In this guide
After an accident in Dubai, check for injuries, report it in the Dubai Police app or call 999, then open a claim with your insurer before any repair. The police report colour decides whose insurer pays. Your policy decides the garage, the excess and any parts depreciation.
Written and reviewed by the Mechanics workshop team, Al Quoz, Dubai. Last updated 16 October 2026.
Check for injuries
If anyone is hurt or a car cannot move, call 999 and ask for an ambulance. Stay with the car.
Make the scene safe
Hazards on and engine off. In a minor crash, move to the roadside so you do not block traffic.
Photograph and report
Take photos of both cars, then file the report in the Dubai Police app together.
This guide walks through reporting, the claim, agency and garage repair, excess and depreciation, and how to check the repair. It uses the UAE unified motor policy, so your own policy wording may add to it.
Mechanics is an independent workshop in Al Quoz with a body shop. We are not an insurer and we do not decide claims.
How to report a car accident in Dubai
Every accident needs an official report before an insurer will pay. For a minor crash with no injuries you rarely need to wait for a patrol.
Dubai Police app
- Choose the traffic accident report
- Add the number of vehicles
- Scan or type each plate and licence
- Photograph the damage on every car
- Add your mobile and email for the report
On-the-Go petrol stations
- Over 130 partner stations take reports
- Bring your licence, Mulkiya and insurance
- Staff photograph the damage
- You leave with the accident report
- It also covers unknown party accidents
When police must attend
- Anyone is injured
- A car cannot be moved
- Drivers do not agree on fault
- The other driver leaves or has no documents
App steps and when to call 999 from the dubizzle guide to reporting an accident in Dubai, updated 28 September 2026. On-the-Go details from Gulf News, December 2024, and Ask Gulf News, 16 December 2025, which says the liable party pays AED 520 for the report.
Police report colours and what they mean
Report colours from the dubizzle accident reporting guide, checked 16 October 2026.
Accident step guide
Answer four questions to see what to do next, in order. The message button sends your answers to us if you want a repair estimate.
If the guide does not load, follow the scene steps above, report the accident and call your insurer before any repair.
What happened
Is anyone injured
The other party
Your insurance
The steps update as you answer. This is general guidance, your policy wording decides the claim.
Send to MechanicsCar insurance claim steps in the UAE
Most Dubai claims follow the same six stages. Delays usually happen at the survey and when extra damage turns up.
Report
Get the police report and keep its number.
Notify
Tell your insurer as soon as you can and get a claim number.
Documents
Police report, Mulkiya, driving licence and Emirates ID.
Survey
A surveyor inspects the car and approves an estimate.
Repair
Work starts after written approval, with any extras approved again.
Collect
Pay any excess, check the repair and keep the invoice.
The UAE unified motor policy asks you to notify the insurer in writing as soon as practically possible. Many insurers expect it within 24 to 48 hours, according to the dubizzle insurance guide.
If the car cannot be driven, the unified policy has the insurer pay to tow it to the nearest repair shop. Ask the insurer to arrange it before you book a truck.
Who pays for the repair
Your cover and the report colour together decide who pays. This table is the usual pattern, and the policy wording has the final say.
| Your report | Comprehensive cover | Third party only |
|---|---|---|
| Green, not at fault | Claim from the other driver's insurer, or from yours if your policy allows | Claim from the other driver's insurer |
| Pink, at fault | Your insurer pays, minus your excess | You pay for your own car |
| White, unclear | Your insurer settles under the policy terms | Ask the insurer, cover for your car is limited |
| Unknown party | Claim on your policy with the unknown party report | Usually not covered |
Third party cover pays for damage you cause to others, not for your own car. Confirm your own claim with the insurer.
Why the surveyor wants the bumper off
A cracked bumper cover often hides bent brackets, a crushed crash bar or a damaged radar mount behind it.
Expect the first estimate to change once the car is stripped. A good shop photographs the hidden damage and asks the insurer to approve it before carrying on.
Agency repair vs non agency repair
This line in your policy schedule decides where the car goes. It matters most on newer and premium cars.
