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Being involved in a car accident is stressful, even a minor one. Your hands might be shaking. Your mind might be racing through a dozen thoughts at once. The most useful thing you can do in those first moments is slow down, take a breath, and work through the steps below one at a time.
This guide is written specifically for Ontario drivers and reflects Ontario’s current rules, including the collision reporting threshold that changed in January 2025.
As of January 1, 2025, Ontario raised the threshold for mandatory police reporting of property-damage-only collisions from $2,000 to $5,000. If no one is injured and the combined damage to all vehicles and property appears to be under $5,000, you are not legally required to call police. However, you may still need to visit a Collision Reporting Centre, and you must still notify your insurer regardless of the damage amount.
This is an important update that many drivers are not yet aware of.
The first thing to do after any collision is stop your vehicle and stay at the scene. Leaving the scene of an accident is a Criminal Code offence in Canada and can result in serious charges, including a criminal record.
Once you have stopped, check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Even if you feel fine, do not discount the possibility of delayed symptoms. Adrenaline can mask pain from soft tissue injuries that may become apparent hours later.
Check on the occupants of any other involved vehicles if it is safe to do so.
Call 911 immediately if anyone is injured, if a pedestrian or cyclist was involved, if there is a fatality, or if a driver appears to be impaired. When you reach the dispatcher, stay calm, speak clearly, and give your exact location. They will tell you what to do while help is on the way.
Do not move a seriously injured person unless there is an immediate danger, such as fire, that makes staying in place more dangerous.
If no one is injured and damage appears minor, skip to Step 3.
Turn on your hazard lights immediately to warn approaching traffic. If you have emergency triangles or flares in your vehicle, place them behind the accident to give approaching drivers more warning.
If the vehicles are driveable and it is safe to do so, move them to the side of the road or into a nearby parking lot away from the flow of traffic. Moving the vehicles reduces the risk of a secondary collision. If a vehicle is too badly damaged to move, leave it and stand well clear of moving traffic while you wait for help.
This is where many Ontario drivers are uncertain, particularly given the 2025 rule change.
Call police (911) if:
Visit a Collision Reporting Centre (CRC) within 24 hours if:
You do not need to call police or go to a CRC if:
However, even in minor incidents with no injuries and damage below the threshold, you must still exchange information and report the accident to your insurer.
Collision Reporting Centres in Ontario are operated by Accident Support Services International (ASSI). You can find your nearest CRC at the ASSI website. You have 24 hours from the time of the collision to attend, though reporting sooner is better. Some CRCs also allow online reporting for eligible incidents.
Regardless of the severity of the accident, exchange the following information with every driver involved:
Do not rely on the other driver’s word for any of this. Take photos of their licence, insurance card, and licence plate directly rather than just writing down what they tell you.
Do not apologize, speculate about who was at fault, or agree to any informal arrangements to settle without involving insurance. Even a casual “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you” at the scene can be used as an admission of fault in a subsequent claim or legal proceeding.
In Ontario, fault is assessed by insurers using the Fault Determination Rules under the Insurance Act, which assigns fault based on the circumstances of the collision, not on roadside conversations. A calm, factual exchange of required information is all that is needed. Save explanations and opinions for your insurer and, if applicable, your lawyer.
It is reasonable to say: “I want to exchange information and report this properly” without saying anything more about what happened or whose fault it was.
If it is safe to do so, take photographs and video of the scene before any vehicles are moved, or immediately after if they have already been moved. Capture:
More documentation is always better than less. Even photos that seem redundant at the time may matter later.
If anyone witnessed the collision, politely ask for their name and phone number. A witness who saw the collision from outside either vehicle can provide independent confirmation of what happened, which can be significant in disputed insurance claims.
Note the name and badge number of any police officers who attend the scene.
Contact your insurer as soon as possible after the accident, ideally the same day. Your insurance policy requires you to report all accidents, regardless of the damage amount, even if the damage is below the reporting threshold, even if you decide not to make a claim, and even if you intend to pay for repairs out of pocket.
Failing to report an accident to your insurer within the timeframe your policy requires can result in your claim being denied if you later need to make one.
When you speak with your claims representative, provide thorough and accurate information about what happened. Have your documentation, photographs, and the other driver’s information ready.
