The accident report form: the deadlines that count
The European accident statement must be notified to the insurer within seven days of the incident, and signing it confirms agreement on how the accident happened rather than an admission of fault, which is decided afterwards from the boxes ticked and the sketch.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- The general notification deadline is 7 days from the incident.
- Signing confirms the facts, not fault.
- The ticked boxes and the sketch carry more weight than the written account.
- If the other driver refuses, record the plate, insurer and witnesses.
One page, filled in at the roadside in 5 minutes, decides who pays for repairs that run from 600 € to 4,000 € and whose premium rises for the next 3 or 4 years.
What signing means
It records that both drivers agree on how the accident occurred. Liability is determined afterwards by the insurers from the circumstances boxes and the sketch. So you should not sign a form whose sketch does not match what happened, however much the other driver presses, and you may sign while writing in the observations box that you disagree with a specific box.
| Item | Importance | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Date, time and exact location | high | header |
| Registration and insurer of the other vehicle | essential | columns A and B |
| Policy number and validity | high | columns A and B |
| Circumstances boxes | decisive | centre column |
| Total number of boxes ticked | prevents later additions | centre column |
| Sketch with direction of travel | decisive | centre panel |
| Witnesses with a phone number | high if disputed | observations |
| Visible damage | medium | damage panel |
The photographs that matter
Four are enough. A wide shot showing both vehicles in their final positions, a close view of your own damage, a close view of the other vehicle's damage, and one frame showing the road markings, signage or traffic light. Take them before the vehicles are moved. A photograph of the other driver's licence and insurance document takes 10 seconds and removes any later dispute about identity.
If the other driver will not cooperate
Joint signature is not compulsory. Record the registration, make and model, the insurer if the sticker is visible, and the details of any witness. With the registration alone, your insurer can identify the other company through the register of insured vehicles. Where there are injuries, where someone refuses to identify themselves, or where impairment is suspected, call the police and request the report.
In a car park collision with an unattended vehicle, leave a note with your details and report it to your insurer: leaving without doing so carries consequences well beyond the value of the damage.
After the form
Notify the insurer within 7 days, sending the form and the photographs. A claim reported at 3 days is typically settled in 15 to 30 days; one reported at 20 days opens a verification file that commonly adds 4 to 8 weeks. If injuries appear later, report them as soon as they are known, since the period runs from knowledge rather than from the accident itself.
Frequently asked
+Does signing the form admit fault?
No. It confirms agreement on how the accident happened. Liability is decided afterwards by the insurers.
+How long do I have to notify my insurer?
Seven days from the incident as a general rule.
+What if the other driver refuses to sign?
Record the registration, make, model, insurer if visible and any witnesses. The registration identifies the company.
+Which photographs should I take?
Both vehicles in final position, each vehicle's damage in close view and one frame showing markings or signage.
+What if injuries appear days later?
Report them as soon as they are known, since the period runs from knowledge rather than from the accident.
Sources
- 1Dirección General de Tráfico, Ministerio del Interior (August 2026)
- 2Policía Nacional, Policía Nacional (August 2026)