Here’s how to lookup an accident report: search TxDOT’s Crash Report Online Purchase System (CRIS) by name, driver’s license number, or crash ID, or request it from the police agency that responded.
A Texas accident report, officially the CR-3, costs $6 uncertified or $8 certified and usually appears within 14 days of the crash.
Below, we cover each method, fees, timing, and fixes. If you were hurt, our Dallas Personal Injury Lawyers can help.
How to Get a Copy of Your Police Report
The right method depends on which agency investigated your crash.
Knowing how to get a copy of an accident report starts with a few details:
- The crash date and county
- A driver’s name
- Ideally, the case number
Your Request Options
You can order online through TxDOT, mail TxDOT’s Form CR-91, or visit the responding police department in person.
Learning how to find accident reports this way works whether a city police department, county sheriff, or state troopers handled the crash. A Personal Injury Lawyer in Plano can also request it for you.
Request Online from TxDOT
The fastest way to get a Texas crash report online is TxDOT’s CRIS portal.
How to Search CRIS
- Search by the first and last name of anyone involved, including passengers or pedestrians, or by a driver’s license or state ID number.
- If several matches appear, narrow them with the crash date, county, city, license plate number, investigating officer’s name, or the agency’s case ID.
That’s how to get a crash report in Texas without leaving home. Reports stay available for purchase for about 10 years.
Request from the Local Law Enforcement Agency
If a city police department handled your crash, you can request the report from it directly.
Have the case or report number, the drivers’ names, the date and location, and a valid ID ready.
Department Examples
Each department sets its own rules. In Dallas, mail a written request or visit the Open Records Unit at 1400 South Lamar Street. Fort Worth accepts requests online.
If the Texas Highway Patrol responded, order through TxDOT, since the Department of Public Safety forwards its crash data there.
Report Not Found or Has Errors
If Your Report Is Missing
If it’s been less than two weeks, the report probably hasn’t been uploaded yet. Search again in a few days and double-check spellings and dates.
Knowing how to find crash reports also means knowing who to call: after two weeks, contact the investigating agency, sharing the officer’s name or badge number, to confirm the report was submitted.
If none exists, request a free Certified Letter of No Record.
If Your Report Has Errors
For factual mistakes, ask the agency to amend it. Officers needn’t change their fault opinion, but you can send your insurer your own evidence.
How Soon Can I Get My Police Report?
Most accident reports in Texas aren’t ready right away. Under Texas Transportation Code § 550.062, the officer has up to 10 days to submit the report to TxDOT.
It can then take up to 14 days from the crash date to show up in a CRIS search. Some reports appear within a few days; others take the full two weeks.
Local agencies vary, and Dallas reports are usually ready within 10 days. Paying by electronic check on CRIS adds a 10-day hold before download.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Police Report?
Most reports cost between $6 and $13.
TxDOT Fees
Through TxDOT, an uncertified copy is $6 and a certified copy is $8. Paying by credit or debit card adds a small Texas.gov processing fee, while an electronic check has none.
Local Agency Fees
Local agencies set their own prices. Dallas charges $6 for a standard report and $8 for a certified one.
Fort Worth charges $11 for a basic copy and $13 for a certified copy from its Police Records Division.
Why the Police Report Matters After a Car Accident
Your CR-3 is one of the first documents insurance adjusters and attorneys ask for. Like other automobile accident records, it captures:
- The date, time, and location
- Driver and insurance details
- Witness statements
- A crash diagram
- The officer’s opinion on fault
That opinion isn’t legally binding, but insurers and juries often treat it as strong evidence of liability.
An error that unfairly assigns fault can lower your claim’s value, so review every detail, from names and VINs to the narrative.
When a Police Report is Required in Texas
Under Texas Transportation Code § 550.062, an officer must file a crash report when an accident causes injury, death, or apparent property damage of $1,000 or more. Minor fender benders may not get one.
If No Officer Responded
TxDOT won’t have a CR-3 on file, and it no longer accepts driver-submitted reports instead. In that case, document the scene yourself and report the crash to your insurer.
You can still file an insurance claim without a police report. If a dangerous driver was involved, see how to report a reckless driver in Texas.
Are Texas Crash Reports Public Record?
No. Texas crash reports aren’t open to the general public.
Under Texas Transportation Code § 550.065, TxDOT releases a report only to people with a direct interest:
- Anyone involved
- Their authorized representative
- An insurer covering an involved vehicle
- Someone entitled to sue over a resulting death
So if you’re asking how do I find out about a car accident involving strangers, CRIS won’t help.
If you’re wondering how to check my accident history, search CRIS by your own name or license number. Other parties’ contact details stay redacted.
Should I Get a Standard Copy or a Certified Version of the Report?
In most cases, get the certified copy. It costs a little more, $8 instead of $6 through TxDOT, but it’s the version used in legal proceedings.
If your case goes to court, you’ll need a certified CR-3 for the report to be admissible before a jury.
A standard copy is fine for your own records or for sharing with your insurance company. If you hire a car accident lawyer, they’ll usually get the certified copy for you.
