In California you must report an injury crash to police within 24 hours (DMV Driver Handbook) and file an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days when anyone is hurt or damage exceeds $1,000 (Vehicle Code 16000). Texas requires immediate notice to police in injury crashes, Washington gives drivers four days when no officer reports, and your insurer expects notice promptly.
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How long do I have to report a car accident in California?
California has two separate duties, and doing one does not satisfy the other.
- Police, within 24 hours. The DMV Driver Handbook says you must report a collision to law enforcement within 24 hours if anyone is injured or killed. Your insurance agent, broker or legal representative can make that report for you.
- DMV, within 10 days. Each driver must file the SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured, no matter how minor, or killed, or property damage is over $1,000. It applies whether or not you caused the crash, and the handbook adds that it applies on private property too.
The SR-1 form itself warns that reports from police, the CHP or your insurer do not satisfy the DMV filing requirement, and that late reporting can lead the DMV to suspend your license. The handbook says law enforcement will not file it for you.
How long do I have to report a car accident in Texas?
Texas puts the duty on the scene itself. Under section 550.026 of the Transportation Code, if a crash injures or kills someone or leaves a vehicle unable to be driven normally and safely, the driver must immediately notify the local police department or the sheriff’s office, depending on where it happened.
The officer then files the report. Section 550.062 requires an investigating officer to file a written report with TxDOT within 10 days when there is injury, death or at least $1,000 in property damage. Drivers no longer file their own state form. TxDOT explains that since September 1, 2017 it does not keep the Driver’s Crash Report (CR-2), so if no officer came, keep any form you filled out locally.
How long do I have to report a car accident in Washington?
Washington gives drivers four days. Under RCW 46.52.030, unless an officer is making the report, every driver in a crash with injury, death or property damage at the state threshold must send a written report within four days. The threshold is $1,000 under WAC 446-85-010.
The Washington State Patrol takes this report online through its collision reporting system and gives you the report number immediately. It notes that if an officer at the scene says they will write the report, you do not need to file one yourself. At the scene, RCW 46.52.020 also requires drivers to exchange information and, when no one is able to receive it and no officer is present, to report the crash to the nearest police office.
How long do I have to tell my insurance company?
Your policy decides, and most ask for prompt notice. The Texas Department of Insurance tells drivers to report the accident as soon as possible because most companies have deadlines for claims. The California Department of Insurance says to notify your agent or company immediately. Washington’s Insurance Commissioner says the time allowed varies by policy and company.
Telling your insurer is different from making a claim against the other driver. Even when the crash was not your fault, a late notice to your own company can complicate uninsured motorist or medical payments coverage you may need later.
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Is there a shorter deadline for a hit-and-run?
Often, yes. The California Department of Insurance notes that most policies require notifying police within a set time after a hit-and-run. In Washington, a claim for a “phantom vehicle” that ran you off the road without touching your car requires a police report within 72 hours (RCW 48.22.030). TDI says to call police if the other driver drove away. Report a hit-and-run the same day.
What to do now
- If anyone was hurt and police have not been told, call the local police or sheriff today.
- In California, file the SR-1 online with the DMV if you are inside the 10 days. If you are past it, file anyway and talk to a lawyer.
- In Washington, file the collision report with the State Patrol if no officer wrote one.
- Call the claims number on your insurance card and write down the claim number and the date you called.
- Write down the police report number or the officer’s name and badge number.
- Keep copies of every report you file.
Talk to us about your report and your claim
If you are unsure which reports you still owe, or you were hurt and the insurer is already asking questions, call Beverly Law at (310) 552-6959. If no officer came to the scene, read whether you can claim without a police report. We handle car accident cases in California, Texas and Washington. Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Common questions
What happens if I report the accident late?
The answer depends on which report. A late SR-1 in California can lead to a license suspension. A late notice to your insurer gives it a reason to question coverage. Generally, neither one by itself ends an injury claim against the driver who hit you.
Do I have to report a minor accident with no injuries?
In California, only if damage is over $1,000. In Washington, the driver’s report is required at $1,000 or more in damage. Small dents add up fast, so get an estimate before deciding.
Can I still report an accident days later?
Yes, file it anyway. A late report still puts the crash on record, and a delay is easier to explain than a missing report. Be honest about why it is late.
Does reporting the accident affect the deadline to sue?
No. Reporting deadlines and lawsuit deadlines are separate. The lawsuit deadline is generally 2 years in California (California Courts). See how long after a car accident you can claim injury for all three states.
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Related pages
Car Accident Settlements · Car accident settlements · What to do after a car accident that was not your fault · How long after a car accident can you claim injury · Can you claim without a police report · Law Blog
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Sources
- California DMV: report of traffic accident (SR-1)
- California DMV: SR-1 form (PDF)
- California DMV: SR-1 form in Spanish (PDF)
- California DMV Driver Handbook, section 10: financial responsibility, insurance requirements and collisions
- California Vehicle Code section 16000
- California Highway Patrol: request a crash report
- California Department of Insurance: so you've had an accident
- California Courts Self-Help Guide: statute of limitations
- Texas Transportation Code chapter 550
- TxDOT: crash reports and records
- Texas Department of Insurance: auto insurance guide
- Texas Department of Insurance: were you in a wreck?
- Revised Code of Washington 46.52.020
- Revised Code of Washington 46.52.030
- Washington Administrative Code 446-85-010
- Washington State Patrol: collision records
- Revised Code of Washington 48.22.030
- Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner: filing an auto insurance claim
Important: This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Beverly Law. Laws change and every case is different; talk to a lawyer about your own situation. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. You owe no fees or costs unless we win. Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou. Last reviewed: 2026-11-12.