Step 1: Ensure Safety First
Immediately after the impact:
- Turn on your hazard lights immediately
- Check yourself for injuries — adrenaline can mask pain
- Check all passengers and ask if they're okay
- If anyone is injured, call 998 (Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services)
- For serious emergencies (fire, trapped person), call 999 (Dubai Police)
- Do NOT attempt to move an injured person unless there is immediate danger (fire)
Critical: If the accident is on a highway (Sheikh Zayed Road, E311), exit your vehicle from the passenger side and stand behind the metal barrier, away from traffic. Highway rear-end collisions cause many secondary accidents in Dubai.
Step 2: Secure the Accident Scene
After ensuring everyone's safety, secure the scene to prevent further accidents:
- Keep hazard lights on at all times
- Place warning triangles 50 meters behind vehicles (if you have them)
- In low visibility (night, fog, sandstorm), stay as visible as possible
- Do NOT smoke near the accident scene (fuel leaks are common)
Important Dubai Law: Do NOT move your vehicle after an accident until police have documented the scene. Moving your car can result in being found at fault regardless of actual circumstances. Exception: police may instruct you to move off a highway.
Step 3: Report to Dubai Police
Dubai has two methods for reporting accidents:
📱 Dubai Police App (Minor Accidents)
For accidents with no injuries and minor damage only. Download the Dubai Police app, select "Traffic Accident," photograph damage, and submit. Digital report arrives within 24 hours.
📞 Call 999 (Major Accidents)
For accidents with injuries, major damage, or road blockage. Police officers will attend the scene, document everything, and issue an official report.
When to Call 999 vs. Use the App
| Situation | Report Method |
|---|---|
| Minor fender bender, no injuries | Dubai Police App ✅ |
| Parking lot collision, small dent | Dubai Police App ✅ |
| Any injury, even minor | Call 999 📞 |
| Vehicle not drivable | Call 999 📞 |
| Highway accident | Call 999 📞 |
| Other driver left the scene (hit & run) | Call 999 📞 |
| Suspected DUI / impaired driver | Call 999 📞 |
Step 4: Document Everything
Thorough documentation is essential for insurance claims. Use your phone to capture:
- Wide-angle photos of the full accident scene
- Close-up photos of all damage on every vehicle
- License plates of all vehicles involved
- Road conditions, traffic signs, and lane markings
- Skid marks or debris on the road
- Weather and lighting conditions
- Video walkthrough of the scene
- Screenshots of your location (Google Maps)
Pro Tip: Take photos BEFORE any vehicles are moved. These are your strongest evidence for insurance claims. Take at least 20-30 photos from different angles.
Step 5: Exchange Information
Exchange the following with all other drivers involved:
- Full name and Emirates ID number
- Driving license number and issuing authority
- Vehicle registration (Mulkiya) details
- Insurance company name and policy number
- Phone number
Never admit fault at the accident scene. Let the police investigation and insurance assessors determine liability. Even saying "sorry" can be interpreted as an admission of fault.
Step 6: Obtain the Police Report
The police report is essential for insurance claims in Dubai. Here's how to get it:
- App-reported accidents: Report available in Dubai Police app within 24 hours
- Police-attended accidents: Report available from the traffic department within 1-3 days
- Each party receives a fault percentage (100-0, 75-25, 50-50, etc.)
- You need the report number for insurance claims
If you disagree with the fault determination, you can appeal through Dubai Courts within 15 days.
Step 7: Contact Your Insurance Company
What Your Insurance Will Need
- Police report number
- Photos of damage and accident scene
- Other driver's insurance and vehicle details
- Your vehicle registration (Mulkiya)
- Driving license and Emirates ID
- Description of what happened
Comprehensive vs. Third-Party Insurance
Comprehensive Insurance
Covers damage to YOUR vehicle plus the other party's vehicle. You can take your car to any approved garage. Recommended for newer or valuable vehicles.
Third-Party Insurance
Only covers damage to THE OTHER party's vehicle. You must pay for your own repairs. This is the minimum legal requirement in the UAE.
