Only if a driver was uninsured
- When
- A crash in Ohio with an uninsured driver causing more than $400 of damage (with an itemized estimate) or personal injury over $500.
- Report to
- Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
- Form
- BMV 3303, Uninsured Accident Report
Official source: Ohio BMV — Form BMV 3303
Police forward their own crash reports (form OH-1) for crashes with injury, death, or property damage over $1,000.
What to do after a car accident in Ohio
- 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 BMV 3303, Uninsured Accident Report.
- Notify your insurance company promptly, as your policy requires, and start a claim communication log.
How Ohio compares with bordering states
Rules change at the state line. What applies is usually the state where the crash happened.
| State | Rule | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Only if a driver was uninsured | — |
| Indiana | You must file your own report | Within 10 days |
| Kentucky | You file only if police didn't | Within 10 days |
| Michigan | Call police — no driver form | Immediately |
| Pennsylvania | You file only if police didn't | Within 5 days |
| West Virginia | Call police — no driver form | Immediately |
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 Ohio'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 Ohio?
Only in one situation: a crash in Ohio with an uninsured driver causing more than $400 of damage (with an itemized estimate) or personal injury over $500.
What form do I use to report a crash in Ohio?
BMV 3303, Uninsured Accident Report, filed with Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Download it from the official source: Ohio BMV — Form BMV 3303.
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.