What Information to Exchange After a Car Accident

In the UK, the core details are your name and address and the vehicle registration number. If the vehicle is not yours, you should also provide the owner's name and address. Additional insurer, vehicle and witness details can make the later reporting process much easier.

Details you should exchange

Record each driver's full name and address and the registration number of every vehicle involved. Where a driver does not own the vehicle, record the registered owner's name and address. Check spellings and registration characters carefully rather than relying on a hurried verbal exchange.

Useful additional details

Ask for a contact number, insurer name and policy number if available. Record the vehicle make, model, colour and visible damage. Note whether the driver appears to be working, driving a company or hire vehicle, or carrying passengers. These details are useful, but personal safety comes first and you should not confront anyone who refuses.

Record independent witness information

Ask witnesses for their name, telephone number or email address and a brief indication of what they saw. Do not coach them or ask them to agree with your account. An independent witness may later help clarify traffic signals, vehicle movements or the sequence of events.

Handle personal information carefully

Use the details only for legitimate collision, insurance, police or legal purposes. Do not publish names, addresses, registration plates or photographs on social media. Store the information securely and share it only with organisations or professionals who genuinely need it.

What to do after exchanging details

Record the time, place and circumstances, notify your insurer and report the collision to the police where required. If the other driver leaves without exchanging details, note the registration, description, direction of travel and any witness or camera information, then contact the police.

Build a clear, factual motoring record

Record events in the order they happened and distinguish what you personally observed from what another person said. Include dates, times, locations, people, vehicles, road conditions and the action taken, but avoid speculation about blame or injury.

Capture both context and detail. Wide photographs can show road layout, positions, signs and conditions; closer images can show damage, registration marks and relevant identifiers. Safety and medical needs always come before recording.

Keep related material together: notes, photographs, witness details, correspondence, reference numbers, repair documents and follow-up actions. Preserve original files and note when information was added later from memory.

Mistakes that weaken a motoring record

Do not argue, admit liability or pressure another person to make a statement at the scene. Do not photograph people unnecessarily or place yourself in traffic to obtain an image.

Avoid vague entries such as “minor damage” or “usual route.” Describe visible facts and record the actual start point, destination, purpose or affected area. Do not alter original images or delete messages that may later provide context.

Do not assume an app record replaces legal reporting duties, insurer notification, police instructions, medical assessment or official documentation. Check the requirements that apply to the specific event.

Review the record while details are fresh

As soon as it is safe, read the timeline from beginning to end and fill genuine gaps without guessing. Mark uncertain details as estimates and note the source of any later correction.

Track outstanding actions such as insurer contact, police references, recovery, repairs, medical follow-up, witness contact and document requests. Add each response to the same record rather than starting disconnected threads.

For routine vehicle or mileage records, review entries weekly and reconcile obvious gaps against diaries, fuel receipts or work schedules. Correct errors transparently rather than silently rewriting old entries.