Getting into a car accident in Saudi Arabia is disorienting even for people who have lived here for years. Your heart is racing, traffic is piling up behind you, and someone is speaking to you in Arabic while you're trying to figure out if you're supposed to call the police or just take a photo. The truth is, what you do in the first few minutes after a crash determines how smoothly your insurance claim goes, whether you get blamed for something that wasn't your fault, and how much of your day gets eaten up dealing with paperwork.
This guide walks you through exactly what to do, step by step, whether you've just been in a minor fender-bender or something more serious.
The Golden Rule: Najm or Police? Decide This First
Everything else depends on this one decision, so make it fast.
Call Najm (920000560) or use the Najm app if:
- Nobody is injured
- Damage looks like it's under SAR 10,000
- At least one driver has valid insurance
- Both drivers are willing to cooperate
Call 911 and wait for the traffic police (Muroor) if:
- Anyone is injured, even slightly
- Damage looks significant (over SAR 10,000, though don't waste time estimating precisely if you're unsure)
- One driver has no insurance
- The other driver is disputing what happened, being aggressive, or refuses to cooperate
- A pedestrian, cyclist, or motorcyclist is involved
- Either driver appears intoxicated
- The other driver flees the scene (hit-and-run)
If you're not sure which category you're in, treat it as a police case. It's always safer to have an officer attend than to use the Najm app for something that turns out to need police documentation.
Step 1: Make the Scene Safe (First 2 Minutes)
Before you think about reporting anything, protect yourself and everyone else on the road.
- Turn on your hazard lights immediately.
- If you have a warning triangle, place it behind your vehicle, especially on highways.
- If your car is drivable and it's a minor accident with no injuries, and it's safe to do so, move it to the shoulder or a nearby parking area. Leaving cars in the middle of a fast road causes secondary accidents.
- If anyone is injured or the damage is major, do not move the vehicles. Leave everything exactly as it is for the investigation, even if it's blocking traffic. Officers need the original scene.
- Check yourself and passengers for injuries before checking on the other party.
Step 2: Check for Injuries
This is the single factor that changes everything. If anyone is hurt, no matter how minor it looks, call 911 immediately. This automatically makes it a police and possibly a Red Crescent case, not a Najm one. Don't try to move an injured person unless they're in immediate danger, such as a fire risk.
Step 3: Document Everything
Whether you end up using Najm or waiting for police, do this regardless:
- Take photos of both vehicles from multiple angles, including close-ups of the damage
- Photograph the position of the vehicles relative to the road, lane markings, and any relevant signs or signals
- Get a photo of the other driver's Istimara (vehicle registration), Iqama or ID, and driving license
- Photograph the license plates clearly
- Note the exact time and location, or drop a pin on your phone
- If there are witnesses, ask for their name and phone number
Do this even if the other driver seems friendly and cooperative. Memories change, and having your own record protects you.
Step 4: Do Not Discuss Fault at the Scene
This trips up a lot of expats. Even if you think you know what happened, do not say "it was my fault" or admit responsibility out loud, and don't argue aggressively about the other driver's fault either. Fault in Saudi Arabia is determined by Najm's investigator or the traffic police based on evidence, damage patterns, and traffic law, not by what either driver says at the scene. Stick to exchanging information and stay calm.
Step 5A: If It's a Najm Case
Open the Najm app (available in Arabic and English) or call 920000560.
- The app will ask you to confirm the accident is minor, with no injuries and damage under the threshold
- You'll photograph the scene as instructed within the app
- You can request a Najm officer to attend if you'd prefer, or use the remote/self-service review if both drivers agree
- Once submitted, the app generates an accident number and you can track the status
- After both parties are documented, you're free to leave. You don't need to wait around for hours. The full report typically arrives within hours, not days.
Step 5B: If It's a Police Case
- Wait at the scene, even if it's inconvenient. Leaving before police arrive can be treated as a hit-and-run in some circumstances.
- Cooperate with the officer's questions but stick to facts, not opinions about fault
- Ask for the report reference number before you leave
- If anyone was taken to hospital, get the hospital name so you can follow up
Step 6: Report Within 24 Hours
Whichever path you're on, make sure the accident is officially reported to Najm within 24 hours of the incident. Delaying this can complicate or even void your insurance claim. If police attended, they typically coordinate the handover to Najm and your insurer, but it's worth confirming rather than assuming.
