Your crash report

How to get your crash report

The crash report is the officer's written record of what happened. Your insurance company will likely ask for it. Here is how to get a copy in Texas, step by step.

Who writes the report #

In Texas, an officer who investigates a crash must write a report if:

• someone was hurt or killed, or
• the damage to any one person's property looks like $1,000 or more.

The officer must file the report with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) within 10 days of the crash. That is true for city police, county sheriffs and state troopers. So no matter which agency came to your crash, the report should end up in TxDOT's system.

Before you leave the scene, ask the officer for their name, their agency and the report or case number. These make the report much easier to find.

What if no officer came? #

If police did not investigate, there may be no officer report. Texas drivers no longer file their own crash report with the state. TxDOT stopped keeping the old Driver's Crash Report (form CR-2) in 2017, and it no longer has any of those forms. If you filled out a CR-2 or a similar city form, keep your own copy. Your photos and notes from the scene will matter more.

Who can get a full copy #

Texas crash reports are confidential. Texas law lets people "directly concerned" in the crash, and a few others, get a full copy. That includes:

• anyone involved in the crash, including drivers
• someone you authorize to act for you, such as your lawyer
• a parent, guardian or employer of a driver
• the owner of a car or property damaged in the crash
• insurance companies that cover a car or person in the crash
• a person who may sue because of a death in the crash

Anyone else can buy a redacted copy. That version hides names, driver's license numbers, addresses, phone numbers, plate numbers, insurance details and other personal information.

What it costs #

Texas law sets the fee:

A certified copy is for when you need an official document, such as for a court case. For most insurance claims, a regular copy is enough. If you are not sure, ask your adjuster.

When you buy online with a credit or debit card, a small extra processing fee is added.

How to buy it from TxDOT online #

TxDOT runs the official Crash Report Online Purchase System at cris.dot.state.tx.us/public/Purchase. It is open 24 hours a day.

A full copy paid for by card is ready right away. A redacted copy can take up to 10 business days, because TxDOT reviews it first.

Paying by e-check? There is no processing fee for an electronic check, but TxDOT holds the report for about 10 days (up to 10 business days) before it is released.

How long it takes #

TxDOT says it can take up to 14 days from the crash date for a report to show up in search results.

• If your crash was less than two weeks ago, try again in a few days.
• If it has been more than two weeks, contact the agency that investigated the crash. Ask if the report has been sent to TxDOT.

Need help with the website? TxDOT's purchase system has a Help Center with live chat from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time, every day. The help desk phone is 844-CRIS-HLP (844-274-7457).

Getting it from the local police department #

You can also ask the agency that worked your crash. Some DFW police departments sell copies at their records office. Some sell them on their own website. Others send you to TxDOT's system. The fee set by Texas law is the same: $6, or $8 for a certified copy.

Find your city's crash report page and phone number on our DFW resources page.

If the crash was outside city limits, a sheriff's deputy or a state trooper may have worked it. Their reports also go to TxDOT, so search the TxDOT system first.

Read your report carefully #

When you get the report, check:

If something is wrong, contact the agency that wrote the report. Under Texas law, generally only the officer who wrote the report can change an important fact in it. Anyone else can make a change only by adding a written supplement to the report that names the person who made the change. Ask the agency how it handles corrections. Keep your request short, polite and factual.

Keep in mind that the report is one piece of information. Insurance companies make their own decisions about who was at fault, and so do courts if a case gets that far.

Watch out for look-alike websites #

This page is general information, not legal advice. It is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Fees and steps can change, so check TxDOT's site before you buy. Last checked October 2026. See our disclaimer.

Photo: "Paperwork file" by Ian Lamont (IN 30 MINUTES Guides), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr. Photo: "1971 ford f-350 custom holmes 440" by Rjluna2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped; this version is licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. All photo credits