After an accident with a rental car abroad, secure the scene and call 112 if anyone is hurt.
- ECC France advises calling the police when you drive a rental car, and contacting the rental company for instructions.
- Fill in the European Accident Statement with the other driver, photograph everything, and keep copies.
- Afterwards, the rental contract and your excess decide what you pay, so ask for the damage invoice and check it.
A roundabout in Seville, a narrow street in Porto, a car park in Nice. A small collision abroad feels much bigger than at home: a strange language, an unknown car and a contract you barely read. A clear routine in the first hour protects you for months afterwards. Here it is, based on what the European Consumer Centres advise.
In the first minutes: safety
ECC France starts with the basics:
- stay calm, put on a high-visibility vest and secure the scene, for example with the warning triangle;
- look after anyone who is injured and call 112, the European emergency number, if needed;
- move to a safe place if the cars are in a dangerous position and nobody is hurt.
Most rental cars carry a vest and a warning triangle. Check for them at pick-up, together with the blank accident form.
Call the police
ECC France lists the situations in which you call the police: when the accident is serious, when the other driver will not cooperate, in a hit-and-run, and when you drive a rental car. In some countries, calling the police is always required. Konsumentverket advises contacting the police even for minor damage and keeping copies of the police report and the damage report.
A police report is often the document your rental company and your insurer ask for first.
Contact the rental company
ECC France advises contacting the rental company for instructions. The emergency number is usually on the key fob, a sticker in the windscreen, or the contract. Ask:
- whether they want you to wait for a tow or drive on if the car is safe;
- where to take the car, and whether a replacement car is available;
- which forms they need from you.
Write down the time of the call and the name of the person you spoke to.
Fill in the European Accident Statement
ECC France gives precise advice for the European Accident Statement, known in France as the constat amiable:
- fill in the form together with the other driver, one set per insurer;
- both copies must have identical content and be signed by both drivers;
- count the boxes ticked in the middle section and write the number down, so nothing can be added later;
- write any disagreement in the remarks; if you disagree strongly, do not sign.
The form is standardised, so you can each use a version in your own language. If there is no form, ECC France advises writing down the other driver's details, plate, green card number and a description of the accident, twice, and having both drivers sign both copies.
Photograph everything
Take photos and video of:
- both cars, close up and from a distance, with the plates visible;
- the road, signs, traffic lights and road markings;
- the other driver's licence, insurance document or green card (ask first);
- any witnesses' contact details.
Keep the paperwork together
Keep the accident statement, the police report, the rental contract and your photos in one place. If you continue the trip in a replacement car, ask for a new contract and a new pick-up report for that car.
The other driver's insurance
Every car in the EU has third-party liability insurance, and the green card system makes sure it is recognised across borders. The UK Motor Insurers' Bureau explains that within the area of free circulation, which includes the EEA and countries such as Switzerland and Serbia, the number plate itself counts as proof of insurance. If the other driver caused the accident, their insurer pays for the damage to your rental car, but the rental company may still charge your excess first and recover it later.
After the trip: the bill
What you pay for the rental car depends on your contract. With a collision damage waiver, you usually pay up to the excess. With desk super cover, often nothing. With your own excess insurance, you pay first and claim back. ECC-Net notes that third-party liability is included in the rental price, so damage to the other car is not your bill.
When the charge arrives:
- ask for the damage invoice or estimate and the photos;
- check the amount with the amount check;
- if you have your own excess cover, claim it back with the documents; see how to claim your excess back;
- if the charge goes beyond the excess or covers damage that was not part of the accident, object in writing with the sample letters.
Driving in another country than the rental country
If the accident happened in a country your contract did not allow, your damage waiver may not apply there. Read driving a rental car to another country to understand the risk before your next trip. And for how the cover layers fit together, see CDW, excess and super cover explained.
Frequently asked questions
Should I call the police for a small scrape?
With a rental car, yes. ECC France lists driving a rental car as a reason to call the police, and Konsumentverket advises contacting the police even for minor damage and keeping the report.
What if the other driver does not speak my language?
The European Accident Statement is the same form in every language. Each of you can use a version in your own language, as long as both copies have the same content and are signed by both.
Who pays for the damage to the rental car?
That depends on your contract. With a collision damage waiver, you usually pay up to the excess. Damage to the other car is covered by the rental car's third-party liability insurance, which ECC-Net says is included in the rental price.