What the DMV needs to know about your accident
Most states require you to report a vehicle accident to the DMV if it causes injury, death, or property damage above a certain dollar amount — typically $500 to $1,500, depending on your state. The DMV does not investigate accidents; instead, it maintains a record of reported crashes that insurers, law enforcement, and courts can access. You report to the DMV separately from filing an insurance claim or a police report, though all three often happen in the same incident.
The report goes to your state's DMV or the equivalent agency that handles vehicle registration and licensing. Some states call this the Department of Motor Vehicles; others use names like the Secretary of State's office or the Department of Transportation. The form itself is usually called an Accident Report, Motor Vehicle Accident Report, or SR-22 form (though SR-22 sometimes refers to proof of insurance instead). You file it within a set window — commonly 10 to 30 days after the accident — and you can usually submit it by mail, online, or in person at a DMV office.
Key Takeaways
- Your state's DMV requires accident reports only when damage or injury meets a threshold amount, which varies by state but is usually between $500 and $1,500.
- You must file the report within a specific number of days after the accident, typically 10 to 30 days, or you may face fines or license suspension.
- The report is separate from a police report and an insurance claim, though you may file all three for the same accident.
- You will need the other driver's name, contact information, insurance details, vehicle information, and a description of how the accident happened.
- If the other driver left the scene or you hit an unattended vehicle, you must still file with the DMV and report the incident to police.
When you must file an accident report with the DMV
You are required to report an accident to the DMV if the crash results in injury to any person, death, or property damage that meets or exceeds your state's threshold. That threshold is not the same everywhere. Some states set it at $500; others use $750, $1,000, $1,500, or even $5,000. Check your state's DMV website or handbook to find the exact dollar amount that triggers a report requirement in your state.
The damage amount usually refers to the total cost to repair or replace all vehicles and property involved in the crash, not just your own vehicle. If you are unsure whether the damage meets the threshold, file the report anyway. Filing when you are not required to do so carries no penalty, but failing to file when you are required to can result in fines, license suspension, or both.
You must also file if you were involved in a hit-and-run — either as the victim whose car was hit, or if you struck another vehicle and left the scene. In a hit-and-run, you report to both the police and the DMV, and the police report becomes part of your DMV record.
The important date for filing your accident report
Most states give you 10 to 30 days from the date of the accident to file the report with the DMV. A few states allow longer — up to 60 days in some cases. The important date is strict; missing it can result in fines, points on your driving record, or suspension of your license. If you are unsure of your state's important date, contact your DMV office or check the accident report form itself, which usually lists the filing window at the top.
The clock starts on the date the accident occurred, not the date you discovered the damage. If you were in an accident on a Monday, your important date is typically 10 to 30 days from that Monday, depending on your state. Weekends and holidays do not extend the important date in most states, so plan to file well before the final day to avoid missing it.
Information you need to gather before filing
Before you sit down to fill out the form, collect the following details about the accident and the other vehicle involved. If there were multiple vehicles, gather information on each one. Write down the other driver's full name, phone number, and mailing address. Get their driver's license number and the state that issued it. Record the make, model, year, color, and license plate number of their vehicle, and ask for their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) if possible.
Write down their insurance company name and policy number. If a police officer responded to the accident, note the officer's name, badge number, and the police report number. If there were witnesses, record their names and contact information. Write a clear, factual description of how the accident happened — where it occurred, what time, weather conditions, and what each vehicle was doing at the moment of impact. Do not assign blame in this description; straightforward state what happened.
If you do not have all this information because the other driver refused to provide it or left the scene, file the report with the information you do have and note what is missing. The DMV will process the report and may follow up with the other driver or their insurance company.
How to complete and submit the accident report form
Obtain the accident report form from your state's DMV website, by mail, or in person at a DMV office. The form is usually free. Fill it out completely and legibly, using black or blue ink if submitting by mail. Print clearly and do not use correction fluid; if you make a mistake, cross it out with a single line and initial the change. Answer every question on the form, even if the answer is "unknown" or "not applicable."
Most forms ask for your name, address, driver's license number, and vehicle information; the other driver's details; a description of the accident; and whether anyone was injured or killed. Some forms ask whether you were cited or whether you reported the accident to police. Answer these honestly. If you were injured, note that. If the other driver was injured, note that too. Do not leave sections blank.
You can usually submit the form by mail to the address listed on the form itself, online through your state's DMV portal, or in person at a DMV office. Mail is the slowest option and carries a small risk of loss; online submission is fastest and gives you a confirmation number. In-person submission allows you to ask questions if you are unsure how to complete a section. Keep a copy of the form for your records before you submit it.
What happens after you file the report
The DMV processes the report and adds it to your driving record. You will not receive a response unless there is a problem with the form — for example, if a section is incomplete or illegible. If the form is rejected, the DMV will contact you by mail or phone and ask you to resubmit it. If you submitted online, you should receive a confirmation number or email receipt; save this as proof that you filed on time.
The accident report becomes part of your permanent driving history and is visible to insurance companies, law enforcement, and courts. It does not determine fault or liability; it is straightforward a record that the accident occurred. Your insurance company will investigate the accident separately and determine who was at fault for the purposes of your claim. The DMV report and the insurance investigation are independent processes.
If you were cited by police or if the accident resulted in injury or death, the DMV may suspend your license or require you to file proof of insurance (sometimes called an SR-22 or FR-44 form, depending on your state). This is separate from the accident report itself and is a consequence of the citation or injury, not of filing the report.
Hit-and-run accidents and unattended vehicle damage
If another vehicle hit yours and the driver left the scene, you must report the accident to both the police and the DMV. File a police report first, then file the DMV accident report using the information you have — your vehicle details, the location and time of the accident, and a description of the other vehicle if you saw it. Note on the DMV form that the other driver left the scene and provide the police report number.
If you hit an unattended vehicle or property and left the scene, you are required by law to report it to the DMV and to police. Failing to do so is a crime in most states. File the accident report honestly, noting that you struck an unattended vehicle. Include the location, time, and a description of what happened. Report to police as well. The sooner you report, the better your legal position.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to file an accident report if I only have a police report?
A police report and an accident report with the DMV are two separate documents. If your state requires an accident report based on the damage amount or injury, you must file both. The police report does not substitute for the DMV report. Check your state's threshold to see whether your accident requires a DMV report.
What if the other driver and I agreed not to report the accident?
If the damage or injury meets your state's threshold, you are legally required to report it to the DMV regardless of any agreement with the other driver. Failing to report can result in fines and license suspension. If you are unsure whether the damage meets the threshold, file the report to be safe.
Can I file the accident report online?
Many states offer online accident reporting through their DMV website. Check your state's DMV portal to see whether this option is available. Online filing is usually faster than mail and provides an when ready confirmation number. Some states still require mail or in-person filing for certain types of accidents.
What if I do not have the other driver's insurance information?
File the accident report with the information you do have — the driver's name, license number, vehicle details, and police report number if one exists. Note on the form that you do not have insurance information. The DMV may contact the other driver or their insurance company to obtain it, or your own insurance company can pursue it during their investigation.
How long does it take the DMV to process the accident report?
Processing time varies by state, but most DMVs process accident reports within two to four weeks of receipt. If you filed online, you should receive a confirmation when ready. If you filed by mail, allow extra time for delivery. If you do not hear back within a month, contact your DMV to confirm the report was received.