Report an accident to the California DMV (SR-1)

Within 10 days of an accident in which anyone was injured or killed or property damage was over $1,000, the driver (or an insurance agent, broker, attorney or other representative) files an SR-1 with the DMV, regardless of fault.

At a glance

Where this sits

Level 2. Property & casualty insurance claims › A motor vehicle accident › Report an accident to the California DMV (SR-1)

Beside it: Report an injury accident to the police in California

Starts from: A motor vehicle accident

Related: Report an injury accident to the police in California, Claim for damage to a car after an accident in California, Claim for injury to a person after an accident in California

The SR-1 is the report people forget: it is owed to the DMV even when the police and the insurer already have reports, and a late one can cost a driver’s license. The form also says what the law calls financial responsibility:

Form

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1)

California Department of Motor Vehicles

The law requires every driver and every owner of a motor vehicle to be "financially responsible" for any injury or damage resulting from operating or owning a motor vehicle. The minimum insurance level for "financial responsibility" is public liability and property damage coverage of $30,000 for injury or death of one person, $60,000 for injury or death of two or more persons and $15,000 property damage per accident. Comprehensive and collision insurance does not meet the legal requirement.

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence sr1-financial2026-10-04 21:05characters 4362–4857 of the kept textsha256 61d67e08202d1e75

Rules

Requirement: Report it if anyone was injured (no matter how minor the injury) or killed, or if property damage is over $1,000. (checked as: (whether anyone was injured = true or whether anyone died = true or estimated property damage in dollars > 1000))

Agency

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR-1) - California DMV

California Department of Motor Vehicles

You or your insurance agent, broker, or legal representative must complete an SR-1 report and send it to DMV within 10 days if someone is injured (no matter how minor the injury) or killed, or property damage is over $1000.

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence dmv-sr1-who2026-10-04 21:05characters 3302–3525 of the kept textsha256 b4900fa8dd21a369

Law

leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

verified

California Vehicle Code section 16000

California Legislative Information

16000. (a) The driver of a motor vehicle who is in any manner involved in an accident originating from the operation of the motor vehicle on a street or highway, or is involved in a reportable off-highway accident, as defined in Section 16000.1, that has resulted in damage to the property of any one person in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000), or in bodily injury, or in the death of any person shall report the accident, within 10 days after the accident, either personally or through an insurance agent, broker, or legal representative, on a form approved by the department, to the office of the department at Sacramento, subject to this chapter.

↗ leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

evidence cvc-16000-a2026-10-04 21:05characters 1063–1719 of the kept textsha256 d00e4d17acb93ae7

Form

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1)

California Department of Motor Vehicles

California law requires traffic accidents on a California street/highway or private property to be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 10 days if there was an injury, death or property damage in excess of $1,000. Untimely reporting could result in DMV suspending a driver license.

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence sr1-important2026-10-04 21:05characters 3359–3661 of the kept textsha256 61d67e08202d1e75

Requirement: The driver files it regardless of fault, and in addition to any report to the police, the CHP or an insurer, whose reports do not satisfy this one.

Form

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1)

California Department of Motor Vehicles

The law requires the driver to file this SR 1 form with DMV regardless of fault. This report must be made in addition to any other report filed with a law enforcement agency, insurance company, or the California Highway Patrol (CHP) as their reports do not satisfy the filing requirement. An insurance agent, attorney, or other designated representative may file the report for the driver.

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence sr1-regardless2026-10-04 21:05characters 3972–4361 of the kept textsha256 61d67e08202d1e75

Agency

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR-1) - California DMV

California Department of Motor Vehicles

An SR-1 report is required in addition to any other report made to the police, CHP, or your insurance company.

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence dmv-sr1-in-addition2026-10-04 21:05characters 3526–3636 of the kept textsha256 b4900fa8dd21a369

Not eligible if: Not reportable: an accident involving a vehicle not required to be registered (an off-road vehicle, an implement of husbandry, a snowmobile), one on a military base, or one on the driver’s own property involving only the driver’s personal property with no injury or death. (checked as: (whether the vehicle is one that must be registered = false or whether it happened on a military base = true or whether it happened on the driver’s own property = true and whether anyone was injured = false and whether anyone died = false))

Form

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1)

California Department of Motor Vehicles

Accidents involving vehicles not required to be registered such as an off-road vehicle (OHV), implement of husbandry, or snowmobile or occurring on a military base or occurring on the driver's own property involving only the personal property of the driver and there was no injury or death are not reportable.

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence sr1-not-reportable2026-10-04 21:05characters 3662–3971 of the kept textsha256 61d67e08202d1e75

Not eligible if: No report is required if the vehicle was owned or leased by, or under the direction of, the United States, the state, another state, or a local agency. (checked as: whether the vehicle was owned or leased by, or under the direction of, the United States, a state, or a local agency = true)

Law

leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

verified

California Vehicle Code section 16000

California Legislative Information

(b) A report is not required under subdivision (a) if the motor vehicle involved in the accident was owned or leased by, or under the direction of, the United States, this state, another state, or a local agency.

↗ leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

evidence cvc-16000-b2026-10-04 21:05characters 1878–2090 of the kept textsha256 d00e4d17acb93ae7

Deadlines

File the SR-1: Within 10 days after the accident.

