Obtaining Motor Vehicle Accident Reports From The Texas Department of Transportation–Texas Insurance Defense Attorneys

Crash Report Online Purchase System

You may obtain a copy of a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3) (regular or certified) by using our Crash Report Online Purchase System link below. Customers using the online system receive their report(s) immediately if the report is available for purchase. There is a minimal surcharge for using this system. See the sections below for more information on obtaining a crash report online, confidentiality, fees, and ordering a crash report by mail.

If the system cannot identify your individual crash using the information provided, you will not be able to purchase a crash report through this automated facility.

This option is not currently available for purchasing Driver’s Crash Reports (CR-2) (Blue Report).

• Crash Report Online Purchase System

Confidentiality

Due to their confidential nature, crash reports are not available for online viewing by the general public.

Crash Reports

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is the custodian of crash records for the State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code §550.062 requires any law enforcement officer who in the regular course of duty investigates a motor vehicle crash that results in injury to or the death of a person or damage to the property of any one person to the apparent extent of $1,000 or more, to submit a written report of that crash to TxDOT not later than the 10th day after the date of the crash.

TxDOT collects crash reports from every law enforcement agency in Texas and for crashes that occur on any public roadway in Texas, not just crashes occurring on the state highway system. The state retention schedule for crash reports and data is five years plus current year. Request for information outside this retention schedule is not available.

TxDOT also collects Driver’s Crash Reports (CR-2) (Blue Form). Texas Transportation Code §550.061 requires the operator of a vehicle involved in a crash to make a written report of the crash if the crash is not investigated by a law enforcement officer and the crash resulted in injury to or the death of a person or damage to the property of any one person to an apparent extent of $1,000 or more.  The CR-2 must be filed with TxDOT not later than the 10th day after the date of the crash.  A person commits an offense if the person does not file the report with TxDOT.

The state retention schedule for Driver’s Crash Reports (CR-2) (Blue Form) is one year plus current year. Request for information outside this retention schedule is not available.

• Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3)

This report is completed by a law enforcement officer investigating a traffic crash when apparent damage is $1,000 or more, or when the crash resulted in injury or death.

• Driver’s Crash Report (CR-2) (Blue Form)

This report is completed by a driver involved in a traffic crash when the crash is not investigated by a law enforcement officer and apparent damage is $1,000 or more or when the crash resulted in injury or death.

Required Information

As per Texas Transportation Code §550.065, before a crash report can be released the requester must provide at least two of the following pieces of information:

• Name of any person involved in the crash
• Date of the crash
• Location of the crash

Costs and Ordering

• $6 for a regular copy
• $8 for a certified copy – A certified copy is requested when a person needs an official document, such as for a legal proceeding.

Ordering a Crash Report by Mail

If you are unable to use the Crash Report Online Purchase System, you may purchase a copy of a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3) by completing the appropriate request form and mailing it with the required payment to the address shown on the form.

• Request a copy of a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3)

You may purchase a copy of a Driver’s Crash Report (CR-2) (Blue Form) by completing the appropriate request form and mailing it with the required payment to the address shown on the form.

• Request a copy of a Driver’s Crash Report (CR-2) (Blue Form)
• See http://www.txdot.gov/driver/laws/crash-reports.html