How to Get Your California Crash Report

Who can get the report

California crash reports are confidential. Under Vehicle Code 20012 they are released only to parties with a proper interest:

The drivers, the parent of a minor driver, and a driver's guardian or authorized representative
Passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists involved, and anyone injured
The owners of vehicles or property damaged
People who may be held liable for the crash
Attorneys who declare under penalty of perjury that they represent one of these people
Insurers, with a valid claim or policy number

There is no redacted copy for the public. When you ask, you state your interest under penalty of perjury.

Where to request it

First check which agency took the report: the California Highway Patrol (CHP) for most freeway and unincorporated road crashes, or the city police department or county sheriff.

For a CHP report:

Fill in the CHP 190 form, Application for Release of Information, and take or mail it with the fee to a CHP Area office. Any CHP Area office can release a CHP report, wherever the crash happened.
Or use the CHP Crash Portal, which needs an account, to get a copy without going to an Area office.

For a city police or sheriff report, ask that agency's records unit:

The Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Sacramento, Fresno and Oakland police departments sell reports through LexisNexis BuyCrash.
The San Francisco Police Department releases reports free through its own records portal.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department takes requests by appointment or by mail.

What you need

The report number, or the driver's name with the date and location of the crash. The CHP 190 form asks for:

The date of the crash (an approximate date is fine) and the location, in as much detail as you can
The name of a driver or owner
Which kind of party of interest you are
Your name and address, and your agency or company if you are an insurer or government body
Your signature

Fees and timing

The CHP charges $10 per 25 pages for a copy. A party with a proper interest can review a CHP report in full without charge. Ask the Area office how long your request will take.

City department fees vary by agency, and some are free. For example:

Sacramento: $5 online, usually ready 5 to 10 days after the crash
San Diego: $12 by mail or in person; allow 3 to 10 business days
Oakland: $30 online, typically 60 to 90 days after the crash
San Francisco: free

Los Angeles and San Jose police ask you to wait at least 45 days before you request a report.

If the report is not filed yet

A report is released once it is complete. If yours is not ready, ask the agency that took it. For a CHP report, any Area office can tell you whether it is complete; you can find one with the CHP office locator.