How to Claim Insurance After a Motorcycle Accident With a Car

Being knocked down by a car is one of the most common ways Malaysian riders get hurt. If the driver caused the crash, you should not have to pay for your bike repairs or your medical bills yourself. The driver’s insurer is meant to cover them.

Getting that money, however, depends on what you do in the hours and days after the accident. This guide focuses on one situation: you were riding, a car hit you, and you want to claim from the driver’s insurer for your motorcycle and your injuries.

Why Riders Need to Know Their Claim Rights

Motorcyclists are far more exposed than drivers. Transport Minister Anthony Loke told Parliament that 4,340 of the 6,537 people killed on Malaysian roads in 2025 were motorcycle users, or 66.4% of all road deaths, as reported by The Star. Even minor collisions with cars often leave riders with injuries and a damaged bike.

Every vehicle on the road must carry at least third-party insurance. That cover exists to pay for injury, death and property damage caused to other people. When a car driver is at fault, you are the third party, and you have the right to claim from their insurer.

Which Claims Can You Make After Being Hit by a Car?

Depending on who was at fault and what cover you have, you may be able to make one or more of these claims. Bank Negara Malaysia explains the main types in its motor insurance FAQ.

Claim type	Who you claim from	When it applies	Effect on your NCD
Third-party property damage (TPPD)	The car driver’s insurer or takaful operator	The driver was at fault and your motorcycle or belongings were damaged	No effect
Third-party bodily injury (TPBI)	The car driver’s insurer or takaful operator	The driver was at fault and you or your pillion were injured	No effect
Own damage	Your own insurer (comprehensive cover only)	You were at fault, or you choose to claim from your own policy	Usually lost at your next renewal
No-fault own damage (knock-for-knock)	Your own insurer (comprehensive cover only)	You were not at fault and nobody was injured	No effect if you are found not at fault

If you only have third-party cover, your own policy will not pay for your bike or your injuries. Your claim must go to the driver’s insurer, so evidence of the driver’s fault matters even more.

Step by Step: Claiming From the Car Driver’s Insurer

1. Stay safe and get medical help

Move off the road if you can do so safely and call for medical help if anyone is hurt. Get checked by a doctor even if your injuries seem minor, because pain from soft tissue or head injuries can appear later. A medical record made soon after the accident also supports an injury claim.

2. Collect the driver’s details and evidence

Do not admit fault, sign anything or accept a cash offer at the scene. Instead, gather the information your claim will need:

• The car’s registration number, make and model
• The driver’s name, phone number, IC number and driving licence details
• The name of the car’s insurer or takaful operator, if the driver knows it
• Photos of both vehicles, the road, skid marks, traffic lights and your injuries
• Names and phone numbers of any witnesses
• Dashcam or helmet camera footage, if you have it

3. Lodge a police report within 24 hours

You must make a police report within 24 hours of the accident, and late reports can lead to a fine. The police will investigate and decide which party is at fault. Keep the original report and later ask for the police letter or outcome that states who was compounded, because the driver’s insurer will want it as proof of fault.

4. Notify your own insurer

Tell your own insurer about the accident, ideally within seven days, even if you plan to claim from the driver’s insurer. Many policies require prompt notice, and your insurer may need to know if the driver later claims against you.

5. Submit a property damage claim for your motorcycle

Send your TPPD claim to the car driver’s insurer. Do not start repairs until the damage has been assessed by an adjuster, and keep every repair estimate and receipt. Insurers commonly ask for:

• The original police report and the police letter on the outcome of the investigation
• Copies of your IC and driving licence
• A copy of your motorcycle’s registration card
• Photos of the accident and the damage
• The repair estimate or bill and the adjuster’s report

You may also be entitled to compensation for the time your motorcycle is off the road. Bank Negara calls this CART, a payment for loss of use made by the at-fault party’s insurer and based on the repair time recommended by the adjuster. Keep receipts for e-hailing rides or other transport you use while your bike is being fixed.

6. Make a bodily injury claim if you were hurt

An injury claim is separate from the claim for your bike. It is also made against the driver’s insurer and can cover medical costs, loss of income and compensation for pain and suffering. You will normally need medical reports, hospital bills and proof of income. If a rider dies, their dependants may be able to make a dependency claim.

Injury claims are often handled through a lawyer, because the amount depends on the severity of the injuries and the insurer may dispute fault. Be careful about accepting a direct settlement offer, as it is usually final. Our guide on who pays for your injuries after an accident covers other sources of help, such as personal accident cover and PERKESO.

Can You Use a Knock-for-Knock Claim Instead?

If you have a comprehensive motorcycle policy and nobody was hurt, ask your insurer whether you can make a no-fault own damage (OD-KFK) claim. Your own insurer repairs your bike and then recovers the cost from the driver’s insurer, so you avoid chasing another company and keep your No Claim Discount if you are found not at fault.

This option has limits. A Bank Negara officer explained, as reported by Malay Mail, that it does not apply when the accident involves injuries, or a bus or taxi. In those cases, your claim must go to the at-fault party’s insurer. Read more in our explainer on how a knock-for-knock claim works.

What If the Driver Has No Insurance or Drives Away?

If the car that hit you was uninsured, you can still take action. The General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) said, as reported by The Star, that injured victims may submit a claim to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), which may offer compensation at its discretion. For damage to your bike, you may need to sue the driver personally, so get legal advice.

Hit-and-run cases are harder because the driver cannot be traced. Lodge your police report quickly and give the police any footage or witness details you have. Our guide on claiming after a hit-and-run explains what your own policy may cover.

Common Mistakes That Can Weaken Your Claim

• Agreeing to settle privately at the scene without a police report
• Making the police report after the 24-hour deadline
• Repairing your motorcycle before the damage is assessed
• Throwing away medical receipts, transport receipts or repair bills
• Accepting the insurer’s first injury offer without understanding what it covers
• Letting your own motorcycle insurance or road tax lapse, which makes every other problem harder to solve

For a broader checklist that also covers solo accidents and own damage claims, see our guide on motorcycle accident claims every rider should know.

Conclusion

When a car driver causes your accident, their insurer should pay for your motorcycle repairs and your injuries. To claim successfully, make a police report within 24 hours, collect solid evidence, notify your own insurer and send complete documents to the driver’s insurer. If you are injured, treat the bodily injury claim seriously and get advice before you accept any offer.

Your own cover still matters, because it protects you when fault is unclear or the other driver cannot be traced. Compare motorcycle insurance on Bjak to renew your policy online and choose the level of protection that suits how you ride.