If someone else has hit your car, the first hour matters more than most drivers realise. This is the order to do things in, from the roadside to the first week, so you protect your safety, your evidence and your repair.
At the scene: the first ten minutes
Safety first, evidence second, conversation last. Do not admit fault or agree who was to blame, simply exchange the information the law requires.
- Stop, switch hazards on and check everyone for injury.
- Call 999 if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked or dangerous.
- Exchange name, address, vehicle registration and insurance details.
- Photograph both vehicles, the damage, the plates, the road layout and any signs or markings.
- Take witness names and numbers before they drive away.
- Save dashcam footage immediately so it is not overwritten.
If the other driver refuses details or drives off
You must report the incident to the police within 24 hours if details were not exchanged. Get the registration if you can, and look for CCTV, doorbell cameras or a nearby business with a camera facing the road.
↑ Back to contentsThe first 24 hours
Tell your own insurer that an incident has happened, even if you do not intend to claim on your policy. Notifying is not the same as claiming, and almost every policy requires it.
Do not agree to a repairer, a cash settlement or a hire vehicle before you understand your options. Once you sign something, your choices narrow.
- Write down what happened while it is fresh, including time, weather and road conditions.
- Keep every photograph, video and message in one folder.
- Check the car is safe to drive: lights, steering, tyres, fluid leaks, doors and boot.
Is your car safe to drive?
Damage can look cosmetic and still be structural. If the vehicle pulls, makes new noises, has warning lights, damaged lighting or leaking fluid, do not drive it. Arrange collection instead.
↑ Back to contentsThe first week: getting repaired and staying mobile
Book a proper damage assessment. A repairer can tell you what the vehicle actually needs, including hidden damage and any driver-assistance recalibration.
If you need to stay on the road while the work is done, ask about replacement vehicle guidance early rather than after the car is off the road.
↑ Back to contentsWhat not to do
A few common moves quietly weaken your position.
- Do not apologise or accept blame at the roadside.
- Do not accept a quick cash offer before a full assessment.
- Do not delay reporting, gaps in the timeline get questioned later.
- Do not throw away the damaged parts or repair paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
Get free non-fault guidance
Tell us what happened and a repair specialist calls you back. No obligation, no pressure.
- Takes under a minute
- Nothing to sign online
- We explain your repair, recovery and replacement vehicle route
- A real accident repair team will review your details
The insurance questions drivers ask us most
Straight answers on premiums, excess, write-offs and replacement vehicles, written by our Bristol repair team.
- Non-fault accident: what it means and what to do (UK guide)A plain-English UK guide to non-fault accidents: how liability is decided, your repair and replacement vehicle options, and the mistakes that cost drivers money.
- Will a non-fault accident affect my insurance? (UK)How a non-fault claim can show on your record, what happens to your premium and what to check with your insurer.
- Do I have to pay my insurance excess?When an excess applies after a non-fault accident, and the practical routes that can avoid paying one up front.
- What happens if my car is written off?Write-off categories explained, how valuations work and what you can do if the offer feels too low.
Your next steps
Based on what you have just read, these are the pages most drivers go to next.
Prefer to speak to someone now?
SAR Group is a repair-led accident support and bodyshop business, and your first point of contact after a non-fault accident. We are not an FCA-authorised claims management company: every non-fault case is handled through our authorised and regulated partner network.