Soft tissue injuries, including whiplash and muscle strains, do not always produce immediate pain. If you develop headaches, neck pain, back pain, stiffness, or any other symptoms in the days following the collision, see a doctor and inform your insurer.
Follow up on the police report or CRC report to confirm it has been filed correctly and to get a copy for your records. Keep copies of all documentation related to the accident, including the report, all correspondence with your insurer, any repair estimates, and any medical records if you sought treatment.
If another driver strikes your vehicle and leaves the scene without stopping, you are the victim of a hit-and-run. Call 911 immediately to report the incident. Note as much identifying information about the departing vehicle as you can: make, model, colour, and as much of the licence plate as possible.
Do not chase the vehicle.
Report the hit-and-run to your insurer. Ontario’s Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) provides coverage for accident victims injured in hit-and-run collisions, and uninsured automobile coverage may apply to property damage depending on your policy. Note that as of July 1, 2026, some SABS benefits are no longer mandatory and may depend on your specific policy coverage, so review your policy with your insurer to confirm what you are covered for.
If you are found to be at-fault or partially at-fault in a collision in Ontario, your insurer will record this on your driving record. Multiple at-fault accidents can result in higher premiums and, in some cases, difficulty obtaining coverage. Your licence itself is not automatically suspended following a collision unless impaired driving or other criminal charges are involved, or unless MTO takes action due to accumulated demerit points.
Knowing what to do after a collision matters. Developing the habits that reduce the risk of being in one in the first place matters more.
For drivers who have been involved in a collision and want to address specific habits or rebuild their confidence, our Driving Improvement Course (DIC) provides personalized in-car coaching with MTO-certified instructors who can identify and address the specific skills and habits that put drivers at risk.
For professional and fleet drivers where collision risk carries workplace consequences, our Corporate Defensive Driving Course covers hazard anticipation, collision avoidance, and the decision-making habits that experienced drivers use to avoid high-risk situations.
Do I have to call police after a minor accident in Ontario?
Not necessarily. As of January 1, 2025, you are only required to report a collision to police if someone is injured, a pedestrian or cyclist is involved, impaired driving is suspected, public property is damaged, or if total damage to all vehicles and property appears to exceed $5,000. For property-damage-only collisions under $5,000, you must visit a Collision Reporting Centre within 24 hours if the damage is over the threshold, but police attendance is not required.
What is the collision reporting threshold in Ontario in 2025?
As of January 1, 2025, the threshold for mandatory reporting of property-damage-only collisions in Ontario is $5,000 combined damage to all vehicles and property. This was increased from the previous threshold of $2,000.
What information do I need to exchange after a car accident in Ontario?
Name, address, phone number, driver’s licence number, date of birth, insurance company name, policy number, and the vehicle’s make, model, year, and licence plate. Take photos of the other driver’s licence and insurance card rather than relying on written information alone.
Do I have to report a minor accident to my insurance company?
Yes. Your insurance policy requires you to report all accidents to your insurer regardless of the damage amount. This applies even if you decide not to make a claim and even if the damage is below the collision reporting threshold. Failing to report can result in your coverage being affected if a related claim arises later.
What should I do if I am in a hit-and-run in Ontario?
Call 911 immediately and note as much information as you can about the departing vehicle. Do not chase the driver. Report the incident to your insurer. Ontario’s SABS provides accident benefits to victims injured in hit-and-run collisions, and uninsured automobile coverage may apply to property damage depending on your policy. As of July 1, 2026, some SABS benefits are no longer mandatory, so review your current policy with your insurer to confirm your coverage.
Is it illegal to leave the scene of an accident in Ontario?
Yes. Failing to remain at the scene of a collision is a Criminal Code offence in Canada. It can result in criminal charges, fines, licence suspension, and a criminal record. Always remain at the scene, exchange information, and report the accident through the appropriate channels.
The best time to think through what you would do after an accident is before one happens. Save this guide, keep an emergency information card in your glove box with your insurer’s claims number, and make sure you know where your nearest Collision Reporting Centre is.
Browse our driving courses and packages or contact us if you have questions about any aspect of safe driving in Ontario.
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