People's Justice

Case guide

How to Get a California Crash Report

In California, you get a crash report from the police agency that handled the crash. See how to ask the CHP for one, the fee, and the SR-1 you file with the DMV.

See If You Qualify

Free · No obligation · About 2 minutes

Updated Oct 6, 202632 sources

This may apply to you if

  • Describe the crash, date, location and your role.
  • Bring injury, care, car damage and work-loss records you have.
  • Show policy papers, claim notices and any offer or signed agreement.

The short answer

Where do I get a California crash report?
Ask the police agency that looked into the crash. If the California Highway Patrol, or CHP, handled it, any CHP office can get you a copy or mail it to you. The CHP can only give out reports for crashes it looked into. [23]
Who can get a CHP crash report?
People with a proper interest in the crash can get it. The CHP calls them parties of interest. Most often, that means a driver, a passenger, an owner of the car or property, a parent of a minor, or a guardian. [23]
How much does a CHP crash report cost?
The CHP charges a small fee to cover copying. The amount depends on how many pages the report has. For the exact cost, ask the CHP office where the report was filed. [23]
How do I ask for a CHP report by mail or in person?
You can go to any CHP office and pay the fee there. You can also mail a request on form CHP 190, or in a letter, to the CHP office that wrote the report. Attach a copy of your driver license or photo ID. [23]

What rules a case out

Not covered by this case

  • This page does not cover fees that city police or county sheriff offices charge for their own reports.
  • It does not explain how to read a crash report.

The process

What happens next

  1. 01

    You answer a few questions

    About two minutes. Nothing is sent until you agree on the last step and press submit.

  2. 02

    A lawyer looks at it

    A lawyer at the firm reads your answers and checks them against the current case criteria.

  3. 03

    The firm decides and gets in touch

    If the firm takes your case, you get the terms in writing to read before you sign. You can always say no.

Where do I get a California crash report?

Ask the police agency that looked into the crash. If the California Highway Patrol, or CHP, handled it, any CHP office can get you a copy or mail it to you. The CHP can only give out reports for crashes it looked into.

If you do not know which agency handled the crash, your local police department or a CHP office can help you find out.

When someone is hurt or killed, a driver must report the crash in writing within 24 hours. In a city, the report can go to the CHP or the city police. Outside a city, it goes to the CHP.

Who can get a CHP crash report?

People with a proper interest in the crash can get it. The CHP calls them parties of interest. Most often, that means a driver, a passenger, an owner of the car or property, a parent of a minor, or a guardian.

State law also lists a person hurt in the crash and a driver’s chosen representative. It lists people who may be held liable for the crash. It also lists lawyers who say under penalty of perjury that they act for one of these people.

Your insurance company can get the report and give you a copy. The CHP says this may save you the fee.

How much does a CHP crash report cost?

The CHP charges a small fee to cover copying. The amount depends on how many pages the report has. For the exact cost, ask the CHP office where the report was filed.

The fee is $10 for 1 to 25 pages and $20 for 26 to 50 pages. Each added 25 pages costs $10 more.

Source: California Highway Patrol: Frequently asked questions · as of Oct 5, 2026

Source: California Highway Patrol: Frequently asked questions · as of Oct 5, 2026

There is no extra charge for handling or mail. State law says the fee cannot be more than the actual cost of the copy.

How do I ask for a CHP report by mail or in person?

You can go to any CHP office and pay the fee there. You can also mail a request on form CHP 190, or in a letter, to the CHP office that wrote the report. Attach a copy of your driver license or photo ID.

If you have no license or photo ID, the form or letter must be notarized.

If you mail your request, pay by personal check or money order made out to the California Highway Patrol. The CHP does not take cash by mail, and it does not take credit or debit cards.

Call the CHP office first to see if your report is ready to pick up.

What is the SR-1, and do I have to file it?

The SR-1 is a report each driver in the crash files with the DMV. It is separate from the police report. You must file it within 10 days after some crashes, whether or not you caused the crash.

You must file it if anyone was hurt, even slightly, or killed. You must also file it if property damage was over $1,000.

Source: California DMV: Report of traffic accident (SR-1) · as of Oct 5, 2026

A police, CHP or insurance company report does not count as your SR-1. Your insurance agent, broker or lawyer can file it for you.

If you do not file it, the DMV will suspend your driving privilege. The suspension ends when the DMV gets the report, or proof that you meet the state’s insurance rules.

