Iowa Accident Reports

Accident Reports

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Reporting an Accident

An accident occurring anywhere within the State of Iowa causing death, personal injury, or total property damage of $1,000 or more must be reported on an Iowa Accident Report Form #433002 PDF. However, such report is not required when the accident is investigated by a law enforcement agency. Failure to return an accident report form within 72 hours may result in suspension of your driving privileges. CAUTION: You must attempt to completely fill out this report.

Also, the insurance information on page two of the report must be completed. Failure to complete insurance coverage information may result in the suspension of your driving and registration privileges.

The accident report form consists of the following four pages:

Page 1 - Instructions for completing the form.
Page 2 - Accident codes used in the form
Page 3 - Accident report form (steps 1 thru 7)
Page 4 - Accident report form (steps 8 thru 10)

After signing and completion of the accident report form, mail pages 3 and 4 (you do not need to mail the instruction sheet nor accident code sheet) to the following address:

Iowa Department of Transportation
Office of Driver Services
P.O. Box 9235
Des Moines, IA 50306-9235

Investingating Officer's Report of Motor Vehicle Accident Code Sheet

Obtaining a Copy of an Accident Report

Officer's Report: A copy of the officer's report of an accident costs $4. State law allows these reports to be given only to persons involved in the accident, their attorney, insurance companies or insurance agents. To obtain a copy of the report, send a written request with the date of the accident, time, location, and names and driver license numbers of the drivers involved.

Driver's Report: A copy of an accident report you completed for an accident that occurred in 1994 or after is $.50 (fifty cents). For accidents that occurred prior to 1993 is $3.20. To obtain a copy of an accident report that you completed, send a written request with your driver license number, complete mailing address and the date of the accident.

Mail your request to:

Iowa Department of Transportation
Office of Driver Services
P.O. Box 9204
Des Moines, Iowa 50306-9204

Obtaining Limited Information of an Accident

For limited information regarding an accident, such as date, time, specific location, and immediate facts and circumstances, contact:

Iowa Department of Transportation
Office of Driver Services
P.O. Box 9204
Des Moines, Iowa 50306-9204
E-Mail: ods@dot.iowa.gov