Safety Guide

What to Do After a Car Accident in New Zealand: The 2026 Step-by-Step Guide to Police, ACC, Insurance, Towing & Write-Offs

Published 2 November 2026 · By the Car Wreckers Palmerston North team · About a 10-minute read

A crash happens in seconds, but the decisions you make in the next hour, and the next few days, shape how much it ends up costing you. We collect crashed cars from roadsides, panel shops and tow yards across Palmerston North and the Manawatū every week. We see the same mistakes again and again: no photos, no details from the other driver, a car left racking up storage fees, and an insurance payout that came in lower than it should have.

This guide sets out what to do, in order, from the moment of impact to the day the car is fixed, paid out or gone. It covers your legal duties under New Zealand law, when you must tell Police, how ACC works, and how to handle insurers and tow yards. Driving instructors, schools, community groups, student associations, budgeting services and local media are welcome to share, print or link to it.

Key takeaways

• You must stop. After any crash, the driver must stop, check whether anyone is hurt, and help where they can.
• Injury crashes go to Police within 24 hours. If only property is damaged and you can't find the owner, you have 60 hours to report it.
• ACC covers injuries no matter who was at fault. See a doctor even if you feel fine; whiplash and concussion often show up later.
• Don't admit liability at the scene. Be honest and courteous, but leave decisions about fault to the insurers.
• Storage fees add up quickly. Tell your insurer straight away and decide where the car is going.

The first 15 minutes at a glance

Step 1: Stop, make the scene safe and check for injuries

Under the Land Transport Act 1998, a driver involved in a crash must stop, find out whether anyone has been injured, and give whatever help is reasonably possible. Driving away from an injury crash without stopping is a serious offence.

• Turn on your hazard lights and turn off the engine.
• If the cars can be driven and nobody is hurt, move them off the live lane to the shoulder or a side street.
• Get everyone out of the vehicles and well away from traffic, ideally behind a barrier. On State Highway 3 or SH57 around the Manawatū, stand behind the cars, not between them.
• At night, in fog or on a bend, put out a warning triangle if you have one and switch on interior lights.
• Don't move anyone who may have a neck or spinal injury unless they're in immediate danger, such as from fire.

Step 2: Call 111 when it's serious

Call 111 straight away if anyone is injured, trapped or unconscious, if there's fire, smoke or leaking fuel, or if the vehicles are blocking the road and creating danger. Tell the call-taker your location as precisely as you can: the road name, the nearest intersection or landmark, and which direction you were travelling. On rural roads, a nearby RAPID number on a letterbox is very helpful.

Stay on the line and follow the instructions. If you've done first aid, tell the ambulance crew what you did when they arrive.

Step 3: Swap details with the other driver

If anyone is injured, or property belonging to someone else is damaged, you're legally required to give your details when asked. Collect the same from them:

• Full name, address and phone number
• The name and address of the vehicle's owner, if the driver isn't the owner
• Registration plate number, make, model and colour
• Their insurance company (if they'll share it)
• Names and phone numbers of any witnesses

Photograph their licence and plate if they agree. If they refuse to give details, note the plate and report it to Police.

Step 4: Record evidence while it's fresh

Insurers and the Disputes Tribunal decide fault based on evidence. Five minutes with your phone can make the difference between a smooth claim and months of argument.

• Wide shots of both vehicles in their final positions, showing the road layout, signs, give-way lines and traffic lights.
• Close-ups of all damage on every vehicle, including old damage on the other car.
• Road conditions: skid marks, debris, potholes, wet or icy surfaces, sun glare, obstructions.
• Dashcam footage: save it immediately, before it records over.
• A quick note or voice memo of what happened, the time, your speed and the weather.

Step 5: Report to Police when the law requires it

If Police attend, write down the officer's name and the event number. Your insurer will ask for it.

Step 6: Get checked and lodge an ACC claim

Adrenaline hides pain. Whiplash, concussion, back injuries and bruising from seatbelts can take a day or two to appear. See your GP, an urgent care clinic or a physio, even if you feel fine.

