After an accident
How do I get the police report after a crash?
Accident reports are held by whichever agency responded, and each one has its own process, fee, and waiting time. Here's what the report contains, how requests generally work, and what to do when you cannot find yours.
Short answer
The short version
Request it from the agency that attended — city police, county sheriff, or state highway patrol. Many agencies use an online records portal; others take requests by mail or in person. You will usually need the date, the location, and at least one identifying detail such as a report number, a name, or a plate.
- Work out which agency responded before anything else
- Reports are not normally available the same day
- Fees, formats, and waiting times are set by each agency
- Serious or ongoing investigations can take considerably longer
What a report contains, who may obtain a copy, and what it costs are governed by state law and agency policy, and they differ.
What an accident report generally contains
A police or traffic collision report is the responding officer's record of the incident. The detail varies by state and agency, but most include the date, time and location, the vehicles and drivers involved, insurance details, passengers and any injuries noted at the scene, witness information, a diagram, a narrative description, road and weather conditions, and any citations issued.
Some reports record an officer's view on contributing factors or apparent fault. That is the officer's assessment — it is influential with insurers but it does not legally decide fault, and insurers and courts can reach a different conclusion.
Why people need it
- Insurance claims
- It is usually the first document an insurer asks for, on either side of a claim.
- Establishing what happened
- It fixes the details while they are fresh, including witnesses who become unreachable later.
- Correcting the record
- You cannot challenge an error in the report until you have read it.
- Any legal review
- Anyone assessing the situation will start here.
How to request it
Work out which agency responded
It depends on where the crash happened: a city police department inside city limits, a county sheriff's office on county roads, or a state police or highway patrol agency on highways and interstates. If you are unsure, the location decides it.
Gather the details you'll be asked for
Commonly the date and approximate time, the location, the names of those involved, a driver licence or plate number, and — if you have it — the report or incident number the officer gave you.
Check how that agency accepts requests
Many agencies and states now use an online records portal; some route requests through a third-party provider; others still handle them by mail, by post-paid request form, or in person at a records division. The agency's own website is the reliable source for which applies.
Expect a fee and a wait
Most agencies charge for a copy, and reports are generally not released until the officer has finished and a supervisor has approved them. Amounts and timeframes are set locally, so check the agency's published figures rather than a national estimate.
Read it carefully when it arrives
Check the basics — vehicles, direction of travel, names, insurance details, witnesses, and the narrative. Errors do occur, and agencies generally have a process for requesting a correction or adding a supplemental statement.
Not sure where yours is?
Working out which agency holds a report, and which portal that agency actually uses, is the part most people get stuck on. Tell us the basic details and we'll help you identify the right agency and how to request it. We are not a government agency and cannot access restricted records or guarantee that a report is available — some are delayed and some are withheld while an investigation is open.
Police report lookup
Give us the date, location and basic details, and we'll help you identify the right agency and request route.
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Ordering online by state
Which online portals states and larger departments commonly use, and what you'll need to order.
If the report isn't available yet
Keep these with the report
The report and its number
Plus the agency name and records contact.
Your own photos
They often show what the narrative leaves out.
Witness details
Even where the report already lists them.
Your own account
Written while you still remember the sequence.
Questions people also ask
Can I get a report if no police came to the scene?
If no officer attended, there is no officer's report. Some states allow a driver to file their own accident report with a state agency, and some require it above a damage or injury threshold. Check what your state requires — the deadline for a driver-filed report can be short.
Who is allowed to get a copy?
Access rules are set by state law. Parties involved, their insurers, and their legal representatives can usually obtain a copy; broader public access varies, and personal details are sometimes redacted.
The report says I was at fault. Does that settle it?
No. An officer's assessment carries weight with insurers but it is not a legal determination of liability. Insurers and courts can and do reach different conclusions based on other evidence.
There's a mistake in my report. Can it be fixed?
Often, yes — particularly factual errors such as a wrong plate, vehicle, or direction of travel. Contact the responding agency and ask about their correction process. Disputed opinions are harder to change than plain factual errors, but you can usually have your own statement added.
What people ask next
Sources
USA.gov
Directory of state, local, and tribal government agenciesNational Association of Insurance Commissioners
Consumer information and state insurance department directory