Car accident reporting requirements by state
When you must report a car accident to police or the state, the damage threshold, and the deadline.
General information only, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Not affiliated with any government agency. Rules have exceptions; open your state for details and the law it comes from.
| State | Report required if | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Death, injury, or over $500 damage involving an uninsured driver | 30 days |
| Alaska | Death, injury, or over $2,000 damage | 10 days |
| Arizona | Death, injury, or over $300 damage (or no settlement in 6 months) | 6 months |
| Arkansas | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | 30 days for property damage |
| California | Any injury, death, or over $1,000 damage | 10 days (SR-1 to DMV) |
| Colorado | Death, injury, or any property damage | 10 days |
| Connecticut | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | 5 days |
| Delaware | Death, injury, or over $500 damage | Immediately |
| District of Columbia | Death, injury, or over $250 damage | 5 days |
| Florida | Death, injury, or over $500 damage | Immediately; 10 days if police did not investigate |
| Georgia | Death, injury, or over $500 damage | Immediately |
| Hawaii | Death, injury, or over $3,000 damage | Immediately |
| Idaho | Death, injury, or over $1,500 damage | Immediately |
| Illinois | Death, injury, or over $1,500 damage ($500 if a driver is uninsured) | 10 days |
| Indiana | Death, injury, or over $750 damage | Immediately |
| Iowa | Death, injury, or $1,500+ damage, unless police investigated | 3 days (if required) |
| Kansas Under review | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | Immediately |
| Kentucky | Death, injury, or over $500 damage | 10 days |
| Louisiana | Death, injury, or over $500 damage | Immediately |
| Maine | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | Immediately |
| Maryland Under review | Death, injury, or disabling damage if police do not report | 15 days |
| Massachusetts | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | 5 days |
| Michigan | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | Immediately |
| Minnesota | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | 10 days |
| Mississippi | Death, injury, or over $500 damage | 10 days |
| Missouri | Death, injury, or over $500 damage | 5 days |
| Montana | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | Immediately |
| Nebraska | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | 10 days |
| Nevada | Any crash | Immediately |
| New Hampshire | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | 5 days |
| New Jersey | Death, injury, or over $500 damage | Immediately |
| New Mexico | Death, injury, or over $500 damage | Immediately |
| New York | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | 10 days (MV-104 to DMV) |
| North Carolina | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | Immediately |
| North Dakota | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | Immediately |
| Ohio | Any crash | Immediately |
| Oklahoma | Death, injury, or over $500 damage | Immediately; 6 months for property-only |
| Oregon | Injury, death, over $2,500 damage, or any vehicle towed | 72 hours |
| Pennsylvania | Death, injury, or a vehicle that must be towed | 5 days |
| Rhode Island | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | 21 days |
| South Carolina | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | 15 days |
| South Dakota | Death, injury, over $1,000 to one person's property or $2,000 total | Immediately |
| Tennessee | Death, injury, or over $50 damage | Immediately; 20 days if over $400 |
| Texas | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | Immediately; 10 days for property damage |
| Utah Under review | Death, injury, or over $1,500 damage | 10 days |
| Vermont | Death, injury, or over $3,000 damage | 3 days |
| Virginia | Death or injury | Immediately |
| Washington | Death, injury, or over $700 damage | 4 days |
| West Virginia | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | Immediately |
| Wisconsin | Death, injury, over $1,000 damage, or $200+ to government property | Immediately, to police |
| Wyoming | Death, injury, or over $1,000 damage | Immediately |
How we checked this
Thresholds come from the AAA Digest of Motor Laws as published in a 2026 table, compared with a second insurer table. States where the two differ are marked for review. Last checked: November 12, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the state agency or a licensed professional before acting.
Cross-checked sources agree Checked on official source confirmed on a government, court or legislature site Single detailed source one detailed table built from statutes or official data Under review sources disagree; read the note and the law.