After a Utah car accident, you may know that you need to exchange information with the other driver. But what information do you actually have to provide, and what additional details should you collect for an insurance claim?
If you are wondering what information to exchange after an accident in Utah, it helps to separate the legal requirements from good accident-documentation practices. Utah law sets a minimum amount of identifying, vehicle, and insurance information that drivers must provide after certain crashes. However, collecting additional details can make it easier to report the accident, communicate with insurers, and document what happened.
Accidents involving injuries can also create additional legal duties. Understanding the current 2026 Utah rules can help you know what to exchange before leaving the scene.
What Information Does Utah Law Require Drivers to Exchange?
Utah law identifies specific information drivers must provide after an accident. The rules appear in Utah Code § 41-6a-401 for property-damage accidents and Utah Code § 41-6a-401.7 for accidents involving injury or death.
Depending on the circumstances, drivers generally need to provide:
- Their name
- Their address
- The registration number of the vehicle they were driving
- The name of the insurance provider covering the vehicle
- The phone number of the insurance provider or insurance agent
- Their driver’s license upon request, if the license is available
These requirements are more specific than many accident checklists found online. For example, Utah’s statutory exchange language does not expressly list a driver’s personal phone number, email address, vehicle identification number, or insurance policy number as part of the basic information that must be exchanged.
That does not mean those details are unimportant. An insurance policy number, phone number, license plate, and other information can make it easier to identify the people, vehicles, and policies involved in the crash. The key distinction is that some information is required by Utah law, while other information is simply helpful to collect for the insurance and claims process.
What Information Should You Collect Beyond the Legal Minimum?
Meeting Utah’s legal exchange requirement is only one part of documenting an accident. If it is safe to do so, collecting additional information can help you report the crash accurately and reduce confusion when dealing with insurance companies later.
The Utah Insurance Department recommends gathering useful information about the people, vehicles, and circumstances involved.
Consider collecting:
- The other driver’s phone number
- The insurance policy number, if available
- The vehicle’s license plate number
- The vehicle’s make, model, and year
- Photos of both vehicles and visible damage
- Photos of the roadway, traffic signs, signals, and surrounding area
- Names and contact information for witnesses
- The date, time, and location of the accident
- The responding officer’s name and police report information, when available
Not every item on this list is specifically required under Utah’s information-exchange statute. However, these details can help establish which vehicles and insurance policies were involved and preserve information about the crash scene.
Photos and witness information can be especially useful if the drivers later disagree about how the accident happened.
Do You Have to Give the Other Driver Your Phone Number or Policy Number?
Utah law requires drivers to exchange certain identifying, vehicle, and insurance information after a covered accident. This includes the driver’s name and address, the vehicle registration number, the name of the insurance provider, and the phone number of the insurer or insurance agent.
However, the statute does not expressly list the driver’s personal phone number or insurance policy number as part of the basic exchange requirement. The insurance provider or agent’s phone number is specifically required.
That does not mean a personal phone number or policy number is unhelpful. Asking for this information can make it easier to identify the correct policy and communicate about the claim. Utah law establishes the minimum information that must be exchanged, but collecting other relevant details can make the insurance process easier.
When Must You Call Police After a Utah Accident?
For a property-damage-only accident, Utah law generally requires drivers to notify law enforcement when the apparent damage is $2,500 or more.
That amount applies to the police-reporting requirement. It does not replace the duty to exchange the required driver, vehicle, and insurance information after a crash with lower damage.
If someone is injured or killed, the situation is more serious. Drivers generally need to notify law enforcement right away and remain at the scene while completing the required accident duties.
If anyone may need emergency medical care, call 911. Safety and medical needs should come before concerns about insurance information or paperwork.
What Changes If Someone Is Injured in the Accident?
When a Utah accident causes an injury, exchanging names and insurance information is only part of the driver’s responsibility. Current Utah law requires a driver who has reason to believe they were involved in an injury accident to stop and remain at the scene until the applicable accident duties have been completed.
Under Utah Code § 41-6a-401.7, those duties can include:
- Providing the required driver, vehicle-registration, and insurance information
- Showing a driver’s license upon request and if available
- Giving reasonable assistance to an injured person when medical treatment appears necessary or transportation is requested
- Immediately notifying the nearest law enforcement agency
Reasonable assistance may include helping arrange transportation to a physician or hospital when the circumstances require it.
