When do I have to report a road traffic collision to PSNI?

If the legal exchange-of-details requirements are not satisfied, or where injury and other reporting conditions apply, the collision should be reported to police without delay and within the legal time limit.

In relation to “When do I have to report a road traffic collision to PSNI?”, roadside incidents can become insurance, police and property-damage matters at the same time, so record facts before memories become uncertain.

For “When do I have to report a road traffic collision to PSNI?”, the legal reporting duty depends on what happened and whether the required details were exchanged. If the situation falls within the reporting rules, do not wait until an insurance dispute develops.

For “When do I have to report a road traffic collision to PSNI?”, for Northern Ireland, the key is to use the authority or contract that actually controls this issue. The sources attached to this answer include PSNI - Road Traffic Collision, nidirect - Motor insurance explained, and GOV.UK - Vehicle insurance. Those sources should take priority over forum posts or guidance written for a different jurisdiction, particularly where a deadline, offence, fee, finance right or policy condition is involved.

Practical next step for “When do I have to report a road traffic collision to PSNI?”: make a short incident note while details are fresh — time, exact location, registrations, people involved, witnesses and photographs or original video. If police, insurer, road authority or recovery operator is involved, keep each reference number with that note.