How to get a police report for a car accident, and what to do if it is wrong or missing

Last checked November 8, 2026

To get a police report for a car accident, ask the agency that responded. That may be city police, the county sheriff or the state patrol. Ask at the scene for the report number.1 Fees and wait times vary by state. Only the reporting officer can usually change a report, so ask that agency about corrections.2

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How do I get a police report from an accident?

  1. Find out who wrote the report. City streets usually mean city police. County roads may mean the sheriff. Highways often mean the state patrol.
  2. Find the report number. The officer may have given it to you at the scene.1 If not, have the date, time, place and the names of those involved.
  3. Check the agency's website. Many use an online portal. Others take requests by mail or in person.
  4. Have your ID and payment ready. Some agencies limit who can get a report.
  5. Read it right away, and keep a copy. Get a copy for your insurance company too.3

Some reports are limited by law. In Florida, crash reports are exempt from public disclosure except for those involved and certain others named in the statute.4

How long does it take to get a police report, and what does it cost?

It depends on where the crash happened. These are examples from state agencies. City and county prices can be different.

State agencyCostHow soon
Texas (TxDOT)$6 for a regular copy5Check the portal
Pennsylvania State Police$22615 days after the crash7
Florida Highway Safety$10 per report8Check the portal
Tennessee Highway Patrol$4 by mail or at a district office9About 7 days10
Massachusetts RMV$20 search fee11Check the portal
Maryland State PoliceCheck the formWait at least 10 days12
Washington State Patrol$10.50May take up to 2 to 4 weeks13

Can I get a police report online?

Often, yes, but not always. Many agencies sell crash reports through an online portal, and some charge a small extra fee for it. Serious or fatal crashes may take longer or may not be online at all. If your search finds nothing, call the agency's records office. Be careful with sites that look official but add large fees. Start from the agency's own website.

What if the police report is wrong?

Read every line soon after you get it. Check names, plates, insurance, the location, the direction of travel and any statement about you. Mistakes do happen, and an insurer may rely on what the report says.

The next step depends on the kind of error. Most agencies will not let the records office fix it. Washington State Patrol says only the officer who completed the report can make changes.2 One Florida police department says records staff are not authorized to make changes or additions.14 Procedures vary by agency and state.

  1. Mark the error on a copy. Gather proof, like a photo, a license or an insurance card.
  2. Contact the agency and ask for the reporting officer, or ask how to request a correction.
  3. Be polite and specific. Ask them to fix facts, such as a wrong plate number or a wrong name.
  4. If the officer will not change an opinion, like who caused the crash, ask if you can add your own written statement or a supplement. Georgia's crash manual treats new information as a supplement to the original report.15
  5. Send your correction and proof to your insurer and keep copies.

A report is not the last word. Only a judge or jury can finally decide who was at fault.16 Insurers do their own investigating. Rules on whether a report can be used in court vary by state.

What if there is no police report?

Police do not come to every crash, and a crash report may never be written. You can usually still make an insurance claim. You may also have your own duty to report. These duties vary by state.

  • California: file an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days if someone is hurt or property damage is over $1,000.17
  • Oregon: file a report with the DMV within 72 hours.18
  • Washington: if no officer investigates, each driver must report within 4 days.19
  • Nebraska: if no officer investigated and the crash meets the state's threshold, a driver must file a report. A paper report must be mailed within 10 days.20
  • Texas: TxDOT no longer keeps driver-filed crash reports, so drivers should keep their own copies.21

Without a report, your own proof matters more. Keep your photos, the other driver's details, witness names, repair estimates and medical records. Write down what happened as soon as you can.

Questions

How do I get a copy of my accident report?

Contact the agency that responded, with your report number or the date and place of the crash.1 Many offer an online option.

How much does a crash report cost?

It varies. TxDOT lists $6 for a regular copy,5 and Pennsylvania State Police charge $22.6

Can a police report be changed?

Sometimes, and usually only by the officer. Washington State Patrol says only the officer who completed the report can change it.2

Can I file an insurance claim with no police report?

Generally, yes. Keep your own proof, and check if your state requires you to file your own report.

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Sources

  1. NAIC, checked 2026-11-08. “Ask the officer when and where to get the accident report and accident report number.”
  2. Washington State Patrol, checked 2026-11-08. “Only the officer that completed the report has the authority to make any changes to the report.”
  3. Texas Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-08. “Get a copy of the police report for your insurance company.”
  4. Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, checked 2026-11-08. “Traffic crash reports are exempt from public disclosure, except for parties involved in the crash and other specific parties outlined in the statute.”
  5. TxDOT, checked 2026-11-08. “$6 for a regular copy.”
  6. Pennsylvania State Police, checked 2026-11-08. “The fee for a crash report is $22.”
  7. Pennsylvania State Police, checked 2026-11-08. “Crash reports are available 15 days after the date of the crash.”
  8. Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, checked 2026-11-08. “The fee for crash reports is $10.00 per report, per section 321.23, Florida Statutes.”
  9. Tennessee Highway Patrol, checked 2026-11-08. “Any driver/owner/passenger or their agent or legal representative may purchase a copy of the Crash Report for a fee of $4.00.”
  10. Tennessee Highway Patrol, checked 2026-11-08. “The reports are available approximately 7 days after the date of the crash at the THP District Office.”
  11. Massachusetts RMV, checked 2026-11-08. “There is a $20 non-refundable search fee for each report requested.”
  12. Maryland State Police, checked 2026-11-08. “Wait at least 10 days after the accident occurred to allow time for processing.”
  13. Washington State Patrol, checked 2026-11-08. “a fee of $10.50 will be charged per RCW 46.52.085 It may take up to a total of 2-4 weeks before the report is available for request.”
  14. North Bay Village Police Department, checked 2026-11-08. “Records personnel are not authorized to make any changes or additions.”
  15. Georgia DOT Crash Reporting Manual, checked 2026-11-08. “It is NOT a Corrected Report if new information is added to the original report - that is a Supplement to the Original.”
  16. Utah Insurance Department, checked 2026-11-08. “Only a judge or jury can ultimately decide who was at fault in an accident or how much another person owes you for your damages.”
  17. California DMV, checked 2026-11-08. “You or your insurance agent, broker, or legal representative must complete an SR-1 report and send it to DMV within 10 days if someone is injured (no matter how minor the injury) or killed, or property damage is over $1000.”
  18. Oregon DMV, checked 2026-11-08. “Within 72 hours of a motor vehicle collision, drivers involved in a collision are required to submit an Oregon Traffic Collision and Insurance Report to DMV.”
  19. Washington Department of Licensing, checked 2026-11-08. “Each driver involved in the collision must submit a report within 4 days of the collision.”
  20. Nebraska DOT, checked 2026-11-08. “Mail completed report within 10 days of crash to:”
  21. TxDOT, checked 2026-11-08. “Drivers involved in a crash not investigated by a police officer who were provided a CR-2 or similar local agency form should retain this information for their records.”

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