Agency repair
- Done at the brand dealer workshop
- Usually genuine parts and dealer methods
- Mostly offered on newer cars, often the first few years
- Higher premium, and extending it is the insurer decision
Non agency repair
- Done at garages approved by your insurer
- The insurer must make sure the repair is done properly
- The garage warrants its work under the policy
- Lower premium on most policies
The unified motor policy says an insurer may agree to agency repair after the first three years for an extra premium. Comparison guides such as InsuranceMarket describe three to five years of agency cover on many policies.
If you want your own garage, the unified policy lets you repair the car yourself within the amount the insurer agrees in writing. Get that agreement first, because work done before approval may not be paid.
Excess, depreciation and total loss
These three terms explain most of the money you pay on a claim. The figures below are the maximums in the unified motor policy.
Basic excess, private car
Maximum per accident, by car value
| Car value | Excess up to |
|---|---|
| Up to AED 50,000 | AED 350 |
| AED 50,000 to 100,000 | AED 700 |
| AED 100,000 to 250,000 | AED 1,000 |
| Above AED 250,000 | AED 1,200 to 1,400 |
Extra excess of up to 10 percent for drivers under 25, 15 percent for sports cars and 20 percent for cars modified outside the factory.
Depreciation on new parts
Your share of the parts invoice if you ask for new original parts
| Car age | You pay |
|---|---|
| First year | Nil |
| Second year | 5 percent |
| Third year | 10 percent |
| Fourth year | 15 percent |
| Fifth year | 20 percent |
| Sixth year on | 30 percent |
When is it a total loss
The car is treated as a total loss when repairs would cost more than half its value before the accident.
- Repair costAbove 50 percent of the pre-accident value
- Structural damageChassis or pillars that need cutting or welding
- PayoutAgreed insured value, less the policy depreciation
- Your choiceA replacement car, or cash if you ask for it
Excess, depreciation and total loss rules from the Central Bank of the UAE rulebook, unified motor policy, checked 16 October 2026. Insurers can offer better terms, so your schedule may show lower figures.
What to photograph after an accident
Photos protect you when the surveyor and the other insurer disagree. Take more than you think you need, before the cars move.
- The whole sceneWide shots of both cars and the road
- Both platesFront and rear, readable
- Every damaged panelClose up and from a few steps back
- The other carIts damage and position
- Road and signsLane markings, signals and skid marks
- DashboardMileage and any warning lights
- InsideDeployed airbags or seat belt locks
- DocumentsThe report and the other licence
How long accident repair takes in Dubai
The repair itself is often the shortest part. The claim decides most of the wait, so ask each party for a date in writing.
| Stage | Who sets the time | How to keep it moving |
|---|---|---|
| Report and claim number | You and the police | Report on the day and call the insurer straight after |
| Survey and approval | The insurer and its surveyor | Send the estimate and photos together, and follow up by claim number |
| Parts | The dealer or supplier | Ask for the parts date on the estimate, genuine parts for rare models take longest |
| Body, paint and checks | The workshop | Agree the scope up front so extra damage is approved quickly |
How to check the repair before you sign
Check the car in daylight before you pay the excess or sign the release. Problems are easier to fix before the car leaves.
Panel gaps
Gaps around doors, bonnet and boot should match on both sides.
Open and close every repaired panel. Ask if any gap looks wider than its twin.
Paint match
Colour and shine should blend into the next panel, with no runs, dust or rough texture.
Look at an angle in sunlight. Ask which panels were blended.
Lights and sensors
Lamps, parking sensors and cameras near the repair must work as before.
Check every light and reverse toward a wall with the sensors on.
ADAS and scans
Radar and camera systems near the repair may need a scan and a calibration.
Ask for the scan report. See our ADAS calibration page.
Driving feel
A hit to a wheel can bend steering or suspension parts.
Drive straight on a quiet road. If the wheel is off centre, ask for an alignment.
Paperwork
The invoice should list the parts, their type and the paint work.
Keep it with the claim papers and any written paint warranty.
Where Mechanics fits in
We are an independent workshop with a body shop in Al Quoz. What we can do depends on your policy and your insurer approval.
