The SR1 is California's accident report form for drivers involved in collisions
The SR1 is the official accident report form you file with the California Department of Motor Vehicles if you are involved in a vehicle collision. You use it to report the accident details — what happened, who was involved, vehicle information, and insurance details — to the DMV within a set timeframe. The form exists so the state has a record of the accident for licensing and insurance purposes.
You do not file an SR1 if a police officer came to the scene and wrote a police report. In that case, the officer's report goes to the DMV automatically. You file an SR1 only when no police report was made, which happens in many minor collisions where both drivers stayed at the scene, exchanged information, and agreed to handle it privately.
Filing an SR1 does not mean you are admitting fault. It is a factual record of what occurred. However, if you do not file when required, the DMV can suspend your driver's license, so understanding when and how to file matters.
Key Takeaways
- You must file an SR1 within 10 days of a collision if no police report was written and the accident caused injury, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more.
- You file the SR1 directly with the California DMV by mail, not with your insurance company or local police.
- If a police officer wrote a report at the scene, you do not file an SR1 — the police report satisfies the DMV requirement.
- Failing to file an SR1 when required can result in a driver's license suspension for up to four years.
- You can obtain the SR1 form from the DMV website, by mail request, or in person at a DMV office.
When you must file an SR1 with the DMV
You are required to file an SR1 if you were involved in a collision and all three of these are true: no police officer wrote a report, the accident caused injury or death to anyone, or property damage exceeded $1,000. If any of these conditions is false — for example, damage was only $800, or a police report exists — you do not file an SR1.
The 10-day important date starts from the date of the collision. If you miss this window, the DMV can suspend your driver's license. The suspension can last up to four years, even if you file late. This is why the important date is strict: the DMV uses the SR1 to verify that drivers involved in reportable accidents have insurance and are not hiding information.
If you were a passenger or a witness rather than a driver, you do not file an SR1. Only the driver or drivers involved in the collision file the form.
What information you need to gather before filing
Before you sit down to fill out the SR1, collect the details from the accident scene. You need the other driver's name, address, phone number, driver's license number, and vehicle information (make, model, year, license plate, and VIN). You also need the name and policy number of their insurance company. If there were passengers or witnesses, write down their names and contact information too.
Write down the date, time, and exact location of the collision. Describe what happened — which direction each vehicle was traveling, what traffic controls were present (stop signs, traffic lights), and how the collision occurred. Note road and weather conditions. Take photos of the damage to both vehicles and the accident scene if you have not already.
Have your own driver's license, vehicle registration, and insurance information ready. You will need your policy number and your insurance company's name and phone number.
How to fill out and file the SR1 form
The SR1 has two pages. The first page asks for your personal information, driver's license number, and vehicle details. The second page asks for information about the other vehicle(s) involved, the collision itself, and any injuries or property damage. Fill in every field that applies to your accident. If a field does not explore, write "N/A" rather than leaving it blank.
Be factual and specific. Do not guess at details you do not remember. If you are unsure about something, write what you do know. For example, if you did not get the other driver's phone number, leave that field blank rather than writing a number you are not certain about.
Sign and date the form. Mail the completed SR1 to the California DMV at the address listed on the form itself. Keep a copy for your records. You can also file in person at a DMV office if you prefer, though mailing is standard. Do not email or fax the form — the DMV requires the original signed document.
How to obtain the SR1 form
You can read the SR1 form from the official California DMV website (dmv.ca.gov). Search for "SR1" and you will find the PDF. Print it and fill it out by hand, or fill it out on your computer before printing and signing.
If you do not have internet access or prefer a paper copy, call the DMV at 1-800-777-0133 and request the form by mail. It will arrive within a week or two. You can also visit a DMV office in person and pick up a copy when ready.
Make sure you are using the current version of the form. The DMV updates forms occasionally, so downloading from the official website or calling the DMV ensures you have the right version.
What happens after you file the SR1
Once the DMV receives your SR1, they record the accident in their system. This does not result in points on your driving record or a fine — the SR1 is purely informational. However, if the accident was your fault, your insurance company may raise your rates or drop your coverage, depending on your policy and their underwriting rules.
The DMV uses the SR1 to verify that you had insurance at the time of the accident. If you did not have insurance and file an SR1, the DMV will suspend your license. If you had insurance, filing the SR1 protects you from a suspension for failing to report the accident.
If you were involved in the accident but did not file an SR1 within 10 days and no police report was made, the DMV may discover the unreported accident later through insurance claims or other means. When they do, they can suspend your license retroactively.
Scam alert: Fake accident report services
Do not pay a third party to file your SR1 for you. The form is free, and you can file it yourself in minutes. Scammers sometimes advertise "accident report filing services" online or through text messages, claiming they will handle the DMV paperwork for a fee. They may also claim they can make the accident "disappear" from your record or prevent insurance rate increases. None of this is true, and paying them wastes money.
The only legitimate way to file an SR1 is to fill it out yourself and mail it to the DMV, or to visit a DMV office. If you need help understanding the form, call the DMV directly at 1-800-777-0133. That service is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I file an SR1 if the other driver and I agreed to handle it without insurance?
No. If property damage exceeded $1,000 or anyone was injured, you must file an SR1 regardless of what you and the other driver agreed to. The DMV requirement exists independently of your private agreement. Filing the SR1 does not prevent you from settling the accident privately — it straightforward tells the state that the accident happened.
What if I do not know the other driver's insurance information?
Write down everything you do know — their name, license number, vehicle information, and address. Leave the insurance fields blank or write "unknown." The DMV will still accept the form. However, if the other driver had no insurance, that is a separate legal issue you may need to address through your own insurance company or an attorney.
Can I file an SR1 more than 10 days after the accident?
You can file late, but the DMV may have already suspended your license for failing to report on time. Filing late does not automatically restore your license — you would need to contact the DMV to request reinstatement. It is much better to file within the 10-day window.
Does filing an SR1 go on my driving record?
The SR1 itself does not add points to your driving record or result in a fine. However, if you were cited by police for the accident, that citation appears on your record. The SR1 is separate — it is straightforward a record that the accident occurred and was reported to the state.
What if the other driver refuses to give me their information?
Write down their license plate number and vehicle description. Get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses. File the SR1 with the information you have. If the other driver left the scene without providing information, that is a hit-and-run, and you should report it to local police and your insurance company when ready.