The DMV adds the crash to your driver record, no matter who caused it. State law says SR-1 reports are for the DMV’s confidential use. The DMV can still give some facts, such as names, insurers and the crash date and place, to people with a proper interest.

The DMV says paper filings are likely to take longer to process.

What if I want to talk with a law firm about a California crash?

You do not need a lawyer to get a CHP report or file an SR-1. You can use the steps above on your own.

Some people also want to ask a law firm about an injury from a crash in California. People’s Justice is not a law firm. We do not review your crash or recommend a lawyer. If you want, you can use the form on this page to ask to be connected with a law firm that pays us to advertise.

Find out where you stand.

The review is free and private. Asking for it doesn’t commit you to anything.

Register your interest

Sources

  1. NAIC: A Consumer’s Guide to Auto InsuranceNAIC: A Consumer’s Guide to Auto Insurance
  2. California Department of Insurance: automobile insuranceCalifornia Department of Insurance: automobile insurance · regulator
  3. California Department of Insurance: So You’ve Had an Accident, What’s Next?California Department of Insurance: So You’ve Had an Accident, What’s Next? · regulator
  4. California Courts: personal injury and property damageCalifornia Courts: personal injury and property damage · court
  5. California Courts: before you sue someoneCalifornia Courts: before you sue someone · court
  6. California Courts: statute of limitationsCalifornia Courts: statute of limitations · court
  7. New York Legislature: CPLR1411 damages and claimant faultNew York Legislature: CPLR1411 damages and claimant fault · regulator
  8. CDC: symptoms of mild TBI and concussionCDC: symptoms of mild TBI and concussion · regulator
  9. CDC: what to do after mild TBI or concussionCDC: what to do after mild TBI or concussion · regulator
  10. Nelson et al.: original TRACK-TBI recovery cohort, JAMA Neurology2019Nelson et al.: original TRACK-TBI recovery cohort, JAMA Neurology2019 · study
  11. ABA Model Rule1.5: feesABA Model Rule1.5: fees
  12. HHS: individual access to health informationHHS: individual access to health information · regulator
  13. NHTSA Opens Wave of Vehicle Safety Investigations in 2026nhtsa.gov · Mar 4, 2026 · regulator
  14. NHTSA Opens Multiple Vehicle Safety Investigations in Early 2026nhtsa.gov · Mar 4, 2026 · regulator
  15. NHTSA Opens Investigation into FSD Collisions in Reduced Visibility Conditionsnhtsa.gov · Mar 18, 2026 · regulator
  16. NHTSA Opens Multiple New Vehicle Safety Investigationsnhtsa.gov · Mar 18, 2026 · regulator
  17. NHTSA Opens Wave of Vehicle Safety Investigations in 2026nhtsa.gov · Jul 6, 2026 · regulator
  18. NHTSA Opens Nine New Vehicle Safety Investigationsnhtsa.gov · Jul 13, 2026 · regulator
  19. NHTSA Opens Multiple New Vehicle Safety Investigationsnhtsa.gov · Jul 13, 2026 · regulator
  20. NHTSA Opens New Investigations Into Brake and Engine Failuresnhtsa.gov · Aug 24, 2026 · regulator
  21. NHTSA Opens Several New Vehicle Safety Investigationsnhtsa.gov · Aug 24, 2026 · regulator
  22. NHTSA Opens Investigation Into FSD Collisions Amid Wave of 2026 Vehicle Safety Probesnhtsa.gov · Mar 18, 2026 · regulator
  23. California Highway Patrol: Frequently asked questions
  24. California DMV: Report of traffic accident (SR-1)
  25. California Vehicle Code § 20008California Vehicle Code § 20008 · regulator
  26. California DMV: Driver’s handbook, collisionsCalifornia DMV: Driver’s handbook, collisions · regulator
  27. California Vehicle Code § 20012California Vehicle Code § 20012 · regulator
  28. CHP 190: Application for Release of InformationCHP 190: Application for Release of Information · regulator
  29. California DMV: Form SR 1 and instructionsCalifornia DMV: Form SR 1 and instructions · regulator
  30. California Vehicle Code § 16000California Vehicle Code § 16000 · regulator
  31. California Vehicle Code § 16004California Vehicle Code § 16004 · regulator
  32. California Vehicle Code § 16005California Vehicle Code § 16005 · regulator

Checked against 30 primary sources by People's Justice editors · Updated

How we make money

People's Justice research team · Updated Oct 6, 2026