To file a car insurance claim in Ontario, make the scene safe, call 911 if anyone is hurt, and collect the other driver’s details and photos. Report the collision to police if anyone is injured or combined damage looks to be over $5,000. Then tell your broker or insurer within seven days. If you were hurt, return the accident benefits application within 30 days of receiving it.
Two rules have changed recently, and many older guides haven’t caught up. Ontario raised the police-reporting threshold from $2,000 to $5,000 on January 1, 2025. For accidents on or after July 1, 2026, your auto insurer pays first for medical and rehabilitation costs (excluding medication), even if you have workplace health benefits. Here is the whole process, step by step, with the source for each rule.
Step 1: What should you do at the scene of a car accident in Ontario?
Stop. The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) warns that leaving the scene can lead to a criminal investigation. Then work through this list:
- Check for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 and don’t move them.
- Make the scene safe. If it’s safe, move the vehicles to the shoulder. If you can’t, turn on your hazard lights and set out cones or triangles.
- Don’t admit fault. The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) advises against signing anything about fault or promising to pay for damage.
- Record everything. Get the names, addresses, plate numbers and insurance details of every driver, passenger and witness. Note the time, place, weather and road conditions. Take photos and video of the scene and all the damage. FSRA publishes a printable accident worksheet that makes this easier.
- Watch for staged collisions. IBC describes schemes such as the “swoop and squat”, where a car cuts in and brakes hard so you rear-end it. If you suspect a staged crash, call the police.
Step 2: Do you have to report a car accident to police in Ontario?
You must report to police if anyone is injured or if combined damage appears to be more than $5,000. That threshold is set under section 11 of Ontario Regulation 596 under the Highway Traffic Act. It rose from $2,000 to $5,000 on January 1, 2025.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Anyone injured, or a driver you suspect is impaired | Call 911 |
| No injuries, combined damage over $5,000 | Report to police “as soon as possible”. In many areas, including Toronto, police will send you to a Collision Reporting Centre |
| No injuries, damage $5,000 or less | No police report is legally required. You must still report to your insurer |
Collision Reporting Centres photograph your vehicle and help you complete a police report. Give that documentation to your insurer. In Toronto, any vehicle towed from a collision must go directly to a reporting centre. Bring your driver’s licence, ownership and insurance documents.
One caution: FSRA’s own consumer checklist still mentions a $2,000 figure for reporting centres. The regulation and police services now use $5,000. Modern bumpers, sensors and cameras make damage hard to price at the roadside, so if you’re unsure, report it.
Step 3: What are your towing rights in Ontario?
Ontario’s towing rules give you clear rights, in force since January 1, 2024:
- The operator needs your consent to tow, unless police or another official direct the tow. Never sign a blank form.
- You choose the towing company and where your vehicle goes, except in a restricted tow zone or when police direct otherwise.
- You see an itemized invoice before you’re asked to pay, and you can pay by credit card, debit card or cash.
- Operators must show their certificate number and can’t charge more than the maximum rates they have filed with the province.
On busy GTHA highways, the Tow Zone Program applies. Fifteen zones on Highways 400, 401, 403, 404, 409, 410, 427 and the QEW are served by one authorized company each, and you must use it. Call 511 and choose the Tow Zone option to request one. Before you agree to storage or repairs, call your broker or insurer. IBC advises against leaving a car in a compound yard unless your insurer tells you to.
Step 4: How do you report a car insurance claim in Ontario?
FSRA tells drivers to report an accident to their broker, agent or insurer “within seven days, or as quickly as possible after that,” whoever was at fault. If you wait an unreasonable time, the insurer may not have to honour the claim. Have these ready:
- Your policy number and vehicle details
- Licence details for every driver involved
- Date, time and location of the accident
- Injuries, damage and the number of passengers
- Your account of what happened
- The other drivers’ insurers and policy numbers
- The officer’s name and badge number, if police attended
If you’re an AAXEL client, call your broker first. We can tell you what your policy covers before you speak to the insurer. For emergencies after hours, our claims page lists a 24-hour claims line, 1-866-856-6335. Once the claim is open, an adjuster will contact you and may ask you to complete a Proof of Loss form.
Step 5: How is fault decided on a car insurance claim in Ontario?
