Only if a driver was uninsured
- When
- A crash with an uninsured motorist that injures or kills anyone, or causes more than $500 of damage to any one person's property.
- Report to
- Missouri Department of Revenue
- Deadline
- Within 30 days
- Form
- Form 1140, Motor Vehicle Accident Report
Official source: Missouri DOR — Accident Information
An uninsured driver who doesn't submit the form faces a one-year license suspension.
What to do after a car accident in Missouri
- Stop, check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Move to safety if you can.
- Call police for any crash with injuries or significant damage. Ask for the report number.
- 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.
- If another driver was uninsured, file Form 1140, Motor Vehicle Accident Reportwithin 30 days.
- Notify your insurance company promptly, as your policy requires, and start a claim communication log.
How Missouri compares with bordering states
Rules change at the state line. What applies is usually the state where the crash happened.
| State | Rule | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | Only if a driver was uninsured | Within 30 days |
| Arkansas | You must file your own report | Within 30 days |
| Illinois | You file only if police didn't | Within 10 days |
| Iowa | You file only if police didn't | Within 72 hours |
| Kansas | Call police — no driver form | — |
| Kentucky | You file only if police didn't | Within 10 days |
| Nebraska | You file only if police didn't | Within 10 days |
| Oklahoma | Call police — no driver form | Immediately (injury or death) |
| Tennessee | You must file your own report | Within 20 days |
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 Missouri'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 Missouri?
Only in one situation: a crash with an uninsured motorist that injures or kills anyone, or causes more than $500 of damage to any one person's property.
What form do I use to report a crash in Missouri?
Form 1140, Motor Vehicle Accident Report, filed with Missouri Department of Revenue. Download it from the official source: Missouri DOR — Accident Information.
How long do I have to report a car accident in Missouri?
Within 30 days — to Missouri Department of Revenue.
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.