California Crash Reporting Rules

When you must file a written crash report, the deadline, and which agency receives it.

Damage threshold for required reporting ($)

$1,000

Source: California Driver's Handbook (2025), Section 10: Financial Responsibility, Insurance Requirements, and Collisions (Reporting a Collision), p. 78.

Deadline to file written report (days)

Source: California Driver's Handbook (2025), Section 10: Financial Responsibility, Insurance Requirements, and Collisions (Reporting a Collision), p. 78.

Where to file

Two reports may be required. The California DMV Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1) must be filed with DMV within 10 days by every driver (or their insurance agent, broker, or legal representative) whenever the collision caused more than $1,000 in property damage or anyone was injured or killed, whether or not the driver caused the collision and even if it happened on private property. Separately, if anyone is injured or killed, the driver must make a report to law enforcement within 24 hours of the collision. Failure to file the DMV report will suspend the driver's privilege, and law enforcement will not file the SR 1 on the driver's behalf.

Source: California Driver's Handbook (2025), Section 10: Financial Responsibility, Insurance Requirements, and Collisions (What to Do if You Are in a Collision; Reporting a Collision), pp. 77-78.

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