Your insurer assigns fault using the Fault Determination Rules, a regulation under Ontario’s Insurance Act. The rules use diagrams covering more than 40 accident scenarios. They apply regardless of weather, road conditions or visibility, and a police charge (or the lack of one) does not decide insurance fault.
Fault runs from 0% to 100% and can be shared. If you’re found 50% or more at fault, the claim goes on your record and will likely raise your premium at renewal. That also applies when someone you lent your car to causes the crash. Our guide to car insurance renewal in Ontario explains how claims history affects your rate.
If you disagree with the decision, ask the adjuster which rule they applied. If they won’t change it, go to the insurer’s complaints officer.
Step 6: Who pays for your vehicle damage?
In Ontario, your own insurer usually pays for damage to your car, even when another driver caused the accident. Which coverage applies depends on fault:
| Coverage | What it pays | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Compensation – Property Damage (DCPD) | Your vehicle, its contents and loss of use, to the extent you weren’t at fault | Insured drivers have been able to opt out in writing since January 2024. Covers out-of-province drivers only if their insurer has filed an undertaking with FSRA |
| Collision or Upset | Damage when you’re at fault, or when DCPD doesn’t apply | You usually pay the full deductible if you’re at fault |
| Uninsured Motorist | Damage caused by an identified uninsured driver | Up to $25,000, less the first $300 |
FSRA gives an example. If you’re 100% at fault, the repair costs $7,000 and your collision deductible is $500, the insurer pays $6,500. Insurers pay whichever is lower: the repair cost or the vehicle’s actual cash value. To check which coverages you carry, see what auto coverage you really need in Ontario.
Step 7: How do you claim accident benefits if you’re hurt?
Statutory accident benefits are available whoever caused the accident, and you usually claim them from your own insurer. Ontario’s 2026 Application for Accident Benefits (OCF-1) sets two deadlines:
- Tell your insurer within 7 days of the accident that you plan to apply.
- Return the completed application within 30 days of receiving it. If you miss either deadline, apply anyway and explain the delay.
Two July 2026 changes matter here. First, only medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits are mandatory now. Income replacement, non-earner, caregiver and other benefits are optional, and they cover only the named insured, their spouse, dependants and listed drivers. Our guide to the 2026 Ontario auto insurance changes explains which ones to keep. Second, for accidents in Ontario on or after July 1, 2026, your auto insurer pays first for medical and rehabilitation expenses (excluding medication), before any workplace or private health plan.
If your insurer denies a benefit, you can apply to the Licence Appeal Tribunal within two years of the insurer’s written notice. The fee is $106. If no insurance policy applies, Ontario’s Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund is the payer of last resort.
Should you file a car insurance claim for minor damage in Ontario?
Report every collision to your broker or insurer within seven days, even a minor one. Reporting is not the same as asking to be paid, and it protects you if the other driver later claims injury or more damage.
Whether to ask the insurer to pay depends on fault. If the other driver is identified, insured and fully at fault, DCPD can cover the whole repair if your DCPD deductible is zero. If you’re at fault, compare the repair estimate with your deductible and with the likely rate effect of an at-fault claim. Repeated at-fault claims can push a driver into the high-risk car insurance market.
How a broker helps when you file a claim
An insurance broker can’t decide your claim. A broker can explain your coverage, help you meet the deadlines, question a fault decision and escalate when a claim stalls. [Organisational observation for AAXEL to confirm or replace, e.g. the most common claim mistake our brokers see.]
If a crash has left you wondering about your coverage, request a call back and an AAXEL broker will review your policy with you. Our auto insurance page covers the policies we place. For damage to your home rather than your car, see our step-by-step guide to filing a home insurance claim in Ontario. The process and coverages are different.
Information current as of October 16, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to report a car accident to my insurance company in Ontario?
FSRA tells drivers to report an accident to their broker, agent or insurer within seven days, or as soon as possible after that, whoever was at fault. If you wait an unreasonable time, the insurer may not have to honour your claim.
Do I have to report a car accident to police in Ontario?
Yes, if anyone is injured or combined damage appears to be more than $5,000. The threshold rose from $2,000 on January 1, 2025. Below that, with no injuries, a police report is not legally required, but you must still tell your insurer.
What is a Collision Reporting Centre?
Collision Reporting Centres are facilities where drivers report collisions that police don’t attend. Staff help you complete a police report and photograph the damage, and you give that paperwork to your insurer. In Toronto, any vehicle towed from a collision must go straight to a reporting centre.
