Rental Car Accident in Japan: 110, the Rental Desk, and Insurance
Quick answer
Stop safely and call 119 if anyone is injured. Call 110 for a traffic accident, then contact the rental company’s official accident desk. Keep photographs and the rental contract. Do not leave, repair the car yourself, or make a private cash settlement.
An accident in a rental car is not only a damage question. Your first job is to prevent another collision and get help. The second is to create the police and rental-company record that the contract and insurer may require.
What should I do in the first few minutes?
Use this order, adapting it to the road and injuries. Do not put yourself in traffic to take photos.
| Situation | Action | Do not do this |
|---|---|---|
| Someone may be injured | Call 119 and give the location; follow the operator | Move an injured person unnecessarily |
| Vehicles are in danger | Stop safely or move only when safe; warn approaching traffic | Stand behind the car |
| A traffic accident occurred | Call 110 and report the collision | Leave because the damage looks small |
| No injury but a scrape or post | Record it and call the rental company’s official desk | Agree to cash payment |
| Highway stop | Use a safe refuge or emergency phone; keep away from lanes | Walk on the carriageway |
Tell the police the road name, direction of travel, nearby exit or landmark, number of vehicles, and whether anyone is hurt. If you cannot explain in English or Japanese, show the rental agreement and ask a nearby staffed facility for help while keeping yourself safe.
Why must I contact the rental company?
The rental desk needs to know about a collision, contact with a post or wall, a tyre or windscreen problem, and damage found during the rental. Use the accident number printed in the contract or the company’s official app or website. A general reservation number may not be the right route.
Give facts rather than a conclusion: rental number, vehicle location, time, what happened, injuries, police call time, and whether the car can move safely. Ask whether the vehicle should be recovered, where to wait, and what documents or photographs are needed. Do not arrange a repair shop, tow, replacement car, or payment through an unverified message unless the official desk confirms it.
The rental agreement controls details such as insurance, excess, non-operation charges, and approved drivers. A police report does not automatically mean every cost is covered. Ask the rental company and your own travel insurer what the next claim step is; do not promise the other party that you will pay a particular amount.
What evidence should I keep?
When the scene is safe, take wide photographs showing the road and vehicle positions, then close photographs of each mark. Keep the time, location, weather, direction of travel, names or reference numbers given by police, and the rental company’s instructions. Save the original images and screenshots rather than only edited copies.
| Record | Example |
|---|---|
| Contract | Rental number, approved driver, inspection record |
| Scene | Road name, direction, nearby landmark, time |
| Damage | Each side of each vehicle, sign, wall, or post |
| Calls | 110/119 and rental-desk time, reference number |
| Costs | Towing, transport, or medical receipts |
Do not publish licence plates, passport images, access codes, or the other person’s contact details. Share them only through the police, rental company, or insurer’s official channel.
What if the car still drives, or the damage is discovered later?
A car that moves is not necessarily safe. Stop driving if there is a warning light, leaking fluid, tyre damage, steering or braking change, smoke, or a loose body part. Call the rental desk from a safe place and follow its instructions. If a minor scrape is noticed later, report it as soon as it is found and explain the last known location; do not wait until return to hide the problem.
As of September 2026, Japanese police guidance says drivers involved in an accident must take steps for safety, injured people, and police notification. MLIT rental guidance also explains that contacting the police and the rental company matters even when an object such as a guardrail is damaged. Exact insurance handling varies by contract, so retain the paperwork and ask the official contact route.
FAQ
Do I have to call the police for a small scratch?
Do not assume a small mark can be ignored. Stop, record the damage, and ask the police and rental company what to do. As of September 2026, the rental agreement and insurer rules can affect coverage, and leaving without the required report can cause problems with the claim.
Should I call the rental company or the police first?
If anyone may be injured or the scene is dangerous, secure yourself and call 119. For a traffic accident, call 110, then use the rental company’s official accident number. Follow the operator’s instructions and keep the time and number of each call.
Can I exchange cash with the other driver?
Do not make a private settlement or admit liability on the roadside. Exchange the information requested by police, photograph the vehicles and location when safe, and let the police and rental company or insurer handle the next steps.
What if I notice damage when returning the car?
Tell the rental desk immediately and explain when and where you first noticed it. Do not polish, repair, or hide the mark. Keep the rental agreement, inspection record, photographs, and any messages about the condition.
What should I do on a highway?
Move to a safe place only if you can do so without creating another danger, use the emergency phone or call 110, and keep away from traffic. Do not stand beside the stopped vehicle or walk on the carriageway.