Hit and Run in California: Steps, Reports and Coverage

After a hit and run in California, get safe, call 911 if anyone is hurt, and report the crash to police. If you were driving when the crash happened, file an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed or property damage is over $1,000. If your car was parked and unattended, ask the DMV or your agent whether an SR-1 is required. Then notify your insurance company quickly. For hit and run California insurance claims, coverage such as collision or uninsured motorist may apply, depending on your policy.

Picture a commuter in Riverside who walks out of a store to find a crumpled bumper and no note. The steps below explain what the law requires, what to document, and how common coverages work.

What California Law Requires of Drivers

Leaving the scene breaks state law. Vehicle Code 20001(a) says a driver "involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident".

For crashes with property damage only, Vehicle Code 20002 says the driver "shall immediately stop the vehicle at the nearest location that will not impede traffic or otherwise jeopardize the safety of other motorists." If the owner of a damaged car cannot be found, the driver must leave a written notice with the names and addresses of the driver and owner and notify police.

Penalties are serious. A violation of 20002 is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. A violation of 20001(a) can bring "imprisonment in the state prison, or in a county jail for not more than one year," or a fine from $1,000 to $10,000, or both.

Steps to Take Right After a Hit-and-Run

1. Check for injuries. The California Driver's Handbook says, "Call 911 right away if anyone is hurt."
2. Call the police. The California Department of Insurance (CDI) advises, "Call the police. In some areas, police authorities may respond to every accident scene."
3. Write down what you saw. Note the other vehicle's color, make, and plate, even a partial plate, plus the direction it went and the time.
4. Take photos. CDI says, "If you have a camera or a cellphone, take photographs of the damage, and the accident scene (traffic controls, visual obstacles)."
5. Find witnesses. CDI recommends you "Obtain names, addresses, and telephone numbers of other passengers and any witnesses".
6. Tell your insurer. CDI's guide says, "Notify your agent and/or your insurance company immediately."

In busy areas like Los Angeles or Ontario, ask nearby businesses about camera footage.

Reporting to the DMV With the SR-1

The police report is not the only report. The DMV's accident reporting page says you must file an SR-1 "if someone is injured (no matter how minor the injury) or killed, or property damage is over $1000," within 10 days. It adds: "An SR-1 report is required in addition to any other report made to the police, CHP, or your insurance company."

The DMV says, "You or your insurance agent, broker, or legal representative must complete an SR-1 report." You can file online or by mail. The Driver's Handbook warns, "Your driving privilege will be suspended if you fail to file a report."

How Hit and Run California Insurance Coverage Works

CDI's auto insurance guide describes the coverages that often come up after a hit-and-run:

• Uninsured motorist bodily injury: "This pays for injuries to you and any person in your car when there is an accident with an uninsured driver who is at fault."
• Uninsured motorist property damage: "This pays for the damage to your car from an accident with an uninsured driver who is at fault. The limit is $3,500. This only pays if the uninsured driver is identified."
• Collision: "Collision covers damage to your car caused by physical contact with another vehicle or an object, such as a, tree, rock, guardrail, or building."
• Medical payments: "This coverage can pay for immediate medical care, no matter who is at fault."

The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) explains that "UM coverage also kicks in if, as a pedestrian, you are hit by an uninsured driver, or if you're the victim of a hit-and-run accident." In California, uninsured motorist property damage does not apply if the driver is never identified, since CDI says it "only pays if the uninsured driver is identified".

CDI adds that "The insurance company must offer you this coverage. If you choose not to buy it, you must sign a form, called a waiver." Check your declarations page.

Deadlines and Paperwork for Your Claim

CDI's accident guide notes that "most policies require notification to the police within a specified time period if the accident is a hit and run." Report right away so you meet any deadline in your policy.

In California, uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage for an unidentified hit-and-run driver generally requires physical contact, a report to police, sheriff or CHP within 24 hours, and a sworn statement to your insurer within 30 days (Insurance Code 11580.2).

Keep records. CDI says, "If you have medical payments or an uninsured motorist claim, you must provide documentation of your loss (injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, etc.)." Save the police report number, your SR-1 copy, photos, repair estimates, and medical bills in one folder. For help planning the yearly costs of owning a car, see what California drivers miss about annual car costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to report a hit-and-run to the DMV?

If you were driving when the crash happened, file an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed or property damage is over $1,000. If your car was parked and unattended, ask the DMV or your agent whether an SR-1 is required.

Does uninsured motorist coverage pay for car damage in a hit-and-run?

It depends. CDI says uninsured motorist property damage has a $3,500 limit and "only pays if the uninsured driver is identified". When the driver is never found, collision coverage, which covers physical contact with another vehicle, may apply to your car, depending on your policy.

What happens to a driver who leaves the scene?

Under Vehicle Code 20002, leaving after a property-damage crash is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both. Under 20001, leaving a crash with injury or death can bring state prison or county jail time and fines up to $10,000, and if the crash causes death or permanent, serious injury, up to four years in state prison.

What if I hit a parked car and can't find the owner?

Stop and leave a note. The DMV handbook says, "If you cannot find the owner, leave a note with your name, phone number, and address." Vehicle Code 20002 also requires you to notify the local police department, or the CHP in unincorporated areas.

Review Your Coverage Before You Need It

A hit-and-run is a good reason to know what your auto policy includes. At Farmers Insurance - Young Douglas, our agents explain uninsured motorist, collision, and medical payments coverage in plain terms, and our advice library covers more driver questions. Coverage depends on your policy. Get a free quote and coverage review.

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Sources: California Vehicle Code 20001; California Vehicle Code 20002; California DMV, Report of Traffic Accident (SR-1); California DMV, Driver's Handbook Section 10; CDI, Automobile Insurance; CDI, So You've Had an Accident, What's Next?; Triple-I, Protect Yourself Against Uninsured Motorists; California Insurance Code 11580.2.

Last updated: September 23, 2026.