New Reporting Requirements for Minor Motor Vehicle Accidents

Nova Scotians no longer have to notify police of fender-benders that cost less than $2,000 to repair.

Changes to the Motor Vehicle Act now in effect increase the reporting threshold for property damage in a collision from $1,000 to $2,000 to better reflect the actual cost of repairs.

"This change will result in fewer collision reports being processed by police and the Registry of Motor Vehicles," said John MacDonell, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "We have not increased the property damage threshold in 15 years and it was time to update the legislation to more accurately reflect today's costs of repairs and bring it in line with other jurisdictions."

People are still required to report any collision involving a fatality or injury to the police, no matter the property damage involved.

The increase was recommended by the Canadian Council of Motor Vehicles and Administrators to standardize collision reporting across the country. Other provinces are in various stages of making the change.

The legislation in Nova Scotia was changed during the spring session of the legislature.