Crash Reports
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is the custodian of crash records for the State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code §550.062 requires any law enforcement officer who in the regular course of duty investigates a motor vehicle crash that results in injury to or the death of a person or damage to the property of any one person to the apparent extent of $1,000 or more, to submit a written report of that crash to TxDOT not later than the 10th day after the date of the crash.
TxDOT collects crash reports from Texas law enforcement agencies for crashes occurring on public roadways and the state highway system. The state retention schedule for crash reports and data is 10 years plus the current year. Data for years beyond this period is unavailable.
Required Information
During the 84th Legislative Session, Texas Transportation Code §550.065 now allows for the release of a crash report on written request and upon payment of the required fee to any person directly concerned in the accident or having proper interest therein, including:
(A) Any person involved in the accident
(B) The authorized representative of any person involved in the accident
(C) A driver involved in the accident
(D) An employer, parent or legal guardian of a driver involved in the accident
(E) The owner of a vehicle or property damaged in the accident
(F) A person who has established financial responsibility for a vehicle involved in the accident in a manner described in Texas Transportation Code 601.501, including a policyholder of a motor vehicle
(G) An insurance company that issued an insurance policy covering a vehicle involved in the accident
(H) An insurance company that issued a policy covering any person involved in the accident
(I) A person under contract to provide claims or underwriting to a person described in sections (F), (G) or (H)
(J) A radio or television station that holds a license issued by the Federal Communications Commission
(K) A newspaper that is a free newspaper of general circulation or qualified under Section 2051.044, Government Code, to publish legal notices; published at least once a week; and available and of interest to the general public in connection with the dissemination of news
(L) Any person who may sue because of death resulting from the accident.
(M) Any agency of the United States, this state (Texas), or a local government of this state (Texas)
If a person or entity does not meet any of these criteria, TxDOT does provide the option on the CR-91 form to provide a detailed explanation as to how they meet the criteria in a manner that is not listed in the above reasons (A) through (M). Persons or entities who do not meet the criteria will receive a redacted copy of the crash report.
Crash Report Online Purchase System
You may obtain a copy of a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3) (regular or certified) by using our Crash Report Online Purchase System link below. Customers using the online system receive their report(s) immediately if the report is available for purchase. There is a minimal surcharge for using this system. See the sections below for more information on obtaining a crash report online, confidentiality, fees and ordering a crash report by mail.
If the system cannot identify your individual crash using the information provided, you will not be able to purchase a crash report through this automated facility.
USE THIS LINK FOR ACCESS TO GET A CRASH REPORT.
Costs – Crash Reports (TXDOT Fees)
- $6 for a regular copy
- $8 for a certified copy – A certified copy is requested when a person needs an official document, such as for a legal proceeding.
- Costs – Subpoenas and Affidavits
- $8 for subpoenas for federal court
- $8 for subpoenas for state court
- $8 for affidavits
