A Northumbria police spokeswoman said 36-year-old "Gazza" swerved to avoid a collision with an oncoming vehicle and crunched his car into the back of a delivery truck.
The accident happened on Thursday afternoon near his home in Tyne and Wear, northeast England.
Newspapers showed pictures of Gascoigne's black BMW 4x4 car, its front end completely demolished and the windshield shattered.
"I just ran into the back of the van. I'm fine but I am a bit shaken up," he told the Sun newspaper.
The former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton player helped England reach the 1990 World Cup semi-finals in Italy and the same stage of Euro 96 in England. He won 57 caps.