Who can get the report
To get a Georgia crash report you sign a statement of need under Georgia Code 50-18-72(a)(5). It covers drivers, vehicle owners, injured people and witnesses, insurers, attorneys, prosecutors and law enforcement, and the news media.
Where to request it
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) keeps crash reports in GEARS, the Georgia Electronic Accident Reporting System, which LexisNexis builds and runs. You can:
- Buy the report online through LexisNexis BuyCrash.
- Mail the GDOT Individual Accident Report Request form with payment.
Crashes on the interstates inside Atlanta are usually handled by the Georgia State Patrol. City crashes in Atlanta are handled by the Atlanta Police Department.
What you need
- The last name of a person on the report
- The date of the crash
- The agency that took the report, or the report number
- Your signed statement of need
Fees and timing
By mail, GDOT charges $5 per report, plus $2 for a certified copy, paid by money order or cashier's check. Mail requests take at least 2 weeks. BuyCrash is faster; some guides report 3 to 5 business days.
If the report is not filed yet
If your report is not on BuyCrash yet, wait a few business days and search again. If it is still missing, ask the agency that responded to the crash whether the officer has filed it.