After a crash: practical steps
The DMV SR-1 report after a crash
California drivers must send the DMV an SR-1 within 10 days if anyone is injured, however minor, or killed, or property damage is over $1,000 (Vehicle Code § 16000). It is required even if you were not at fault, and the DMV suspends your license if you don't file.
When the SR-1 is required
California's financial responsibility law requires a driver in a crash that caused more than $1,000 in property damage to any one person, or any injury or death, to report it to the DMV within 10 days (Vehicle Code § 16000). The DMV's form for that report is the SR-1, the Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California. Here is what the DMV itself says:
| When it is required | You or your insurance agent, broker or legal representative must complete an SR-1 and send it to the DMV within 10 days if someone is injured (no matter how minor) or killed, or if property damage is over $1,000. [source] |
|---|---|
| Who files | Each driver must file an SR-1, whether or not they caused the collision, even if it happened on private property. [source] |
| Other reports | The SR-1 is required in addition to any report made to the police, CHP or your insurance company. [source] |
| What you need | Before starting, gather your driver's license or ID card, your license plate number or VIN, your insurance information, and the other party's vehicle and insurance information if applicable. [source] |
| How to file | The SR-1 can be filed online through the DMV Virtual Office. A printable PDF form (with a Spanish version) is also available, but paper submissions are likely to take longer to process. [source] |
| If you don't file | Your driving privilege will be suspended if you fail to file the report, and law enforcement will not file it for you. [source] |
| Driver record | The DMV adds a reported collision to your driver record, regardless of who caused it. [source] |
| No insurance | A driver in a collision without proper insurance can have their driving privilege suspended for up to four years, regardless of fault. [source] |
The police report does not count
Many people assume the officer at the scene reports the crash to the DMV. The DMV says plainly that law enforcement will not make the SR-1 report for you, and that the SR-1 is required in addition to any police, CHP or insurance report. A crash on private property, such as a store parking lot, still counts. See our crash report guide for getting the police report itself.
How to file
- Gather your driver's license, plate number or VIN, your insurance details, and the other driver's vehicle and insurance details.
- File online through the DMV Virtual Office (the fastest route), or print the PDF form, which is also available in Spanish.
- File within 10 days of the crash. Your insurance agent, broker or lawyer may file it for you, but the duty stays yours, so ask for confirmation that it was sent.
- Keep a copy of what you filed and the date you filed it.
Describe the crash factually. Stick to what happened, where and when; you do not need to state who was at fault. The DMV adds reported collisions to your driver record regardless of who caused them.
What happens if you don't file
The DMV must suspend the driving privilege of anyone who fails to make a required accident report. The suspension stays in effect until the DMV receives the report or evidence of financial responsibility (Vehicle Code § 16004). Separately, a driver in a collision without proper insurance can have their license suspended for up to four years, whoever was at fault.
If you were injured
An injury of any size triggers the SR-1 requirement. Filing it does not start or settle an injury claim; those follow their own deadlines, generally two years for a lawsuit (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1) and six months for a claim against a city, the County or another public entity (Government Code § 911.2). Our explanation of Vehicle Code § 16000 covers the statute in more detail.
Every fact on this page links to the official source it came from. We checked each one in September 2026. Agencies change fees and procedures, so confirm with the agency before you go. How we research.
Common questions
Does the police report replace the SR-1?
No. The DMV says the SR-1 is required in addition to any report made to the police, CHP or your insurance company, and that law enforcement will not make the report for you.
I wasn't at fault. Do I still have to file?
Yes. According to the DMV, each driver must file whether or not they caused the collision, including crashes on private property.
Can someone else file it for me?
Yes. Your insurance agent, broker or legal representative can complete and send the SR-1 for you. Ask for a copy so you know it was filed on time.
How do I know if damage is over $1,000?
Use a repair estimate. Most repairs after a real collision exceed that amount, and any injury at all, however minor, requires the report regardless of damage.
Related pages
Sources
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