After a minor crash must I call the police or is a European accident report enough?
It depends on the severity: in a category 1 crash - only minor material damage and agreement on what happened - you need not call the police; the parties fill in a European accident report. If anyone is injured (a category 2, 3 or 4 crash), notifying the police is compulsory. You also call the police when you cannot agree on fault, when you suspect the other driver is under the influence of alcohol, when there is damage to public infrastructure, or when a party flees the scene. The widespread myth that a completed European report means admitting fault is wrong - it is an agreed record of the facts for the insurer, while fault is judged by the insurer or a court. Drivers carry the form with them (it comes with the green card or the policy), and once filled in and signed it is the basis for claiming damages. You must secure the scene and, if needed, give first aid, otherwise the liable party's responsibility grows.
📋 The rules
- A category 1 crash (material damage only, agreement on fault): the police are not required, you fill in a European accident report.
- If there are injuries (categories 2-4), notifying the police (call 113) is compulsory.
- Call the police also if you dispute fault, suspect alcohol, damage public infrastructure, or a party flees.
- A European report is not an admission of fault but an agreed record of facts for the insurer; both drivers sign it.
- The driver must stop, secure the scene, help the injured and exchange personal and insurance details.
🔓 Exceptions
- If only a foreign vehicle or a driver without Slovenian insurance is involved, it is better to call the police for the record.
- If you damage a parked vehicle or a public sign with no owner present, leave your details or notify the police, or it may count as fleeing.
- If the crash cannot be moved safely or it blocks traffic, call the police regardless of the category.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A driver who flees the scene of a crash they were involved in commits a serious offence: under the Road Traffic Rules Act the set penalty is a €1,200 fine and 18 penalty points, which usually means losing the driving licence. If a driver fails to notify the police at a crash with injuries or does not give aid, the consequences are both regulatory and potentially criminal. Concealed or false details in the European report can lead to a refused or reduced payout, because the insurer checks it against the claim. If the party at fault drove without a valid licence, under the influence, or without valid cover, the insurer can later bill the paid damages back in a recourse claim that may run to thousands of euros. Failing to secure the scene, causing further damage, also increases the liable party's responsibility.
📎 Official sources
- Police - what to do after a traffic accident →
- PISRS - Road Traffic Rules Act (ZPrCP) →
- e-uprava - traffic accidents and claiming damage →
❓ Frequently asked
When must I call the police?
You must notify the police whenever someone is injured, when you cannot agree on fault with the other party, or when you suspect alcohol. For minor material damage with agreement on what happened, you need not call them - a European report is enough.
Is a European report an admission of fault?
No, a European report is only an agreed record of the facts and circumstances of the crash for the insurer, not an admission of liability. Fault is judged by the insurer or a court on the report and other evidence, so it is safe to complete even if you disagree about blame.
What if the other driver flees?
If a party flees the scene, note the number plate and call the police, as this is a serious offence. A driver at fault who flees faces a €1,200 fine and 18 penalty points, and consequently loses the driving licence.
Where do I get a European report form?
Your insurer hands you the form when you take out car insurance, and it comes with the green card or policy. It is wise to keep a blank ready-to-use form in the vehicle at all times, since you need it to file a claim after a crash.
What if I hit a parked car with no owner around?
If you damage a parked vehicle or public infrastructure and no owner is present, you must leave your details or notify the police. If you drive off without doing so, it can count as leaving the scene, punished as strictly as fleeing.
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