Your heart’s still pounding, there’s a fresh scrape on the bumper, and you’re standing on the side of the road wondering what happens next. If you’ve just had a minor car accident, what you do in the next ten minutes matters more than you think, and getting it wrong can cost you at claim time. This guide walks you through exactly what to do, in the right order, so you’re not scrambling to remember the basics while traffic edges past you.
The short answer: check for injuries, move to safety, exchange details, take photos, and decide whether the damage warrants a police report or an insurance claim. We’ll break each of these steps down so you know precisely what information to collect and what mistakes to avoid on the spot.
Below, we cover the full sequence step by step, from the first minute after impact through to lodging a claim, including how to handle a driver who won’t cooperate and when it’s worth claiming versus paying out of pocket. As an Australian motor insurer that handles claims every day, we’ve built this guide around the real questions drivers ask us after a fender bender.
What counts as a minor car accident?
Defining the term matters because it shapes every decision you make next. A minor car accident is generally one where there’s no serious injury, the vehicles are still driveable (or safely towable without special equipment), and the damage is limited to cosmetic dents, scratches, cracked bumpers, or a shattered light. Think a low-speed car park bump, a rear-end nudge at the lights, or clipping a mirror while parallel parking. Nobody’s been to hospital, nobody’s trapped, and the road isn’t blocked in a way that needs traffic control.
Compare that to a moderate or serious accident, where airbags have deployed, someone needs medical attention, a vehicle can’t be moved under its own power, or the crash involves a truck, motorcycle, or pedestrian. Those situations always require police attendance and usually a more involved insurance process. Speed and impact force are the biggest clues here. A bump under roughly 20 km/h that leaves everyone walking around and talking normally is almost always minor. Anything faster, or any accident where you’re not sure someone’s okay, should be treated as serious until proven otherwise.
If everyone’s uninjured, the cars can move, and the damage is cosmetic, you’re dealing with a minor accident, and the process ahead is simpler than you think.
Here’s a quick way to sort what you’re dealing with:
| Signs it’s minor | Signs it’s not minor |
|---|---|
| Everyone walks and talks normally | Anyone reports pain, dizziness, or can’t move freely |
| Cars can be driven or rolled to the side | A vehicle is stuck, leaking fluid heavily, or won’t start |
| Damage is scratches, dents, or a cracked light | Airbags deployed, frame damage, or a wheel is knocked out of alignment |
| No debris blocking the road | Road is blocked or visibility is a hazard |
| Only one or two vehicles involved, no pedestrians | Pedestrians, cyclists, or motorcyclists are involved |
One more thing worth flagging early: minor doesn’t mean minor cost. A cracked bumper with sensor damage on a modern car can run into thousands of dollars, even though the accident felt like a light tap. Don’t let the word "minor" lull you into skipping steps like photographing the scene or getting the other driver’s details properly. The classification is about safety and severity, not about how much you’ll end up paying out. Treat every accident, however small it feels in the moment, with the same care you’d want the other driver to show you.
Step 1. Stop safely and check for injuries
Your first move is to get the vehicles out of moving traffic without leaving the scene. Turn on your hazard lights immediately, and if the cars are driveable, pull them onto the shoulder, into a car park, or as far left as you can manage. Never drive away before doing this check, even a low-speed bump counts as an accident, and leaving too early can be treated as a hit-and-run. Once you’re stopped, put the handbrake on and keep the engine running only if you need the hazards or heater.
Nobody’s second-guessing you for stopping too carefully, but plenty of drivers regret not checking on everyone properly.
Next, check yourself, then everyone else involved, including passengers and the other driver. Adrenaline masks pain, so someone can feel fine for the first few minutes and then stiffen up badly an hour later. Ask direct questions rather than assuming: "Are you hurt anywhere? Can you move your neck?" If anyone reports pain, dizziness, or you’re simply unsure, call 000 and get an ambulance out, don’t try to assess a possible injury yourself.
Quick safety checklist
- Hazard lights on before you do anything else
- Move vehicles clear of traffic if safe to do so
- Check yourself for injury or shock first
- Ask every passenger and the other driver directly if they’re hurt
- Call 000 for any injury, fuel leak, fire risk, or blocked lane
- Set up a warning triangle or use your phone torch if it’s dark or visibility is poor
Staying calm here sets the tone for everything that follows. A minor car accident can rattle you more than the damage suggests, so take thirty seconds to breathe before moving to the next step, exchanging details.
Step 2. Exchange details and document the scene
Once everyone’s safe, swap details with the other driver before you do anything else. You need their full name, phone number, address, vehicle registration, and insurer, plus the same details from any witnesses standing nearby. Don’t rely on memory or a scribbled note on the back of a receipt. Type it straight into your phone, or better still, photograph their licence and rego papers if they’re happy to show them. Exchanging details properly now saves you a frustrating phone call later when you can’t track down the other party.
