California Crash Reporting Requirements
Reporting duties kick in at a dollar threshold that is lower than most drivers expect.
- Damage threshold
- $1,000
A report is required for damage to any one person's property above $1,000, or any bodily injury or death — however minor the injury.
- Deadline to file
- 10 days
Ten days from the crash. The duty is the driver's, whether or not police attended.
- Submit to
- California DMV (form SR 1)
File the Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1) with the DMV office in Sacramento, personally or through your insurance agent, broker or legal representative. This is separate from any police report.