Home › Texas

How to get a Texas crash report

TxDOT is the custodian of crash records for Texas. Officers who investigate a crash with injury, death, or apparent damage of $1,000 or more to one person’s property must send the report (form CR-3) to TxDOT within 10 days, so most police crash reports in Texas can be bought from TxDOT’s online system, whichever agency worked the crash. Source: txdot.gov, checked Oct 24, 2026

State crash records office: Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Crash Records
TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System (CRIS) ↗

Official government portal. We are not affiliated with it.

Police departments and sheriffs in Texas

Austin Police Department
City police · City of Austin Dallas Police Department
City police · City of Dallas Houston Police Department
City police · City of Houston San Antonio Police Department
City police · City of San Antonio

Fees, timing and rules

Regular copy	$6 (TxDOT online system; a credit card processing fee may be added)Source: txdot.gov, checked Oct 24, 2026
Certified copy	$8. A certified copy is the one usually needed for legal proceedings.Source: txdot.gov, checked Oct 24, 2026
Delivery	Reports bought online are emailed after purchase and can be downloaded for 10 days.Source: cris.dot.state.tx.us, checked Oct 24, 2026
Paying by e-check	No fee for electronic check (ACH), but there is a 10-day hold before the report is released.Source: cris.dot.state.tx.us, checked Oct 24, 2026
Reporting deadline for officers	Within 10 days after the crash (Transportation Code §550.062).Source: txdot.gov, checked Oct 24, 2026
How far back	The previous 10 full calendar years plus the current year.Source: txdot.gov, checked Oct 24, 2026
Unredacted vs. redacted	Only one non-redacted report per order, and only for people with a qualifying interest (you sign an affidavit). Redacted reports, with personal details hidden, are available to anyone.Source: cris.dot.state.tx.us, checked Oct 24, 2026
Driver’s own crash report (CR-2)	TxDOT no longer keeps CR-2 driver reports. If no officer investigated, keep your own copy.Source: txdot.gov, checked Oct 24, 2026

Who can request a Texas crash report

Under Transportation Code §550.065, a full report goes to people directly concerned, including: anyone involved in the crash and their authorized representative; a driver involved; an employer, parent or legal guardian of a driver; the owner of a damaged vehicle or property; a person with financial responsibility for an involved vehicle (including the policyholder); insurers covering an involved vehicle or person and their claims or underwriting contractors; FCC-licensed radio and TV stations and qualifying newspapers; anyone who may sue over a death in the crash; a vehicle storage facility that stored an involved vehicle; and government agencies.Source: txdot.gov, checked Oct 24, 2026
People who do not meet these criteria receive a redacted copy.Source: txdot.gov, checked Oct 24, 2026

After a crash in Texas

From the Texas Department of Insurance, “Were you in a wreck?”. General information, not legal advice.

If no one was injured, move out of the road.Source: tdi.texas.gov, checked Oct 24, 2026
If someone was injured or the other driver drove away, call the police. Get a copy of the police report for your insurance company.Source: tdi.texas.gov, checked Oct 24, 2026
Take a picture of the other driver’s insurance card and driver’s license, or write down their name, phone number, insurance company and policy number. Give them your information.Source: tdi.texas.gov, checked Oct 24, 2026
Call your insurance company to report the accident.Source: tdi.texas.gov, checked Oct 24, 2026
If you saw a doctor, keep your medical records and bills to show your insurance company.Source: tdi.texas.gov, checked Oct 24, 2026
You can take your car to any body shop you choose.Source: tdi.texas.gov, checked Oct 24, 2026

See something different?

Agencies change fees and portals. If something here is out of date, email toffee@mail.grokbot.com.