If no one's hurt and both cars still drive, you don't need to panic — but there are a handful of things worth doing in the right order: make sure everyone is okay, exchange information, document the scene, figure out whether the crash needs to be reported, and tell your own insurer. Here's the short version of each step.
Even in a minor-looking crash, pause before doing anything else. Turn on your hazard lights, and if the vehicles are drivable and it's safe to do so, move them out of the lane of traffic. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries — adrenaline can mask pain in the first few minutes. If anyone is hurt, or a vehicle can't be safely moved, call 911. If everyone seems fine and the cars are driveable, you can move on to the next steps without calling emergency services.
Before anyone leaves, exchange with the other driver(s): full name, phone number, driver's licence number, licence plate, and insurance company and policy number. Take photos of the damage to each vehicle, the vehicles' positions, the licence plates, and the general scene — intersection, street signs, weather and road conditions. If there are witnesses, ask for their name and phone number too. These details are what your insurer and, if needed, a Collision Reporting Centre will ask for later, so it's much easier to collect them on the spot than to track them down afterward.
It's common after a small fender-bender for the other driver to suggest skipping insurance altogether and paying for the damage directly. That's sometimes a reasonable option for very minor damage, but be cautious: get everything in writing, still take photos and exchange full information as above, and keep in mind that some damage — to your vehicle or to you — isn't obvious right away. If you agree to handle it privately and then change your mind, having the other driver's information and photos from the scene makes it much easier to report the accident properly later.
Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, you generally need to report a collision to police when someone is hurt, a vehicle can't be driven away safely and needs to be towed, there's more than $5,000 in total damage to all vehicles and property (the threshold was raised from $2,000 in 2025), or you suspect a criminal offence or an impaired driver. If none of that applies — everyone's unhurt, both cars drive, and the damage looks minor — you typically don't need to call police to the scene. In most of the GTA you're instead expected to 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 a vehicle has to be towed, you're taken to the centre from the scene. The centre issues an official report number, which plays the same role a police-attended report would for insurance purposes. Reporting a collision is separate from any injury or accident-benefits claim — having a report (or not) doesn't by itself decide how strong your claim is.
Report the accident to your own insurer within 7 days, or as soon as possible if you can't. This is separate from any police or Collision Reporting Centre report, and it's what starts your accident benefits claim if you need one. It's also worth getting checked by a doctor soon after the crash, even if you feel okay — some injuries, like whiplash, don't show symptoms right away. Our guide to accident benefits (SABS) in Ontario explains what's covered: medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care benefits are mandatory on every policy, while others — like income replacement — depend on your policy, so it's worth asking your insurer or a lawyer what applies to you.
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This is general information, not legal advice — timelines and requirements depend on your specific situation.