Collision Reporting Centre 101 And Reporting A Collision

A collision reporting centre (CRC) is a location within Ontario where drivers involved in an auto accident go to report a collision. There are collision reporting centres located in cities across the province.

Ontario has accident reporting centres to simplify the collision reporting process. They are designed to help drivers self-report accidents and create a collision report with the guidance of a police officer.

They are also designed to free up local police for more pressing issues and to clear up traffic congestion.

Not all accidents require a police traffic collision report to be filed at the scene of an accident. Here are the criteria to follow to determine whether or not you should go to a reporting center after a collision :

• The accident is minor : There is no significant damage.
• No injuries : Nobody requires medical attention.
• Damage : There is more than $2000 of combined damage. Accidents with less than $2000 of damage are not required to be reported to police, although it is still a good idea.
• Vehicles are driveable : The vehicles are safe to drive. If not, call a tow truck to take your vehicle to the reporting centre.
• Police instruction : The police tell you to go to the reporting centre.

If you are not sure whether or not to go, always go just in case. Talk to your local police department if you are not sure.

A hit and run is a unique situation. If you were hit by another vehicle while driving, report it to the police immediately and follow their instructions. If your vehicle was hit while parked and you were not present, then you should file a report at the nearest collision reporting centre.

If possible, visit the accident reporting centre as soon as possible. You are required by law to visit the reporting centre within 24 hours of the accident. If the accident occurs outside of business hours (business hours vary by location), bring your vehicle in as soon as possible the next morning.

If your vehicle requires towing, it must be towed directly to the police reporting centre from the scene of the accident.

Once you are involved in an accident, you should follow standard protocol. If it is safe to do so, move your vehicle from the road, exchange information with the other parties involved, get contact information of witnesses, and take photos of the damage and scene of the accident.

Collect the following information from the other driver before heading to the collision reporting centre :

• License : Driver’s license number.
• Contact information : Name, address and phone number.
• Car insurance information : Insurance policy number and company name.
• Vehicle information : Make, model, and license plate number.

No. You are required to attend the closest reporting centre to the city where the accident occurred. For example, if you were involved in a fender bender during an out of town trip to Hamilton, you cannot go to the reporting centre in Mississauga. You need to visit the reporting centre in the city where the accident happened. If you were to go to the wrong reporting centre, they will NOT file your accident report.

Your local police can tell you where the nearest accident reporting centre is, but if there is not one within close proximity, they may tell you to visit the nearest police station to file an accident report.

You will be required to fill out a motor vehicle collision report upon arrival. Here is the process you can expect once you arrive at the collision reporting centre :

1. Photos : Photos of the damage to your vehicle will be taken.
2. Check in : Once photos are complete, you will check in with a police officer at the reporting centre. You will be required to provide your information such as proof of insurance, vehicle registration, your driver’s license, and contact information.
3. Review of events : You will be asked to provide a verbal account of the accident. This information will be included as part of the accident report.
4. Write an account of the events : You will be provided with a collision report form and are required to drawn a diagram of the accident scene. You will then be asked to provide a written statement of the events leading up to the accident. This report can be sent to your insurance company.
5. Contact your insurance company : Once you have completed your report, you can contact your insurance company to file an auto insurance claim. Many collision reporting centres have direct lines to large insurance companies.

Once you have filed your car insurance claim, you can drive (or tow) your vehicle to a repair shop or other desired location.

No. You do not need to pay to file a vehicle collision report.

The length of time you will be at the collision reporting centre will depend on how busy it is and how many people are ahead of you. Sometimes, reports can be filed in under an hour; other times, you may have to wait several hours to file your report. Times also vary based on the location of Toronto tends to be busier than a collision reporting centre in Markham or other less populated areas.

Yes, once the report has been filed and processed, you can get a copy of your collision report online through Service Ontario. They can be ordered online 20 days after the collision report was filed. To gain access to the report you will be required to supply your driver’s license number, collision report number, and MTO collision reference number. $12 fee applies.

Order a collision report online here.