North Carolina Crash Reporting Requirements
Reporting duties kick in at a dollar threshold that is lower than most drivers expect.
- Damage threshold
- $1,000
A crash is reportable when anyone is killed or injured, or when total property damage reaches $1,000 (G.S. 20-4.01(33b)).
- Submit to
- Nearest law enforcement agency
The driver must notify law enforcement immediately, by the quickest means of communication — the city or town police inside a municipality, otherwise the State Highway Patrol or the county sheriff. There is no driver-filed crash form: the investigating officer writes the report. A driver who hits a parked or unattended vehicle must report to that owner within 48 hours even if the crash is not reportable, and NCDMV may separately require the driver to furnish proof of financial responsibility.