The last day the DMV acts on a report: The DMV takes no action against a non-reporting or uninsured motorist unless an SR 1 is sent by someone involved in the accident, or their designee, and received within one calendar year of the accident date.

Form

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1)

California Department of Motor Vehicles

DMV does not accept reports or take actions against non-reporting or uninsured motorists unless this SR 1 form is sent to DMV by someone involved in the accident or their designee and the report is received by DMV within one calendar year of the accident date.

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence sr1-one-year2026-10-04 21:05characters 6662–6922 of the kept textsha256 61d67e08202d1e75

What you will need to show

• Your driver’s license or identification (DL/ID) card
• Your vehicle’s license plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN)
• Your vehicle’s insurance information
• The other party’s vehicle and insurance information — when whether another party was involved = true

Agency

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR-1) - California DMV

California Department of Motor Vehicles

Gather the following information / documents: Your driver's license or identification (DL/ID) card Your vehicle's license plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN) Your vehicle's insurance information Other party's vehicle and insurance information, if applicable

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence dmv-sr1-gather2026-10-04 21:05characters 3028–3301 of the kept textsha256 b4900fa8dd21a369

Form: Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1)

Version: REV. 6/2025. Source: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/file/report-of-traffic-accident-occurring-in-california-sr-1-pdf/. Kept copy: sha256:35051182479cb5bc…

• All information on the form is mandatory.
• Write unk (for unknown) or none in a space when you do not have the other party’s information.

Form

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1)

California Department of Motor Vehicles

SR 1 (REV. 6/2025) WWW

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence sr1-rev2026-10-04 21:05characters 2059–2081 of the kept textsha256 61d67e08202d1e75

Form

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1)

California Department of Motor Vehicles

All information on this form is mandatory.

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence sr1-mandatory2026-10-04 21:05characters 8526–8568 of the kept textsha256 61d67e08202d1e75

Form

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1)

California Department of Motor Vehicles

# OF VEHICLES DATE OF ACCIDENT ACCIDENT LOCATION (CITY/COUNTY) (CALIFORNIA ONLY) ON PRIVATE PROPERTY Yes No TIME OF ACCIDENT DRIVING FOR EMPLOYER

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence sr1-fields-accident2026-10-04 21:05characters 79–224 of the kept textsha256 61d67e08202d1e75

Form

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1)

California Department of Motor Vehicles

REPORTING PARTY'S INFORMATION DRIVER'S NAME (FIRST, MIDDLE, LAST) DRIVER LICENSE NUMBER STATE DRIVER'S STREET ADDRESS DATE OF BIRTH CITY STATE ZIP CODE TELEPHONE NUMBERS Wk ( ) Hm ( ) VEHICLE (YEAR AND MAKE) VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE OR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER STATE DAMAGES OVER $1,000 Yes No VEHICLE OWNER (PERSON OR COMPANY) DATE OF BIRTH ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE INSURANCE COMPANY NAME (NOT AGENT OR BROKER) AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT POLICY NUMBER COMPANY NAIC NUMBER POLICY PERIOD POLICY HOLDER NAME

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence sr1-fields-party2026-10-04 21:05characters 320–831 of the kept textsha256 61d67e08202d1e75

Form

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1)

California Department of Motor Vehicles

I certify (or declare) under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence sr1-certify2026-10-04 21:05characters 1867–1996 of the kept textsha256 61d67e08202d1e75

How it is filed

• File online (DMV Virtual Office: Start an SR-1): https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv-virtual-office/accident-reporting/accident-reporting-form/
• File by mail (paper takes longer): Department of Motor Vehicles, Insurance Unit, Mail Station J237, P.O. Box 942884, Sacramento, CA 94284-0884

Agency

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR-1) - California DMV

California Department of Motor Vehicles

Report a traffic accident by filing an SR-1.

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence dmv-sr1-start2026-10-04 21:05characters 2951–2995 of the kept textsha256 b4900fa8dd21a369

Form

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1)

California Department of Motor Vehicles

Once you have completed this report, please mail it to: Department of Motor Vehicles Insurance Unit Mail Station J237 P.O. Box 942884 Sacramento, CA 94284-0884

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence sr1-mail2026-10-04 21:05characters 6502–6661 of the kept textsha256 61d67e08202d1e75

Agency

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR-1) - California DMV

California Department of Motor Vehicles

Please note that paper submissions are likely to take longer to process.

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence dmv-sr1-paper2026-10-04 21:05characters 3701–3773 of the kept textsha256 b4900fa8dd21a369

What an agent may do: authorized representative. An insurance agent, attorney, or other designated representative may file the report for the driver.

What this page does not know

• The other party’s block, the injury and death block, the other-property block and the insurance card (SR 1A) are not mapped to facts yet.
• No fee is stated on the pages read.

More sources

Form

dmv.ca.gov

verified

Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1)

California Department of Motor Vehicles

Write unk (for unknown) or none in any space or box when you do not have information on the other party involved.

↗ dmv.ca.gov

evidence sr1-unk2026-10-04 21:05characters 5543–5656 of the kept textsha256 61d67e08202d1e75