How A Knock For Knock Claim Works
Your insurer mentioned knock for knock and you want to know what it actually changes for you.
A knock for knock claim, sometimes written as OD-KFK, is an arrangement where each driver’s own insurer pays for that driver’s vehicle damage, without waiting to settle who was at fault first. It is a shortcut for repairs, not a decision about blame. It sits alongside the wider road accident claim process rather than replacing it.
Two cars collide at a junction, and both drivers are convinced the other ran the light. Instead of waiting months for fault to be argued out, each driver’s own insurer repairs their own car under this arrangement. The insurers can still sort out the fault question between themselves afterwards.
What actually happens step by step
- You report the accident and claim under your own comprehensive policy.
- Your insurer arranges repair without first proving who was at fault.
- The two insurers settle any recovery between themselves later, separately from your repair.
When it does not apply
- There is an injury, not just vehicle damage.
- A bus or taxi is involved in the accident.
- One of the vehicles carries only third party cover, not comprehensive.
In these situations the claim usually follows the ordinary fault-based route instead, which can take longer to sort out. Your insurer can confirm quickly which category your accident falls into, so it is worth asking early rather than assuming either way.
The catch with your no-claim discount
Even though you were not at fault, a knock for knock payout can still be recorded against your own policy, depending on how your insurer treats it. Your no-claim discount and a claim sets out exactly why this happens and how to check it in advance.
What to check before you agree
Ask your insurer directly whether this specific repair will affect your discount. Compare that answer against pursuing the other driver’s insurer for your damage instead, which can protect your discount but usually takes longer.
It is worth asking this question before repairs start, not after. Once your own insurer has already paid out under this arrangement, switching to the other route becomes far harder to arrange.
Some workshops and adjusters can also tell you, from experience with your specific insurer, how that company has handled similar cases before. That kind of practical detail is often more useful than the general policy wording alone.
What to do now
Report the accident to your insurer while the damage and the facts are fresh. Reforms in this area are moving toward protecting a not-at-fault driver’s discount, so it is worth asking your insurer what their current practice is before you decide.[1]
Common questions
What does knock for knock actually mean?
It is an arrangement where each insurer pays its own policyholder for vehicle damage, without first arguing over who caused the accident. The insurers settle the fault question and any recovery between themselves afterwards, separately from your repair.
Does knock for knock decide who was at fault?
No. It is a claims-handling shortcut, not a finding of fault. Liability can still matter later, particularly if there is an injury involved or if one insurer pursues the other to recover what it paid.
Will a knock for knock claim affect my no-claim discount?
It can, even when you were not at fault, depending on how your insurer records the payout. Your no-claim discount and a claim explains the specific trap to check before you agree to this route.
When does knock for knock not apply?
It generally does not apply where someone was injured, where a bus or taxi was involved, or where one of the vehicles only carried third party cover. In those situations the claim usually follows the ordinary fault-based route instead.
Sources
- Malay Mail, on Bank Negara's motor claims reform (accessed 2026-09-22)