After a Car Accident in Saudi Arabia: Najm, Taqdeer, Then the Tow Truck
Published · Muhammad Sohail
The short answer
If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. For a minor accident with no injuries, photograph the scene and report it to Najm through the Najm app. Once you have the Najm report, book a Taqdeer damage estimate, and if the car is not safe to drive, request a tow truck to take it to the Taqdeer centre or a workshop.
1. Safety first
- Turn on your hazard lights and check that everyone is safe.
- If anyone is hurt, or there is leaking fuel or smoke, move away from the car and call 911 immediately.
- On a highway, keep yourself and your passengers well away from traffic, behind the barrier if there is one.
2. Photograph the accident
Before moving the cars, photograph the scene, the point of impact, the damage to each car from the front, rear and both sides, and the number plates. Najm and your insurer will ask for these photos later.
In a minor accident with no injuries, once you have the photos, move the cars out of the traffic lane if they are safe to drive, so they do not block the road.
3. Report to Najm
Najm handles minor accidents involving insured vehicles, and insurers need the accident report before they accept a claim. The easiest way to report:
- Download the Najm app, register the accident and upload photos from the scene.
- The app also lists Najm’s other contact options if you need them.
If anyone is injured, or neither party has valid insurance, the accident is reported to the traffic police (Muroor) through 911.
4. Damage estimate (Taqdeer)
Once the accident report is issued, you book a damage estimate at a Taqdeer centre and bring the car there to have the damage assessed. Then you file the insurance claim and the car is repaired.
5. When do you need a tow truck?
Do not drive the car after the accident if you see any of these signs. Request a tow truck to take it to the Taqdeer centre, a workshop or home:
- The airbags have deployed.
- Fluid is leaking or you can smell fuel.
- A wheel is bent or damaged, or the steering will not centre.
- Headlights or tail lights are broken and you would be driving at night.
- Any unusual noise, or a red warning light on the dashboard.
Accident-damaged cars should be moved on a hydraulic or full-down flatbed and strapped down, not towed with a rope, which can add to the damage.
What to send the tow driver
- Your live location on WhatsApp.
- A photo of the car and the damage, and the car model.
- Whether the wheels turn and the steering moves: this decides which flatbed is right.
- The destination: the Taqdeer centre or workshop address.
Frequently asked questions
Should I move the car before Najm arrives?
In a minor accident with no injuries, photograph the scene from every side first, then move the car out of the traffic lane if it is safe to drive, so it does not block the road.
Do I need a tow truck to get to Taqdeer?
Only if the car is not safe to drive, for example if the airbags deployed, a wheel is damaged or fluid is leaking. If it drives safely, you can drive it to the centre.
Does insurance pay for the tow truck?
It depends on your policy: some comprehensive policies include towing. Check your policy or ask your insurer.
What if the other driver has no insurance?
If you have valid insurance, report to Najm as usual: Najm handles the accident when at least one party is insured. If neither party has valid insurance, the accident is reported to the traffic police through 911.
Related service: Accident vehicle transport