Step 8: Arrange Vehicle Recovery
Our accident recovery process:
- Call us while waiting for police — we start preparing dispatch
- Once police clear the scene, we load your vehicle on our flatbed
- We photograph your vehicle's condition at pickup (documentation for you)
- We transport directly to your insurance's approved garage
- We provide a receipt for your insurance claim records
Complete Insurance Claims Process in Dubai
Step-by-Step Claims Timeline
- Day 1-2: Report accident to insurance, submit police report & documentation
- Day 2-3: Insurance assigns a claims handler and surveyor
- Day 3-5: Surveyor inspects vehicle, prepares damage assessment
- Day 5-7: Repair estimate approved, vehicle sent to approved garage
- Day 7-15: Repairs completed, quality check, vehicle released to you
Speed Up Your Claim: Submit all documents at once (don't trickle them in), provide clear photos, and respond quickly to any requests from your claims handler.
RTA Vehicle Impound: How to Release Your Car in Dubai
Common Reasons for Vehicle Impound
- Severe traffic violations (reckless driving, excessive speed)
- Driving without a valid license
- Expired vehicle registration (more than 30 days)
- Accident-related impound for investigation
- Abandoned vehicle on public road
Steps to Release an Impounded Vehicle
- Visit the RTA or Dubai Police traffic department
- Present: Emirates ID, driving license, vehicle registration
- Pay all outstanding fines and impound storage fees
- Receive a release order
- Visit the impound lot with the release order to collect your vehicle
- If the vehicle is not drivable, call Best Car Recovery for towing from the impound lot
30-Day Rule: Vehicles not collected within 30 days of impoundment may be auctioned by RTA. Daily storage fees continue to accrue.
Common Dubai Traffic Fines Related to Accidents
| Violation | Fine (AED) | Black Points |
|---|---|---|
| Running a red light | 1,000 | 12 pts + 30-day impound |
| Reckless driving | 2,000 | 23 pts + 60-day impound |
| Using phone while driving | 800 | 4 pts |
| Tailgating | 400 | 4 pts |
| Not fastening seatbelt | 400 | 4 pts |
| Exceeding speed limit by 60+ km/h | 3,000 | 23 pts + 60-day impound |
| Racing on public roads | 3,000 | 23 pts + 60-day impound |
| Leaving scene of accident | 500 | 6 pts |
| Driving without insurance | 500 | 4 pts + impound |
| Overtaking on hard shoulder | 1,000 | 6 pts |
Fines updated for 2026. Visit Dubai Police website for the latest schedule.
What Happens If Your Car Is a Total Loss in Dubai?
Total Loss Process in Dubai
- Assessment: Insurance surveyor inspects vehicle and declares total loss
- Valuation: They determine the pre-accident market value using dealer pricing and condition
- Offer: You receive a settlement offer (market value minus deductible)
- Negotiation: You can challenge the valuation with comparable listings from Dubizzle or dealers
- Settlement: Once agreed, payment is processed within 7-14 business days
- Vehicle handover: You hand over the vehicle, keys, and registration to the insurance company
Negotiation Tip: Insurance companies often undervalue vehicles. Research your car's market value on Dubizzle, AutoTrader UAE, and dealership websites BEFORE accepting any total loss offer. You can negotiate for a higher payout with evidence.
What Happens to Your Loan If the Car Is Totaled?
If your car has an outstanding loan in Dubai, the insurance payout goes to the bank FIRST to clear the remaining loan balance. Any surplus is paid to you. If the insurance payout is less than the remaining loan, you are responsible for the difference — this is called "negative equity" and is common with new cars. Consider GAP insurance to cover this risk.
Getting a Rental Car After an Accident in Dubai
In-Depth: Rental Entitlement & Procedures
Navigating rental car coverage in Dubai can be complex. Here is exactly what you are entitled to based on UAE insurance laws:
- Daily Allowance: If a rental car is not provided, some policies offer a daily cash allowance (typically AED 100-200) to cover taxi costs.
- Non-Fault Party: Under UAE law, if you are NOT at fault, the insurance of the at-fault party is legally obligated to provide you with a rental car or compensation for loss of use for up to 10 days.
- Repair Verification: You must provide the "LPO" (Local Purchase Order) from the workshop to prove the car is currently under repair to extend your rental.
How Rental Coverage Works
- Comprehensive policies with rental add-on provide a similar-class vehicle
- Rental starts from the day your vehicle enters the workshop
- Duration matches repair time (typically 7-30 days)
- If the other party is at fault, their insurance covers your rental
- Third-party insurance does NOT include rental coverage for your vehicle
What to Do If You Don't Have Rental Coverage
If your policy doesn't include rental, you can still claim rental car costs from the at-fault driver's insurance. Contact their insurance company directly with your police report showing the other driver is at fault. Alternatively, several rent-a-car companies in Dubai offer special rates for accident-related rentals.
