Call police — no driver form
- When
- Any crash that injures or kills someone.
- Report to
- Local police, county sheriff, or the nearest highway patrol office
- Deadline
- Immediately
Official source: Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-666
For a crash on private property where police did not come, ADOT MVD says you need a law-enforcement crash report before you can request the other driver's insurance information.
What to do after a car accident in Arizona
- Stop, check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Move to safety if you can.
- Call police if the crash meets Arizona's rule above — immediately.
- Exchange names, contact, license, plate and insurance details with every driver involved. Use our accident information worksheet.
- Photograph every vehicle, the plates, the damage and the scene, and get witnesses' names and numbers.
- Keep the police report number — your insurer will ask for it.
- Notify your insurance company promptly, as your policy requires, and start a claim communication log.
How Arizona compares with bordering states
Rules change at the state line. What applies is usually the state where the crash happened.
| State | Rule | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Call police — no driver form | Immediately |
| California | You must file your own report | Within 10 days |
| Colorado | Optional online report | — |
| Nevada | You file only if police didn't | Within 10 days |
| New Mexico | Confirm with your state | — |
| Utah | Only if the state asks | Within 10 days after DPS requests it |
If your car was totaled or damaged
Reporting the crash is only the first step. If your insurer says the car is a total loss, check Arizona's total-loss threshold and run the offer through the Total-Loss Offer Audit. If it was repaired, you may have a diminished-value claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to report a car accident in Arizona?
You must notify police — there's no separate driver form. In Arizona that applies to: any crash that injures or kills someone.
How long do I have to report a car accident in Arizona?
Immediately — to Local police, county sheriff, or the nearest highway patrol office.
Does reporting the crash to the state start my insurance claim?
No. A police or state crash report and an insurance claim are separate. Notify your own insurer promptly as your policy requires, and file a claim with the at-fault driver's insurer if someone else caused the crash.