obstruct traffic to obtain a complete set of particulars.
Build one evidence folder
| Folder item | What to save |
|---|---|
| Scene | Wide photos, vehicle positions, road markings, signals, weather and damage to other property |
| Vehicles | Registration plates, damage close-ups, undamaged surrounding panels and dashboard warnings |
| People | Particulars of drivers, owners, injured persons and witnesses |
| Video | Original dashcam files covering time before and after impact; preserve the original file |
| Record | Your chronology, insurer hotline reference, tow details and workshop/reporting-centre appointment |
Do not edit the original evidence. Make a separate copy for annotation or sharing and keep the original creation times where possible.
Check whether a Traffic Police report is required
The Singapore Police Force says a traffic accident report must be lodged when the accident involves one or more of these categories:
- a fatality;
- at least one person taken from the scene to hospital by ambulance;
- an injured party who receives outpatient medical leave for three days or more;
- damage to government property;
- a foreign vehicle;
- a pedestrian or cyclist; or
- a hit-and-run.
If none applies, SPF states that a Traffic Police report is not required; the parties should exchange particulars and report to their insurers under the Motor Claims Framework. If facts or injuries change, reassess the requirement promptly.
A Traffic Police report does not replace the insurer report. Complete both processes when both apply.
Use a 24-hour timeline
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| At the scene | Safety, medical help where needed, photographs, particulars, witnesses and insurer hotline |
| As soon as safe | Back up dashcam files, write the chronology and check the police-report criteria |
| Within 24 hours or by the next working day | Report to the insurer and take the vehicle, damaged or not, to its approved reporting centre or authorised workshop as directed |
| Before repairs or payment | Confirm the insurer/workshop process, damage scope and route in writing |
GIA explains that an accident on Saturday night can be reported by the end of Monday as the next working day. Use your own insurer’s instructions where it offers an earlier appointment or specific reporting method.
Choose the route after reporting
Once the evidence and reports are secured, answer four questions:
- Is anyone injured, or could an injury emerge?
- Is liability disputed or the damage still uncertain?
- What is the full applicable excess and what costs are excluded?
- Can a private agreement close the matter clearly, in writing, without relying on a roadside estimate?
Use private settlement versus insurance claim for the route gates. If the question is whether to claim under your own policy or pay your own repair, use the excess, NCD and cash test.
FAQ
Must I report a minor car accident to my insurer in Singapore?
Yes. The Motor Claims Framework requires motorists to report accidents to their insurers within 24 hours or by the next working day, even when damage is minor, there is no visible damage, or the parties intend to settle privately.
Does a Traffic Police report replace the insurer report?
No. Where a Traffic Police report is required, you must still complete the separate insurer-reporting process within the Motor Claims Framework timeline.
When is a Traffic Police accident report required?
SPF lists fatalities, specified injuries, damage to government property, a foreign vehicle, a pedestrian or cyclist, and hit-and-run cases among the reportable categories.
Can I decide on private settlement at the roadside?
Do not rush the route decision. Secure the scene, evidence and particulars, call your insurer, and complete the insurer report. Assess injuries, damage and written terms before signing or paying.
Sources
- General Insurance Association of Singapore — Motor Claims Framework
- General Insurance Association of Singapore — Dos and Don’ts following an accident
- Singapore Police Force — Reporting traffic accidents and offences
Last updated: 22 Sep 2026 · Editorial Policy · Advertising Disclosure · Corrections