What Is an Accident Report and How Do I Get One?

An accident report is a formal document that details the events of a car accident. Sometime accident reports are called incident or collision report as well.

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These reports are created by the local police department, and can be requested by you, your lawyer, your insurer, or the insurer of the responsible driver. Typically, only one report is created per accident, and the first person to file the report with the police will be given a paper copy.  

When it is possible, it is usually advantageous to be the first person to report the accident as your recollection of events will go down as the official record. Never lie to the police or provide false testimony. Always share your recollection of the events as accurately and thoroughly as possible.  

How do I get an accident report?  

Each province has their own process for requesting an accident report.

If necessary for your claim, you will need to request an accident report from the province where the injury occurred. Find the appropriate province below to get started:

How to get an accident report in Ontario (ON)

Reporting to Police: All incidents must be reported to the nearest collision reporting centre within 24 hours. You can bring the vehicle to the nearest collision reporting centre or call if you’re unable to attend in person. If there is over $2,000 in property damage, or someone is injured, you should call the police immediately from the scene of the accident.

Cost:  

• $12 for uncertified report (most common)
• $18 for certified report (includes seal from Ministry of Transportation)

Process:

Request Online

1. Click Ontario Ministry of Transportation Link

2. Provide collision date, description (place and location), and one of the following:

          - Ontario driver licence number

          - Collision report number

          - Non-Ontario driver licence

          - MOT collision reference

3. Pay online

In person

1. Go to service Ontario location

2. Be ready to pay with cash, debit, Visa, Mastercard, certified cheque, or money order payable to the Minister of Finance

3. Order for an uncertified or certified report will be processed within 15 business days and sent by regular mail via Canada Post if collision happened more than 30 days ago and on or after July 1, 2014

By fax or mail

1. Download Motor Vehicle Accident Report Form

2. Complete and print fillable form

3. Send the form by fax to 416-235-4009 or by mail to MTO office (address can be found here)

          - Ministry of Transportation Information Services Office Information and Data Retrieval

            Unit, 87 Sir William Hearst Avenue Room 158-D

            Toronto Ontario, M3M 0B4

4. Pay via Visa or Mastercard credit cards or cheque / money order made payable to Minister of Finance (by mail only)

Time:

• Online copy: Immediate

• Only for collisions after 2014/06/30

• In person. by fax or mail:  

• Within 15 business days and sent by regular mail via Canada Post if collision happened more than 30 days ago and on or after July 1, 2014

Notes:

• If a report is not on file, fee will still be charged

• Cannot access reports for collisions that occurred within past 20 days
• No mention of how long reports prior to July 1st, 2014 take to deliver

How to get an accident report in Quebec (QC)  

Reporting to Police: All incidents involving serious property damage or injury must be reported to the police. If there is only property damage, a joint report be submitted to SSQ as soon as possible.

Requesting a Copy of an Accident Report - SAAQ (gouv.qc.ca)

Cost: $16.50

Process:

In person

1. Click this link then select Click “Traffic Accident” for the Subject

2. Select “Accident Report Request”

3. Select the town from which you need the accident report

4. Visit service outlet (appointment recommended but not needed) and have them print it out for you

5. Create appointment

Mail

Send a letter to Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (address can be found here).  

Letter should contain:

1. The name of the individual or business involved in the accident

2. The accident occurrence number: this 18-digit number is assigned by the police officer who filed the accident report

3. The licence plate number of the vehicle involved (this number can be found on the registration certificate)

4. The driver’s licence number of the driver involved (this number can be found on the driver’s licence)

5. A cheque to cover the applicable fees

Notes:

1. Report can be available approx. 15 days after the accident

2. Requesting accident report for someone other than yourself: If you are making the request on behalf of an individual or a legal person (business), you must also provide (regardless of whether you make the request by mail or in person at one of our service outlets) an authorization to disclose information concerning the individual or business on whose behalf you are making the request (except if you are making the request for your minor child whose name was entered on the accident report).

How to get an accident report in British Columbia (BC)

All incidents that happen in BC, even minor ones, must be reported to ICBC within 30 days, either over the phone or online.

Cost: Varied

Process:

There is not a single provincial entity for accident reports, but rather, you must request accident reports from the city or town where the accident occurred. Direct links for each local police department are below:

• Abbotsford Police Department
• Central Saanich Police
• Delta Police Department
• Nelson Police Department
• New Westminster Police Service

• Oak Bay Police Department
• Port Moody Police Department
• Saanich Police Department
• Surrey Police Service
• Vancouver Police Department

• Victoria/Esquimalt Police Department
• West Vancouver Police Department
• General RCMP for everywhere else in BC

How to get an accident report in Alberta (AB)

In Alberta, you should report accidents amounting in over $2000 worth of damage to the police from the scene of the accident if possible.  

Cost: $15.00 (Plus GST)

Process:

1. Go to www.ecollision.gov.an.ca  of Alberta Collision Report and enter the following:

           - Police file number (should have been provided by officer who recorded collision)

           - If not provided, then contact the officer who responded to collision or police agency where the collision was recorded

2. Operator License No. and Date of Birth - These are required if recorded when collision was reported

3. First name

4. Last name

5. Press submit to obtain the report

Notes:

1. To view or print the Report, you will need Adobe Reader installed on you computer. If you do not have Adobe already installed, you can get it from here.

2. If your collision is not found it may be because your collision has not been completed, reviewed and approved yet. If this is the case please contact the agency where your collision was reported.

How to get an accident report in Manitoba (MB)

Reporting the accident: Incidents that happen in Manitoba, even minor ones, must be reported to MPI immediately either over the phone or online.  

