Garda Report for Car Accident Claims (Ireland 2025)

Most drivers hear, we need the police report, from an insurer and panic. You do not need to. First, stop, check for injury, swap details, and if no Garda attends, go to a station and file a report. That creates an incident on PULSE. The PULSE number is your handle for the case. Share it with your insurer and your solicitor right away.

Later, ask the station for a Garda Abstract. It is a short confirmation of basics. It is not the full investigation file and it will not include private statements or contact details. For most road traffic injury claims in Ireland, your medical report plus photos, notes, and the Abstract support an IRB assessment. Do not pause your claim while you wait for the Abstract. File the IRB application and upload the document when it lands.

No Garda at scene? You still need a station report. This page keeps the differences clear. Attendance versus reporting. PULSE versus Abstract. Privacy limits versus what you can use today. It also flags hit and run and suspected uninsured drivers, where speed and evidence quality matter most.

Do you have to report a car accident to the Gardaí?

Yes, in practice. Stop, give details, and if no Garda attends, report at a station as soon as possible under the Road Traffic Act 1961, s.106.¹ For injury, danger, or suspected offences, call 112 or 999.²

When Gardaí attend versus when you report at a station

Gardaí prioritise injury, obstruction, or suspected offences. For low level shunts, they may not come out. That does not end your duties. You still make a station report to create the PULSE record. See the official collision steps.²

PULSE number and Garda Abstract, what you can obtain

Privacy limits. A Garda Abstract confirms basics but excludes third party personal data. See Data Protection Commission rights for why some details are withheld.³

PULSE number. The station log creates a PULSE incident number. Write it down. Quote it in calls and forms. PULSE is the official incident reference used by An Garda Síochána to track a collision record across systems.³

Garda Abstract. A short confirmation of core facts, date, time, location, parties or vehicles, and the PULSE reference. It is not the full investigation file and it will not include witness statements or private data.³

Fees and timing. Many stations charge a small fee for collision documentation. Processing times vary by station and case.³

How to request your Garda documentation, simple steps

What to bring: photo ID, your vehicle reg, date, time, and location of the collision.

Use plain words. Be specific about what you need.

1. Bring photo ID, date, time, location, and vehicle registrations.
2. Ask for your PULSE incident number if you do not have it yet.
3. Request a Garda Abstract for insurance or claim purposes.
4. Confirm fee, delivery method, and a rough timeframe.
5. Note the station name, the member's name, and today's date.

Important: in Ireland the claimant facing document is the Garda Abstract, not the full investigative file.³ If an insurer asks for a full police report, give the PULSE number now and the Abstract when ready.

Privacy paths, Data Access versus FOI and the limits

To get your personal data from Garda systems, use a GDPR Subject Access Request. FOI is narrow for operational records and is not a shortcut to the full file. Read the Data Protection Commission overview.⁶

Using Garda documentation in an IRB claim, do not delay

The IRB, formerly PIAB, assesses most road traffic injury claims on the papers. Your medical report anchors the case. Garda documents help corroborate events but are not required to lodge a claim. File now and add the Abstract later. See the IRB guide to making a claim.¹¹

Key timing hooks: the respondent generally has up to 90 days to consent to assessment, and many assessments conclude in about nine months once consent is confirmed.¹²

Limitation period: most personal injury claims must start within two years less one day from the date of knowledge. See Citizens Information for context.¹⁰

Case-law, timing, and evidence patterns

Though liability often dominates Irish accident cases, the duty to report is statutory (RTA 1961 s.106) and late or missing reports can harm credibility. See Irish case law databases and Courts Service for precedent.

Quick answers to common questions

Special cases and when to call a solicitor

Hit and run: report fast. CCTV retention is often 7–30 days. Uninsured driver: MIBI compensates but rules are strict. Serious injury or death: instruct a solicitor immediately.

Foreign vehicles: the Green Card system handles cross-border claims. Passenger liability: complex; early legal advice helps. See Car Accident Claims for all guides.