How many days does it take to get a result after reporting a car scratch to the police?
2 Answers
If the license plate number is known and reported to the police, notification can be received within five minutes; if the license plate number is unknown, the traffic police department needs to review surveillance footage, which may take several hours to receive notification. Article 70 of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates: In the event of a traffic accident on the road, the driver of the vehicle shall immediately stop the vehicle, protect the scene; if personal injury or death is caused, the driver shall immediately rescue the injured and promptly report to the traffic police on duty or the traffic management department of the public security organ. If the scene is altered due to rescuing the injured, the original position shall be marked. Passengers, drivers of passing vehicles, and passing pedestrians shall provide assistance. In the event of a traffic accident on the road that does not cause personal injury or death, and where the parties involved have no dispute over the facts and causes, they may immediately leave the scene, restore traffic, and negotiate compensation for damages on their own; if they do not leave the scene immediately, they shall promptly report to the traffic police on duty or the traffic management department of the public security organ. In the event of a traffic accident on the road that only causes minor property damage and where the basic facts are clear, the parties involved shall first leave the scene and then negotiate a resolution.
Last time my car got scratched and I reported it to the police, but it took several days for them to respond, which was quite nerve-wracking. The waiting time depends on the city size and how busy the police are: in big cities with tight police resources, minor scratches aren't considered urgent and may take 5 days to a week; in small towns it's faster - last time I got feedback the next day. I remember the officer said they need to investigate evidence like CCTV footage or witnesses, and if there are no leads the case might stall, affecting the wait time. My advice is to immediately take photos of the scene and scratches to help speed up their process - don't just wait passively. Stay in contact while waiting for repair results, as insurance companies need this police report for claims. Regular days see faster processing, while peak periods around holidays are slower - just stay patient and you'll get through it.