Roadwise States New Mexico Driving lessons Reporting a crash & insurance minimums New Mexico driving lesson · Accidents & Insurance
Reporting a crash & insurance minimums A 3-minute lesson from the New Mexico course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Accidents & Insurance
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 37, 38 After everyone is safe, gather and share information. New Mexico's Financial Responsibility Law also requires every driver to carry liability insurance, so the damages from a crash can be paid.
Report the accident: Get names and addresses of everyone involved and any witnesses, including injured persons Exchange information with the other drivers Record any damage to the vehicles Give information to police or emergency officials if asked Handbook p. 37 ↗ Information to exchange with other drivers: Name and address Driver license number Vehicle info: license plate, make, model and year Insurance company and policy number, if available Handbook p. 37 ↗ Know the rule
If you hit a parked vehicle, try to find the owner. If you can't, leave a note where it can be seen with how to reach you and the date and time of the accident.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ Financial Responsibility Law (66-5-205/208) Requires everyone who operates a motor vehicle in New Mexico to have a motor vehicle liability insurance policy.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ Know the rule
The Mandatory Financial Responsibility Act requires proof of insurance to be carried in the vehicle at all times.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ Driving without insurance can mean: Non-issuance or suspension of your vehicle registration Surrender of your license plates Possible criminal penalties Handbook p. 38 ↗ Put it into practice
You back into an unoccupied parked car in a lot and can't find the owner. Leave a note where it will be seen with your contact information and the date and time of the accident.
A useful reminder Remember 25/50/10: $25,000 one person, $50,000 two or more, $10,000 property.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What information should you exchange with other drivers after a crash? Only your phone number Name, license and insurance info Only your insurance company's name Nothing, unless police request it Answer: Name, license and insurance info
Exchange name, address, driver license number, vehicle information, and insurance company/policy number.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ If you hit a parked car and can't find the owner, what should you do? Leave a visible note with contact info Leave without a note if the damage is minor Drive away, since you tried to find them Report it only if the damage exceeds $500 Answer: Leave a visible note with contact info
If you can't find the owner, leave a note in a visible place with how you can be reached and when it happened.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ What is the minimum liability coverage required for bodily injury or death of one person in an accident? $15,000 $25,000 $10,000 $50,000 Answer: $25,000
The minimum coverage is $25,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident.
Handbook p. 38 ↗ What is the minimum liability coverage required for bodily injury or death of two or more people in one accident? $25,000 $100,000 $75,000 $50,000 Answer: $50,000
The minimum coverage is $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident.
Handbook p. 38 ↗ What is the minimum liability coverage required for property damage in one accident? $10,000 $25,000 $50,000 $5,000 Answer: $10,000
The minimum coverage is $10,000 for injury to or destruction of property in any one accident.
Handbook p. 38 ↗ What must every driver operating a motor vehicle in New Mexico carry in the vehicle at all times? The vehicle's title A copy of your driving record Proof of motor vehicle liability insurance An emissions certificate Answer: Proof of motor vehicle liability insurance
The Mandatory Financial Responsibility Act requires proof of insurance be carried in the vehicle at all times.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ Previous lesson At the accident scene Next lesson Motorcycle passing, cars alongside & braking More in Accidents & Insurance About the source Roadwise’s New Mexico course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 37, 38. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
For current application requirements, fees, appointments, and the format that applies to your age or license type, check New Mexico’s MVD. Roadwise provides study material and does not issue permits or licenses.