After a Crash in Virginia — Official Resources

Report the crash

Call the police from the scene — the officer's report is the record everything else runs on, and in Virginia it is filed with the DMV, which keeps the official record of every reportable crash in the Commonwealth.

If no officer reported your crash, you can file it yourself: per the Virginia DMV, a driver, owner, or representative may report a crash using form FR200 with the Information Request Form (CRD-93) and an $8 fee.

Get the crash report

Request the police crash report from the DMV's crash report page — $8 per report, by written request or the CRD-93 form. DMV refunds the fee if no report is found, and mails the report first class.

Reports go to people involved in the crash and their authorized representatives. Going through DMV is the route for reports written by Virginia State Police; for a city or county officer's report, the responding department may also have it.

Hit-and-run

Call the police immediately — with a fled driver, the officer's report is the foundation of any claim. Your dashcam clip is the case: save it now and note the time and location. Your own policy's uninsured-motorist coverage may apply even though the driver fled — ask your insurer, and the Bureau of Insurance below can help if you hit a wall.

Find a lawyer

The Virginia Lawyer Referral Service — 800-552-7977 statewide, or 804-775-0808 in metro Richmond, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. An initial consultation of up to 30 minutes costs $35, paid in advance. Some Northern Virginia and local bar associations run their own referral programs.

Free legal help

VaLegalAid.org is Virginia's guide to free and low-cost civil legal help, with the legal aid program serving each part of the state. You can also reach your local legal aid office by phone at 1-866-534-5243 (1-866-LEGLAID).

Insurance problems

The State Corporation Commission's Bureau of Insurance handles complaints against insurers. Complaints are filed through their online complaint portal (or by mail or fax) — not by phone or email. For questions, the Bureau's consumer line is 877-310-6560.

Hit by a driver you think has no insurance? Virginia gives you a lever: on the DMV crash report you can indicate you believe the other vehicle was uninsured. DMV will then request insurance information from that vehicle's owner, and if the owner fails to respond or turns out to have no coverage, DMV issues an order of suspension. If you're the one driving uninsured, you still have rights and steps worth taking — use the free legal help above; it exists for exactly this kind of bind.