Who can get the report
Iowa law limits crash reports to the people involved in the crash, their attorney, and their insurers or insurance agents.
Where to request it
The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) releases crash reports by mail. Fill in and sign the Request for Copy of Investigating Officer's Report of an Accident and mail it with the fee to Iowa DOT, PO Box 9204, Des Moines, IA 50306-9204. There is no online ordering.
Some city police departments sell their own reports. The Davenport Police Department, for example, sells reports through LexisNexis BuyCrash.
What you need
- The signed request form
- The names of the people involved
- The date and location of the crash
- The $4 fee
Fees and timing
The Iowa DOT charges $4 per request and keeps it even if no report is found. It does not state a processing time. Davenport charges $15 through BuyCrash.
If the report is not filed yet
Because the $4 fee is not refunded, check first with the agency that responded to the crash that the officer has filed the report, then mail your request.