How do I report a minor accident in Sharjah?

If nobody is hurt, you can usually report it through the Rafid app by uploading photos and details, without waiting for a patrol. If anyone is injured, or the drivers disagree about who is at fault, call 999 so a patrol attends. Check the current steps and fees in the app.

Should I move my car after a minor accident?

If nobody is hurt and it is safe, take quick photos and then move the car out of the traffic lane. That is the advice given for minor accidents in Sharjah. If the car can't be driven, keep your hazard lights on, stand well clear of traffic and call for a flatbed.

Can an AWD, 4x4 or automatic car be towed on two wheels?

Usually it is not a good idea. If some wheels turn on the road while others are lifted, an AWD, 4x4 or automatic car can suffer gearbox and drivetrain damage. A flatbed lifts the whole car, so nothing turns. Check your owner's manual, and if in doubt ask for a flatbed.

Does car insurance cover recovery in Sharjah?

It depends on the policy. Comprehensive cover often includes recovery after an accident, and some policies add roadside assistance for breakdowns. Third-party policies usually include little or none. Look for recovery or roadside assistance in your policy and call your insurer before booking a truck if you plan to claim.

What should I tell the recovery dispatcher?

Send your live location on WhatsApp, the road name or exit and your direction of travel. Add the car's make, model and year, whether it is automatic, AWD or 4x4, what happened, whether the wheels turn, and where it should go. That helps the right truck reach you first time.

Is flatbed recovery better than wheel-lift towing?

For most cars, yes. The whole car sits on the platform, so no wheels turn on the road. That matters most for AWD, 4x4, many automatic cars and many electric cars. Wheel-lift can work for short moves of some two-wheel-drive cars, but flatbed is the safer default.

What to Do After a Car Breakdown or Accident in Sharjah

Short version: if nobody is hurt, take photos, move the car out of the traffic lane when it is safe, and report a minor accident through Rafid. If anyone is hurt, or you and the other driver disagree about fault, call 999. If the car can't be driven, send your location and car details to a recovery company and ask for a flatbed.

The rest of this page covers the first few minutes, how reporting works in Sharjah, what to tell a dispatcher, and why the way a car is lifted matters.

What to do first, by situation

Situation	First step	Who to contact
Breakdown, car still moves	Hazard lights on, move out of the traffic lane	Recovery company
Breakdown, car won't move	Get out when it is safe and stand well clear of traffic	Recovery company, 999 if the car blocks the road
Minor accident, nobody hurt	Photos, then move out of the lane if it is safe	Rafid app for the report, recovery if the car can't be driven
Injuries, or a dispute about fault	Stay safe and follow the operator's instructions	999
Damaged car, not safe to drive	Do not drive it, keep photos of the damage	Recovery company, then your insurer

What should you do right after a breakdown or accident in Sharjah?

Hazard lights on. Do it before anything else.
Get out of the traffic lane if you can.If the car still drives and it is safe, move it to the side. If it won't move, get everyone out when it is safe and stand well away from traffic, behind a barrier if there is one. Sitting inside a stationary car on a fast road is how a second crash happens.
Call 999 when it is needed.That means injuries, a car blocking the road that you can't move, or a disagreement about who is at fault.
Take photos. See the checklist below. Take them quickly, before you move anything if it is safe to do so.
Share your location and call recovery. Live location on WhatsApp works better than describing the road.
Report the accident if there was one, and keep the report number.

How do you report a car accident in Sharjah?

It depends on whether anyone is hurt.

Minor accident, nobody hurt: you can use the Rafid app to file the report and upload photos of the damage. Where electronic handling is allowed, you get the report without waiting for a patrol.
Injuries, or you and the other driver disagree about fault: call 999. A patrol attends and handles the report.

Rafid's guidance in October 2026 was to secure the vehicle and, where possible, move it out of the traffic lane to avoid further collisions, then report quickly (Gulf Today, 4 October 2026). Fees, phone numbers and what counts as a minor accident can change, so check the Rafid app before you pay or rely on this page.

Insurers usually ask for the accident report, so keep the report number with your photos.

What should you photograph?

All four sides of your car and the other car
Both number plates
Close-ups of every damaged area
Where the cars stopped, with lane markings and road signs in view
Tyres and wheels, and any fluid under the car
Warning lights on the dashboard, if it was a breakdown
The other driver's licence and insurance details, if shared

Photos help your insurer and they help the recovery driver see what they are loading before they arrive.

What should you tell the recovery dispatcher?

Send these on WhatsApp in one message:

Your live location, the road name or number (E311, E11, E611), your direction of travel and the nearest exit or landmark
Car make, model and year
Whether it is automatic, AWD, 4x4 or electric
What happened: breakdown, flat tyre, won't start, or accident
Whether the wheels turn and the steering moves
Where it should go: your workshop, home, the insurer's repairer or an inspection centre

Can an AWD, automatic or electric car be towed on two wheels?

In most cases it is not a good idea. When some wheels turn on the road while the others are lifted, the gearbox and drivetrain can be damaged. The table is a general guide, not a rule for every model, so check your owner's manual.

Car type	Two wheels on the road	Flatbed
Two-wheel-drive manual	Sometimes possible for short moves, check the manual	Safe
Automatic	Often not recommended, check the manual	Safe
AWD or 4x4	Avoid, risk of drivetrain damage	Recommended
Electric or hybrid	Many manufacturers advise against it	Usually recommended
Damaged, lowered or steering locked	Risky	Safe

Flatbed vs wheel-lift vs tow dolly

Method	How the car travels	Main risk
Flatbed	Whole car on the platform, no wheels on the road	Needs a clear loading spot
Wheel-lift	Front or rear wheels lifted, the others roll on the road	Wear or damage to the wheels still turning
Tow dolly	Two wheels on a small trailer, two on the road	Not suitable for many AWD, 4x4 and automatic cars

Raseen uses flatbed-only recovery. We don't drag tow. See our car recovery service for what we cover.

Does car insurance cover recovery?

It depends on your policy. Comprehensive policies often cover recovery after an accident, and some add roadside assistance for breakdowns. Third-party-only policies usually include little or none. Look for "recovery" or "roadside assistance" as a named benefit.

Before you book a truck, ask your insurer:

Do I have recovery or roadside assistance cover?
Do you use a preferred recovery company?
If I use my own, can I pay and claim back?
What do you need from me: receipt, report number, photos?

Keep the receipt, the recovery company's details and the photos from loading and drop-off. We photograph your car before loading and at drop-off.

Getting a recovery truck in Sharjah

Our Sharjah recovery team is based in Industrial Area 4. Send your live location and car details on WhatsApp and we will confirm the price and arrival time. For typical prices by route, see car recovery prices in Dubai and Sharjah, or check the Sharjah page for the areas we cover.

A recent job: on 1 October 2026 we moved a sedan from Dasman, Sharjah to Industrial Area 5 on a 3 ton recovery truck (2019 model).