Guide · California
How to Get Your Car Accident Police Report in California
Which agency has your report, how to request it, and how to fix mistakes.
Updated . General information, not legal advice about your situation.
Responsible attorney: Elham Azimy, California State Bar No. 207274.
The traffic collision report is the single most-requested document after a crash. Insurers ask for it, attorneys build on it, and it often contains the officer’s opinion on who caused the collision. Which agency has it depends on where the crash occurred; how to get it depends on the agency. This guide covers California’s major agencies.
Which agency wrote the report
- California Highway Patrol: all freeways and state highways, and surface streets in unincorporated county areas. Reports use form CHP 555.
- City police department: surface streets within city limits (LAPD, Long Beach PD, Anaheim PD, Santa Ana PD, Riverside PD, San Diego PD, etc.).
- County sheriff: cities that contract for sheriff services (many in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, such as Lancaster, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Moreno Valley, Temecula, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana’s unincorporated edges) and unincorporated areas not covered by CHP.
- Other: university police on campuses; port and airport police; transit police for rail incidents.
If the officer gave you a card or incident number, it identifies the agency. If no officer responded, there is no report; you may be able to file a counter report with the local police, and you must still file the DMV SR-1.
Requesting a CHP report
Submit form CHP 190 (Application for Release of Information) to the CHP area office that handled the crash, by mail or in person; some offices accept email. You will need the date, location, and names of parties, and a copy of your ID. Reports are typically available 7–10 business days after the crash, longer for fatal or complex collisions. Fees range from $10 to $25 depending on length. Involved parties, their insurers, attorneys and legal representatives may obtain the report; it is not a public record (Vehicle Code § 20012).
Requesting city police and sheriff reports
| Agency | How to request | Typical availability |
|---|---|---|
| LAPD | Online via LAPD Online Traffic Collision Report Request, or by mail/in person at Records & Identification | 10–45 days; LAPD is often slower than other agencies |
| LA County Sheriff | In person or by mail at the station that handled the crash | 10–14 days |
| San Diego PD | Online through the city’s Traffic Collision Report portal | 7–10 days |
| Long Beach PD | Online report request or Records Division | 7–14 days |
| Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine PD | Records division online or in person | 7–14 days |
| Riverside PD, San Bernardino PD | Records bureau online or in person | 7–14 days |
| Riverside / San Bernardino / Orange / San Diego Sheriff | Station or Records; some via online portals | 10–14 days |
Many agencies contract with third-party portals (such as LexisNexis BuyCrash or CrashDocs) for online delivery. Fees typically range from free to about $25. Have the report number, date and a party name ready.
How to read the report
A CHP 555 includes the parties and vehicles (P-1, P-2), insurance information, injury classification, a narrative, a diagram, witness information, the officer’s opinion of the primary collision factor (PCF) with the Vehicle Code section believed violated, and codes for conditions such as lighting, roadway and sobriety. The “Party at Fault” field reflects the officer’s opinion, which insurers weigh heavily but which is not binding. Check that your injuries, statements and the other driver’s insurance information are recorded correctly.
Correcting errors
Factual errors (wrong plate, misspelled name, wrong insurance) can usually be corrected by contacting the reporting officer or the records division with documentation; the agency issues a supplemental report. Disagreement with the officer’s opinion on fault is not an “error” the agency will change, but you may submit a written statement and evidence to be attached as a supplement, and you can present your evidence directly to the insurers.
A police report is separate from the DMV SR-1
The DMV requires an SR-1 within 10 days when a California collision causes injury, however minor, a death, or more than $1,000 in property damage. A report to police, CHP or your insurer does not replace that filing. The official DMV SR-1 service lists the information needed and provides online and printable filing options. Our after-crash checklist explains where this fits among the other steps.
If no report was made
Exchange information, photograph the scene and consider a counter report with the local agency. Check the SR-1 requirements above even if no officer responded. Your insurer may investigate using statements and physical evidence without a police report; report availability does not decide fault or coverage by itself.
Common questions
How long does it take to get a police report?
Usually 7–14 days for most agencies; LAPD and fatal or complex CHP investigations can take several weeks or months. Insurers can usually proceed without the report using the information you exchanged.
The report has the wrong insurance information for the other driver. What do I do?
Contact the reporting agency for a supplemental correction and, in the meantime, give your insurer the information you photographed at the scene.
Can I get the other driver’s statement from the report?
Yes. Party statements are part of the report, which involved parties are entitled to receive.
Describe what happened. Attorney Elham Azimy reviews every inquiry personally and, if we can help, calls you to talk it through. Free evaluation; no fee unless we recover for you.
Sources and official resources
- California Highway Patrol — collision report requests (CHP 190)
- California Highway Patrol — find an office
- Vehicle Code § 20008 (24-hour report of injury collisions to CHP or police)
- California DMV — Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR-1)
- LAPD — request a traffic collision report
Links go to official government, court and public-health sources. Laws change; verify current text before relying on it.