What to Do After a Car Accident in Ontario: Step-by-Step Checklist [2027 Guide]

A car accident can leave you shaken, hurt and unsure what to do next. Within the first hour you may be dealing with injuries, damaged vehicles, another driver, police and tow trucks, and the choices you make can affect your health and any claim you bring later.

At Sanctuary Lawyers, we understand how overwhelming those first hours are. You do not have to get everything perfect, but a few steps taken early can protect your safety, your insurance coverage and your right to compensation.

This guide breaks down what to do after a car accident in Ontario, step by step: staying safe, exchanging information, reporting to police, telling your insurer, getting medical care and watching the deadlines that can start running right away.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about Ontario law and police procedures as of October 2026. It is not legal advice, and every situation is different. Police services set their own reporting procedures, so follow the instructions of the police service where your collision happened. If you were injured, speak with a personal injury lawyer about your situation.

Key Facts

• Under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, a collision must be reported if it causes personal injury or the apparent property damage exceeds the prescribed amount, currently $5,000. Local police services determine how and where the report is completed.
• Contact the appropriate police service as soon as possible. Local reporting procedures vary: some services direct drivers to attend a Collision Reporting Centre immediately, while others provide an online or in-person reporting window.
• Call 9-1-1 when emergency medical assistance is needed or there is an immediate safety or criminal concern, such as a suspected impaired driver.
• Since July 1, 2026, only medical, rehabilitation and attendant care accident benefits are mandatory on every policy. Income replacement and other benefits are now optional.
• When you call your insurer, say clearly that you intend to apply for accident benefits. Reporting the crash alone may not be enough.

In This Checklist

1. Stop, Check for Injuries and Call 9-1-1 if Needed
2. Make the Scene Safe
3. Exchange Information With the Other Driver
4. Take Photos and Get Witness Details
5. Report the Collision: Police or a Collision Reporting Centre
6. Know Your Rights About Towing
7. If the Other Driver Left or Has No Insurance
8. Tell Your Insurer You Intend to Apply for Accident Benefits
9. Get Medical Care and Keep Records
10. Be Careful What You Say and Sign
11. Watch the Early Legal Deadlines
12. Speak to a Personal Injury Lawyer

Do You Have to Report a Car Accident in Ontario?

Under section 199 of Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, a collision must be reported if it results in personal injury or if the apparent property damage exceeds the prescribed amount, currently $5,000. The $5,000 threshold replaced the previous $2,000 amount on January 1, 2025.

Local police services determine how the report is completed. Depending on where the collision happened and how serious it was, you may be directed to call police, attend a Collision Reporting Centre or complete part of the report online.

Even if the collision appears to fall below the reporting threshold, exchange information, document the scene and notify your insurer. Vehicle damage can cost more to repair than it initially appears.

Bottom line: Report the collision if someone is injured or the apparent damage exceeds $5,000. If you are uncertain, contact the appropriate police service immediately and follow its instructions.

Step 1: Stop, Check for Injuries and Call 9-1-1 if Needed

Stop your vehicle and stay at the scene. Leaving can be a criminal offence. Under section 320.16 of the Criminal Code, it is an offence for a driver who knows (or is reckless as to whether) their vehicle was in an accident with a person or another vehicle to fail, without reasonable excuse, to stop, give their name and address and, if anyone is injured or appears to need help, offer assistance. More serious versions apply where the accident causes bodily harm or death.

Check yourself and everyone else for injuries. Call 9-1-1 if:

• Anyone needs to be taken to hospital.
• You suspect criminal activity, such as an impaired driver, a stolen vehicle or an assault.

In Toronto, the Toronto Police non-emergency line is 416-808-2222. If you are worried that the other driver may be impaired, tell the police when they arrive. Our guide to first-offence DUI in Ontario explains how impaired driving charges work.

Step 2: Make the Scene Safe

If it is safe to do so and the vehicles can be driven, move them out of traffic and clear the road. Toronto Police and Peel Regional Police both give this advice. If a vehicle cannot be moved, or someone is seriously hurt, wait for emergency services and stay out of traffic yourself.

