Towing After an Accident: Who Pays and Where Your Car Goes
After an accident, call your insurer's 24-hour hotline first. Accident towing is usually paid under your own policy, and the car normally goes to an approved (panel) workshop. An uncalled tow truck can cost you the free tow.
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- Compliance
- Accident towing is its own benefit. Some insurers pay it under the policy, not under breakdown roadside help.
- Panel workshop by default. Insurer-arranged tows usually go to the nearest approved workshop.
- Not your fault? You can claim your losses from the other driver's insurer, so keep every receipt.
Accident towing vs breakdown towing
Insurers often pay for these from different parts of your cover, with different limits.
| Breakdown towing | Accident towing | |
|---|---|---|
| What triggers it | Mechanical or electrical fault | Collision or other damage your policy covers |
| Usually paid under | Roadside assistance benefit | Your motor policy, or a separate accident towing limit |
| Usual destination | Nearest workshop or panel workshop | Police station if needed, then an approved workshop |
| Example: AIG | Unlimited distance (comprehensive) | Up to RM200 per policy |
Allianz and Liberty, for example, leave accident towing out of their roadside terms because the motor policy covers it. So check your policy's towing clause too.
Where your car goes
Usually a panel workshop
AIG tows to the nearest authorised panel workshop. Zurich Takaful tows to the police station first and then to its nearest approved workshop. Read panel vs non-panel workshops to see how this affects your repair.
If you want another workshop
Ask before the truck leaves. With Zurich Takaful, you pay first for a tow to a non-approved workshop and get back up to the towing limit once the claim is approved.
Police report within 24 hours
You must lodge a police report within 24 hours of a road accident, and your claim needs it.
Who pays if the accident wasn't your fault?
You may claim eligible losses from the other driver's insurer, depending on the circumstances.
There are two common routes:
Own Damage or Own Damage Knock-for-Knock (ODKFK)
You claim through your own insurer. An eligible ODKFK claim generally preserves your NCD, while an ordinary Own Damage claim usually affects it.
Third Party Property Damage (TPPD)
You claim directly against the other driver's insurer for eligible vehicle damage and losses.
Keep your towing receipts and ask the insurer whether the charges can be included in your claim. Other recoverable losses may include compensation for actual repair time (CART), subject to the applicable conditions.
Read more about Own Damage vs Third Party claims. If the other driver is uninsured, see what happens if the other driver has no insurance.
Extra help from BJAK
VIP Rescue towing
BJAK VIP Rescue provides one towing request per subscription, with no distance limit within BJAK's coverage area. The service is available for private cars and includes WhatsApp tracking. Check the BJAK VIP benefits for the applicable terms and eligibility.
Digital Road Assist
Eligible customers can request and track roadside assistance through BJAK Digital Road Assist. Available assistance depends on your plan and situation. Your insurer remains responsible for assessing and deciding your insurance claim.
What to do after an accident
Follow these steps to arrange towing and protect your insurance claim.
Get to safety
Move to a safe location if possible and call 999 if anyone is injured.
Call your insurer
Use its 24-hour hotline and explain that you need accident towing.
Verify the tow truck
Check the operator's details and registration number with your insurer.
Confirm the destination
Make sure you know which workshop will receive your vehicle.
Make a police report
Report the accident within 24 hours.
Start your insurance claim
Keep the police report, photographs and towing receipts.
Frequently asked questions
Usually, up to your policy's limit. AIG, for example, pays up to RM200 for accident towing, so check your own terms and the roadside limits by insurer.
Your No Claim Discount (NCD) depends on the claim you make, not on the tow itself.
Save the hotline before you need it
Know your accident towing limit, keep the hotline in your phone, and check the roadside exclusions.