Guide · Driving and traffic · 3 min read
After a road accident
What you must do at the scene, when to report the accident, and the insurance every vehicle needs.
In plain English · by laws.sg · not legal advice· Law as at 30 Sep 2026
On this page · 5 parts
The short answer
If you are driving a motor vehicle and an accident owing to its presence on a road results in damage or injury to any person, vehicle or structure, you must stop, and if a person at the scene with reasonable grounds asks for your particulars, you must give them.
Unless you gave your particulars at the scene, or the owner of the damaged vehicle or structure has contacted you, you must report the accident at a police station or to a police officer as soon as reasonably practicable, within 24 hours.
At the scene
Where an accident occurs owing to the presence of a motor vehicle on a road and results in damage or injury to any person, vehicle or structure, the driver must stop the vehicle.
If a person at the scene with reasonable grounds asks for your particulars, you must give them. If no such person is present, you must take reasonable steps to inform the owner of any damaged vehicle or structure, and give them your particulars.
If an accident injures or kills an animal, you must stop if you have reasonable grounds to believe the animal has an owner, or that the injured or dead animal on the road is likely to be a safety hazard to other road users.
Insurance
Subject to the Act, it is not lawful to use a motor vehicle in Singapore, or to let anyone else use it, unless there is a policy of insurance or a security in force against third-party risks that meets the Act's requirements.
Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act s 3(1)
Using a vehicle without it is an offence, with a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment of up to 3 months, or both, and, unless the court for special reasons orders otherwise, disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months from the date of conviction.
Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act s 3(2), (3)
The policy must insure against liability for the death of or bodily injury to any person caused by or arising out of the use of the vehicle in Singapore, except as the Act provides.
Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act s 4(1)
An agreement with a passenger that tries to restrict the driver's liability to passengers which the policy has to cover has no effect, and a passenger who willingly accepted the risk of the driver's negligence is not, for that reason alone, without a claim.
Claims and time limits
A small claims tribunal cannot hear a claim for damage to property caused by an accident arising out of or in connection with the use of a motor vehicle.
Small Claims Tribunals Act s 5(2)
For a claim for damages for negligence that includes personal injuries, the action cannot be brought after 3 years from the date the cause of action accrued, or 3 years from the earliest date you had the knowledge the Act requires, if that is later.
Serious accidents
Where a police investigation into certain offences is started against a driver involved in a traffic incident resulting in serious injury or death to another person, or serious damage to a building or structure, the Deputy Commissioner of Police may suspend that driver's licence. Unless rescinded sooner, the suspension lasts until the offence has been tried and determined by a court.
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