Exchanging Details after a car accident

[SOPOOR]

ive always assumed/thought the rule/law is that after a car accident, both parties must exchange details including driver's license details,

however, to my surprise ive been told recently and been given links to various laws that state that exchanging address/number is compulsory but an actual Driver's license is not compulsory
eg https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/saf...s/a-to-z-of-road-rules/crash-responsibilities.

in todays lack of accountability world, people can give fake numbers,( I will miss call them in front of me, in case they give me a fake number), ive always asked for a DL but if they refuse, i would have called the police, but fortunately its never happened to me

what a lack of accountability world this is turning into

 

[MEL_Traveller]

From the link you provided, you must also give the registration number.

That’s possibly a better way of ensuring identity anyway, as the onus is on the registered owner with insurances etc. And if they weren’t the driver, they’ll need to prove who was.

Sure, a criminal gang could have a fake registration plate, but if that’s the case, are they likely to have fake DL as well?

 

[Quickstatus]

From the link you provided, you must also give the registration number.

I always take a photo of VIN in case plates are fake

 

[Forg]

I once made the mistake of only taking the truck driver’s license details & number plates (prime mover & trailer). All were fake.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I always take a photo of VIN in case plates are fake

I guess it depends where the VIN is? I thought it was sometimes on the engine block or inside the door frame?

 

[markis10]

I guess it depends where the VIN is? I thought it was sometimes on the engine block or inside the door frame?

The VIN is always on the dash on the drivers side visible through the windscreen

 

[Forg]

I guess it depends where the VIN is? I thought it was sometimes on the engine block or inside the door frame?

All modern (as in - last 30-odd years) cars I’ve seen have a window at the base of the windscreen where the VIN is stamped. Elsewhere too, different locations for different cars, but that under-windscreen location’s always been there when I’ve looked. Engine-number is a different identifier than the VIN.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The VIN is always on the dash on the drivers side visible through the windscreen

Thanks! I learned something new!

 

[SOPOOR]

Years ago with my first car. It was parked outside.
When I woke up.one day it looked like someone had crashed into the back of it at about 60km, there was a note that said" the car that hit you was xx_-123" I was uninsured and took it to the police who looked it up and said, its stolen and you wont get any money unless someone is charged and convicted.

Had I had insurance , I assume I would have paid the excess regardless as I couldnt identify the driver/car owner.

Today. I doubt just getting the registration is enough, if that was the case we wouldn't have to identify the driver, and since we are NOT required to exchange drivers licenses

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Years ago with my first car. It was parked outside.
When I woke up.one day it looked like someone had crashed into the back of it at about 60km, there was a note that said" the car that hit you was xx_-123" I was uninsured and took it to the police who looked it up and said, its stolen and you wont get any money unless someone is charged and convicted.

Had I had insurance , I assume I would have paid the excess regardless as I couldnt identify the driver/car owner.

Today. I doubt just getting the registration is enough, if that was the case we wouldn't have to identify the driver, and since we are NOT required to exchange drivers licenses

I think identifying the driver ‘helps’ but probably isn’t ‘essential’. Speed cameras and other detection devices, toll readers and so forth go by registration. It’s then assumed the registered owner was driving, and if they weren’t, they have to provide proof of who was.

Sure..l the car could be stolen, the plates could be fake or stolen. But then driver is hardly going to provide valid ID!

 

[SOPOOR]

I think identifying the driver ‘helps’ but probably isn’t ‘essential’. Speed cameras and other detection devices, toll readers and so forth go by registration. It’s then assumed the registered owner was driving, and if they weren’t, they have to provide proof of who was.

Sure..l the car could be stolen, the plates could be fake or stolen. But then driver is hardly going to provide valid ID!

Ive heard contradicting information on what/type is required,

After an accident a dodgy person could just say i live at 1 Bla bla st

Mobile numbers can be lied about or even changed,

If excesses were reasonable at 400 like they used to be... but now they're like 1500 default!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ive heard contradicting information on what/type is required,

After an accident a dodgy person could just say i live at 1 Bla bla st

Mobile numbers can be lied about or even changed,

If excesses were reasonable at 400 like they used to be... but now they're like 1500 default!

And all of those are good reasons why the registration is likely more reliable!

Even if the driver gives a correct address and phone number, they may not be the person holding the insurance, which is the main thing.

 

[DC3]

… I was uninsured …

Self-insuring carries risks of course.

 

[pjm99au]

A word of caution on the need to identify the actual driver. We had a very large battle with AAMI. We had CCTV footage clearly identifying the number plate of a vehicle which side swiped one of our cars and because we couldn’t identify the actual driver they were arguing we had to pay the excess. If you look at some policy wordings it specifically calls out the need to identify the actual driver. It’s insurance company bs.

 

[Forg]

Whether or not you pay an excess relates to whether your insurance company can find someone else to pin it on & recover their costs.

If the police get involved, there are also potential legalities involved in the need to identify the culprit. But the police aren’t interested in getting involved unless someone gets seriously hurt.

 

[SOPOOR]

Self-insuring carries risks of course.

100%, Wasn't even thinking about insurance back then at 18

 

[Quickstatus]

guess it depends where the VIN is? I thought it was sometimes on the engine block or in

The VIN is always on the dash on the drivers side visible through the windscreen

The VIN is on the passenger side of windscreen - bottom corner. There is a cutout in the black border of the windscreen and the VIN number is visible through there.

Drivers side location refers to left hand drive vehicles.

 

[Muppet501st]

The VIN is always on the dash on the drivers side visible through the windscreen

100% not true.

 

[Quickstatus]

100% not true.

The VIN is visible through the left bottom corner of the windscreen
- in Australia this means passenger side
- in left hand drive countries this means drivers side

 

[clifford]

The VIN is visible through the left bottom corner of the windscreen
- in Australia this means passenger side
- in left hand drive countries this means drivers side

I have 5 cars well over 20 years old, and I don't believe any of them has this. You need to get your head under the bonnet to find the VIN. Good luck with that.

Just hope you have an accident with a little old lady who is fastidious in all things.