You’ve just been in an accident. The other driver was clearly at fault. You exchanged details at the scene — names, numbers, ID, maybe even insurance information. You drove away thinking you had what you needed.
Then the phone number doesn’t work. The insurance policy doesn’t exist. The name doesn’t match anything. You’ve been given fake details, and now the person responsible for your car damage has seemingly vanished.
This happens more often than most people realise — and it’s not the end of the road. Here’s what you need to know and, more importantly, what you need to do.
Is Giving Fake Details After an Accident Illegal in South Africa?
Yes — on multiple fronts. Under the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996, drivers involved in an accident are legally required to furnish their correct personal details and vehicle information to other parties involved. Providing false details is a contravention of this Act and can expose the guilty driver to criminal prosecution.
Beyond that, deliberately providing false identification details constitutes fraud under South African common law — a serious criminal offence. Providing fake insurance details is equally fraudulent. And if the driver gave you a fake ID number, that triggers potential offences under the Identification Act 68 of 1997.
The legal position: The other driver had a legal obligation to give you accurate details. If they didn’t, they didn’t just inconvenience you — they committed a criminal offence. Report it to SAPS.
The Four Types of Fake Details — and What Each One Means for Your Claim
Not all fake details create the same problem. Here’s how each one affects your position:
| Fake name | Fake phone number | Fake ID number |
|---|---|---|
| Makes tracing harder but not impossible if you have the registration plate. The vehicle is registered to someone in eNaTIS regardless of what name they gave you. | Least damaging — a wrong number is common. The registration plate is what matters. You don’t need their number to pursue a claim. | A criminal offence. Report this to SAPS as fraud. If you have the registration plate, the vehicle owner can still be traced through eNaTIS independently of the ID. |
| Fake insurance details | All details fake | No plate / false plate |
|---|---|---|
| Very common. The insurer either doesn’t exist or has no record of the policy. This effectively means you are dealing with an uninsured driver — pursue them personally. | The most challenging scenario, but the registration plate is your lifeline. Even if every detail given was false, a legitimate plate ties back to a registered owner. | The hardest case. Without a plate, tracing requires witnesses, dashcam footage, or CCTV. Report immediately to SAPS as a potential hit-and-run. |
The Most Important Thing: Did You Get the Registration Plate?
In almost every scenario where fake details were given, the registration plate is the single most important piece of information you can have. Unlike a name or phone number, a vehicle’s registration plate is tied to the registered owner in the National Traffic Information System (eNaTIS) database — and that link cannot easily be faked on the fly at the scene of an accident.
Even if the driver who caused the accident is not the registered owner of the vehicle, tracing the owner gives you a starting point. Owners can be held liable for damage caused by someone driving their vehicle in certain circumstances under South African law.
If you have the plate number, you have leverage. The registration plate is your anchor. Everything else — fake name, fake number, fake insurance — becomes less critical once you have a valid plate number to work with. Write it down, photograph it, and report it to SAPS immediately.
How to Trace the Vehicle Owner Using the Plate Number
Private citizens cannot directly access eNaTIS to look up owner details — this is restricted under privacy legislation (POPIA). However, there are legal routes available:
- Report to SAPS. File a report at your nearest police station, provide the registration plate number, and explain that the other driver provided false details. SAPS has the authority to query eNaTIS on your behalf as part of the investigation. Get a case number — you will need it.
- Through your attorney or claim specialist. A registered attorney can request vehicle owner details through legal channels, including court orders or formal requests to the RTMC, as part of pursuing a civil claim.
- Through a PSIRA-registered private investigator. Licensed investigators with SAPS connections can sometimes trace ownership faster than the formal police route. Ensure they are registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA).
- Via the AA (Automobile Association). AA members can access vehicle history reports that may include ownership information.
Caution: Online ‘plate lookup’ services. Be careful of websites advertising instant number plate owner searches. Many are scams or violate POPIA. Use only SAPS, licensed attorneys, PSIRA-registered investigators, or official channels like the AA. Do not pay for unverified online services.
Your Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Photograph everything immediately. The other vehicle’s plate, the damage to both cars, the scene, and any documentation they showed you — even if it turns out to be fake. Screenshots of any WhatsApp messages or calls to the number they gave you are also useful evidence. See our full guide on what evidence you need to win a car accident damage claim for a complete checklist.
- Write down everything you remember. Their approximate appearance, the make, model, and colour of their vehicle, what they said at the scene, and any partial details that seemed off. Do this now while it’s fresh.
- Try the phone number and insurance details — then document the failure. Call the number, contact the insurer. If it’s fake, screenshot the failed call and any response from the insurer saying no such policy exists. This is evidence.
- Report to SAPS. Go to your nearest police station. Report the accident, the false details, and provide the registration plate number. If they gave you a fake ID number, report that separately as fraud. Get a case number. If you also lack a police report for the accident itself, read our guide on how to obtain a police report after the fact.
- Do not confront the other driver. If you manage to trace them through the plate, do not attempt to resolve this yourself. Hand the information to SAPS or your claim specialist and let the legal process work.
- Be aware of your time limit. You still have a window to pursue this claim before it legally expires — but the sooner you act, the easier the trace and the stronger your evidence. Read our guide on car damage claim time limits in South Africa so you don’t miss your window.
- Contact a claim recovery specialist. Once you have a case number and a plate number, a specialist can take over the tracing, negotiation, and recovery process on your behalf.
What If You Don’t Have the Plate Number?
This is the hardest scenario, but it’s not necessarily hopeless. Your evidence options become:
- Witnesses at the scene — anyone who may have seen the plate or can corroborate your account
- Dashcam footage from your vehicle or another car nearby
- Traffic or CCTV cameras — report the accident location and time to SAPS so footage can be requested before it is overwritten (most systems overwrite within 7–30 days)
- Nearby business cameras — shops, petrol stations, and parking areas near the accident scene often have cameras covering the road
The critical step is speed. Camera footage is overwritten fast. If you don’t have a plate number, report to SAPS on the same day and specifically request that footage from nearby cameras be preserved.
Also keep in mind that fake details almost always mean you are effectively dealing with an uninsured driver — understanding how fault and apportionment works in these situations will help you understand what you are entitled to recover.
Will Your Claim Still Succeed?
The short answer is: it depends on what you have — but do not assume the situation is hopeless. Claims have been successfully pursued in South Africa even where the at-fault driver initially seemed untraceable. The combination of a valid plate number, a SAPS report, photographic evidence, and professional claim assistance gives you a realistic path to recovering your losses.
At MyLawSA, we help uninsured drivers recover money from the guilty party — including in cases where that driver has been evasive or provided false details. We know how to work with SAPS, trace registered owners through legal channels, and put formal pressure on parties who think they can simply disappear. We work on a No Success, No Fee basis — if we don’t recover money for you, you pay nothing.
Got a plate number and a case number? That’s enough to start.
Contact MyLawSA for a free claim assessment. Tell us what happened, give us what you have, and we’ll tell you honestly whether a viable claim exists and what the best route forward looks like.
Useful links:
SAPS station locator: www.saps.gov.za
PSIRA (verify a private investigator’s registration): www.psira.co.za
AA South Africa: www.aa.co.za
National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996: gov.za
Identification Act 68 of 1997: gov.za
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.