DMVZoneBlogIn California every driver in a crash with injuries or more than $1,000 in damage must file an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days, even if police came. Skip it and your license can be suspended.
Stop, call 911 if anyone is hurt, move out of traffic if you can, and exchange license, registration, insurance and address details. Then, within 10 days, each driver must file form SR-1 with the DMV if anyone was injured or killed or damage is over $1,000. Police do not file it for you, and missing it can cost you your license.
The SR-1 is the step California drivers forget most. It applies even when an officer came to the scene, even if you were not at fault, and even on private property like a parking lot.
| Coverage | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Injury or death of one person | $30,000 |
| Injury or death of more than one person | $60,000 |
| Property damage | $15,000 |
Driving without insurance and getting in a crash can mean a suspension of up to four years, no matter who was at fault. You may get your license back in the last three years by filing proof of insurance (SR 22) and keeping it active.
Photograph both cars, plates, the street and any skid marks before the cars move, if it is safe. Photos settle most arguments later.
When must you file an SR-1 in California?
Answer: B. Every driver files within 10 days when someone is hurt or killed or damage is over $1,000.
How long do you have to file the SR-1?
Answer: C. The deadline is 10 days.
You hit an empty parked car and cannot find the owner. What do you do?
Answer: B. Leave a note with your name, phone and address and report the crash to police.
No. The DMV says law enforcement will not make the SR-1 report for you.
Yes, if it meets the injury or $1,000 damage rule. Private property counts.
Call the nearest humane society or police. Do not try to move an injured animal.
Checked against these pages on November 12, 2026. Laws change, so open the source before you rely on a number.
Rules and fees change. Always confirm the details with the official California DMV or motor vehicle agency before you act. DMVZone practice questions are written to teach the rules and are not copies of the real test.
Most California tickets are 1 point, and DUI or hit-and-run is 2. Reach 4 points in 12 months, 6 in 24 or 8 in 36 and the DMV puts you on a year of probation with a six-month suspension.
A state pilot law, AB 645, lets six California cities use speed cameras. San Francisco started ticketing in August 2025. Fines run $50 to $500, mailed to the car's owner, with no points.
California courts let eligible drivers take traffic school for one 1-point ticket every 18 months. You pay the fine plus a court fee, finish an approved course, and the conviction stays confidential.