What should I do if the other driver won't give me their name or contact details?

Don't argue — from a safe distance, photograph the other vehicle's number plate (rego) . With the plate alone, police and insurers can look up the vehicle's owner. In most states, refusing to provide details is itself grounds for a police report, so call the non-emergency police number (131 444 in many states — varies by state, check officially), report it, and keep the event number you are given.

Do I need to report a minor bump to the police?

Minor accidents with no injuries where the vehicles can be driven away are often resolved with an exchange of details only, without a police report. However, injuries, a vehicle needing towing, the other party refusing to give details or suspected drink driving, and hit and run are reportable in most states. The criteria differ by state, so check your state police's official guidance. An unreported accident may count against you later when you make an insurance claim.

If I have CTP insurance, does it cover the repairs to the other car?

No. This is the most common misconception. CTP (Compulsory Third Party) covers only personal injury to people hurt in an accident and does not cover vehicle repairs or property damage at all. To be covered for vehicle and property damage as well, you need to take out comprehensive insurance or third party property damage insurance separately.

What happens if the other driver is uninsured?

For personal injury, each state has a compensation scheme for accidents involving uninsured or unidentified vehicles (e.g. the Nominal Defendant in NSW and QLD) , so check your state CTP regulator's official guidance. For vehicle and property damage, if you have comprehensive insurance your insurer will handle the claim first and then recover from the other party; if you don't, you can claim directly from the other party or use your state's small civil claims process (tribunal/Magistrates Court).

I was the victim of a hit and run and don't know the other vehicle's details. Can I get compensation?

Immediately note down whatever you remember (vehicle type, colour, part of the number plate, direction they fled) and report it to the police as soon as possible . Finding witnesses or nearby CCTV and dash cam footage also helps. If you were injured in a hit and run, there are schemes that let you claim personal injury compensation through each state's CTP compensation fund even if the at-fault vehicle cannot be identified, so check with the official body. Keep in mind that leaving the scene without stopping after an accident is itself a criminal offence in Australia.

Is it okay to apologise at the scene or say the accident was my fault?

Be careful. Checking whether the other person is okay and confirming the facts (location, time, contact details) is fine, but it is safer to avoid statements admitting liability, such as "It was my fault", or promising a settlement at the scene . Many insurance policies restrict admissions of liability made without the insurer's consent, which could put you at a disadvantage later in the claims process. Leave fault determination to the police and the insurers.

A tow truck arrived right after the accident and is asking me to sign paperwork — should I?

Don't sign straight away. Unauthorised towing scams — operators who arrive first at the scene, get you to sign a towing or repair contract, then charge excessive towing and storage fees — do actually happen. If you need a tow, request it through your own insurer (most run 24-hour accident lines) or the police, and before signing anything, always confirm where the vehicle is being towed and how much it will cost.

Car Accidents in Australia — Duty to Exchange Details, Police Reports and CTP Insurance Claims - Adelaide

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What to Do After a Car Accident — Exchanging Details, Police Reports, Insurance Claims

A step-by-step guide covering the obligation to stop and exchange details right after an accident, when to report to the police, the difference between CTP and comprehensive insurance, insurance claims, and towing scams to watch out for.

Right after the accident — what to do first

Drivers involved in a car accident in Australia have a legal obligation to stop. The first thing to do is check yourself, your passengers, and the other party for injuries. If anyone is injured, or there is a dangerous situation such as fire or a fuel spill, call 000 (the combined emergency number for police, ambulance, and fire) immediately. If no one is hurt and the vehicles can be moved, turn on your hazard lights and move your car to a safe spot that doesn't block traffic. For non-emergency police reports, many states run 131 444 (the Police Assistance Line), but this can differ by state, so check your state police's official website in advance. It's a moment when it's easy to panic, so if you remember the order in this guide (secure safety → exchange details → gather evidence → report to police → notify your insurer), you'll be able to respond calmly.

The obligation to stop — a hit and run is a criminal offence

Leaving the scene without stopping after an accident (hit and run, fail to stop) is a criminal offence everywhere in Australia, and the penalties are far heavier when someone is injured. "It seemed like just a small scratch and I was busy, so I drove off" is no exception. If you hit a parked car and the owner isn't there, the response required by each state's road rules is to leave a note with your name and contact details and, depending on the situation, notify the police. Conversely, if you are the victim of a hit and run, note down the vehicle's details and report to the police immediately.

