After a Tennessee fender-bender, most people call their insurer and a body shop. Fewer know that state law may require a separate written report from them. Under the Tennessee Financial Responsibility Law, Tenn. Code § 55-12-104, the operator of a vehicle involved in a crash in which anyone is killed or injured, or in which damage to the property of any one person, including the operator, is more than $1,500, must report it in writing within 20 days. The report is how the state checks whether liability insurance was in force, and missing it can cost you your license and your tags.
| Rule | Tenn. Code § 55-12-104 / -105 |
|---|---|
| When a report is required | Anyone killed or injured, or property damage to any one person over $1,500; government property damage over $400 |
| Deadline | Within 20 days after the crash |
| If no report arrives | Notices suspending license and registration, mailed at least 20 days before the effective date |
| Restoring privileges | File the report and pay a $25 restoration fee |
| Other party's insurance proof | Copy available for $5 per request; never includes policy limits |
| No insurance or other exception | Possible revocation unless security of at least $1,500 is deposited |
Source: Tenn. Code §§ 55-12-104 and 55-12-105 (Justia).
Who has to file
The duty falls on the operator. If the operator fails to report or is physically incapable of reporting, the owner of the vehicle must report the crash in writing upon learning of it. A separate trigger covers public property: if a crash causes more than $400 in damage to state or local government property, the driver must file a written report too. Think guardrails, signs, and signal poles.
The statute does not make the report depend on fault. If your car was hit and the damage to your vehicle is over $1,500, you are a party to that crash, and the report requirement can apply to you as well.
What happens if you skip it
If the report is not received within 20 days, the state may issue a notice suspending your driver license, and the vehicle's registration can be suspended as well. Those notices go by U.S. mail at least 20 days before the suspension takes effect, and they must tell you that you are entitled to an administrative hearing. To restore driving privileges after this kind of suspension, the law says you file the crash report and pay a $25 restoration fee.
There are exceptions. The report requirement does not apply when there was no physical contact with another vehicle, object, or person, or to the owner of a vehicle that was lawfully parked at the time.
Why insurance is the heart of the report
The law says the report form must contain enough information to determine whether a security deposit is unnecessary because insurance or another exception applies. If no exception applies, a judgment is reasonably possible, and a claim has been filed against you, the state can revoke your license and registrations unless you deposit security of at least $1,500. Written proof of insurance coverage filed on approved forms is one of the acceptable forms of financial security.
Tenn. Code § 55-12-106 says the security and revocation requirements do not apply to an operator or owner when the owner had an automobile liability policy or bond on the vehicle at the time of the crash. An operator loses that exemption if the vehicle was being driven without the owner's permission. A driver who does not own the vehicle is also exempt if they had a liability policy covering vehicles they do not own. That is one reason to know what your liability limits are before you need them: Tennessee’s auto liability minimum is 25/50/25 — here is what TDCI’s Auto Insurance 101 page says.
Getting the other driver's insurance information
Once a crash is reported, the parties can get a copy of any proof of financial responsibility another party filed for the same crash. Requests are made in writing on a department form, one document per form, for $5 each. The statute says the information supplied will never include policy limits. If the other driver turns out to be uninsured, your own policy may matter more than theirs: TDCI’s glossary defines uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
A short checklist after a Tennessee crash
- Get medical help first, then exchange names, vehicle, and insurance information.
- Photograph the scene and every vehicle, and note any government property damage.
- Report the claim to your insurer promptly and keep the claim number.
- Put the 20-day report deadline on your calendar if anyone was hurt or damage may exceed $1,500.
- Keep copies of what you file and the date you filed it.
- After repairs, ask about value loss: TDCI glossary defines diminished value after a vehicle accident.
Tennessee also verifies insurance on registered vehicles outside of crashes; see Tennessee's New Auto Insurance Laws: Uninsured Fees Jump From $25 to as Much as $1,500. If you are struggling to find a standard auto policy, read TDCI’s glossary defines the Tennessee Auto Insurance Plan residual market.
This article is informational only and is not legal advice. It does not promise coverage, eligibility, or a particular result. Your policy forms and Tennessee law control.
Related reading from All Seasons
- Tennessee’s auto liability minimum is 25/50/25 — here is what TDCI’s Auto Insurance 101 page says.
- TDCI’s glossary defines uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
- Tennessee's New Auto Insurance Laws: Uninsured Fees Jump From $25 to as Much as $1,500
- TDCI glossary defines diminished value after a vehicle accident.
- TDCI’s glossary defines the Tennessee Auto Insurance Plan residual market.
Free policy review
All Seasons Insurance Group offers a free personal policy review. Call 865-263-1400 or visit asigtn.com/get-a-quote/. This article is informational only and does not promise coverage or eligibility; your policy forms control. Seasons change. So should your coverage.
When do I have to file a crash report in Tennessee?
Tenn. Code 55-12-104 requires a written report within 20 days when anyone is killed or injured, or when damage to the property of any one person is more than $1,500.
Does a crash with a guardrail or sign count?
Yes. If a crash causes more than $400 in damage to state or local government property, the driver must file a written report.
Who files if the driver cannot?
If the operator fails or is physically incapable of making the report, the vehicle owner must report the crash in writing upon learning of it.
What happens if I do not file the report?
The state may issue notices suspending your license and the vehicle's registration, mailed at least 20 days before the suspension takes effect.
How do I restore my license after a missed report?
The statute says you file the crash report and pay a $25 restoration fee.
Can I get the other driver's insurance information?
Parties to a reported crash can request a copy of proof of financial responsibility filed by the other parties. Each request is $5, and the information never includes policy limits.
Does having liability insurance help?
Tenn. Code 55-12-106 says the security and revocation requirements do not apply when the owner had an auto liability policy or bond on the vehicle at the time of the crash, subject to a permission exception.
How can All Seasons help after reading this?
Call 865-263-1400 or visit asigtn.com/get-a-quote/ for a free personal policy review. Informational only; no coverage promises. Seasons change. So should your coverage.