Can a tow truck take my car anywhere it wants in Ontario?
No. In most cases the operator needs your consent and you choose the company and destination. The exceptions are a restricted tow zone on GTHA highways or a tow directed by police. You’re also entitled to an itemized invoice before you pay.
Who decides who is at fault in an Ontario car accident?
Your insurer applies Ontario’s Fault Determination Rules, a regulation under the Insurance Act with diagrams for more than 40 accident scenarios. A police charge doesn’t decide insurance fault. If you disagree, ask which rule was applied and use the insurer’s complaint process.
Do I pay a deductible if the accident wasn’t my fault?
Direct Compensation – Property Damage (DCPD) pays for your car to the extent you weren’t at fault. If the other driver is identified, insured and fully at fault, DCPD can cover the full repair when your DCPD deductible is zero. You usually pay your full deductible when you’re at fault.
Will an at-fault claim raise my car insurance in Ontario?
Probably. FSRA says being found 50% or more at fault goes on your record and will likely increase your premium at renewal. That also applies if someone you lent your vehicle to caused the accident.
How do I apply for accident benefits after a car accident in Ontario?
Tell your insurer within 7 days that you plan to apply, then return the Application for Accident Benefits (OCF-1) within 30 days of receiving it. If you’re late, submit it anyway and explain why. Benefits are available whoever caused the accident.
Does my auto insurance or my workplace health plan pay first after July 1, 2026?
For accidents in Ontario on or after July 1, 2026, your auto insurer pays first for medical and rehabilitation expenses, excluding medication. Your workplace or private health plan comes after. This applies to all auto policies that carry accident benefits coverage.
What can I do if my insurer denies my accident benefits?
You can apply to the Licence Appeal Tribunal’s Automobile Accident Benefits Service. You must file within two years of the insurer’s written notice, and the fee is $106. Getting legal advice early can help.
Should I claim for a small fender bender?
Report it to your broker or insurer within seven days either way. Whether to ask for payment depends on fault, your deductible and how an at-fault claim might affect your rate. A broker can walk you through those numbers.
Sources
- FSRA: What to do after an accident: at-the-scene steps, the accident worksheet, collision reporting centre guidance (still cites $2,000)
- FSRA: After an Accident: Understanding the Claims Process: 7-day reporting, information to have ready, Fault Determination Rules, 50% at-fault record, DCPD opt-out since January 2024, Uninsured Motorist $25,000 less $300, MVACF, mandatory benefits after July 1, 2026
- FSRA brochure: After an Auto Accident: Understanding the Claims Process: DCPD and deductible examples ($7,000 repair, $500 deductible; zero DCPD deductible)
- FSRA: Application for Accident Benefits (OCF-1), 2026 version: 7-day notice and 30-day application deadlines
- FSRA: Fact Sheet, 2026 Accident Benefits Reforms: mandatory and optional benefits, covered persons
- RIBO: Ontario Auto Insurance Reforms Industry FAQ and RIBO: Optional Accident Benefits in Auto Insurance: auto insurer as first payer for medical and rehabilitation (excluding medication) for accidents on or after July 1, 2026
- Ontario Ministry of Transportation memo, August 13, 2024: reporting threshold raised from $2,000 to $5,000 under s. 11 of O. Reg. 596, effective January 1, 2025
- Toronto Police Service: Collision Reporting: $5,000 threshold, reporting centres, what to bring, towed vehicles to a CRC
- Ontario.ca: Know your rights when getting a tow: consent, choice of company and destination, itemized invoice, payment, certificates, maximum rates
- Ontario.ca: Tow Zone Program: 15 GTHA zones, highways covered, 511 (updated July 27, 2026)
- Ontario MTO: Maximum rate schedule guidance (TSSEA): operators can’t charge above published maximum rates
- IBC: Collision Resources: don’t admit fault, staged collision schemes, compound-yard caution
- Tribunals Ontario: LAT-AABS application and hearing process: two-year limit, $106 fee
Disclaimer
This article is general information about the auto insurance claims process in Ontario as of October 16, 2026. It is not legal advice and does not change the terms of any insurance policy. Coverage, deductibles and benefits depend on your policy and the Ontario Automobile Policy (OAP 1). For advice about your situation, speak to a licensed insurance broker. For an injury claim or a denied benefit, consider speaking to a lawyer.
