In Malaysia, how to legally check the other party's insurance through the license plate number when encountering a hit-and-run?

In Malaysia, hit-and-run incidents are not uncommon, but what often puts the parties involved in a passive position is not the accident itself, but rather not knowing what to do next. Many people think that simply noting down the license plate number is sufficient to trace the other party’s insurance, but the reality is far more complicated.

This article will systematically explore, based on Malaysia's current laws, police procedures, and insurance policies, how much a license plate number can actually help in a hit-and-run scenario, and which inquiry and claim paths are legal, effective, and worth referencing for ordinary car owners.

【PCauto】Hit-and-run incidents, where a driver leaves the scene of a minor collision, are an unfortunate reality on Malaysian roads. Whether it involves motorcycles, private cars, or commercial vehicles, when an accident occurs and the party does not stop to handle the situation, it is usually considered a hit and run.

Under the Road Transport Act 1987, drivers involved in an accident have a legal obligation to stop, ensure safety, and cooperate in resolving the incident. Otherwise, they could face not only civil liabilities but also criminal charges. This is why, even if the accident seems minor, hit-and-run incidents are taken seriously from a legal perspective.

For the victim, the immediate aftermath presents a series of practical challenges. The vehicle is damaged, the other party flees, and only scattered information is left at the scene. The evidence secured—or missed—in these critical moments often determines whether a successful recourse is possible later.

While the vehicle registration number is a crucial piece of information, it is not sufficient on its own. Clear photos of the scene and vehicles, dashcam footage, the exact location, and witness contact details all play vital roles in subsequent police reporting and insurance processing. Taking photos of the accident scene and the vehicles involved on public roads usually does not constitute an invasion of privacy, but deliberately spreading or misusing the information could potentially violate the Personal Data Protection Act.

After completing basic evidence collection, filing a police report is an almost unavoidable step. In Malaysia, the avenues to lodge a report are: calling 999, visiting a police station in person, or filing an online report via the e-Police system.

The police report is more than just a record; it is the foundational document that enables all subsequent investigation and insurance claim processes. Without a police report, insurance companies generally will not process claims, and the police cannot pursue the offending vehicle.

It is important to note that once an e-Police report is submitted, it cannot be easily modified, and providing false or inaccurate statements carries legal risks.

Now, the question many people truly care about is whether having only a license plate number is sufficient to find out the other party's insurance company.

The answer is yes, but only if you go through the right channels.

In Malaysia, the general public cannot freely check another person's insurance information through unofficial channels. MyCarInfo is one of the most recognised and compliant platforms for this specific purpose. By paying a fee and entering the license plate number, one can obtain basic insurance information about the vehicle, including whether the insurance is valid and the policy's validity period. This type of information is sufficient to help victims determine whether there is an insurable party to pursue, but it does not provide access to the owner's full personal details.

Aside from MyCarInfo, the MyEG platform is also often mentioned. MyEG is not a direct tool for insurance inquiries. However, checking for outstanding traffic summonses or other vehicle records on the platform can sometimes provide indirect clues about the vehicle's status. However, this approach serves more as supplemental information rather than a complete solution.

In hit-and-run cases, a formal police investigation remains the definitive method for obtaining complete insurance and owner details. The police have the authority to contact the vehicle's registered owner, request their cooperation to clarify the situation, and include relevant information in the police report upon completion of the investigation.

Once the other party's insurer is identified, the next step is initiating the claim process. Theoretically, the victim can directly contact the other party's insurance company, submit the police report and evidence of the accident, and apply for a third-party claim.

However, in practice, this process can face delays if the other party is uncooperative, their insurance is invalid, or the investigation is pending. In such situations, some car owners may consider using their own insurance as an alternative solution.

It's important to note that the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), once a broader fallback for hit-and-run cases, now has a very limited scope. MIB generally no longer compensates for vehicle damage and only deals with personal injury claims under specific conditions. Moreover, confirmation of the existence of the offending vehicle is still a prerequisite.

Therefore, for vehicle repairs, the more straightforward path is often to claim under your own policy's Own Damage (OD) cover, provided you can prove non-fault (often leveraging a Knock-for-Knock agreement between insurers). As long as it can be proven that the car owner is not at fault, and under qualifying conditions, claiming through personal insurance can avoid impacting the No-Claim Discount (NCD) and expedite the repair process.

A critical reminder: obtaining insurance information via license plate numbers exists in significant legal grey areas. Some third-party websites or individuals claim they can quickly obtain owner details and insurance information. These services often involve privacy and compliance risks. If used, at best the information may be inaccurate, and at worst it may involve illegal activity. For general car owners, the safest route is always the police report combined with official platforms, rather than attempting to take shortcuts.

From numerous cases, many disputes are not unsolvable but are misdirected from the very first step. Not reporting to the police, insufficient evidence, and trusting unofficial investigation channels will all make subsequent actions increasingly limited. On the contrary, as long as the sequence is clear—from gathering evidence on-site, reporting to the police, and legally checking insurance information—even if the other party initially chooses to flee, it does not mean that the victim can only accept their misfortune.

Within Malaysia's traffic and insurance framework, a license plate number is a vital starting clue for accountability, but it is not a master key that unlocks all doors.

What yields results is methodically following the correct legal procedure, using the number as the starting point. For the average car owner, knowing this procedure is a powerful form of risk mitigation in itself.