What is the short answer?
A police report is a government record, and states have laws that open government records to the public. That is where the idea of a public police report comes from. Those laws also list exceptions, and in the states on this site crash reports have a statute of their own that says who may have them. So the real answer is always two questions: which kind of report, and which state.
For crash reports, the states on this site fall into three groups.
| Group | What it means for you | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Open to anyone | Any person can buy the report | Idaho, where the transportation department says crash reports are available to the general public |
| Two versions | Anyone can get a copy with personal details removed. The full copy is kept for people connected to the crash | Texas, Washington, North Carolina |
| Named people only | The law lists who may have the report | Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arizona for the full report, Florida for the first 60 days |
Who can get a crash report in each state?
This table gives each state source's own rule, in short form. A state is listed only when its official page or statute says who may have the report.
| State | Who may get it | Stated by |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Set by Alabama Code 32-10-7 | Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, online or at any ALEA Driver License Office |
| Arizona | Not for commercial solicitation (A.R.S. 28-667) | The agency that worked the crash. For state troopers, Arizona DPS records |
| Connecticut | The parties get a free summary online | BuyCrash for simple State Police crashes, the Reports and Records Unit for the rest |
| Delaware | Send your information exchange form | Delaware State Police Traffic Unit, by mail |
| District of Columbia | The people involved and their representatives | Metropolitan Police Department, Form PD-10 |
| Florida | The parties, their lawyers and insurers in the first 60 days, with a sworn statement (F.S. 316.066) | Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which receives every agency's reports, or the agency that wrote it |
| Idaho | Anyone. Crash records are public | Idaho Transportation Department, Office of Highway Safety |
| Kansas | You certify the names will not be used to sell | Kansas Highway Patrol online accident reports |
| Kentucky | The parties, their insurers and attorneys (KRS 189.635) | Kentucky State Police records custodian |
| Mississippi | People legally eligible for a copy | Mississippi Department of Public Safety, or online at reportbeam.com |
| New Jersey | Drivers and owners can get a free uncertified copy in person | New Jersey State Police online crash reports. Turnpike and Parkway crashes are on BuyCrash |
| North Carolina | People involved get a redacted copy | North Carolina DMV, by mail or in person |
| Ohio | Anyone claiming an interest in the crash, or their attorney (R.C. 5502.12) | Ohio Department of Public Safety crash search. The Highway Patrol sells its own full file |
| Pennsylvania | Anyone involved, their attorney or insurer | Pennsylvania State Police Crash Reports Unit |
| Tennessee | A driver, owner or passenger, or their agent or legal representative | Purchase TN Crash online, or a Highway Patrol district office |
| Texas | People with a proper interest get the full copy. Anyone can buy a redacted one | TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System, for a report from any Texas agency |
| Virginia | The people involved and their authorized representatives | Virginia DMV, Customer Records |
| Washington | Entitled parties get the full copy, others a redacted one | Washington State Patrol collision report search |
The wording is condensed from each source. Follow the link in a row for the full rule before you rely on it.
Is a crash report treated like other police reports?
Not in the states on this site. An incident or offense report, the kind written for a theft or an assault, is released under the state's general public records law. A crash report has its own section of state law.
The general laws are broad on paper. Nevada's Public Records Act is described by its Department of Public Safety as ensuring that government documents are available to the public for inspection or copying within the constraints of the law. Kentucky's Open Records Act opens public records unless one of 14 exemptions applies. Texas has its Public Information Act.
The exceptions do the real work. Dallas police list what they withhold or black out by law: juvenile records in most cases, active investigative details, personal identifying information, protected victim information, and medical or mental health records. They also keep several kinds of incident off their online system altogether and say a formal public information request may be needed for those.
Crash reports skip most of that argument, because a separate statute already answers the question. Nevada's Highway Patrol releases accident reports under NRS 480.600. Ohio uses Revised Code 5502.12. Texas uses Transportation Code 550.065, Arizona uses A.R.S. 28-667, and Florida uses section 316.066.
Who is on the lists we have read?
The people in the crash. Where a state publishes a list, they are on it, and most lists go on in the same order.
- The people involved. Drivers, passengers and pedestrians. Tennessee's wording is any driver, owner or passenger.
- Owners. The owner of a vehicle or of property damaged in the crash. Arizona, Texas and Virginia all name owners.
- People acting for them. An authorized representative, an agent or a legal representative. Virginia spells out a personal representative such as a conservator, an executor or next of kin, and the parent or legal guardian of a minor.