What we do
- Inspect the damage and write an itemised repair estimate
- Photograph the damage so you can send it to your insurer
- Repair, paint and refit at our body shop
- Scan the car and check sensors after the repair
What stays with others
- The police report comes from Dubai Police
- The claim decision and approval come from your insurer
- Agency only repairs go to the brand dealer
- Warranty and recall work stays with the dealer
As published guides, panel painting starts from AED 315, a repairable fender with paint from AED 525 and a full exterior respray from AED 2,625, including VAT, on our body shop page. Accident repairs are quoted after inspection.
Before you book, check your policy wording or call your insurer to confirm where the repair can be done. Ask us for the paint and repair cover on your job, and we put it in writing on the quote.
Related services and guides
Accident repair and insurance questions
What should I do right after a car accident in Dubai?
Stop safely, switch on the hazard lights and check for injuries. Call 999 if anyone is hurt or a car cannot move. For a minor crash with no injuries, move to a safe spot, photograph the damage and report it in the Dubai Police app or at an On-the-Go petrol station.
How do I report a minor accident in Dubai?
Open the Dubai Police app, choose the traffic accident report, add the vehicles, plates and licences, and upload photos of the damage. You can also report at partner petrol stations under the On-the-Go service. The report is sent to you and can go to your insurer.
What do the pink, green and white police reports mean?
A pink report means the driver is at fault, a green report means the driver is the victim, and a white report means fault is unclear or neither driver is at fault. Your report colour decides whose insurer pays for the repair.
Do I need a police report to claim car insurance in Dubai?
Yes. Insurers in Dubai ask for an official police report for accident damage, even for a small dent. Without one a claim is usually refused, so report every accident, including a car hit while parked by someone who drove off.
What is the difference between agency and non agency repair?
Agency repair means the brand dealer workshop fixes the car, usually with genuine parts, and is mostly offered on newer cars for a higher premium. Non agency repair uses garages approved by your insurer. Your policy schedule says which one you have.
Can I choose my own garage for an insurance repair in Dubai?
Sometimes. The UAE unified motor policy lets you repair the car yourself if the cost stays within the amount the insurer agrees in writing. Many insurers send cars to their own approved garages, so ask your insurer before any work starts.
How much is the excess on a car insurance claim in the UAE?
The unified motor policy caps the basic excess for a private car at AED 350 for a car worth up to AED 50,000, rising with the car value to about AED 1,400. Extra percentage excesses can apply to young drivers, sports cars and modified cars.
What is depreciation on parts in a car insurance claim?
If you ask for new original parts or cash for parts, the unified policy lets the insurer charge you a share of the parts invoice by car age. It is nil in year one, then 5, 10, 15 and 20 percent, and 30 percent from year six.
When is a car a total loss in the UAE?
Under the unified motor policy a car is a total loss when repairs would cost more than half its value before the accident. Chassis or pillar damage that needs cutting or welding also counts. The insurer then pays the agreed insured value less the policy depreciation.
How long does accident repair take in Dubai?
It depends on the claim, not only the repair. The insurer survey and approval, parts supply and any hidden damage found after stripping the car all add time. Ask for a written estimate with the expected parts date before you agree.
Does my car need ADAS calibration after accident repair?
Often, yes. If a front radar, a windscreen camera or rear corner radars sit near the repaired area, a scan and a calibration check should be part of the repair. A warning light that stays off does not prove the system is aimed correctly.
Can Mechanics repair my car after an accident?
Mechanics in Al Quoz repairs accident damage at its body shop and gives a written, itemised estimate with photos you can send to your insurer. Whether your policy lets the work be done here depends on your insurer, so confirm the approval before repairs start.
Need a repair estimate after an accident?
Send photos of the damage, the make, model and year, and your police report if you have it.
The Mechanics team in Al Quoz replies with what the repair involves, then confirms a written, itemised estimate after seeing the car.
Sources checked on 16 October 2026
Policy rules on notification, repair, excess, depreciation and total loss from the Central Bank of the UAE rulebook, unified motor vehicle insurance policy. Accident reporting and report colours from the dubizzle accident reporting guide, updated 28 September 2026. Claim documents and timing from the dubizzle comprehensive insurance guide, updated 28 September 2026. On-the-Go reporting from Gulf News, 19 December 2024, and Ask Gulf News, 16 December 2025. Agency cover years from InsuranceMarket, updated 12 June 2026.
This guide is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Mechanics is not an insurer and does not decide claims.
