You must file your own report
- When
- Injury, death, more than $1,500 of property damage, or more than $400 of damage to state or local government property.
- Report to
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
- Deadline
- Within 20 days
- Form
- Owner Operator Report
Official source: Tennessee Safety — Submit an Owner Operator Report
Failing to file can suspend your license and registration.
What to do after a car accident in Tennessee
- 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.
- File your own report (Owner Operator Report) with Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security — within 20 days .
- Notify your insurance company promptly, as your policy requires, and start a claim communication log.
How Tennessee compares with bordering states
Rules change at the state line. What applies is usually the state where the crash happened.
| State | Rule | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | You must file your own report | Within 20 days |
| Alabama | Only if a driver was uninsured | — |
| Arkansas | You must file your own report | Within 30 days |
| Georgia | Call police — no driver form | Immediately |
| Kentucky | You file only if police didn't | Within 10 days |
| Mississippi | Confirm with your state | — |
| Missouri | Only if a driver was uninsured | Within 30 days |
| North Carolina | Call police — no driver form | Immediately |
| Virginia | Call police — no driver form | — |
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 Tennessee'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 Tennessee?
Yes. In Tennessee you must file your own written crash report when: injury, death, more than $1,500 of property damage, or more than $400 of damage to state or local government property.
What form do I use to report a crash in Tennessee?
Owner Operator Report, filed with Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Download it from the official source: Tennessee Safety — Submit an Owner Operator Report.
How long do I have to report a car accident in Tennessee?
Within 20 days — to Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
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.