- Insurers. Kentucky names insurers of any party who is the subject of the report, for insurance business purposes. Texas names an insurance company that issued a policy covering a vehicle or a person involved.
- Attorneys. Kentucky names the attorneys of the parties. Arizona names an attorney representing a person involved. Ohio names the person's attorney.
Ohio's law uses broad words. It gives a copy to "any person claiming an interest arising out of a motor vehicle accident". Texas has a similar catch all, a person "having proper interest" in the accident, and lets a buyer explain an interest that is not on its list.
When is a report held back?
Three situations come up in the statutes.
A waiting period
Florida makes crash reports that reveal personal information "confidential and exempt" for 60 days after the report is filed. During that time they may be made available at once to the parties involved in the crash, their legal representatives, their licensed insurance agents and their insurers.
A prosecution
In Ohio, Highway Patrol reports, statements and photographs "may be withheld until all criminal prosecution has been concluded".
An investigation
Arizona allows a law enforcement agency to deny a request for an unredacted report if it determines that release would be harmful to a criminal investigation.
Are there limits on what a report may be used for?
In some states, yes, and the statutes are specific.
Arizona's A.R.S. 28-667 says the agency "shall not allow a person to examine the accident report" when "the request is for a commercial solicitation purpose", and it "may require a person requesting the accident or related investigative report to state under penalty of perjury" that the report is not sought for that purpose.
Kansas asks each online buyer to certify that names and addresses from the record will not be used "for the purpose of selling or offering for sale any property or service".
Florida requires a written sworn statement before access during the confidential period, along with a driver license or other photographic identification.
How do you show you are entitled to it?
- Say what your connection isTexas puts a certification on screen when you choose the full report. You tick which kind of person you are.
- Bring or upload identificationFlorida's statute requires photo identification. Memphis police ask Tennessee residents for valid ID.
- Have the crash details readyThe date, the place and the names of the drivers show the agency that you know the event you are asking about.
- If you act for someone else, ask what proof is neededA representative, an attorney or an insurer is on most lists. Ask the agency what it accepts as proof that you act for a person involved.
The bottom line
- In the states on this site, crash reports have their own statute, separate from the general public records law.
- If you were in the crash, ask for the full version and not the redacted one.
- A report can be held back for a time. Florida's period is 60 days.
- Some states limit what a report may be used for, in the words of the statute.
- Expect to show who you are before a full report is released.
Questions about public access to police reports
Are police reports public record?
Partly. Police reports fall under each state's public records law, but those laws carry exceptions, and crash reports often have their own statute. Idaho says crash reports are available to the general public. Florida makes them confidential for 60 days. The other states on this site sit between those two.
Can anyone get a copy of a car accident report?
In some states, yes, though often not the full version. Texas sells anyone a redacted copy and keeps the full report for people with a proper interest. Washington gives people who are not entitled parties a redacted copy. Pennsylvania limits copies to the people involved, their attorney or insurer, and government agencies involved.
Who can always get an accident report?
Where a state publishes a list, the people involved in the crash are on it. Most lists add the owner of a vehicle involved, their insurers and their attorneys. Arizona, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Kentucky all name some or all of those.
What information is removed from a public copy?
Personal details. Texas hides phone numbers, addresses and dates of birth on a redacted report. Ohio's Highway Patrol removes driver's license numbers and the telephone numbers of the parties. North Carolina hides details such as names or addresses on the copy it gives to a person involved.
Can an accident report be withheld?
Yes, for a time. Florida holds crash reports confidential for 60 days except for the parties and those acting for them. Ohio law allows Highway Patrol reports to be withheld until all criminal prosecution has been concluded. Arizona lets an agency deny an unredacted copy if release would be harmful to a criminal investigation.
Can a business use accident reports to contact people?
Some states restrict it in their statutes. Arizona's law says an agency shall not allow a person to examine an accident report if the request is for a commercial solicitation purpose. Kansas asks buyers to certify that names and addresses will not be used to sell property or services.
Is a crash report treated differently from other police reports?
Usually. A crash report has its own statute in most of the states on this site, while an incident or offense report is released under the general public records law. Dallas police, for example, keep several kinds of incident off their online system and ask for a formal public information request for those.
Do I have to prove who I am to get a report?
Often. Florida requires a driver license or other photo identification and a written sworn statement. Texas asks for an on screen certification of your interest before it sells the full report. Memphis police ask Tennessee residents for valid ID.