Step 7: What Happens After You Report
Once the report is filed, here's the general flow:
- Najm (or the police report, for major cases) determines fault, which can be 100% one driver, a 50/50 split, or another percentage split depending on the evidence
- The report is sent automatically to the insurance companies involved
- Your insurer will guide you to a damage assessment step (often called Taqdeer)
- You'll be directed to an approved repair workshop under your policy
- You'll receive the official report by SMS, email, or through the Najm app/website, usually within 24 hours, sometimes longer for busy areas or disputed cases
What NOT to Do After an Accident in Saudi Arabia
- Don't move an injured person or leave the scene before police arrive in a serious accident
- Don't verbally admit fault or sign anything you don't understand
- Don't skip reporting because "it was minor" — even small scrapes need a Najm record if you want any insurance coverage
- Don't rely only on the other driver's version of events or their promise to "handle it privately" without a report — this can leave you unprotected if they change their story later
- Don't forget to photograph everything before vehicles are moved, if it's safe to do so
- Don't assume your insurance automatically knows about the accident. You need to be the one who reports it or confirms police have
Quick Reference Checklist
- Hazard lights on, triangle out if you have one
- Check for injuries; call 911 if anyone is hurt
- Minor and no injuries: use Najm app or call 920000560
- Injuries, major damage, dispute, or uninsured driver: call 911, wait for police
- Photograph vehicles, damage, plates, IDs, and the scene
- Get witness contact info if available
- Don't discuss or admit fault at the scene
- Report to Najm within 24 hours
- Follow up with your insurer for the Taqdeer assessment and repair workshop assignment
Need an insurance provider or a trusted repair shop after an accident? Browse verified listings in our car insurance directory and our auto repair workshop directory.
Already dealing with unpaid traffic fines on top of an accident? See our guide on how to check and pay traffic violation fines in KSA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the other driver flees the scene (hit-and-run)?
File a police report first by calling 911, since Najm alone cannot process a hit-and-run. Give police the license plate, car color, model, and direction of travel if you caught any of it, along with photos or dashcam footage if you have any. Once you have a police report number, report the accident to Najm using that reference so your insurer has both documents on file.
What if I don't have insurance, or the other driver doesn't?
Driving without valid insurance is illegal in Saudi Arabia, and an uninsured accident cannot go through the Najm app; it must be reported directly to the traffic police (Muroor) by calling 911. If you're uninsured and at fault, you're personally liable for damages and repairs. Get insured before you need to use this guide.
What if the police officer or the other driver doesn't speak English?
Use a translation app on your phone, such as Google Translate's camera or voice mode, to communicate the basics. Stick to short, factual statements rather than trying to explain the full story verbally. If the language gap is significant, ask if an English-speaking officer is available, and rely on your photos and documents, since these communicate the facts regardless of language.
Should I agree to settle the accident privately in cash instead of reporting it?
This is not recommended. Without an official Najm or police report, you have no protection if the other driver later changes their story, if hidden damage appears afterward, or if they file their own claim against you. It can also leave you without valid grounds for an insurance claim on your own vehicle. Always report the accident officially, even if the other driver pressures you to "keep it between us."
Can I dispute or appeal Najm's fault decision if I think it's wrong?
Yes. If you disagree with the fault percentage assigned, you can contest the report through Najm's e-service, generally within 30 days of the decision, by submitting additional evidence such as witness statements, dashcam footage, or photos that support your version of events. Your insurance company can also raise the dispute on your behalf. Keep in mind that most Najm determinations are based on physical evidence at the scene, so having thorough documentation from the start is your best protection.
Who pays for towing after an accident?
If your car isn't drivable, towing is generally arranged through your insurer as part of the claim, though the specifics depend on your policy, so it's worth checking whether roadside assistance or towing is included. If the other driver is found fully at fault, their insurance may be liable to cover your towing cost as part of the damages.
How long does the whole process take, from accident to repaired car?
Reporting through the Najm app usually takes 10 to 20 minutes, and the fault determination is often issued within hours for straightforward minor cases. From there, the timeline depends on your insurer's damage assessment (Taqdeer) and the repair workshop's schedule, which can range from a few days for minor repairs to a few weeks for more extensive work or parts availability.
What if I'm driving a rental or company-provided car?
Notify the rental company or your employer's fleet department immediately, in addition to following the Najm or police steps above, since they will usually have their own insurance policy and procedures that apply. Ask them directly whether they want to handle the Najm report themselves or whether you should file it, since this varies by provider.
What if I have no phone signal to reach Najm or the police?
If you can't get through on the Najm hotline or app due to no signal, don't leave the scene of a serious accident to search for signal alone if it can be avoided; try to flag down a passing vehicle for help, or move to higher ground or closer to a main road where signal is more likely. Once you regain signal, report to Najm as soon as possible, ideally still within the 24-hour window.
Final Word
A car accident is stressful enough without also trying to figure out the system in real time. Save the Najm number in your phone now, before you ever need it: 920000560. Download the Najm app so it's ready to go. And remember the core decision that guides everything else: no injuries and it's minor, use Najm; anyone hurt, major damage, or a dispute, call 911 and wait.
