Home › Driving in Europe › The European Accident Statement

Accident report

The European Accident Statement, explained simply

The same form everywhere in Europe, filled in by both drivers after a collision. Here's what it's for, how to complete it box by box, and the mistakes that cost you.

General guidance only. Statement layouts and claims practices can vary by country and insurer, and change over time. This guide is provided "as is", on a best-effort basis. Refer to the notes printed on your own form and to your insurer's instructions.

What is the European Accident Statement?

It is a standardised form, identical across Europe, that both drivers fill in together after a minor collision. The boxes carry the same numbers in every language: a French driver and a Spanish driver can each use their own copy, and the result still reads clearly for both insurers.

It suits a damage-only accident, usually between two vehicles, with no injuries. If anyone is hurt, there's a hazard, or there's a serious disagreement, first call the emergency services (112) or the police.

The front: the shared part, signed by both

The front describes the accident and commits both drivers. Complete it on the spot, before you part ways. Its main boxes:

• 1–5 — Date, place, injuries (even minor), damage to other vehicles or objects, witnesses.
• 6–9 — For each vehicle A and B: policyholder, vehicle (make, registration), insurer and policy number, driver (licence).
• 10 — Point of initial impact, shown with an arrow.
• 11 — Visible damage.
• 12 — Circumstances: a list of tick boxes (parked, changing lane, reversing, failing to give way…). The decisive box.
• 13 — Sketch of the accident: position of the vehicles, direction of travel, signs, street names.
• 14 — Remarks (and any disagreement).
• 15 — Signatures of both drivers.

The 5 boxes that make the difference

1. Box 12 (circumstances). Tick exactly what happened, then write the total number of ticks in the space provided, for each vehicle — this prevents a tick being added later.
2. Box 13 (sketch). Draw it clearly: lanes, direction of travel, position at impact, signs and lights, street names. This is often what settles the case.
3. Box 10 (point of impact). The arrow must point to the first point of contact, not the whole area of damage.
4. Box 8 (insurance). Copy the insurer, policy number and agency details without error — that's how the insurers reach each other.
5. Box 15 (signatures). Once signed, the front can no longer be changed. Each driver leaves with one copy (the carbonless duplicate).

The back: your own statement, filled in separately

The back is not signed jointly. Each driver sets out their own version, calmly, before sending the form to their insurer. You can add context and useful details there, but you can no longer contradict what you signed on the front.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leaving before the front is filled in. Once the vehicles separate, details and contact information are gone.
• Signing when you disagree. If you disagree, don't sign the front, or note it in box 14.
• A rough sketch. Without a clear diagram, the insurer reconstructs the scene poorly.
• Forgetting witnesses. A name and a number in box 5 can change everything.
• Skipping photos. The form doesn't show the scene: photograph positions, damage, plates and signs before moving the vehicles.

Questions drivers ask

Last updated: June 2026.

Read this guide: Français · English

← All "Driving in Europe" guides