Photos do the heavy lifting when it comes to sorting out a claim, so take more than you think you need. Capture wide shots of both vehicles’ positions, close-ups of every scrape or dent, the number plates, the road surface, and any relevant signage or traffic lights. Grab a few frames of the surrounding street too, since it shows lane markings and context an adjuster can’t get from a single close-up.
A dozen clear photos and a full set of contact details beat a vague memory every single time a claim gets assessed.
What to record on the spot
- Both drivers’ names, phone numbers, and addresses
- Vehicle registrations, makes, and models
- Insurer names, if either of you knows them offhand
- Witness names and contact numbers
- Date, time, and exact location, including nearest cross street
- Photos of damage, plates, road position, and any skid marks
Write a short note about how the accident happened while it’s fresh, even a few lines on your phone. Memories shift within hours, and a documented scene with timestamps and photos protects you if the other driver’s version changes later. Keep everything in one album or folder so you can send it to your insurer in one go.
Step 3. Work out if you need to report it to police
Not every fender bender needs a police report, but plenty of drivers report accidents when they didn’t have to, or skip reporting one that legally required it. The rule of thumb across most Australian states is straightforward: if there’s an injury, if a driver doesn’t stop or refuses to share details, if you suspect drink or drug driving, or if the damage looks like it’s over a set dollar threshold (often around $2,500 to $3,000 depending on the state), you need to report it. Check your state’s official guidance, such as the NSW Police or VicRoads accident reporting pages, since thresholds and timeframes differ slightly by jurisdiction.
When in doubt, report it. A five-minute call to police costs you nothing, but a missing report can stall your claim for weeks.
When a police report is generally required
- Anyone is injured, even if they refuse an ambulance
- The other driver leaves without exchanging details, a genuine hit-and-run
- You suspect the other driver is affected by alcohol or drugs
- Damage looks likely to exceed your state’s reporting threshold
- A vehicle is unregistered or you suspect it’s stolen
- The road is blocked and traffic control is needed
Most states let you lodge a non-urgent police report online rather than waiting on hold or attending a station, which suits a genuinely minor scrape where nobody’s hurt. Keep the report number somewhere safe, your insurer will ask for it. If none of the above applies and both drivers are cooperative with clear details exchanged, you can usually skip the police altogether and go straight to your insurer. Either way, don’t guess based on how the accident felt in the moment; a quick police check against your state’s rules takes two minutes and protects you if the other driver later disputes what happened.
Step 4. Contact your insurer and sort next steps
Call your insurer the same day if you can, even if you’re not sure yet whether you’ll claim. Contacting your insurer early means they can advise you on next steps while the details are fresh, and it starts the clock on any time limits attached to your policy. Have your policy number, the other driver’s details, your photos, and the police report number (if you got one) ready before you dial. Most insurers, National Cover included, let you lodge a claim by email or phone, so you’re not stuck waiting on hold after a stressful morning.
Ringing your insurer early costs you nothing and keeps every option open, waiting until you’re unsure what to say only slows the process down.
Next, weigh up whether claiming actually makes sense. If the damage is a few hundred dollars and sits below your excess, paying out of pocket and skipping the claim entirely often works out cheaper over time, since a claim can affect your premium at renewal. Ask your insurer directly for a repair estimate range before deciding, rather than guessing.
What to have ready when you call
- Your policy number and vehicle registration
- The other driver’s name, rego, and insurer
- Date, time, and location of the accident
- Photos and any written notes from the scene
- Police report number, if one was issued
- An estimate of repair costs, if you’ve already had a quick look
Once you’ve lodged the claim, ask about replacement vehicles, repair timeframes, and whether excess discounts apply if you use a preferred repairer. A good insurer will talk you through the whole process rather than leaving you to chase updates yourself.
Staying calm and prepared on the road
A minor car accident rattles most drivers, even when the damage barely scratches the paint. Working through the same sequence every time, stopping safely, checking for injuries, swapping details, photographing everything, and deciding on police and insurance, turns a stressful ten minutes into a manageable one. Nothing here replaces good judgement on the day, but having the steps memorised means you’re not making decisions under pressure with traffic backed up behind you.
Being prepared also means knowing your insurer picks up the phone when you actually need them, not just when you’re paying premiums. National Cover’s claims team handles fender benders every day, with straightforward lodgement, honest advice on whether to claim, and support that doesn’t leave you chasing updates. If you’re reviewing your cover before your next trip, or your current policy left you stranded after a small bump, get a quote from National Cover and see what better support actually looks like.
