Reporting to police and getting your event number

Why you need it

The insurer uses the police event number to confirm the accident happened. You need one to lodge a CTP claim, and you give it to the insurer with your claim or as soon as you have it.

An event number is usually the letter E followed by numbers, for example E12345678.

How to report

• At the scene, if anyone is seriously hurt, trapped or in danger, call 000.
• If police didn't come, call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or go to a police station. Tell them someone was injured, even if the injury only showed up later.
• Don't use the online crash reporting form. It isn't for crashes where someone was injured.

Have the date, time and exact place ready, plus the vehicles' number plates and the other drivers' details if you have them. Ask for the event number and write it down.

Within 28 days, unless police attended

For a CTP claim, report the crash to police within 28 days of the accident, unless police attended, and give the insurer the police event number. This applies to every CTP claim, not only hit-and-run cases.

If police came to the scene, ask them for the event number, or call 131 444 to get it.

Two different clocks

There are two separate rules, and they're easy to mix up:

• The road rules generally require a crash where someone is injured to be reported to police as soon as possible, and within 24 hours except in exceptional circumstances.
• Separately, a CTP claim needs the accident reported within 28 days, unless police attended.

If you're past either time, report it now anyway. The sooner, the better.

You can lodge while you wait

You don't have to wait for the event number before you lodge. Lodge your claim, and give the insurer the number when you have it. Don't let the wait push you past 28 days. See how to make a CTP claim.

Lost your number?

Call 131 444 and ask. Have the date, time and place of the accident ready so police can find the report.

Hit-and-run

If the vehicle drove off, reporting to police is part of the "due inquiry and search" you must make to try to identify it, along with things like speaking to witnesses and public appeals for witnesses. Report it promptly. See hit-and-run and uninsured vehicles.

No event number?

If you can't get an event number, the insurer may ask for other proof, such as photos, witness statements, a hospital discharge summary or dashcam footage.

Keep the details of any property damage claim too. If you can't give the CTP insurer a police event number, it may ask for them to confirm the crash happened.

Didn't report it within 28 days?

Report it now and be ready to explain the delay. Talk to us if you're worried, and see the after-an-accident checklist for the other early steps.