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Documents and photos to collect after a car accident

Vaidas Labanauskas, 23 years in insurance · reviewed

Use this checklist at the scene so nothing is missed before the vehicles are moved. It is a preparation checklist, not the European Accident Statement form — ask your insurer for a blank form.

Take photos only when it is safe. Some countries require drivers to move their vehicles out of the way quickly when only property is damaged — for example Germany (for minor damage) and Poland, and Italy where possible.

Keep in the car

  • Driving licence
  • Vehicle registration document
  • Insurance certificate, and the Green Card if applicable
  • A blank European Accident Statement from your insurer, and a pen
  • A charged phone
  • Warning triangle and high-visibility vest — check the rules of the countries you drive in

At the scene: details to record

  • Date, time and exact place
  • Names, addresses and phone numbers of the drivers
  • Registration numbers and countries of registration of all vehicles
  • Insurers and policy numbers, and Green Card numbers if applicable
  • Names and phone numbers of witnesses
  • Which police attended and the report number, if any

Photos to take, when it is safe

  • The whole scene and the positions of the vehicles
  • Damage to each vehicle, close up and from a distance
  • Number plates
  • Road signs, markings and traffic lights
  • The other driver’s documents, only with their permission

After the accident: keep

  • Your copy of the signed statement
  • All photos
  • Receipts for towing, repairs and travel
  • Letters and emails with the insurers, and the claim number

Checklist © Minsas UAB — free to reuse under CC BY 4.0

Practical tips for photos

  • Lighting: stand so that your shadow does not fall on the damage, check for reflections, use the flash in the dark and wipe the lens.
  • Angles: take close, wide and side-on shots of each vehicle. A photo from a raised position, such as a kerb, helps show the layout.
  • Number plates: get a sharp, readable photo of each plate before anything is moved, if it is safe.

Practical tips for documents

  • Policy number: it is on your insurance certificate. A digital copy on your phone helps if the paper is at home.
  • Contact email: use an address you check regularly.
  • Blank form: ask your insurer for a blank European Accident Statement and keep it in the car. How to fill it in: How to fill in the European Accident Statement.

FAQ

No. It is our own preparation checklist. The European Accident Statement is a separate form; ask your insurer for a blank copy.

When it is safe: wide shots that show the vehicle positions and the wider scene, close-ups of every area of damage, each number plate and any relevant road signs. Take them before anything is moved if that is safe and quick.

Driver licence, vehicle registration, insurance policy details, Green Card if applicable, and a contact email for delivery. Both drivers should swap registration numbers and insurer details on the spot.

Yes. Sketch where each vehicle was, the direction of travel, and the exact location on a map. Minsas guides you through placing vehicles A/B, adding directions, and picking the location.

Take multiple angles of each vehicle, close-ups of damage, the wider scene, road signs and licence plates. More is better — choose the clearest ones when you submit to your insurer.

Sources

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