How to Get a California Highway Patrol Crash Report

Who can request a CHP crash report?

The CHP's "Request a Crash Report" page says a proper Party of Interest "may request a copy of a CHP crash report/investigation, without having to go to the CHP Area office where the crash report was filed". It lists who that is: "Drivers, Bicyclists, Pedestrians, Passengers, Parents of Minors, Legal Guardians, Vehicle or Property Owners, Legal representatives, Manufacturer Representatives, or Insurance Companies with a valid claim or policy number".

The CHP's other pages word the list differently. Its FAQ says: "To receive a copy of a report, you must be an involved party, passenger, property owner, or licensed insurance agent (with a signed release from your insured, an involved party)."

A CHP policy document, General Order 110.2 (revised December 2014), says "The authority for release of collision reports is contained in California Vehicle Code (VC) Section 20012." The same 2014 document says: "Parents of adult children are not considered a person of proper interest, unless they have a signed authorization from the involved adult child."

How do I request the report, step by step?

The CHP's pages describe an online portal, a request in person and a request by mail.

The request page's instructions for the CHP 190, in the page's order:

1. Crash/Incident Date: "If you do not know the exact date, provide an approximate date."
2. Crash/Incident Location: "If you do not know the exact location, list as much information as possible."
3. Driver or Owner: "List the driver or owner of the vehicle. If only your property was damaged, please list your name and address."
4. Party of Interest: "PLEASE CHECK ONLY ONE BOX."
5. Applicant: "Print your name in this box."
6. "Number and Street, City, State, and Zip Code"
7. Agency/Company: "Applies to government entities or insurance companies"
8. Signature. On the form, the signature line begins "I DECLARE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY".
9. "Submit applicable fees (contact the Area office you will be submitting the form to for the exact amount)."

The CHP 190 page then gives "Additional Instructions":

• "Photocopy your driver license or picture identification card and attach it to your request for a collision report."
• "If you do not have either of these forms of identification, then, the CHP 190 form must be certified by a notary."

For a request by mail, the form is not the only option. The CHP 190 page says you can obtain the report "through the mail by completing a form CHP 190 (Application for Release of Information) available on this web site, or you may simply write a personal letter." It says to send it "along with verification that you are a proper Party of Interest" and, without a license or picture ID, "the CHP 190 form, or your personal letter, must be certified by a notary".

The CHP's pages are not consistent on where to send the form. The request page says the nearest Area office, and so does the top of the CHP 190 page: "Print and complete form CHP 190 and submit in person or mail to your" nearest Area office. Further down, the CHP 190 page says to "Mail the form and a photocopy of your driver license to the CHP jurisdiction that filed the report".

How much does a CHP crash report cost?

The CHP 190 page says "The CHP charges only a nominal fee to cover reproduction costs". It lists these charges:

For mail requests the page says "There is no extra charge for handling or mailing," and "Your personal check or money order must be sent with your request and made out to the California Highway Patrol." It also says "NO CASH PLEASE if you are requesting the report by mail" and "We do not accept Credit or Debit cards at this time."

For pickup, the CHP's FAQ says: "There is a fee for the crash report (cash or check), so contact your local area office for the exact amount." The CHP pages we read do not state a fee for reports requested through the Crash Portal.

The CHP 190 page also says you can "Have your insurance provider obtain a copy of the collision report and give you a copy (this may save you the report fee)."

How long does it take?

The Crash Portal's sign-up page says "Traffic Crash Reports are typically available within eight (8) business days from the date of the crash".

By mail, the CHP says: "Once the CHP has your request and verified you are a proper party of interest, a copy of the report will be mailed to your address upon receipt of payment." The CHP pages we read give no number of days for mailed requests.

What if a city police department took the report?

Asked whether a CHP office can supply a report from another police department, the CHP answers: "The CHP can only obtain copies of collision reports we investigate."

The CHP pages we read do not give a statewide rule for which crashes it investigates. As one example of a single office's own area, the CHP's Dublin office says "our office patrols 57 miles of freeway on Interstate 580, Interstate 680, and 275 miles of unincorporated roadways throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties." The state's CA.gov page for the CHP tells drivers to "Notify the Department of the California Highway Patrol or the police department of the city in which the collision occurred."

If you don't know who wrote your report, the CHP says: "If you do not know the police department who investigated the collision, you can either contact your local police department or CHP Office to assist you in identifying the proper law enforcement agency."

Is the CHP report the same as the DMV's SR-1?

No. The SR-1 is a report you file yourself with the California DMV. The DMV says you, or your insurance agent, broker or legal representative, must send it "within 10 days if someone is injured (no matter how minor the injury) or killed, or property damage is over $1000." It adds: "An SR-1 report is required in addition to any other report made to the police, CHP, or your insurance company."

For the state's deadlines and fault rules after a crash, see our California injury guide: deadlines, fault and insurance. For the insurance side, see how to file a car insurance claim after an accident.

Common questions

Can I get a CHP report from an office far from the crash?

In person, yes. The CHP 190 page says: "Any CHP office will be able to get a copy of a CHP collision report or arrange for one to be mailed to your address."

Can I request a CHP crash report if I live outside California?

The CHP's page says: "You can obtain a copy of a collision report by mail."

What if I disagree with what the report says?

The CHP's FAQ page says: "If you are the involved party in a traffic collision, and disagree with any portion of the report, you may write a "supplemental" statement." It asks for the report number, your name and the items you disagree with.

If you were injured in a crash, you can request a free case review. Your request may be shared with independent attorneys.

---

This is general information, not legal advice. Ask Legal Matters is a free case-review request service, not a law firm.

Sources

• California Highway Patrol, Request a Crash Report (who is a proper Party of Interest, Crash Portal, form CHP 190 instructions, where to submit, fees wording): https://www.chp.ca.gov/traffic/request-a-crash-report/
• California Highway Patrol, Collision Report - CHP 190 (ID or notary, mail requests, fee list, payment, any CHP office, reports from other police departments, out-of-state requests): https://www.chp.ca.gov/notify-chp/collision-report-chp-190/
• California Highway Patrol, form CHP 190, Application for Release of Information (signature declaration): https://www.chp.ca.gov/siteassets/files/chp190.pdf
• California Highway Patrol, Online Crash Report System, registration page (eight business days; registering to request a report): https://crashes.chp.ca.gov/Identity/Account/Register?returnUrl=%2F
• California Highway Patrol, General Order 110.2, Release of Collision Information, revised December 2014 (Vehicle Code section 20012 as the authority; parents of adult children): https://www.chp.ca.gov/siteassets/policy/go/go-110.2-release-of-collission-information.pdf
• California Highway Patrol, FAQ (who may receive a report; CHP 418 card for mail requests; pickup fee; supplemental statement): https://www.chp.ca.gov/faq/
• California Highway Patrol, (390) Dublin Area office (freeway and unincorporated roadways patrolled by that office): https://www.chp.ca.gov/find-an-office/golden-gate-division/390-dublin/
• State of California, CA.gov, California Highway Patrol (notify the CHP or the city's police department): https://www.ca.gov/departments/184/
• California DMV, Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR-1) (when the SR-1 is due; required in addition to other reports): https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv-virtual-office/accident-reporting/

Sources checked November 14, 2026.

Find the right local record source

Use the state hub for statewide agencies and the community directory to locate the place where the incident happened. The agency that responded may differ from the nearest city.