When and where to file a police report
You must file a police report at the scene of the accident if anyone is injured, if there is significant property damage, or if the other driver leaves without exchanging information. In most states, you are also required to file a report within a set number of days — often 10 to 30 days — even if no one was hurt. The exact requirement depends on your state and the severity of the crash.
Call 911 when ready if anyone needs medical attention or if the accident blocks traffic. For minor accidents with no injuries and both drivers present, you can file the report at your local police station or highway patrol office instead of waiting for an officer at the scene. Some states allow you to file online through the police department's website, though this is usually only for accidents with minimal damage and no injuries.
Do not leave the scene before police arrive or before exchanging information with the other driver, even if you think the accident is minor. Leaving can result in a hit-and-run charge, which carries serious penalties including fines, license suspension, and possible jail time.
Key Takeaways
- Call 911 if anyone is injured or if the accident blocks traffic; otherwise, you can file the report in person at a police station.
- You must file a report within 10 to 30 days in most states, even if the accident seemed minor at the time.
- Bring your driver's license, vehicle registration, insurance information, and the other driver's contact details and insurance information to the police station.
- The police report generates an official accident number that your insurance company will need to process your claim.
- Request a copy of the report for your records; some departments provide it when ready, while others mail it or make it available online within days.
What to bring when you file the report
Gather these documents before you go to the police station: your driver's license, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and the other driver's name, phone number, address, driver's license number, vehicle make and model, license plate number, and insurance company name and policy number. If you have photos of the damage, the accident scene, road conditions, or traffic signs, bring those too. Police will not take photos for you during an in-person filing, so yours are the only visual record you will have.
If there were witnesses, write down their names and phone numbers. You do not need to bring them to the station, but the officer will ask if anyone else saw the accident. If a witness is willing to give a statement, the officer may contact them directly.
Bring any notes you wrote when ready after the accident — the time, weather, what happened, and how the other driver was driving. Do not worry about perfect wording; police want the facts as you remember them.
What happens during the police report filing
When you arrive at the police station, tell the desk officer you need to file an accident report. You will be asked to describe what happened, where it happened, when it happened, and the condition of both vehicles. The officer will record your account and ask about injuries, whether airbags deployed, and whether either vehicle was towed. Be honest and stick to what you saw and heard — do not speculate about what the other driver was thinking or why they acted a certain way.
The officer will also ask whether you called 911 at the scene, whether you exchanged information with the other driver, and whether you have insurance. They will record the other driver's information from the documents you provide. If the other driver has not yet filed a report, the officer will note that and may attempt to contact them.
The entire process usually takes 20 to 45 minutes. At the end, you will receive an accident report number. Write this down when ready — you will need it for your insurance claim and for any follow-up questions.
Getting a copy of your police report
Ask the officer before you leave whether you can receive a copy on the spot. Some departments print it when ready; others mail it to you within 3 to 7 business days. A few departments make reports available online through a case management system you can access with your report number and date of birth.
If the report is not ready when you leave, ask how to obtain it — by phone, email, in person, or through the department's website. Some departments charge a small fee (usually $5 to $15) for a copy. Request at least two copies; you will need one for your insurance company and one for your own records.
Do not wait for the report to contact your insurance company. Call them the same day or the next day and give them the accident report number, the date and time of the accident, and a brief description of what happened. Your insurance company can often retrieve the police report themselves once they have the number.
What if the police will not come to the scene
In some states, police do not respond to minor accidents with no injuries. If dispatch tells you an officer will not come, ask whether you can file a report in person at the station. Write down the dispatcher's name and the time of the call in case you need to reference it later.
If the other driver refuses to stay or leaves before you can exchange information, note their license plate number, vehicle description, and the direction they went. Report this to police when you file — it may be classified as a hit-and-run, which police take more seriously. Even without the other driver's information, you can still file a report with your insurance company, though your claim may take longer to resolve.
Some states allow you to file a report online if police will not respond. Check your state's Department of Motor Vehicles or state police website for an online accident report form. Online reports typically take longer to process than in-person filings, so do this only if an in-person visit is truly not possible.
How the police report affects your insurance claim
Your insurance company uses the police report to understand what happened, who was involved, and whether anyone was injured. The report number links your claim to the official record, which helps if there is a dispute about fault. If the other driver later claims the accident happened differently, the police report serves as an independent account of the facts.
The police report does not determine who pays for the damage — that is decided by your insurance company based on your policy and the laws of your state. However, if the police report clearly shows the other driver was at fault (for example, they were cited for running a red light), your insurance company is more likely to pursue a claim against the other driver's insurance.
If you do not file a police report within the required timeframe, your insurance company may deny your claim or delay payment. Some policies require a police report as a condition of coverage for accidents. Check your policy or call your insurance company to confirm what they need.
State-specific filing requirements and timelines
The important date to file a police report varies by state. Most states require you to file within 10 to 30 days, but some allow up to 90 days. A few states require a report only if there is injury or significant property damage, while others require one for any accident. Your state's Department of Motor Vehicles website lists the specific requirement for your location.
Some states use a unified accident report form that all police departments accept, while others have department-specific forms. If you move between states or the accident happened near a state border, confirm which state's police department has jurisdiction. Generally, the state where the accident occurred is responsible for the report.
If you are involved in an accident in a state where you do not live, you may still need to file a report in that state even after you return home. Contact the police department where the accident occurred to confirm the filing important date and whether you can file by mail or online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a police report if the other driver and I agreed not to involve insurance?
You should still file a police report if you are required to by your state's law, regardless of what you and the other driver agreed to. If you later discover damage you did not notice at the scene, or if the other driver changes their mind about paying, you will have an official record. Filing a report does not force you to make an insurance claim — it straightforward creates a record.
What if the police report contains incorrect information?
Contact the police department and ask to file an amendment or correction. Bring documentation (photos, witness statements, or medical records) that supports the correction. The department will review your request and update the report if warranted. Keep a copy of the amendment for your insurance company.
Can I file a police report weeks after the accident?
Yes, but only if you are still within your state's important date — usually 10 to 30 days. Filing late may delay your insurance claim or result in denial if your policy requires a timely report. Contact your police department when ready to confirm the important date and file as soon as possible.
What happens if the other driver does not have insurance?
Report this to the police when you file your accident report. The officer will note it in the report. You will then file a claim with your own insurance company under your uninsured motorist coverage (if you have it). The police report documents that the other driver was uninsured, which supports your claim.
Do I need to go to court because of the police report?
Filing a police report does not automatically mean you will go to court. If the other driver was cited for a traffic violation, they may contest it in traffic court, but you would not be required to attend unless subpoenaed. If there is a dispute over who was at fault, your insurance company handles that — you would only go to court if the case goes to small claims or civil litigation, which is rare.