Exchanging details — what to give and get

The road rules of each Australian state make the exchange of details between the parties to an accident a legal obligation. If asked by the other driver, an injured person, or someone whose property was damaged, you must provide your name, address, and vehicle registration number (rego), and you have the right to ask them for the same details. On top of this, it is common practice to also exchange driver's licences, phone numbers, and insurer details, which makes the insurance process much smoother later. Recording the details with photos is the most reliable way to prevent errors.

Be careful about admitting fault at the scene

Asking after the other person and confirming the facts is fine, but be careful about statements admitting liability, such as "It was my fault", or promises of compensation at the scene. Many car insurance policies restrict admissions of liability or settlements made without the insurer's consent, and a breach could put you at a disadvantage in the claims process. Right after an accident you can't know the full picture (the other party's speed, the traffic lights, the road conditions, etc.), so it's safest to leave fault determination to the police and insurers' processes.

Legally required details — name, address, vehicle registration number (rego). You are obliged to provide these when the other party asks.

Reporting to the police — when and how

Not every accident has to be reported to the police. Minor accidents with no injuries where the vehicles can move under their own power are often wrapped up with an exchange of details alone. However, the reporting requirements differ by state, so it's a good idea to check your state police's official guidance in advance. Below are the situations that are reportable in most states. The event/report number issued when you report may be needed for your insurance claim, so be sure to keep it.

Someone is injured or killed — call 000 immediately. Accidents involving personal injury are reportable to police in virtually every state.
A vehicle needs towing or the road is hazardous — when a vehicle cannot move under its own power, or debris or spills make the road dangerous.

Car insurance types in Australia — CTP covers injury only

Australian car insurance divides its roles very distinctly, and if you don't understand the structure you can be badly caught out after an accident. The key point is that CTP, which is compulsory with vehicle registration (rego), covers personal injury only and does not cover vehicle or property damage at all. In other words, if you cause an accident with only CTP, you may have to pay for the other vehicle's repairs yourself. Understand the differences between the four types below precisely and get the cover that fits your situation.

CTP — compulsory third party injury insurance

Compulsory insurance taken out with vehicle registration (rego) (in NSW, the Green Slip is purchased separately — arrangements differ by state). It covers only personal injury to people hurt in an accident, not property damage such as vehicle repair costs. The scheme operator differs by state (NSW SIRA, VIC TAC, etc.).

Comprehensive insurance

Optional insurance that covers both damage to your own car and the other party's vehicle and property damage. Extras such as towing, hire cars, and glass cover vary by insurer and product, so check the policy document (PDS). It is generally the type considered for new cars or where repair costs would be a heavy burden.

Third Party Property Damage

Optional insurance that covers only the other party's vehicle and property damage from an accident you cause, and does not cover repairs to your own car. With relatively cheap premiums, it is often chosen when the vehicle's value is low — but remember that repairs to your own car come entirely out of your own pocket.

Insurance claims — step-by-step checklist

How an accident claim turns out often comes down to your records from the scene and how quickly you notify. Regardless of fault, promptly notifying your own insurer is usually an obligation under your policy, and even if you have no plans to claim right now, the other party may claim against you later, so it is safest to notify anyway. Personal injury compensation (CTP) has its own separate process and time limits, so check with your state's CTP body.

Organise your records — keep scene photos, the other party's details, witness contacts, and your notes on the date, time, location, and circumstances of the accident in one place. Back up dash cam footage immediately, before it is overwritten.
Notify your insurer promptly — lodge the accident as soon as possible, regardless of fault. Most insurers run 24-hour accident phone lines and online claims.

Watch out — 5 common mistakes

Right after an accident, judgement is easily clouded. Knowing in advance these five mistakes that actually happen often can greatly reduce your losses at the scene.

Admitting fault or settling on the spot — admitting liability without your insurer's consent can breach your policy, and if you settle in cash and the other party later changes their story, it is hard to prove. Go no further than confirming the facts and exchanging details.
Assuming "I have CTP, so repairs are covered too" — CTP is for personal injury only. If you cause an accident with no property damage cover, you may have to pay for the other car's repairs out of your own pocket.

Life in Australia Guide