00WHAT THE HIGHWAY CODE SAYS

A note is kind.
The law asks for more.

A folded paper note tucked under the windscreen wiper of a parked car on a quiet residential street in soft morning light — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

A scrape in a car park happens to careful drivers too.

Leaving a note under the wiper feels like the honest thing to do. But the Road Traffic Act sets out what a driver must do after a collision that damages someone else's car or property, and a note is not mentioned in it.

24 HOURSto report if you can't swap detailsUpdated 18 October 2026

Check your situation

01Principles

Always stop
Give your details
Otherwise, report it
Three duties after a bump

02THE SHORT ANSWER

Stop, swap details,
or report it.

The duty comes from section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
The Highway Code repeats it in Rule 286.

STOP

You must stop

If a collision damages another vehicle, certain animals or property, or injures someone, the driver must stop, in a place of relative safety if possible.

Check your situation

DETAILS

Give your details

Give your name and address, the vehicle owner's name and address and the registration number to anyone with reasonable grounds for asking.

What to do

REPORT

Or tell the police

If you do not give your name and address at the time, report it to the police as soon as reasonably practicable and within 24 hours.

See the numbers

General information only, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, speak to a qualified lawyer or a free advice service.

03A QUICK SITUATION CHECK

What did
you hit?

Pick what happened to see what section 170 of the Road Traffic Act asks of the driver. The bar shows how much the law requires of you, from nothing under this section to reporting and producing insurance.

Based on Highway Code Rules 286 and 287 and Road Traffic Act 1988 section 170 (England, Wales and Scotland). General information, not legal advice.

Situation check

Choose what happenedOnly my own car was damagedA parked car, owner presentA parked car, nobody aroundA wall or post beside the roadA dog, horse or farm animalSomeone was injured

Only my own car was damagedNot covered

Section 170 applies when someone other than the driver is injured, or another vehicle, certain animals or roadside property are damaged.

A parked car, owner presentStop and swap details

Stop and give your name and address, the owner's name and address and the registration number if they have reasonable grounds to ask.

A parked car, nobody aroundReport within 24 hours

If you do not give your name and address at the time, you must report it at a police station or to a constable, as soon as reasonably practicable and within 24 hours.

A wall or post beside the roadStop, then details or report

The Act covers property fixed to or forming part of the land the road is on, or land next to it. The same duties to stop and give details, or report, apply.

A dog, horse or farm animalStop, then details or report

The Act's list of animals is horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog. Hitting one brings the same duties.

Someone was injuredAlso show insurance

If you do not produce your insurance certificate at the time, you must report it within 24 hours and produce the certificate for the police within seven days.

Sources: The Highway Code, Rules 286 and 287 (GOV.UK); Road Traffic Act 1988, section 170 (legislation.gov.uk).

04TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING

Driving off
can cost points.

The penalty points the two accident offences carry,
and how long they stay on your driving record.

5–10 points

Points for AC10 or AC20

Failing to stop after an accident (AC10) and failing to give particulars or report an accident within 24 hours (AC20) each carry 5 to 10 penalty points.

PENALTY POINTS · GOV.UK

4 years

How long accident codes stay

GOV.UK says accident offence codes stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence. Insurers and employers may be able to find out during that time.

DRIVING RECORD · GOV.UK

Some offences may also involve a disqualification, GOV.UK notes. Failing to comply with the duties in section 170 is an offence under the Act.

05FOUR STEPS AFTER A BUMP

Calm, safe,
and on record.

These steps follow the duties set out in Rule 286 and section 170. Leaving a note is still a kind thing to do, alongside them.

Stop somewhere safe
Stop, in a place of relative safety if you can. Rule 286 says you MUST stop.
Look for the owner
If the owner or someone with reasonable grounds asks, give your name and address, the owner's name and address and the registration number.
Can't swap details? Report it
Report it at a police station or to a constable as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 24 hours.
Keep your insurance handy
If someone is injured and you could not show your insurance certificate at the time, produce it for the police within seven days.

A hand holding a pen over a blank notepad resting on a car bonnet — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

06WHY A NOTE IS NOT THE SAME

The law talks about
people, not paper.

Close-up of a fresh scrape on the corner of a silver car bumper in a car park — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

Section 170 asks the driver to give details to a person who has reasonable grounds to ask for them. It says that if for any reason the driver does not give their name and address that way, they must report the accident.

So when nobody is there to take your details, the duty to report to the police remains. A note under the wiper can help the owner, but the Act does not treat it as giving your details.

07Questions

Questions people ask

Is leaving a note enough after hitting a parked car?

The Act does not mention notes. If you did not give your name and address to someone with reasonable grounds to ask, section 170 says you must report the accident to the police within 24 hours.

How do I report it?

Section 170 says a report must be made at a police station or to a constable, as soon as reasonably practicable and in any case within 24 hours.

Does it count if I only hit a wall?

Yes, if it was property fixed to or forming part of the land the road is on, or next to it. The duties to stop and give details or report apply.

What are the penalties?

GOV.UK lists failing to stop (AC10) and failing to give particulars or report within 24 hours (AC20) at 5 to 10 penalty points each. Some offences may also involve disqualification.

Which animals does the law cover?

Section 170 defines animal as horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog.

08Sources

A note is kind.
The law asks for more.