Step 3: Exchange Information With the Other Driver

Toronto Police and Peel Regional Police both list the information to exchange and record:

• The location of the collision.
• Licence plate numbers.
• The year, make, model and colour of each vehicle.
• The other driver's full name, address and driver's licence information.
• Phone numbers.
• Insurance company and policy number.

Take photos of the other driver's licence, vehicle ownership and insurance documents if you can. Do this calmly and stick to the facts. You do not need to discuss who was at fault.

Step 4: Take Photos and Get Witness Details

Evidence is easiest to collect at the scene. If you are able to, photograph:

• Damage to every vehicle, from several angles.
• The positions of the vehicles before they are moved, where it is safe.
• Licence plates, road signs, traffic signals and the road surface.
• Any visible injuries.

Ask witnesses for their names and phone numbers. Toronto Police and Peel Regional Police both recommend talking to witnesses, and their details can matter later if the other driver tells a different story.

Step 5: Report the Collision: Police or a Collision Reporting Centre

How you report depends on the collision and the police service. In some cases police come to you. In many non-emergency collisions, you report in person at a Collision Reporting Centre (CRC).

When Police Attend the Scene

Toronto Police lists situations where police attend, including a fatality, a serious injury where someone is taken to hospital, criminal activity, an uninsured or suspended driver, dangerous goods, damage to private, municipal or highway property, and injured cyclists or pedestrians. Peel Regional Police has a similar list that also covers significant property damage presenting a safety concern and major traffic blockages. If your collision fits one of these situations, call 9-1-1 or the police non-emergency line and wait for police.

What Is a Collision Reporting Centre?

A Collision Reporting Centre is an authorized facility where eligible collisions can be reported when an officer is not attending the scene. Depending on the municipality, the centre may be operated by the police service or through an approved reporting partner. Staff document the collision and vehicle damage, and you receive an incident number for your insurer.

Where to Report a Collision in the GTA, Hamilton and Barrie

If your collision happened somewhere else in Ontario, check your local police service's website for its reporting rules. Services do not all handle collisions the same way. York Regional Police and Durham Regional Police both say collisions on 400-series highways go to the OPP, so a crash on a highway may follow different steps than one on a city street.

Why You May See ‘24 Hours’ Online

Many websites say you must report within 24 hours. The police pages we reviewed for Toronto, Peel, York, Halton, Durham, Hamilton and Barrie do not say that. Toronto, Halton and Barrie say to report as soon as possible, Peel and Durham give 48 hours when the vehicle is drivable, York gives 72 hours for its online report, and Hamilton gives no time limit. The safest approach is to report right away and follow the instructions of the police service that responds to your call.

Step 6: Know Your Rights About Towing

If your vehicle cannot be driven, you will probably need a tow. Some points from the police pages:

• In Toronto, a vehicle towed from the collision scene must go directly to a Collision Reporting Centre, and you may choose your own tow truck and body shop.
• Peel Regional Police says tow drivers cannot solicit you at the scene, you can refuse a tow you did not request, you must be shown the rate sheet and consent wording before you sign, and you choose where the vehicle is taken.

Read anything a tow driver gives you before you sign it.

Step 7: If the Other Driver Left or Has No Insurance

If the other driver left the scene, write down everything you remember right away: the plate number (even part of it), the vehicle make, model and colour, the direction it went and the driver's description. Ask witnesses for their details and report the hit-and-run to police. Peel Regional Police says its Collision Reporting Centres accept hit-and-run reports, but an officer is dispatched if the suspect vehicle is still in the area.

If the other driver turns out to be uninsured, tell the police. Toronto Police lists an uninsured or suspended driver as a reason for police to attend.

There are specific insurance rules for claims against unidentified and uninsured drivers, and they can affect what you can claim and how. Our guide to Ontario accident benefits covers how benefits work when the at-fault driver is uninsured or unidentified. A lawyer can explain how the rules apply to your situation.

