Car accident abroad with a rental car: what to do, step by step

It isn't just a feeling: a study by Adli Al-Balbissi, published in 2001 in the Journal of Transportation Engineering, found that rental cars show a noticeably higher accident rate than the general vehicle fleet, largely because their drivers are less familiar with the vehicle and with local traffic rules (study available on Google Scholar: scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Al-Balbissi+2001+Unique+Accident+Trend+of+Rental+Cars). A more recent study by Richard Tay and Jaisung Choi, published in 2017 in the Journal of Advanced Transportation using South Korean data, confirms the trend and sharpens the picture: crashes involving rental cars involve more risky driving behaviour and more drivers under 25 than crashes involving personal vehicles (scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Tay+Choi+2017+Differences+in+Rental+and+Nonrental+Car+Crashes).

The common thread in both studies matches what shows up on the ground during a self-drive road trip: an unfamiliar vehicle (gearbox, size, blind spots), driving on the opposite side or reading unfamiliar road signs, and local rules that travellers sometimes only discover at the moment of the accident itself. All the more reason to know the procedure before leaving, rather than improvising it on the side of the road.

As with any accident: switch off the engine, turn on the hazard lights, set out the warning triangle and reflective vest (mandatory in most countries, usually supplied with the rental car) and move occupants to safety, off the roadway. If anyone is injured, the absolute priority is calling emergency services — dial the local emergency number rather than a number from home, since it varies by country (112 across Europe and much of the world, 911 in the US and Canada, 10111 in South Africa, 999 in Botswana, 110/119 in Japan).

Only move the vehicle if safety requires it (heavy traffic, a blind bend) and, if possible, photograph the scene before moving anything — the position of the vehicles, brake marks, surrounding signage. These photos will matter to both the police and the insurer.

This is where travellers get it wrong most often, since home-country rules (no police needed for a minor bump with no injury) don't apply everywhere. In several self-drive destinations, a police report is a contractual requirement of the rental company for any claim, even a minor one — without it, the full excess can stay on the driver's tab regardless of any insurance held.

Whether or not a police report gets filed, documentation is still on you. Photograph each vehicle from several angles, the number plates, close-ups of the damage, and a wide shot showing the vehicles' position and nearby signage. Always note down: the other driver's name and contact details, their insurance policy number, their vehicle registration, and — if witnesses are present — their contact details too.

If an accident statement form is available (supplied by the rental company, or the local standard), fill it in on the spot with the other party rather than putting it off — once the vehicles have gone their separate ways, getting a signature becomes much harder. Keep a copy or a photo of the completed form before parting ways.

Nearly every rental contract requires notifying the company of any incident within a short window after the accident — typically 24 to 48 hours, sometimes immediately for specialist southern African 4x4 rental companies, whose vehicles are often fitted with a satellite phone or radio precisely for this scenario. Missing that window can, depending on the terms and conditions, invalidate part of the cover even when the accident itself isn't in dispute.

The rental company then tells you what happens next: an approved garage for the damage assessment, a possible replacement vehicle, and which documents to send (police report if applicable, accident statement, photos). On remote tracks in Namibia, Botswana or Iceland, out of mobile signal, the nearest point of contact (a camp, lodge or fuel station) can relay the call to the rental company until you're back in range.

When picking up the vehicle, most rental companies place a hold on your card for a deposit (often €500 to €3,000 depending on the vehicle and country, more for an equipped 4x4). If a claim arises, that amount — capped at the contract's excess — is what gets charged first, ahead of any later reimbursement from a third-party insurer or your card's own cover.

Getting that excess back, if it's covered, happens afterwards: an excess waiver paid to the rental company at the counter, a premium credit card's built-in cover, or a dedicated travel insurance policy — each with its own paperwork and deadlines. Without one of these in place, the excess stays entirely on the driver, which is why it's worth checking before departure rather than after an accident.

Never leave the scene without exchanging details or, where local law requires it, without a police report: in several countries this counts as a hit-and-run, even for a minor bump. Never sign a document in a language you don't understand without asking for a translation or at least a plain-language summary — some local forms include an admission of fault that's not worth signing lightly. Finally, never repair the vehicle yourself or through a garage not approved by the rental company: costs incurred that way are rarely reimbursed, and the repair can void cover for the rest of the rental.

Each of our country guides details, for that destination, the local emergency number, the procedure rental companies expect after an incident, and the real excess amounts charged — so you leave with the procedure already in mind rather than discovering it on the side of the road.