Starting October 1, 2026, Florida’s rules for reporting a car crash are changing. Drivers should understand one crucial detail: the new property-damage threshold does not eliminate the requirement to report an injury crash.
Under Senate Bill 488, which amends section 316.065(1), Florida Statutes, the apparent property damage that triggers immediate notification to law enforcement increases from $500 to $2,000.
Here’s what that means after a collision.
When must you notify law enforcement?
Drivers must immediately notify law enforcement when a crash results in:
- Injury to any person;
- A death; or
- Apparent damage to a vehicle or other property of at least $2,000.
The injury requirement applies regardless of how much damage you can see. A driver should never assume that a relatively undamaged bumper means there is no reason to report an injury.
What about crashes below $2,000?
A minor property-damage crash can still require a written report.
Under section 316.066(1)(e), Florida Statutes, a driver involved in a property-damage crash that does not require a law-enforcement report must submit a written crash report to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles within 10 days.
The higher threshold also does not give drivers permission to leave without fulfilling their duties to stop and exchange information.
Protect yourself after a crash
Photograph the vehicles and scene when safe, exchange driver and insurance information, and obtain witness contact information. Tell the investigating officer about any pain or discomfort you are experiencing. If you are hurt, seek appropriate medical care.
The practical takeaway: $2,000 is a property-damage reporting threshold—not a measure of whether someone was injured.
Have questions after a Florida car accident? Contact The Injury Advocates at 754-812-8444 or visit theinjuryadvocates.law.
Sources: Florida SB 488 (2026), Chapter 2026-39; sections 316.065 and 316.066, Florida Statutes.
Related: Learn more about our car accident practice.
Kweku Darfoor is the founder of The Injury Advocates (Darfoor Law Firm, P.A.) and a Florida personal injury attorney with more than a decade of experience representing seriously injured people and their families. This content is for general information and is not legal advice.