Step 8: Tell Your Insurer You Intend to Apply for Accident Benefits

Call your own insurer as soon as you can, even if you were not at fault. Ontario has a no-fault accident benefits system, so your own insurer is the starting point for benefits regardless of who caused the collision. Different priority rules can apply if you do not have your own policy or were a passenger, cyclist or pedestrian.

Two deadlines apply under the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS):

• Notice: The insurer must be told of your intention to apply for benefits within 7 days of the accident, or as soon as practicable afterwards.
• Application: The completed application form is generally due within 30 days of receiving it from the insurer.

A late step can sometimes be excused if there is a reasonable explanation, but you should not count on that.

Practical tip: When you call, do not just report that a crash happened. Say clearly that you intend to apply for accident benefits and ask for the application forms. A report of the collision on its own may not be treated as notice that you plan to claim benefits. Write down the date, the time, who you spoke to and what was said.

What Changed on July 1, 2026

According to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA), standard medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits continue to be included in every auto insurance policy and are available regardless of who caused the accident. Several other benefits became optional on July 1, 2026:

FSRA also says optional benefits cover only the named insured, their spouse, dependants and listed drivers, and that existing policies renew with the same coverage unless you agree with your insurer in writing to decline the benefits or make changes.

What this means in practice: ask your insurer which optional benefits are on your policy, and whether you are the named insured, a spouse, a dependant or a listed driver. The rules that apply can depend on when the accident happened and on the policy in place at the time, so ask a lawyer if you are not sure. Our full guide to Ontario accident benefits and the 2026 changes explains each benefit in detail.

Step 9: Get Medical Care and Keep Records

If you are hurt, get medical attention. Many people do not feel the full effect of an injury right away, so it is sensible to get checked even if you feel fine. This guide is not medical advice, and a health care professional can tell you what is right for you.

Medical records also matter for accident benefits and for any injury claim. From the first day:

• Keep a list of every appointment, treatment and medication.
• Keep receipts for out-of-pocket costs.
• Note any time off work.
• Write down how the injuries affect your daily life.
• Keep a copy of the police report number and any collision report.

Step 10: Be Careful What You Say and Sign

There is no official rule telling you what to say after a collision, but these are sensible practices:

• Stick to the facts when you speak with police, the other driver and insurers. Avoid guessing about speed, distance or who was at fault.
• Do not sign anything you do not understand, including tow and repair authorisations.
• Be careful with requests for a statement from another driver's insurer. You may want advice before giving one.
• Do not post about the accident on social media.

Step 11: Watch the Early Legal Deadlines

Besides the accident benefit deadlines above, other time limits can apply if you were injured. Our guide to how long you have to sue after an accident in Ontario covers them in detail. In general:

• Two years: Most Ontario injury lawsuits must be started within two years of discovering the claim (Limitations Act, 2002).
• Shorter notice periods: Written notice can be required well before the two-year deadline. For example, 10 days for certain municipal road and sidewalk claims, 60 days for certain snow and ice claims, and 120 days for notice to a defendant in a motor vehicle claim.

A notice period is not the same as the deadline to file a lawsuit, and missing a notice does not always end a claim. Because several clocks can run at once, it is worth speaking to a lawyer early.

Step 12: Speak to a Personal Injury Lawyer

You do not need a lawyer for a minor collision with no injuries. You should talk to one if:

• You or a passenger were injured.
• The other driver left the scene or has no insurance.
• Your insurer is delaying, denying or limiting your benefits.
• You are unsure which benefits you have after the July 2026 changes.
• You have been asked to give a recorded statement or sign a release.

At Sanctuary Lawyers, we offer free initial consultations and handle personal injury claims on a contingency-fee basis. Learn more about our personal injury services.

Car Accident Checklist at a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accidents in Ontario

Here are answers to common questions about car accidents in Ontario.

Contact Sanctuary Lawyers After a Car Accident

If you were hurt in a car accident, or you are not sure which benefits or deadlines apply to you, you do not have to work it out alone. Call us at 416-333-3529 or send us a message to schedule a free, confidential consultation. The sooner you speak with a lawyer, the more options you will usually have.