How long do I have to report a car accident?

Probably not as long as you think…

There appears to be a widely held belief that you have 24 hours after a car accident to report to the police, but this is only partially true. If there are injuries or property damage, you must notify the police immediately (or as soon as reasonably possible) in most parts of Canada. Most provinces also require an immediate report in some uncommon circumstances, such as when one of the vehicles involved is registered in another province.

The only exception is for minor property damage accidents, in which you do not need to call the police right away. In most provinces and territories, you are not required to file a report (or you can wait a little longer) if the total damage to both vehicles and all property involved is less than a certain dollar amount. The threshold varies greatly by province, but it is usually $2,000.