The main difference is that an injury accident creates responsibilities beyond simply exchanging insurance details and leaving the scene. Drivers need to address the injured person’s immediate needs and comply with the applicable reporting requirements.
Utah law also addresses less common situations differently, including crashes involving parked or unattended vehicles.
What If You Hit a Parked or Unattended Vehicle?
If you damage a parked or unattended vehicle in Utah, you should try to locate the owner or operator. If you cannot find them, leave a written notice in a visible and secure place on the vehicle.
The notice should include your name, address, and vehicle registration number. Driving away without leaving the required information can create additional legal problems, so it is important to document the incident properly.
Can You Move Your Car Before Exchanging Information?
After a property-damage-only crash, you may move your vehicle out of traffic when it is safe to do so. This can mean pulling onto the shoulder, moving to a nearby side street, or using another safe location that does not block traffic.
Moving your car to a safer location does not automatically mean you caused the accident. If someone is injured, the vehicle cannot be moved safely, or there is another immediate danger, focus first on emergency help and scene safety.
What If the Other Driver Refuses to Exchange Information?
If another driver refuses to provide the required information, avoid turning the situation into a confrontation. Instead, document as much as you safely can and contact law enforcement.
Useful steps may include:
- Write down or photograph the vehicle’s license plate.
- Note the make, model, and description of the vehicle.
- Take photos of the vehicles and accident scene when safe.
- Get names and contact information from witnesses.
- Contact law enforcement and explain what happened.
- Tell the responding officer that the other driver refused to provide information.
A responding officer may be able to document information about the driver, vehicle, and accident that can later be useful when dealing with insurance companies.
Do not try to physically prevent another driver from leaving. If the person refuses to cooperate, focus on your safety and preserving whatever information is available.
What Should You Do With the Information After the Accident?
Once you leave the accident scene, keep the information you collected organized. Insurance disputes can develop later, so having clear records can make it easier to explain what happened and support your claim.
Consider taking these steps:
- Notify your insurance company about the accident.
- Keep copies or photos of insurance cards and driver information.
- Save your accident-scene photos and police-report information.
- Keep medical bills and treatment records if you were injured.
- Write down important conversations you have with insurance companies.
- Preserve accident-related photos, messages, receipts, and other records.
Avoid deleting or changing original photos and other evidence. Keeping everything together in one folder can also make the information easier to find when you need it.
Key Takeaways About Exchanging Information After a Utah Accident
- Utah law requires drivers to provide specific identifying, vehicle-registration, and insurance information.
- A personal phone number and insurance policy number can be useful, but they are not part of the same express statutory exchange list.
- Accidents involving injuries create additional duties beyond exchanging information.
- The property-damage threshold for notifying police does not eliminate the duty to exchange required information.
- Photos, witness details, vehicle information, and other records can help document an insurance claim.
- Utah amended its accident-duty statutes in 2026, so older online explanations may not reflect the current statutory structure.
How Salt Lake Injury Law Can Help After a Utah Car Accident
If you were injured in a crash, Salt Lake Injury Law can review what happened and help identify the information that may matter to your claim. This can include insurance coverage, police reports, driver and witness information, accident-scene evidence, medical documentation, and disputes about who caused the crash. The firm can also communicate with insurance companies and help you understand your options under Utah law.
If you were injured in a Utah accident and have questions about insurance information, fault, or the claims process, contact Salt Lake Injury Law for a free case review. The firm can review your situation and explain what steps may make sense for protecting your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exchanging Information After a Utah Accident
Do I have to give the other driver my phone number after a Utah accident?
Utah’s statutory exchange requirements focus on your name, address, vehicle registration information, and insurer information. Your personal phone number is useful for communication, but it is not part of the same express statutory list.
Do I have to provide my insurance policy number?
Utah law expressly requires the name of the insurance provider and the phone number of the insurer or agent. A policy number can still be helpful when opening or processing an insurance claim.
Do I still need to exchange information after a minor accident?
Yes. The duty to exchange required information is separate from the property-damage threshold that can trigger a duty to notify law enforcement.
What if I do not have my driver’s license with me?
Utah law requires a driver to show their license upon request if it is available. You should still provide the other identifying, registration, and insurance information required by law.
What if the other driver leaves without giving me information?
Do not chase or physically stop the other driver. Note the license plate and vehicle description if possible, take photos when safe, gather witness information, and contact law enforcement.