How to exchange details after a crash
You need the other driver's details and are not sure what to actually ask for.
Ask for the other driver’s full name, identity card number, phone number, driving licence number and vehicle registration, and offer the same in return. A calm, businesslike exchange, done once everyone is safe, is enough; it does not need to feel confrontational.
The details worth collecting
- Full name and identity card number.
- Phone number that is actually reachable, ideally called or messaged once to confirm it works.
- Driving licence number.
- Vehicle registration number, matched against the vehicle in front of you.
- Insurance company name, if they have it to hand.
Making the exchange feel less awkward
Framing it as routine, something both drivers are expected to do, tends to lower the tension. A simple line such as “let’s swap details so we can both sort this out properly” usually works better than demanding information abruptly.
Photographing their identity card, licence and vehicle registration, with their knowledge, is more reliable than copying numbers down by hand while shaken.
If the other driver is reluctant
Some drivers hesitate, especially if they suspect they were at fault. Stay calm, ask once more, and if they still will not cooperate, focus on what you can capture yourself: the vehicle registration, a photo of the vehicle and driver, and a note of the time and location.
Whatever you cannot get from them personally can often still be traced later through the police report and the vehicle’s registration.
After the exchange is done
Once you have exchanged details, what to do after a road accident sets out the fuller sequence for the rest of the day, and lodging a police report explains how to formally record the accident, including what you gathered here.
If they refuse to give anything at all
A driver who drives off without exchanging any details is a different situation, closer to a hit-and-run, and needs a different approach covered in making a road accident claim, particularly around what evidence still helps even without their cooperation.
Common questions
Is a phone number enough, or do I need more?
A phone number alone is not enough, since numbers change and people can be hard to reach later. Aim for identity card number, licence number and vehicle registration as well, ideally confirmed with a photo of each document.
What if the other driver refuses to show their identity card?
Ask politely once more, and if they still refuse, note down whatever you do have, such as the vehicle registration and a description of the driver, then let the police report capture the rest.
Should I photograph their documents or write the numbers down?
A clear photo, taken with their knowledge, is more reliable than copying numbers by hand under pressure, since it is easy to misread a digit while shaken. Use both if you can manage it.
Do I need to exchange details even if the damage looks very minor?
Yes. A dent that looks small now can turn out to involve hidden mechanical damage or an injury that surfaces later, and having proper details avoids a difficult search for a stranger afterward.