Cost: $10 (Plus GST)

Process:

Mail or Fax

1. Fill out Traffic Accident Report Request here:

2. Mail or fax to Manitoba Public Insurance  

            - Payment is done via attaching cheque or money order payable to Manitoba Public Insurance in mail

            - If payment via credit card provide daytime phone number and driver records will contact you directly

Time: Undisclosed  

Notes: Manitoba Police, Public Insurance (MPI) and Government worked together to streamline traffic accident reporting and claims - this is why MPI handles these claims now. More info here.

How to get an accident report in Nova Scotia (NS)

Reporting to police: All collisions that cause damage to someone else’s property over $2,000, or involving injuries must be reported within 24 hours.

Cost: $18.65

Process:

In person

1. Apply in person at one of the RMV Customer Services Centres

2. Payment options at the counter: Cash, debit card, VISA, American Express or MasterCard credit card, or cheque (or money order) made out to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Mail

1. Mail request to Service Nova Scotia, PO Box 1652, Halifax, NS B3J 2Z3, Canada

2. Payment options by mail: Cheque or money order made out to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

For out of province requests: Fax form to (902)-424-0602

Time: Requests will be processed within three business days in the order they are received

Notes: This driver's abstract is NOT available online. Driver Abstracts contain a five year history of collision and MVA conviction events, Criminal Code Convictions, as well as departmental postings and processes.  

How to get an accident report in Saskatchewan (SK)

Cost: Undisclosed

Process:

Phone: Call the Criminal Occurrence Security Check Office at 306-975-8305 between 8:00am - 4:00pm to request form and follow next steps

Time: Undisclosed  

How to get an accident report in New Brunswick (NB)

Reporting to Police: Incidents with total damage $1,000, or with injuries, should be reported to the nearest RCMP detachment as soon as possible.  

Cost: $57.50 (including tax)

Process:

1. Visit this site and fill out form

2. Pay via cash or cheque (address indicated on form)

            - Saint John Police Force c/o Front Desk One Peel Plaza PO Box 1971 Saint John, NB E2L 4L1

3. Submit form

Time: Undisclosed

Notes: Department is required to contact you back within 30 days after the form has been submitted

How to get an accident report in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)

Reporting to police: Incidents with total damage over $2,000, or with injuries, should be reported to the nearest police department as soon as possible.

Cost: Undisclosed  

Process:

Online

1. Fill out this form

2. Submit form to the RNC (Royal Newfoundland Constabulary) ATIPP (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy) email RNCATIPP@rnc.gov.nl.ca  

Time: Undisclosed

How to get an accident report in Prince Edward Island (PE)

Reporting to Police: Incidents with total damage over $2,000, or with injuries, should be reported to the nearest police department as soon as possible.

Cost: $25

Process:

Online Form

Driver abstracts can be requested from the Highway Safety Division by completing the online form accessible through this link  

There are three ways to get a driver abstract, depending on your situation:

1. The abstract can be picked up in person at designated Access PEI locations;

2. You can designate someone to collect it on your behalf; or,  

3. You can request to have the abstract mailed to the PEI address recorded on your file  

For further information, please call the Contact Centre at 1-833-734-1873.

Time: 5 business days to process request, if abstract is not being mailed you will be contacted when document is ready for pickup

Notes: This is a request for Driver’s abstract. PEI’s driver abstract is a copy of a person’s driving history. It will show any convictions for violations of any enactment relating to the operation of a motor vehicle, accidents involving a collision, and driver license suspensions.  

How to get an accident report in Northwest Territories (NT)

Reporting to police: Incidents with total damage $2,000, or with injuries, should be reported to the nearest police department as soon as possible.

Cost: $19.95

Process:

In-Person Only

1. Visit a driver and vehicle office with a completed and printed form (copies also available driver and vehicle offices)
2. Also bring photo ID and RCMP accident report number

Notes: The client is not charged until the report is available and ready to pick up or to be sent to the client.

How to get an accident report in Nunavut (NU)

Reporting to police: All collisions that cause damage to someone else’s property must be reported immediately.

https://www.gov.nu.ca/edt/documents/request-form-drivers-abstracts-searches-and-accident-reports  

Cost: $12.10

Process:

1. Fill out and print this form
2. Payment can be done via credit card, mastercard or AMEX or form
3. Send form to one of the P.O boxes mentioned at bottom of form

Time: Undisclosed

Notes: If you are not picking up or arranging for delivery of the form to yourself, please submit a separate signed letter authorizing the release of the information that you are requesting to your lawyer or other agent.

How to get an accident report in Yukon (YT)

https://yukon.ca/en/get-accident-report-motor-vehicles  

Cost: $10

Process:

In-Person

1. Visit your nearest Motor Vehicles office.

2. Staff will help you complete the accident report request.

3. They will provide you with a copy of the accident report.

Email

1. Contact Motor Vehicles

              - Email: motor.vehicles@gov.yk.ca

              - Phone: 867-667-5315

2. Staff will help you complete your accident report request via email or call

3. They will mail you a copy of your accident report

Time: Undisclosed

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What to do with your accident report

After you've requested and received your accident report from the appropriate authorities, be sure to either make a copy, or keep it in a safe location so it isn't lost.

You may a copy of your accident report if the matter escalates to court, your lawyer requests the report, or another insurer requests the report.

In addition to keeping good documentation surrounding your accident, if you've been injured, you can also create a PainWorth assessment to quickly create an estimated valuation of your personal injury claim, and capture some key details related to your claim.

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