Accidents

During Your Trip

If anyone is injured, call 000. Then report the accident to the rental company within 24 hours and record the details below.

What do I do if I have an accident in my campervan or motorhome?

If anyone is injured, call 000. Stay calm and think clearly.
Check whether you need to report the accident to police. Police reporting rules and deadlines differ between states and territories, and some are shorter than 24 hours. They can depend on things such as injuries, the amount of damage or whether the owner of damaged property is present. Check the official guidance for where the accident happened, such as NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia or the ACT. If you're not sure, ask the local police.
Report the accident to the rental company within 24 hours. Call the roadside assistance number you were given at pick-up. It's also on the vehicle keys. The rental company will help and guide you from there.
Follow the steps in your rental agreement. The agreement you signed at pick-up lists all the steps you need to take.

These steps will help when you report the accident:

Record the time, date and location.
Collect the names, addresses, phone numbers and driver's licence details of any third parties. Also collect the contact details of any witnesses and the registration numbers of all vehicles involved.
Take as many photos as is reasonable to show the damage, the positions of the vehicles, any relevant street signs, and the registrations involved.
Record the name of the other party's insurance company.
Don't accept blame or insist that any other party is at fault.

What you pay towards the damage depends on the liability option you chose and the rental company's terms. See insurance and excess reduction, including when you are fully responsible.

A few habits prevent many accidents in a campervan:

Fatigue causes many crashes in Australia. On long drives, stop and rest every 2 hours.
Drive during the day, and avoid driving from dusk until dawn, when many animals are most active.
Allow extra distance between you and other vehicles, and pull over where it's safe to let faster traffic pass.
Campervans and motorhomes can be double the height and length of a sedan. Watch for height signs at low crossings and car parks, and for overhanging branches.

Our safety tips for campervan travel cover these and more, including driving in a convoy and pulling over safely to take photos or check directions.