Failing to stop after an accident: what the law requires, and what happens
Failing to stop after an accident, or failing to report it, means 5 to 10 penalty points or a ban. There is no fixed penalty: it always goes to court. In the worst cases the court can send you to prison for up to 6 months.
Many people charged with this did something. They left a note, or stopped for a moment, or rang the police later. Whether that was enough depends on exactly what the law asks of you.
Check your own case →About two minutes. It goes straight to the questions about failing to stop or report an accident. Your answers stay on your device.
At a glance
| Points on your licence | 5 to 10, or a ban instead |
|---|---|
| Fixed penalty | None. The case goes to court |
| Fine at court | Usually one to one and a half weeks’ take-home pay (Bands B and C) |
| The most serious cases | A community order, or up to 6 months in prison |
| Most the fine can be | Unlimited |
| Ban | Possible: up to 6 months in middling cases, 6 to 12 months in the worst |
| Offence code | AC10 (not stopping) or AC20 (not reporting) |
What the law requires
The duty applies when your vehicle is involved in an accident on a road or in a public place, and any of these happens:
- someone other than you is injured;
- another vehicle is damaged;
- property on or next to the road is damaged, such as a wall, a fence or a lamp post; or
- certain animals not in your vehicle are hurt, including a dog, a horse, a sheep or cattle.
If it does, you must stop, and stay long enough for anyone who has reason to ask to get your details. That is your name and address, the owner’s name and address, and the registration number.
If you did not give your details to someone at the scene, you must report the accident to the police. It has to be in person, at a police station or to a police officer. You must do it as soon as you reasonably can, and in any case within 24 hours.
Leaving a note on a parked car is not enough on its own. You still have to report it. And 24 hours is the latest you can report, not a grace period. If you could have reported it sooner, you should have.
If someone was injured, you also have to show your insurance, at the scene or when you report it. If you cannot, you have up to 7 days to take it to a police station.
How the court decides how serious it was
The court looks at two things. Did the accident cause an injury or significant damage? And is there something that makes it worse? That means you knew or thought someone was hurt, you gave false details, or you drove off to avoid a breath test or being arrested.
| The case | Usual sentence | Points or ban |
|---|---|---|
| Neither | A fine (Band B) | 5 to 6 points |
| One of them | A fine (Band C), or a community order | 7 to 8 points, or a ban of up to 6 months |
| Both | A community order, or up to 6 months in prison | 9 to 10 points, or a ban of 6 to 12 months |
Not stopping at all is usually treated as worse than stopping and then failing to report. If you did both, you may be charged with both. The codes are AC10 for not stopping and AC20 for not reporting.
If you already have points, 5 to 10 more may take you to 12. That normally means a ban of at least six months. Our guide to 12 points and totting up explains how that works. If you passed your test less than two years ago, 6 points means the DVLA takes your licence away.
Your fine, on your income
At court the fine is a share of your weekly income after tax, and there is no upper limit. Pick the description closest to your case and put your figures in. Nothing you type leaves this page.
How the court gets from your income to a fine is explained on the court fine calculator page.
Is there a defence?
Often there is something to look at. The main questions are:
- Did you know there had been an accident? Generally you are only guilty if you knew. A small knock you did not feel or hear, especially in a large vehicle, can be a defence. The court will decide whether it believes you.
- Did the duty apply at all? Damage only to your own car, or an accident on private land that is not open to the public, may not count.
- Did you do enough? If you stopped and gave your details to someone who asked, you did not also have to report it. If you reported it in person within the time, you met the duty.
Getting the details wrong is common, and it cuts both ways. Ringing the police, or sending details through your insurer, may not count as reporting. Take advice before you plead.
What should I do now?
- Write down what happened, including when you realised, what you did next, and who you spoke to. Keep any texts, call logs or dashcam footage.
- If you have not reported it yet, get advice straight away about doing so.
- Check how many points you already have with the DVLA’s view your driving licence service.
- Reply to any letter by its deadline. If the police have asked who was driving, see our guide to naming the driver.
Check your own case →About two minutes. It goes straight to the questions about failing to stop or report an accident. Your answers stay on your device.
Common questions
How many points do you get for failing to stop?
Between 5 and 10, or the court can ban you instead. The more serious the case, the more points: 5 to 6 at the lowest level, 9 to 10 at the highest.
Can you go to prison for failing to stop after an accident?
Yes, in the most serious cases. The most the court can give is 6 months. That is usually where someone was hurt and you knew it, or you drove off to avoid a breath test.
How long do I have to report an accident to the police?
As soon as you reasonably can, and no later than 24 hours. It must be in person, at a police station or to a police officer. You only have to report it if you did not give your details at the scene.
Is leaving a note on the car enough?
No. A note does not meet the duty to stop and give details to the owner. If the owner was not there, you still have to report it to the police.
What if I did not know I had hit anything?
Then you are generally not guilty. The offence needs you to have known there had been an accident. The court decides whether it accepts that, so evidence matters.
Is there a fixed penalty for failing to stop?
No. The case goes to court, where there is no upper limit on the fine.
Sources: Road Traffic Act 1988, section 170; Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, Schedule 2; Sentencing Council, Fail to stop/report road accident; New Drivers Act 1995. This page is information about the law in England and Wales, not legal advice on your case. Law stated as at 26 September 2026.