In this guide
Texas hit-and-run penalties, by what the crash caused
| What the crash caused | Offense | Punishment range |
|---|---|---|
| Damage to a driven or attended vehicle, under $200 | Class C misdemeanor (Transp. Code § 550.022) | Fine up to $500 |
| Damage to a driven or attended vehicle, $200 or more | Class B misdemeanor (Transp. Code § 550.022) | Up to 180 days in jail and a fine up to $2,000 |
| A parked car, or a fence, sign or other roadside fixture | Class C under $200 of damage; Class B at $200 or more (Transp. Code §§ 550.024, 550.025) | Same as above, by the amount of damage |
| Injury (not serious) | Felony (Transp. Code § 550.021(c)) | Up to 5 years in prison or 1 year in county jail, a fine up to $5,000, or both |
| Serious bodily injury | Third-degree felony (Transp. Code § 550.021(c)) | 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000 |
| Death | Second-degree felony (Transp. Code § 550.021(c)) | 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000 |
Ranges come from the Penal Code (§§ 12.22, 12.23, 12.33 and 12.34). The injury-level offense is a felony because it can be punished by prison (Penal Code § 1.07).
What Texas requires after a crash
- Stop at or near the scene — and go back if you didn’t — without blocking traffic more than necessary.
- Check whether anyone needs help, and stay until you’ve done the rest.
- Give your name, address, the vehicle’s registration number and your liability insurer to anyone injured and to the other driver or occupants, and show your license if asked.
- Give reasonable help to anyone injured, including getting them to a doctor or hospital if treatment is clearly needed or they ask.
After a crash with a parked car or roadside property
If you hit an unattended vehicle, Texas requires you to stop and either find the owner or leave a written note — in a conspicuous place in or on the car — with your name and address, the vehicle owner’s name and address, and how the collision happened. If you hit a fence, sign or other fixture next to the road, you must take reasonable steps to find and notify the owner. Both are Class C misdemeanors under $200 of damage and Class B at $200 or more.
License suspension
A conviction for leaving the scene of a crash that injured or killed someone triggers an automatic suspension of your Texas license. It lasts one year, or 18 months if you’ve had an earlier automatic suspension.
If a driver hit you and left in Texas
Uninsured motorist coverage is included in Texas auto policies unless a named insured rejected it in writing, and for a driver who can’t be identified it applies only if there was actual physical contact with you or your property. You have 2 years to file an injury lawsuit. Our hit-and-run guide covers who pays.
Frequently asked questions
Is leaving the scene of an accident a felony in Texas?
If the crash injured or killed someone — or was reasonably likely to — yes. Even for an injury that isn’t serious, the offense can bring up to 5 years in prison, which makes it a felony under Texas law. If only vehicles were damaged, it’s a Class C or Class B misdemeanor, depending on the amount of damage.
What is the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident with no injuries in Texas?
If the damage to all vehicles is under $200, it’s a Class C misdemeanor — a fine of up to $500. At $200 or more, it’s a Class B misdemeanor — up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Is leaving the scene of an accident in the Texas Penal Code?
The offenses are in the Transportation Code, sections 550.021 to 550.025. The Penal Code supplies the punishment ranges for each class — for example, 2 to 10 years for a third-degree felony.
Will I lose my license for a hit and run in Texas?
A conviction for leaving the scene of a crash involving injury or death triggers an automatic license suspension, which lasts one year — 18 months if you’ve had an earlier automatic suspension.
What should I do if I hit a parked car in Texas?
Stop, then either find the owner and give your name and address and the vehicle owner’s, or leave a written note in a conspicuous place in or on the car with that information and how the collision happened.
Reviewed by
Morgan Hale, Editor. Writes about the financial side of injury claims — fees, liens, timelines and state rules — and checks every page against its sources before it’s published. Not a lawyer; “Morgan Hale” is a pen name. Editorial policy · How we calculate
Sources
- Texas Transportation Code § 550.021 — Accident involving personal injury or death (FindLaw (Texas Transportation Code))
- Texas Transportation Code § 550.022 — Accident involving damage to a vehicle (FindLaw (Texas Transportation Code))
- Texas Transportation Code § 550.023 — Duty to give information and render aid (FindLaw (Texas Transportation Code))
- Texas Transportation Code § 550.024 — Duty on striking an unattended vehicle (FindLaw (Texas Transportation Code))
- Texas Transportation Code § 550.025 — Duty on striking a structure, fixture or highway landscaping (FindLaw (Texas Transportation Code))
- Texas Penal Code § 12.22 — Class B misdemeanor (up to 180 days, $2,000) (FindLaw (Texas Penal Code))
- Texas Penal Code § 12.23 — Class C misdemeanor (fine up to $500) (FindLaw (Texas Penal Code))
- Texas Penal Code § 12.33 — Second-degree felony (2 to 20 years, $10,000) (FindLaw (Texas Penal Code))
- Texas Penal Code § 12.34 — Third-degree felony (2 to 10 years, $10,000) (FindLaw (Texas Penal Code))
- Texas Penal Code § 1.07 — Definitions of “felony” and “misdemeanor” (FindLaw (Texas Penal Code))
- Texas Transportation Code § 521.341 — Automatic license suspension (includes § 550.021 convictions) (FindLaw (Texas Transportation Code))
- Texas Transportation Code § 521.343 — Period of automatic suspension (one year; 18 months for a later one) (FindLaw (Texas Transportation Code))
- Texas Insurance Code § 1952.101 — Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage required unless rejected in writing (FindLaw (Texas Insurance Code))
- Texas Insurance Code § 1952.104 — Required provisions (unknown driver: actual physical contact) (FindLaw (Texas Insurance Code))
- Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 — Two years for personal injury, property damage and wrongful death (FindLaw (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code))
Not legal or financial advice. InjuryMath is not a law firm and does not sell or broker funding. This page gives general information based on the sources listed; your contracts and your state’s law control. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.