How to Get a Copy of a Police Accident Report and Correct Mistakes in It

The report is written by the officer, so you generally cannot rewrite it. You can get a copy, ask for factual errors to be fixed, and add your own written account. Insurers and lawyers read these reports closely, so check yours early.

How to request a copy

1. Find the agency that responded: city police, county sheriff or state highway patrol. Your crash exchange slip or report number will name it.
2. Check the agency's website for an online request or a link to a third-party report portal.
3. If there is none, request it in writing or in person at the records office, with the report number, date, location and your ID.
4. Pay the fee, which is usually modest, and ask whether a full or redacted copy is provided.
5. If the report is not ready, ask when it will be. Many take a few days to a few weeks to be approved.

Who can get a full copy

People involved in the crash, their insurers and their lawyers can usually get a full copy. Some states redact personal details for the general public. If you are given a redacted copy as a driver, ask the agency to provide the unredacted version or explain what is required.

What to check

• Names, addresses, driver's license and insurance details for each driver.
• Vehicle information, plate numbers and VINs.
• Date, time and place of the crash.
• The diagram and narrative, including statements attributed to you.
• Injuries and damage noted, which may be incomplete if you felt fine at the scene.
• Contributing factors and any citations issued.

If something is wrong

1. Separate factual errors from disputed conclusions. A wrong plate number is a factual error. A finding that you were at fault is a disputed conclusion.
2. Contact the officer or the records unit and ask for a supplemental report or correction, and bring proof, such as the registration or insurance card.
3. If the officer refuses, write your own statement, attach photos, witness information and medical records, and send it to your insurer and ask the agency to add it to the file.
4. For fault disputes, the report is not binding in most states. Insurers and courts decide fault from all the evidence, and you can challenge a citation in traffic court.

How reports are used

Insurers use the report to set fault and look for admissions. In many states, the report itself is not allowed as evidence at trial, though the facts and the officer's observations can come in through other means. Do not rely on it alone. Photograph the scene, get witness details and keep your own records. See our guides on filing a claim and on giving a recorded statement.

If there is no report

Some minor crashes do not produce a report. File a self-report with your state motor vehicle agency if required, and notify your insurer in writing. Take photos and exchange information, since a police report may not exist later.

A hypothetical correction request

A driver finds that the report lists the wrong insurance company for her car and says she "ran the light," though she told the officer the light was yellow. She emails the records unit with a copy of her insurance card and a request to correct the policy information. For the fault statement, she writes her own account, adds a witness name and the dashcam clip, and sends it to her insurer. The first fix is a factual correction. The second is evidence that the insurer can weigh.

A short checklist for the first week

Write down the report number before you leave the scene. Take photos of the cars, plates, road and signals. Ask any witnesses for contact details. Request the report as soon as it is available, read it the day it arrives, and tell your insurer about any errors. Early corrections are easier than disputes months later.

Frequently asked questions