What Is BuyCrash and How Do You Get a Crash Report?

What is BuyCrash?

The Moline, Illinois police FAQ describes it this way: "BuyCrash is an online accident report management solution designed to help simplify the management and distribution of accident reports for law enforcement agencies." The same page says that for consumers and insurance carriers, "it’s a quick and convenient way to access accident reports, eliminating the need to drive to the police department to obtain a copy of your report."

Agencies that use it say so on their own pages. The Indiana State Police, which "maintains the central repository of all crash reports for the State of Indiana", says it "makes electronic vehicle crash reports available for a nominal fee through the" BuyCrash website. Georgia's Department of Transportation says "Crash reports can be purchased directly via the BuyCrash website or by mailing a request to GDOT via the GDOT Request Form."

Some agency pages call the same route a LexisNexis crash report without using the BuyCrash name. Urbana, Illinois says "LexisNexis will now handle the management and distribution of reports for the Urbana Police Department online."

Does every police agency use BuyCrash?

No. Some states run their own systems. The Texas Department of Transportation says "You may obtain a copy of a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3) by using our Crash Report Online Purchase System link below." The Kentwood, Michigan police page offers LexisNexis BuyCrash and also points to a state system, which it says "offers a means to purchase a traffic crash report submitted by all Michigan law enforcement agencies for a $10.00 fee."

So start with the agency that wrote the report. Its own page tells you which route it uses. Our state pages explain how to get a car accident report in your state.

What do you need to search for a report on BuyCrash?

Georgia DOT publishes a step-by-step guide to the site. After you select the state and agency, it tells you to enter a "Last Name; the Date of the Crash" and then "any one of the three remaining fields Crash Report Number, a VIN or a Driver’s License" number.

Agencies can ask for different details. Wentzville, Missouri tells people to select the state and "Wentzville Police Department", then enter the date of the accident and the report number. Moline says the officer gives drivers a card with "the website, the information about the crash (date, report number, officer’s name, other parties involved, and police agency)." Keep whatever the officer hands you at the scene.

How much does a crash report cost on BuyCrash?

There is no single price. These are the amounts and fee statements on the agency pages we read. An agency's price can change, so check its page before you pay.

Several pages say buying in person costs less. Park Ridge, Illinois says "There is a convenience fee assessed by the eCommerce vendor, however these reports will still be available for purchase at the Park Ridge Police Department for the standard fee of $5.00." Southampton says "Involved parties that do not wish to pay the convenience fee can still come to the police station and pay only the cost of the report."

How long until a crash report shows up on BuyCrash?

It depends on the agency. Moline says "Crash reports take a minimum of 24 hours to be approved and appear online." Urbana says "Typically, accident reports will be accessible within 48 to 72 hours.", and Park Ridge says "usually within 48-72 hours of the accident." The Connecticut State Police give a much longer window: "within thirty business days following the date of the accident."

What if your report is not on BuyCrash?

First, wait and try again. Wentzville's page says that if you do not find your report, "it may not be available yet."

If it still does not appear, contact the records unit of the agency that took the report. Cheshire, Connecticut says "In the event your accident report is not available online, please contact the Records Division." The Connecticut State Police say "All other accidents which are not available online within 30 days from the date of the accident, serious injury, fatalities, and other investigative reports may be requested directly from the Reports and Records Unit". Older crashes may not be online: Park Ridge's page offers online purchase "for crashes that occurred on or after August 1, 2014".

Once you have the report, see what to do with the report when you file a car insurance claim.

Common questions

Is BuyCrash a government website?

No. It is a LexisNexis service that agencies use to deliver reports. Park Ridge calls LexisNexis "our eCommerce vendor", and the Connecticut State Police say "Convenience fees collected by a third-party vendor are not payable to the State of Connecticut."

Who is allowed to get a crash report?

The rules differ by state. In Texas, TxDOT says "Texas Transportation Code §550.065 allows for the release of a crash report on written request and upon payment of the required fee to any person directly concerned in the accident or having proper interest therein". In Florida, the Lady Lake Police Department says "Traffic crash reports are confidential for 60 days after the report is filed." It adds that "Only parties involved in the crash, including vehicle owners, their legal representatives, their insurance company and its agents, may receive crash report copies during this period." Check the page of the agency that took your report.

Can you get a crash report without paying the online fee?

At some agencies, yes. Lady Lake says involved parties "may obtain a free copy of the traffic crash report from the Records Office. Proper identification and an affidavit are required." Moline says the driver information exchange, which is not the full crash report, "is available free of charge." and that "In most situations, you will only need the driver information." Other agencies charge for a copy at the station.

Can your insurance agent get the report for you?

One agency says so. Moline's page says "Your insurance agent can usually take care of this for you by requesting the police report through Lexis Nexis."

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

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

Sources

• Moline, Illinois, Police FAQ (what BuyCrash is, the $10 fee, 24 hours, the officer's card, insurance agents): https://www.moline.il.us/m/faq?cat=25
• Indiana State Police, Crash Reports (central repository, BuyCrash for a nominal fee): https://www.in.gov/isp/crash-reports/
• Georgia Department of Transportation, Crash Reporting (BuyCrash or a mailed request): https://www.dot.ga.gov/GDOT/Pages/CrashReporting.aspx
• Georgia Department of Transportation, "How to Use the Buy Crash Web Site" (search fields): https://www.dot.ga.gov/DriveSmart/Data/Documents/Crash%20Reports%20and%20Forms/HowToBuyCrashReports.pdf
• Connecticut State Police, Reports and Records (thirty business days, convenience fees, Reports and Records Unit): https://portal.ct.gov/despp/division-of-emergency-service-and-public-protection/reports-and-records/reports-and-records
• Urbana, Illinois Police Department, Crash Reports ($15.00, 48 to 72 hours): https://www.urbanail.gov/police-department/page/crash-reports
• Texas Department of Transportation, Crash reports and records (the state's own purchase system): https://www.txdot.gov/data-maps/crash-reports-records.html
• Kentwood, Michigan Police, Purchase a Crash Report (BuyCrash and the Michigan State Police system): https://kentwood.us/city_services/city_departments/police/crash_reports.php
• Wentzville, Missouri Police, Request for Police/Accident Report ($13, search steps, report not yet available): https://www.wentzvillemo.gov/police/wpd-programs-services/police-or-accident-report/
• Jeffersonville, Indiana Police Department, FAQ ($5 in person, $12 online): https://jeffersonvillepdin.gov/faq/
• Southampton Town, New York Police, BuyCrash.Com (convenience fee, police station option): https://southamptontownny.gov/842/BuyCrashCom
• Park Ridge, Illinois, Police Records Request (vendor convenience fee, $5.00 at the department, 48-72 hours, August 1, 2014): https://www.parkridge.us/your_government/city_departments/police_reports.php
• Cheshire, Connecticut Police, Records Request (contact the Records Division): https://www.cheshirect.gov/217/Records-Request-Permit-Applications
• Lady Lake, Florida Police, Crash Reports (60-day confidentiality, who may get a copy, free copy): https://www.ladylakefl.gov/275/Crash-Reports

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.