On this page
If you have an accident in France, you must stop. Make the scene safe, call 112 if anyone is hurt, and exchange details with the other driver. For a damage-only accident, French drivers fill in a constat amiable, the European accident statement, together at the scene, and each sends it to their insurer. Carry a blank form in the car, and call your own insurer as soon as you can.
At the scene: protect, alert, help
France’s road safety service sums up what to do in three words: protéger, alerter, secourir: protect, alert, help.
- Stop as soon and as close to the accident as you can without putting anyone in danger. Leaving the scene is a criminal offence.
- Protect: hazard lights on, hi-vis vest on before getting out, and everyone out on the side away from the traffic. On an ordinary road, put your warning triangle at least 30 metres behind if it’s safe to.
- Alert: call 112 if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked. The operator puts you through to the right service.
- Help: help injured people if you can do so safely, but don’t move them unless they’re in danger, and don’t take off a motorcyclist’s helmet.
| Number | For |
|---|---|
| 112 | Any emergency, anywhere in the EU. The operator sends the right service. |
| 15 | Medical emergency (SAMU). |
| 17 | Police and gendarmerie, including road accidents. |
| 18 | Fire brigade, who also attend road accidents. |
| 114 | For deaf or hard-of-hearing people: by text, chat or video. |
Numbers from Service-Public, France’s official public information service.
Collect the details
Whatever happens with the form, collect:
- the other driver’s name, address and licence details
- the other vehicle’s registration number, make and model
- their insurance company and policy number
- names and phone numbers of any witnesses
- photos of the vehicles, the damage, their positions, the road, and any signs or markings
- the exact place and time
If you were on an autoroute, note the direction and the nearest kilometre marker or junction.
The constat amiable explained
The constat amiable (in full, constat amiable d’accident automobile) is the European accident statement. It’s a two-page form with a carbon copy that both drivers fill in together at the scene. According to France’s foreign ministry, the form is the same throughout Europe, so if you have an English version and the other driver has a French one, the boxes match exactly. Ask your UK insurer for a blank form before you go, and keep it in the glovebox.
Filling it in
- One form per pair of vehicles. If three cars are involved, fill in one form with the car in front and another with the car behind.
- Vehicle A and vehicle B: each driver fills in one side with their details, vehicle and insurance.
- Circumstances (box 12): each driver ticks the boxes that describe what they were doing, such as parked, overtaking, turning right, and writes the number of boxes ticked.
- Sketch (box 13): draw the road layout, the positions of the vehicles, their direction and the point of impact.
- Observations (box 14): write anything you disagree with or want to add, in English if you need to.
- Sign the front, both drivers. Each keeps one copy.
Only sign what you understand and agree with. Once both drivers have signed, the front can’t be changed. If you don’t agree, say so in the Observations box. The back of the form, the declaration to your insurer, can be filled in later, on your own.
If the other driver refuses to fill in or sign the form, Service-Public’s advice is to note their number plate, get witness details and write the refusal under Observations, then send the form to your insurer anyway. If they drive off, report it to the police or gendarmerie.
The e-constat app only works when both vehicles are registered and insured in France, so with a UK car you need the paper form.
When the police are involved
If anyone is injured, the police or gendarmerie attend, secure the scene, take statements and write a report. For damage only, French drivers usually settle the matter with the constat amiable alone. If the other driver leaves the scene, file a complaint at the nearest gendarmerie or police station.
Leaving the scene of an accident (délit de fuite) is a criminal offence: according to the Gendarmerie, it carries up to 3 years in prison and a €75,000 fine. You must stop, give the other people involved your identity and your vehicle’s details, and call for help if needed.
Your UK insurance
Contact your insurer as soon as you can: its 24-hour claims number is on your policy documents. In France, a constat must reach the insurer within five working days; a UK insurer has its own rules, so check your policy, but the sooner the better. Keep the original constat, photos, the police report reference, receipts and any medical certificates.
- Injuries: get a medical certificate from a doctor or hospital describing your injuries. If pain starts hours later, have it checked and tell your insurer.
- Repairs: ask your insurer before agreeing to any repairs in France. If your breakdown cover is involved, they may arrange recovery or a hire car.
- Claiming from the other driver: compensation is generally decided under the law of the country where the accident happened. Since Brexit, the UK’s Motor Insurers’ Bureau no longer acts as the compensation body for UK residents injured in an accident in the EU, so you may need to claim directly from the French driver’s insurer. Legal expenses cover, often an add-on to UK car insurance, can pay for advice.
Before you go, check your insurance covers France and for how long: see insurance and breakdown cover for France.
