Maryland Car Accident Reporting Requirements: Police, Driver, and.

Short answer

In Maryland, a car accident can involve more than one kind of report. Call police when police assistance is needed; an officer’s car accident report is an agency record; and a driver’s MVA report applies only to car accidents involving bodily injury or death when the statutory police-report exception does not apply. Each driver in an injury or death car accident must submit a written report to the Administration within 15 days and file evidence of liability insurance or other qualifying security. The written driver report is not required if a police officer investigated the car accident and the officer’s report was filed with the Department of State Police. Transportation § 20-107

A report made to an insurer is different again: it starts an insurance claim process and does not replace a police or MVA report. The Maryland Insurance Administration advises promptly reporting an accident to the insurer or producer. Maryland Insurance Administration auto-claims guidance

Immediate checklist

If someone is injured, call 911 and tell the operator about medical or towing needs. Official auto-claims guidance
Stop, remain as required, and exchange identifying information. For an injury, death, or damage to attended property, Maryland law requires drivers to provide their name, address, vehicle registration number, and, on request, their license information to the people identified in the statute. Transportation § 20-104
If a drivable vehicle is involved only in a property-damage car accident, move it safely out of traffic and exchange information when appropriate. Maryland’s Move It guidance says police do not need to be called or awaited in that limited situation. MDOT State Highway Administration car accident guidance
Save the car accident date, time, exact location, other vehicle’s plate and description, insurance details, names and contact information, photographs, and any officer, incident, or report number. The Insurance Administration specifically recommends recording the incident number and the officer’s name and badge number when police respond. Official auto-claims guidance
Notify your insurer or insurance producer promptly using the contact information on your proof-of-insurance card. This is an insurance claim notice, not a substitute for a government report. How to file an auto claim

When to call or notify police

Maryland’s State Highway Administration says to call police for injury, an immovable vehicle needing a tow, apparent intoxication, no license or exchange of information, or an attempted departure without required information. It says police will complete a report for personal injury, an immovable vehicle, or an intoxicated, unlicensed, or departing driver. MDOT SHA: Move It—Car accident Information

The statutes impose separate scene duties. For an injury or death car accident, a driver must stop and remain until meeting § 20-104’s information-and-aid requirements. Transportation § 20-102 In an attended property-damage car accident, the driver must stop and remain until meeting the information duties. Transportation § 20-103 For unattended property where the owner or person in charge cannot be found, leave the specified written identifying information conspicuously and securely. Transportation § 20-105

If a motor vehicle strikes and injures a domestic animal, immediately notify the appropriate state or local police. Transportation § 20-106

Who reports what

Report or notice	Who handles it	When it applies	Where to use it
Police call / scene response	Driver or another person at the scene may call; police decide their response and complete their own report when they investigate.	Use the state’s call-police conditions above; it is not a general requirement to call for every drivable property-damage car accident.	911 for an emergency or police-assistance situation; preserve the incident number and investigating agency.
Police motor-vehicle car accident report	The investigating law-enforcement officer or agency.	When police investigate and complete a report. For the § 20-107 driver-report exception, the officer’s report must also have been filed with the Department of State Police.	It is an agency record, not a form the driver completes. Start a copy request with the investigating agency or the applicable state repository.
Driver written accident report to the MVA	Each driver in a car accident causing bodily injury or death; if the driver cannot, is unavailable, or refuses, the Administration may require the owner to report instead.	Within 15 days after the car accident, with proof of liability insurance or other security—unless a police officer investigated and the officer’s report was filed with the Department of State Police. The Administration may request supplemental reports.	The Administration must prepare and supply the required form on request; use the Administration’s required form and include the available information it calls for. Transportation § 20-113
Insurer claim notice	The insured or policyholder.	After an accident when reporting a claim to the insurer or insurance producer. The state regulator advises doing this as soon as possible and providing requested information.	Call the number on the proof-of-insurance card or use the insurer’s authorized claim channel. Official insurer-claim instructions

The MVA report rule is limited to bodily injury or death. Do not extend its 15-day requirement to a property-damage-only car accident or assume a police call alone creates the statutory exception. Transportation § 20-107

For the current driver-report form or instructions, § 20-113 says the Administration must prepare and, on request, supply the form. Start with the official MVA forms directory; if it is not listed or the route is unclear, use Contact MVA. This differs from the State Police form used to request a copy of an existing car accident report.

How to find or request the police car accident record

The Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP) describes its Central Records Division as the state’s central repository for the collection, analysis, and distribution of motor-vehicle car accident reports. Its car accident-report service is for documents maintained in that repository and available to legally entitled parties. MDSP Central Records Division

For an eligible MDSP repository request, MDSP says to wait at least 10 days after the car accident. Its official request instructions list a $4 nonrefundable document-search fee, payable by check or money order to Maryland State Police; cash is not accepted. The listed options are visiting the MSP barrack where the report was filed, mailing the official motor-vehicle report request form and payment to Central Records, visiting Central Records in person, or emailing the completed request form and then mailing the payment. Request Police Reports—MDSP

Before requesting, gather the report or incident number, car accident date and time, precise location, investigating agency, names of people involved, vehicle information, and your contact details.

If the report is unavailable or was held elsewhere

Do not assume one repository has every agency’s report. MDSP directs people seeking a car accident report from Baltimore City to the Baltimore Police Department’s Central Records Division rather than MDSP. MDSP request instructions The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Police Central Records Unit handles car accident reports it produces for car accidents at BWI/Marshall Airport, the Port of Baltimore, or an MDTA facility, and MDOT expressly says that unit does not have car accident reports completed by other law-enforcement agencies. MDOT PIA guidance

If a local police department, sheriff, campus police department, or another agency investigated, contact that agency’s records or public-information office first and give the identifiers above. For an MDTA Police car accident report, use MDTA Central Records. For records other than the basic car accident report, ask the record holder about its Public Information Act process.

MDSP says PIA requests cover disclosable agency records, but release may be limited by law and eligibility. It says a written or email response notice is due within 10 working days and describes potential search and copy fees. MDSP Public Information Act Requests

Documents and identifiers to keep together

Keep the officer’s name and badge number, incident or report number, participant and witness contacts, exchanged insurance details, photographs, scene notes, and insurer communications. The regulator recommends retaining claim paperwork, including the accident report, notes, and expenses. Maryland Insurance Administration guidance See the car accident evidence checklist.

Official resources

Maryland General Assembly: Transportation § 20-107 — written driver report, insurance evidence, and police-report exception.
Maryland MVA: Forms — official forms directory; use Contact MVA if the driver-report form is not listed.
Maryland State Police: Request Police Reports — report-request form, methods, processing wait, and stated fee.
Maryland State Police: Public Information Act Requests — request process for other MDSP records.
MDOT State Highway Administration: Move It—Car accident Information — when to call police and when police report completion is described.
Maryland Insurance Administration: Filing an Auto Claim — insurer notice and claim steps.
Explore more guides and resources.

What changes for a car accident

Use this version when a private passenger car is involved. The official reporting or record-request procedure below is still controlled by the crash location, investigating agency, and the facts of the event—not by the wording “car accident.”

For insurance, start with the applicable personal auto policy and the insurance rules of the crash state. Save the declarations page, insurance cards, claim number, repair estimates, and insurer communications.

Confirm which agency investigated or holds the report.
Keep the other vehicle and driver information with the report number.
Keep police, motor-vehicle agency, and insurer tasks as separate checklist items.

Browse the Car Accident Guides collection for related pages.

Accident-type official sources

Auto Insurance — National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Maryland Car Accident Reporting Requirements: Police, Driver, and Motor Vehicle Reports