Often, yes — Ontario law requires you to report a crash to police when someone is hurt, the vehicles can't be driven away, or there's more than $5,000 in total damage. For smaller fender-benders with no injuries, you can usually skip the 911 call and report at a Collision Reporting Centre instead. Here's how to tell which situation you're in.
Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, you generally need to report a collision to police when any of the following apply:
If any of these describe your crash, call 911 (or the non-emergency police line if no one is hurt and the road is safely clear) and wait for an officer or follow their instructions.
If everyone is unhurt, the vehicles are drivable, and the damage looks minor, Ontario doesn't require you to call police to the scene. In most of the GTA you're instead expected to move the vehicles out of traffic if it's safe, exchange information with the other driver, and report the collision at a Collision Reporting Centre. How soon depends on where you are: if your vehicle is drivable, Peel Regional Police ask you to report within 48 hours, while Toronto Police Service uses 24 hours. If the vehicle has to be towed, you're taken to the centre from the scene. The centre documents the crash and issues an official report number, which plays the same role a police-attended report would for your insurance claim.
When it's unclear — say, the damage looks borderline, or you're shaken up and not certain whether you're hurt — it's safer to call police or the non-emergency line and describe what happened. A dispatcher can tell you whether an officer needs to attend or whether a Collision Reporting Centre visit is enough. Getting checked by a doctor is a separate step worth doing regardless of what police decide, since some injuries don't show symptoms right away.
The rules on reporting a collision come from the police service for your area, and they can differ between services (the Peel and Toronto timelines above are different). If you're not sure whether your crash needed to be reported, check that police service's collision-reporting page or ask them directly. Our step-by-step guide to what to do after a car accident covers reporting alongside the other things worth doing in the first hours and days, including seeking medical care and notifying your own insurer. Reporting a collision is separate from your injury or accident-benefits claim, and either way you should tell your own insurer about the accident within 7 days, or as soon as possible if you can't.
Even in a minor collision where police attendance isn't legally required, an official report — from police or a Collision Reporting Centre — is the official record that the collision happened. Reporting is separate from any injury or accident-benefits claim. It's also worth being careful about what you say at the scene and afterward; our guide on giving a statement to an insurer explains why it's fine to report the facts to police while still being cautious about recorded statements to an insurance adjuster.
We're a free intake service for people injured in car accidents across Ontario, with a focus on Brampton, Mississauga and the GTA. We're not a law firm — we connect you with vetted personal injury lawyers and registered physiotherapy clinics, and explain your options in plain language, in English, Punjabi, Hindi and French. No cost, no obligation, and someone is reachable 24/7.
Not sure if your crash needed to be reported, or what to do next? Call or message any time at (416) 418-7797, or request a free consultation on our site.
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This is general information, not legal advice — timelines and requirements depend on your specific situation.