Use this guide after a low-speed bump, a scrape in a car park or any collision where no one appears seriously hurt. Keep a pen and paper or your phone, your insurance details and a hazard warning triangle in the car.
Step by step
Stop and make it safe
You must stop after an accident, even a minor one. Switch off the engine, put on hazard lights and check yourself and others for injuries. Call 999 straight away if anyone is injured, the road is blocked or there is a danger to other road users.
Move to safety if you can
If the cars can be moved and it is safe, pull them off the road or to the side. On a busy road or motorway, get everyone out on the side away from traffic and stand behind a barrier. Do not stand between vehicles or in the carriageway.
Exchange details
Give your name, address and vehicle registration to anyone with reasonable grounds to ask, and get theirs. Also note their insurance details, the make, model and colour of their car, and the names and contact details of any witnesses. Stay calm and do not admit fault or apologise in a way that suggests blame.
Record the scene
Take photos of all vehicles, damage, number plates, road layout, signs and weather conditions. Write down the time, location and what happened while it is fresh. Check whether there are dashcams or CCTV nearby.
Know when to tell the police
Call 999 if anyone is injured, a driver leaves without giving details, you suspect drink or drugs, or the accident was deliberate. If you could not exchange details at the scene, you must report the accident to the police as soon as possible and within 24 hours. For non-emergencies, you can use 101.
Tell your insurer
Report the accident to your insurer as soon as you can, even if you do not plan to claim, as most policies require it. Give them the details and photos you collected. Be wary of calls from companies offering to handle your claim that you did not contact.
Ready-to-use checklist
- Stopped and hazard lights on
- Injuries checked and 999 called if needed
- Everyone in a safe place
- Names, addresses and registrations exchanged
- Insurance and witness details noted
- Photos of damage and scene taken
- Police told within 24 hours if required
- Insurer informed
Practical tips
- Keep a printed accident report form or a note on your phone listing the details you need to collect.
- Get checked by a GP or call NHS 111 if you feel stiff or sore later, as some injuries appear after a day or two.
- Keep all emails, letters and repair invoices in one place until the claim is settled.
Common problems
The other driver refuses to give details.
Note their registration, vehicle description and anything else you can, and take photos if safe. Report it to the police within 24 hours, and tell your insurer.
I hit a parked car and the owner is not there.
Leave a note with your name, address and registration where it will be seen, and take photos. You must also report the accident to the police as soon as possible and within 24 hours.
The other driver suggests settling privately without insurers.
This can seem simpler, but damage and injuries can turn out worse than expected. Tell your insurer anyway, as failing to report could affect your cover, and get any private agreement in writing.