If you’re in a hire car
Check your rental agreement and the glovebox for the hire company’s accident instructions, and follow them. Fill in the constat with the other driver, and call the hire company’s emergency number as soon as possible. More in hiring a car in France.
Print an emergency card
Print this card, add your breakdown and insurance numbers, and keep it in the glovebox.
If it goes wrong in France
Print it, fill in your numbers, and keep it in the glovebox with your documents.
Emergency numbers
- 112 Any emergency, anywhere in the EU
- 15 Medical emergency (SAMU)
- 17 Police and gendarmerie
- 18 Fire brigade, also road accidents
- 114 By text, for deaf or hard-of-hearing people
Broken down: ordinary road
- Get off the road if you can. Hazard lights on.
- Hi-vis vests on before anyone gets out.
- Everyone out on the right, away from the traffic: in a UK car, passengers slide across.
- Warning triangle at least 30 m behind, if it's safe.
- Call your breakdown cover.
Broken down: autoroute
- Reach a rest area if you can, or stop far right on the hard shoulder.
- Vests on, everyone out on the right, away from the traffic. No triangle.
- Call from an orange emergency phone (at least every 2 km), the SOS Autoroute app or 112. Not your UK cover first.
- Fixed tow price 2026: €151 (up to 1.8 t) or €186.72 (1.8 to 3.5 t), +50% nights, weekends and public holidays. Keep the receipt.
Accident
- Stop. Leaving the scene is a criminal offence.
- Hazards, vests, make the scene safe. Call 112 if anyone is hurt.
- Swap details; photograph cars, damage, road and signs; get witnesses.
- Fill in the constat amiable together. Don't sign what you don't understand: use the Observations box.
- Call your insurer as soon as you can.
Useful French
- Je suis en panne. I've broken down.
- Il y a des blessés. People are injured.
- J'ai besoin d'une dépanneuse. I need a tow truck.
- Je suis sur l'autoroute A…, direction… I'm on the A… heading for…
- Je ne suis pas d'accord. I don't agree.
My numbers
driving-france.co.uk · checked October 2026 · Nothing you type here is saved or sent.
Useful French phrases
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Il y a eu un accident. | There’s been an accident. |
| Il y a des blessés. | People are injured. |
| Remplissons un constat. | Let’s fill in an accident statement. |
| Quelle est votre compagnie d’assurance ? | Who is your insurance company? |
| Je ne suis pas d’accord. | I don’t agree. |
| Je ne signe pas. | I’m not signing. |
| Pouvez-vous appeler la police ? | Can you call the police? |
Before you go
- Ask your insurer for a blank European accident statement, ideally in English, and keep it in the glovebox with a pen.
- Save your insurer’s 24-hour claims number and your breakdown cover’s number in your phone.
- Check your insurance covers France, and whether you have legal expenses cover.
- Keep hi-vis vests in the cabin and the warning triangle in the car.
What to do if you have an accident in France FAQs
What should I do after a car accident in France?
Stop as soon and as close to the accident as you safely can. Put your hazard lights and hi-vis vest on, make the scene safe, and call 112 if anyone is hurt. Exchange details with the other driver, fill in a constat amiable (European accident statement) together, take photos, get witness details, and contact your insurer.
What is a constat amiable?
The European accident statement: a two-copy form both drivers fill in together at the scene, describing what happened, with a sketch. Both sign it, each keeps a copy and sends it to their insurer. The form is the same across Europe, so an English version matches the French one box for box.
Do I have to sign the constat amiable?
Both drivers must sign the front for it to be valid. Only sign if you agree with what it says, and never sign something you don't understand: you can write your own comments in the Observations box. Once signed, the front can't be changed.
What if the other driver refuses to fill in the constat?
Note their number plate, get the details of any witnesses, and write the refusal in the Observations box. Send the form to your insurer anyway. If they drive off, report it to the police or gendarmerie.
Do I need to call the police after an accident in France?
If anyone is injured, yes: call 112 or 17 (police). For damage only, French drivers usually settle it with the constat amiable without the police. If the other driver leaves the scene, report it.
What is the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident in France?
Leaving the scene (délit de fuite) is a criminal offence: up to 3 years in prison and a €75,000 fine, according to the Gendarmerie. You must stop, give your identity and your vehicle's details, and call for help if needed.
How quickly do I need to tell my insurer?
In France the constat must reach the insurer within five working days. A UK insurer sets its own rules, so check your policy and contact them as soon as you can, ideally from the scene.
Can I make a claim in the UK after an accident in France?
Your own insurer deals with your claim under your policy. Claiming compensation from the other driver's insurer is usually governed by French law, and since Brexit the UK's Motor Insurers' Bureau no longer acts as the compensation body for UK residents injured in EU accidents. Legal expenses cover on your policy can help.