Accident or Damage in a Rental Car in Los Angeles: What to Do, Step by Step
Updated October 30, 2026 · By Yaniv Segal, RentCarUSA
In short: After an accident in a rental car in California, stop in a safe place. If anyone is hurt, call 911. In every case, exchange details with the other driver, take photos of everything and report to the rental company the same day. If someone was injured or property damage is more than $1,000, the law requires you to file an SR-1 form with the DMV within 10 days. When you have damage cover and third-party liability, most costs are covered.
What do you do in the first minutes after an accident?
- Stop. In California you must stop after every accident, even a minor one. If you leave the scene without giving your details, it may be treated as "hit and run", which is a criminal offence.
- Move the car only if it is safe. On a freeway such as the 405 or the 10, when nobody is hurt and the cars can drive, move to the right shoulder or take the nearest exit. Turn on your hazard lights.
- Check for injuries. If anyone is hurt, even with slight pain, call 911. It is the single number for police, ambulance and fire.
- Exchange details with the other driver: name, address, driving licence number, licence plate and insurance details (company name and policy number). California law requires both sides to give these details. You give the car and insurance details that appear in the rental agreement, which should always be in the car.
- Take photos: both cars from every side, the licence plates, the other driver's licence and insurance card, the location, signs and traffic lights. If there are witnesses, write down their names and phone numbers.
- Do not admit fault and do not sign anything at the scene. Being polite and factual is enough. The police and the insurance will decide who is responsible.
When do you need the police, and what is the SR-1 form?
Police: If anyone is injured or killed, you must report to the police within 24 hours, unless an officer already came to the scene and wrote a report. An accident on a freeway is usually handled by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). On city streets it is handled by the LAPD or the local city police, such as Santa Monica, Beverly Hills or Culver City. For a minor collision with no injuries, the police do not always send a car, and you can ask to file a report at the station. A police report number helps a lot when dealing with insurance.
SR-1 form for the DMV: This is a separate duty from the police report. Every driver involved in an accident in California in which someone was injured (even slightly) or killed, or in which property damage to anyone is more than $1,000, must file an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days. It does not matter who was at fault, and it does not matter if the police already wrote a report. The form is available on the DMV website. If you do not file it, your right to drive in California may be suspended. Remember that in the US a dented bumper and a broken light can easily cost more than $1,000.
| Situation | 911 / police | SR-1 to the DMV within 10 days | Report to the rental company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scratch in a parking lot, no other party | No | Usually no (if damage is under $1,000) | Yes |
| Minor collision, no injuries, damage over $1,000 | Recommended to file a report | Yes | Yes, immediately |
| Someone is injured, even slightly | Required, within 24 hours | Yes | Yes, immediately |
| You hit a parked car with no driver | Notify the police | If over $1,000 | Yes |
Did you hit a parked car? The law requires you to try to find the owner, or to leave a clear note on the car with your name, address and a short explanation, and to notify the police. Taking a photo of the note on the windshield is a good idea.
How do you report to the rental company and to us?
Report the accident to the rental company as soon as possible, on the same day. The emergency number is in the contract and often also on the key ring. Send us a WhatsApp message at the same time. We will help you understand what to fill in, what to photograph and what to do next.
The recommended order:
- Call the rental company and open a damage report.
- Send the photos, the other party's details and the police report number, if there is one.
- If the car cannot be driven or is not safe, ask for towing and a replacement car. In a long rental this is especially important, because you depend on the car for daily life.
- File the SR-1 within 10 days, if you passed the threshold.
- Keep all documents until the case is closed.
What does the insurance cover, and what does it not cover?
Every price we quote includes damage and theft cover for the rental car (CDW/LDW) and third-party liability up to $300,000. In practice:
- Damage to the rental car itself: covered, subject to the terms of the contract. Cover is usually lost in cases of drunk driving, a driver who is not listed on the contract, driving to Mexico (which we do not allow) or use against the contract, such as delivery or rideshare work. For details on the types of cover, see our guide to rental car insurance in the USA.
- Damage to other people's cars or property, and claims by another party: covered under third-party liability up to $300,000. The legal minimum in California is much lower, and our guide to third-party liability in California explains why this matters.
- Medical costs for you and your passengers: not part of the basic car insurance. This is where your travel or health insurance comes in. Before you fly, check that you have valid health insurance for your whole stay.
- Tickets, tolls and damage inside the car (for example, items stolen from the car): not part of the car's cover.
What if it is not an accident: a flat tyre, a cracked windshield or a scratch in a parking lot?
Most damage in a long rental in Los Angeles is small: a mirror hit while parked on the street, a stone thrown by a truck on the 5 that cracks the windshield, or a flat tyre. In these cases too, report to the rental company and do not repair the car yourself at a random garage. An independent repair can cause problems with the company. For a flat tyre or a dead battery, call the roadside assistance number in the contract. Check in advance what it includes, because at some companies it is an optional extra.
The most important step happens before you leave the branch: photograph the car from every side, including the roof, the wheels and the windshield, and mark every existing scratch with the agent. This way you will not be asked to pay for damage you did not cause.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to call the police after every accident?
No. The duty to report to the police applies when someone is injured or killed. In a minor collision it is enough to exchange details, but a police report helps with the insurance, especially when the other side denies responsibility.
Who files the SR-1 form, me or the rental company?
The duty belongs to the driver. As a visitor, you also need to file within 10 days if someone was injured or the damage is more than $1,000. A representative, such as an insurance agent or a lawyer, may file it for you.
The other driver was at fault. Do I still need to report?
Yes. Both to the rental company and to the DMV (if you passed the threshold). The duty does not depend on fault.
Will I have to pay a deductible?
It depends on the terms of the cover. Our guide to the deductible on a rental car explains how to get it to zero.
Renting for a month and want damage cover and third-party liability already in the price? Get a quote, and find more details in the complete guide to monthly car rental in Los Angeles.