ACC (the Accident Compensation Corporation) covers injuries from road crashes in New Zealand regardless of who was at fault. This applies to drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians, including visitors to New Zealand. Your treatment provider lodges the claim for you, so you don't need to fill in forms at the scene. Because ACC provides cover, you generally can't sue the other driver for compensation for personal injury in New Zealand. Damage to cars and property is a separate matter, handled through insurance.

Step 7: Notify your insurer, and choose your words carefully

Call your insurer or lodge the claim online as soon as you can, ideally the same day. Most policies require prompt notice, and some decline claims that are reported late.

• Don't admit liability or offer to pay at the scene. Most policies say you must not, and doing so can jeopardise your cover.
• Be accurate. Give the facts as you know them. Don't guess at speeds or distances.
• Check your excess and whether it's waived when the other driver is identified and at fault.
• Know your cover type. Comprehensive covers damage to your car. Third party, fire and theft, and third party only, generally only cover damage you cause to other people's property.
• Keep everything in writing: your claim number, emails, quotes and receipts.

If you're unhappy with how your claim is handled, use your insurer's internal complaints process first. If that doesn't resolve it, you can take the complaint free of charge to the insurer's dispute resolution scheme, such as the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO).

Step 8: Sort out towing and storage

If your car can't be driven, Police may arrange a tow, or you can call your insurer's roadside or towing service. Before your car is taken, ask where it's going and photograph it on the truck.

This is where people lose money. Many tow and storage yards charge daily storage, and those fees keep running while the insurer assesses the car, while you wait for quotes, or while you make up your mind. If you're insured, ask the insurer to move the car to their assessment yard. If you're uninsured, get a clear decision made within days, not weeks.

Remove your personal belongings, documents, garage remote, child seats, toll tags and number-plate-linked accounts as soon as you can.

Step 9: Repair, write-off or sell

If it's repairable

The insurer usually assesses the damage and authorises repairs, often at a preferred panel shop. You can usually ask about using a repairer you trust. Make sure any structural, airbag or safety-system repairs are done properly and documented.

If it's written off

When repairs would cost more than the car is worth, the insurer declares it a total loss. They pay out the market or agreed value set out in your policy, less any excess, and usually take ownership of the wreck. Some insurers let you keep the damaged car for a reduced payout. If the car is badly damaged, it may be recorded as a statutory write-off, which means it can never be legally re-registered or driven on the road again. Our used car buying checklist explains the different kinds of write-off in more detail.

If you're uninsured

If the other driver was at fault, ask them or their insurer to pay for your damage, in writing, with photos and repair quotes. If they won't, you can file a claim with the Disputes Tribunal (claims of up to $30,000). If you caused the crash, the cost of fixing your own car is yours. Either way, if the repair bill is higher than the car is worth, selling it as an accident-damaged vehicle stops the storage fees and puts some cash back in your pocket. Our guide on whether it's worth fixing an old car walks through the numbers, and our 2026 price guide shows typical values for damaged cars.

Don't forget the paperwork

If the car is sold, written off to an insurer or wrecked, make sure the change of ownership is lodged with NZTA so you're not liable for anything that happens to it later. You may also be able to get a refund on unused registration (vehicle licence) once the car is off the road.

Common mistakes that cost Kiwi drivers money

Frequently asked questions

Sources and further reading

• New Zealand Police: Reporting crashes and traffic incidents
• NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi: The official New Zealand road code and vehicle ownership
• New Zealand Legislation: Land Transport Act 1998
• ACC: Getting help after an injury
• Insurance Council of New Zealand: Motor vehicle insurance
• Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman: Insurance complaints
• Ministry of Justice: Disputes Tribunal
• Consumer Protection (MBIE): Insurance and your rights

This guide is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Laws, policies and processes can change, so check with NZ Police, NZTA, ACC and your insurer for advice on your situation.

The most important things after a crash are simple: keep people safe, get the right details, see a doctor, and tell your insurer. And if your car has come off second best and isn't worth fixing, Car Wreckers Palmerston North buys accident-damaged and written-off cars anywhere in Palmerston North and the Manawatū. We collect free from your home, a panel shop or a tow yard, handle the NZTA paperwork and pay you on the spot. Call 0800 153 019.