General information, not legal advice. This guide explains California law in general terms. It isn't advice about your situation, and laws and deadlines can change. Check the official sources linked on this page.
Do you need a police report after a car accident in California?
Many minor crashes end with the drivers swapping information and leaving. California law allows that in some cases, but not after an injury crash, not when you hit an unattended car, and not if you'll need your own coverage for a hit-and-run.
Short answer: If anyone was injured or killed, a written report must go to the CHP or city police within 24 hours (VC §20008). If you hit unattended property and can't find the owner, notify police or CHP (§20002). If you're the victim of a hit-and-run and may use uninsured motorist coverage, report within 24 hours (Ins. Code §11580.2(b)). Otherwise a damage-only crash doesn't legally need a police report, but an SR-1 may still be due.
When a police report is required
| Situation | What the law requires | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Anyone injured or killed | Driver makes or causes a written report within 24 hours to the CHP or, if the crash was in a city, to the CHP or that city's police | VC §20008 |
| You hit an unattended vehicle or property and can't find the owner | Leave a note, and notify the city police (or CHP in unincorporated areas) without delay | VC §20002 |
| Hit-and-run, and you may claim your own UM coverage | Report within 24 hours to the city police, or the sheriff or CHP in unincorporated areas | Ins. Code §11580.2(b)(2) |
Minor crashes with no injuries
If no one was hurt and the drivers exchanged the information required by VC §16025, the Vehicle Code doesn't require a police report. You still have to stop and exchange information (§20002). And if any one person's property damage is over $1,000, the SR-1 is still due to the DMV within 10 days (§16000).
Some people report anyway, to create a record. If you want a report, call the police non-emergency line or the CHP Area office and ask whether they'll take one. Policies differ by agency.
Injuries change everything
Under §20008, an injury crash requires a written report within 24 hours. Report it even if the injury seems minor. An injury also triggers the SR-1, no matter how small the damage (§16000). See What to do at the scene.
Hit-and-run: the 24-hour UM rule
Uninsured motorist coverage can pay for injuries caused by a driver who can't be identified, but only if the conditions in Insurance Code §11580.2(b) are met. There must be physical contact, a report within 24 hours to the right agency, and a sworn statement to your insurer within 30 days. Missing the 24-hour report can cost you that coverage. See the UM/UIM guide.
Police report, SR-1 and insurance report
These are three different reports:
- Police or CHP report: required as shown above.
- SR-1 to the DMV: due within 10 days after any injury crash or more than $1,000 of damage to one person's property. Police won't file it for you (SR-1 guide).
- Your insurance company: your policy sets the notice requirements.
Getting a copy later
If an officer wrote a report, you can request a copy from that agency. See Getting a copy of the crash report and the police report links in the resource directory.
Common questions
Do I have to report a minor car accident to the police in California?
Not always. Vehicle Code §20008 requires a written report to the CHP or city police within 24 hours when anyone is injured or killed. For damage-only crashes where the drivers exchange information, the Vehicle Code doesn't require a police report. You still have to report unattended property you hit (§20002), and the SR-1 to the DMV may still be required (§16000).
How long after a car accident can you file a police report in California?
For an injury crash, the driver's written report is due within 24 hours (§20008). For a hit-and-run you want to claim under your own uninsured motorist coverage, the report must be made within 24 hours (Ins. Code §11580.2(b)). For other crashes, contact the CHP Area office or the city police department to ask whether and how they'll take a late report.
Do I need a police report to file an insurance claim?
We haven't found a California statute that makes a police report a condition of an ordinary auto insurance claim. The key exception is a hit-and-run claim under your own uninsured motorist coverage, which requires a report within 24 hours. Your policy may also have its own notice terms, so read it.
Does the police report replace the SR-1?
No. The DMV says the SR-1 is in addition to any police or insurance report, and the California Driver's Handbook says law enforcement won't file it for you.
How long do you have to report a hit and run in California?
To keep your uninsured motorist coverage available for an unknown driver, Insurance Code §11580.2(b)(2) requires a report within 24 hours to the city police or, in unincorporated areas, to the sheriff or CHP, and a sworn statement to your insurer within 30 days. If anyone was hurt, §20008's 24-hour report rule also applies.
Sources
The sources this guide cites. We check the guide against these sources before publishing and each time we review it.
- California Vehicle Code §20008, 24-hour written report of an injury crash (California Legislative Information)
- California Vehicle Code §20002, duties after a property-damage-only crash (California Legislative Information)
- California Insurance Code §11580.2, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (California Legislative Information)
- California Vehicle Code §16025, exchanging information and insurance (California Legislative Information)
- California Vehicle Code §16000, SR-1 report to the DMV (California Legislative Information)
Published · Last reviewed · How we write and review guides