To better reflect current vehicle repair costs, effective Jan. 1, drivers will not have to report property damage from a collision to law enforcement unless the cost of the damage is more than $5,000. The new $5,000 threshold was a carefully chosen figure to reduce reporting minor collisions while also making it difficult for fraudulent resales of damaged vehicles.
This change will also free up law enforcement, who are required to commit a significant number of policing resources for processing collision reports. With this change, police officers and administrative staff can spend more time improving public safety.
“Traffic accidents happen. Alberta is saving drivers time and money by not having them report simple fender-benders to the police. Thousands of traffic accident reports clog up our justice system and strains police resources. This is a common-sense change that will benefit drivers and police.”
“We continue to cut red tape by increasing the collision reporting threshold. Waiting in line to file a report is stressful, time-consuming and takes you away from your work and family. This change will alleviate that stress and get you back on the road faster.”
Collisions resulting in injuries and fatalities will continue to be reported regardless of the estimated cost of property damage repairs. Future increases to the collision reporting threshold will be adjusted for inflation based on annual calculations using the Statistics Canada consumer price index, further reducing red tape and time spent by Albertans reporting low dollar value collisions.
“AACP is supportive of increasing the threshold for the reporting of property damage collisions to police. These increases better reflect modern vehicle repair and replacement costs and will result in less minor, non-injury collisions having to be reported to police.”
“This increase to the damage reporting threshold aligns with a resolution Alberta Municipalities members passed at our 2023 convention. We are pleased to see the provincial government take action on this issue.”
The carrier collision reporting threshold will be increased to match the collision reporting threshold of $5,000. Commercial carriers will save time by no longer having to go through an administrative process to eliminate low dollar value property damage collisions from their carrier profile.
“This is excellent news for the transportation mobility industry. We welcome the Alberta government’s move to increase the collision reporting threshold, as it will cut red tape and save time for transportation mobility providers and Alberta consumers.”
Alberta last increased its property damage collision reporting threshold to $2,000 from $1,000 on Jan. 1, 2011, and implemented the commercial carrier reporting threshold ($1,000) in 2009.
Quick facts
- In 2021, there were 89,976 property damage-only collisions reported by law enforcement.
- On average, about 90 per cent of all collisions only involve property damage.
- Data from the Insurance Bureau of Canada shows that in 2022, the average property damage collision claim in Alberta was $6,756.