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Yes, you need a police report for a fender bender if anyone is injured or if the cost of the property damage exceeds a certain amount, as determined by your state. Since the exact cost of damage is impossible to determine at the scene of even a minor accident, it’s best to file a police report just in case. Police reports are also important if any driver ends up filing a claim because insurance companies use them as evidence when determining who was at fault.
You Don’t Need a Police Report If:
- No one is injured.
- Property damage is below the state’s threshold.
- The other driver accepts blame and has insurance.
- You get the other driver’s insurance information in writing.
- You talk to your insurance company and the other driver’s insurance company, and both insurers tell you they have everything they need.
If all of the above conditions are met, not filing a police report could make sense. However, you should always err on the side of caution and file a police report if there’s any question of whether the damage surpasses your state’s threshold.
Property Damage Thresholds for a Police Report
| State | Damage Threshold |
| Alabama | $250 |
| Alaska | $2,000 |
| Arizona | $300 |
| Arkansas | $1,000 |
| California | $1,000 |
| Colorado | any property damage |
| Connecticut | $1,000 |
| Delaware | $500 |
| District of Columbia | $250 |
| Florida | $500 |
| Georgia | $500 |
| Hawaii | $3,000 |
| Idaho | $1,500 |
| Illinois | $1,500 ($500 if a vehicle is uninsured) |
| Indiana | $750 |
| Iowa | $1,500 |
| Kansas | $1,500 |
| Kentucky | $500 |
| Louisiana | $100 |
| Maine | $1,000 |
| Maryland | N/A |
| Massachusetts | $1,000 |
| Michigan | $1,000 |
| Minnesota | $1,000 |
| Mississippi | $500 |
| Missouri | $500 |
| Montana | $1,000 |
| Nebraska | $1,000 |
| Nevada | any property damage |
| New Hampshire | $1,000 |
| New Jersey | $500 |
| New Mexico | $500 |
| New York | $1,000 |
| North Carolina | $1,000 |
| North Dakota | $1,000 |
| Ohio | any property damage |
| Oklahoma | $500 |
| Oregon | $2,500 |
| Pennsylvania | a vehicle is not drivable |
| Rhode Island | $1,000 |
| South Carolina | $1,000 |
| South Dakota | $1,000 |
| Tennessee | $50 |
| Texas | $1,000 |
| Utah | $1,000 |
| Vermont | $3,000 |
| Virginia | N/A |
| Washington | $700 |
| West Virginia | $1,000 |
| Wisconsin | $1,000 |
| Wyoming | $1,000 |
Source: AAA, state governments
For more information, check out WalletHub’s guide to dealing with car accidents.
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