What to do after a car accident away from home
A checklist for the reports, records, car and plans to settle before you leave town
A crash far from home adds a second problem. You must handle the crash in a place you do not know, and then you must get home.
The rules that apply are mostly those of the place where the crash happened. And many of the papers you need are easiest to get before you leave town. This guide gives you a checklist to work through first.
Your insurance travels, up to a point
Standard U.S. auto policies cover you in the United States, its territories, Puerto Rico and Canada. Many include an out of state coverage clause. It raises your liability limits to the minimum the visited state requires. It also adds any required or no fault coverage that state has [1, 2].
This only raises you to that state’s minimum. It does not raise you to what a serious crash may cost.
Local rules apply to visitors
Report rules follow the state where the crash happened. California requires an SR 1 report for qualifying crashes on its roads and on private property. This applies no matter where the driver lives [4].
Deadlines to sue and fault rules may also follow the law of the crash state. For an injury claim, consider talking with a lawyer who knows that state’s law.
Getting the police report from far away
Many police agencies sell crash reports online through LexisNexis BuyCrash [5]. The Austin, Texas police department is one example [6]. Some states run their own websites, such as Michigan’s $10 system [7].
To find your report later, you need the name of the agency that took it. City police, county sheriffs and state patrols all take reports. Get the agency name and report number before you leave.
Your medical records and child seats
Under HIPAA, a health care provider must act on your request for your records within 30 calendar days. It can take one 30 day extension [8]. Leaving with copies is still faster.
A child car seat may need to be replaced before the drive home. NHTSA recommends replacing a car seat after a moderate or severe crash. A crash counts as minor only if all of these are true [9]:
- The car could be driven away from the crash site.
- The door nearest the car seat was not damaged.
- No one in the car was hurt.
- The airbags did not deploy.
- The car seat shows no visible damage.
Before you leave the area
Checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- The name of the police agency, the report number and the officer’s name
- Where and when the report will be ready. Ask, since many are online within days.
- The tow company, yard address, phone, daily storage rate and hours
- Photos of the car at the yard
- Everything removed from the car: documents, garage opener, toll tag, medicines and child seats
- A claim opened with your insurer. Ask whether it will move the car to its own yard or appraise it where it is.
- Discharge papers, imaging on a disc or patient portal access, and any prescriptions filled locally
- A follow up visit booked with your home doctor, or a telehealth visit within a few days
- A plan to get home: a rental car, a one way rental, a flight or a family member
- A replacement car seat, if needed
- A state crash report filed, if the crash state requires one
Before you book a rental, check what your rental car coverage includes.
Do not haul the car home too soon
Far from home, a costly mistake is paying to haul a car hundreds of miles too soon. The insurer may later decide it is a total loss. Ask the adjuster first. Remove your personal items before the car leaves your reach.
Questions to ask your insurer
Question checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- Does my policy meet the minimum limits of the state where I crashed?
- Will you move my car to your own yard, or appraise it where it is?
- Do I have rental coverage, and does it cover a one way rental?
- Will you pay to replace a child car seat?
- Do I need to file a report with the state where the crash happened?
Frequently asked questions
Does my car insurance cover me in another state?
Usually, yes. Standard U.S. policies cover the United States, its territories, Puerto Rico and Canada. An out of state clause raises your liability limits to the visited state’s minimum [1, 2].
Can I use my U.S. car insurance in Mexico?
No. Mexico does not accept U.S. or Canadian policies as proof of liability coverage. Get a Mexican policy before you drive there [3].
How do I get a police report after I get home?
You need the name of the agency that took the report. Many agencies sell reports online [5]. Before you leave, ask how and when the report will be ready.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Far from home, gather what you need before you leave. Get the report details, your records and your belongings. Ask your insurer before moving the car. A short checklist now saves long distance calls later.
Related articles
- Towing, storage fees and getting around after a serious crash
- Credit card rental car coverage: what it leaves out, from liability to medical bills
- Rental car after a total loss: why coverage can end soon after the offer and how to plan
- Caring for children and other passengers after a serious crash
- The first 72 hours after a car accident: what to do and when
Sources and further reading
- 1The Daily Record. Grace Gao v. Progressive Max Insurance Company. April 2019. thedailyrecord.com/…/grace-gao-v-progressive-max…
- 2Open Exam Prep. Personal auto policy study guide: out of state coverage. open-exam-prep.com/…/pcnat-7-3
- 3AAA Mountain West Group. Frequently asked questions: Mexico auto insurance. mwg.aaa.com/…/891
- 4California Department of Motor Vehicles. Report of traffic accident occurring in California (SR 1). dmv.ca.gov/…/SR-1-SR-1A-R1-2017-ASB-WWW.…
- 5LexisNexis Risk Solutions. BuyCrash. risk.lexisnexis.com/…/lexisnexis%20buycrashtm%20p…
- 6City of Austin. Purchase an APD online crash report. austintexas.gov/…/purchase-apd-online-crash-r…
- 7City of Kentwood, Michigan. Crash reports. kentwood.us/…/crash_reports.php
- 8U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. How timely must a covered entity be in responding to individuals’ requests for access to their PHI? hhs.gov/…/index.html
- 9National Highway Traffic Safety Administration car seat replacement criteria, via Kansas Department of Health and Environment. kdhe.ks.gov/…/NHTSA-Car-Seat-Resource-PDF
This article reflects the safety priorities of crash response and travel safety. It offers general education, not medical, legal or insurance advice. Laws and policies differ by state, so check official sources where the crash happened. Reviewed November 2026.
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