Claim deadline checker
You want to work out your actual deadline without wading through several different numbers.
Malaysia does not run every road accident claim on the same clock. Which deadline applies to you depends on a few specific facts about the accident, not on a single rule everyone assumes is true. Work through the questions below in order to find yours.
How this checker works
Answer each question honestly and stop at the first one that applies to you, since these situations are arranged from the most specific to the most general.
Work through these in order
- Did the accident result in a death. If yes, a dependency claim by the family generally must be brought within three years of the date of death, treated as an absolute limit.[2] Stop here; this deadline overrides the others for that claim.
- Was the at-fault vehicle owned by the government or a public authority. If yes, a shorter 36-month deadline can apply instead of the usual periods.[3] This is worth confirming directly, since ownership is not always obvious.
- Was the other driver uninsured, but you have their vehicle’s registration number. If yes, a claim to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau generally must be made within three years of the accident.[4]
- Was the injured person under 18 at the time of the accident. If yes, time generally does not start running until they turn 18, giving them six years from that birthday for their own injury claim.[5]
- None of the above. Your ordinary personal injury claim generally has six years from the date of the accident.[1] This is the default that most claims fall under.
Why treating this as a backstop matters
Whichever deadline applies to you, it marks the outer limit, not a sensible target. Evidence and witnesses fade long before any of these periods run out, so the practical deadline is really much sooner than the legal one.
What to do next
Claim deadlines explained sets out the full comparison in one table if you want to see every situation side by side. Which claim route fits you helps you confirm the wider path your claim is on, not just the deadline attached to it.
Common questions
What if none of these questions clearly match my situation?
Most road accident injury claims fall under the six-year default, so start there unless a death, a government vehicle or an uninsured driver changes your answer. Tell us the details if you remain unsure.
Does the clock start from the accident or from when I realised I was hurt?
For an ordinary injury claim, it generally runs from the date of the accident itself, not from when symptoms became clear. This is another reason not to wait before getting checked and documented.
What if I am already close to one of these deadlines?
Treat it as urgent rather than settled either way. Getting your documents together and speaking to someone quickly matters more the closer you are to the outer limit.
Can a deadline ever be extended?
Extensions are limited and depend heavily on the specific facts, particularly for the stricter three-year and 36-month periods. Do not assume an extension is available without checking your exact situation.
Sources
- Limitation Act 1953, s.6(1)(a) (Government of Malaysia) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Shan Chambers, on Civil Law Act 1956 s.7(5) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Public Authorities Protection Act 1948, s.2(a) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- AskLegal.my, on the Motor Insurers' Bureau of West Malaysia (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Thomas Philip, on Limitation Act 1953 s.24 (accessed 2026-09-22)