To get a copy of your car accident report in California, find out which agency responded, and then request the report directly through its system. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) holds reports for accidents on freeways, state highways, and unincorporated county roads. Local police and sheriff’s departments hold reports for accidents on city streets. You also have a separate obligation to file the DMV SR-1 report within 10 calendar days if the crash caused any injury or more than $1,000 in property damage.

If you were hurt in the accident, insurance companies begin their investigation before your crash report is even available. Our car accident attorneys at Pérez Law, PC, represent injured drivers and passengers in Pomona, Ontario, and across the Inland Empire. Call (877) 622-5888 for a free case review.

Key Takeaways

Situation	What to Do
Accident on a state freeway, highway, or unincorporated road	Request from CHP online at crashes.chp.ca.gov, by mail using CHP 190 form, or in person at any CHP Area Office
Accident on a city or county street	Contact the local police department or county sheriff who responded to the crash
LAPD Traffic Collision Report	Wait 45 days from the accident date, then request online through BuyCrash portal ($10-$22) or by mail ($20.00 check) to LAPD Records Division
Mandatory DMV SR-1 filing	File online at dmv.ca.gov within 10 calendar days if anyone was injured, killed, or if property damage exceeds $1,000
Who can request the report	Parties of interest under CVC Section 20012: drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, property owners, parents of minors, legal representatives, and insurers with a valid claim

How to Get a CHP Crash Report in California

The California Highway Patrol has jurisdiction over state freeways, state highways, and roads in unincorporated county areas. For Inland Empire drivers, this includes crashes on the I-10, I-15, I-210, SR-60, and SR-71 corridors outside incorporated city limits.

The fastest way to get a CHP crash report is through the online portal at crashes.chp.ca.gov, which makes reports available within 8 business days. Mail and in-person requests take 2 to 3 weeks.

Online Through the CHP Crash Portal: Go to crashes.chp.ca.gov and log in or create an account. Enter your accident date, location, and driver information. Reports are available within 8 business days of the crash date. A fee applies. Confirm the current fee on the portal before submitting your request.
By Mail Using the CHP 190 Form: Download and complete the CHP 190, Application for Release of Information. Attach a photocopy of your driver’s license or state-issued photo ID. Mail to the nearest CHP Area Office using the CHP office locator. Contact the office for the current fee, as rates vary by report length. Processing takes 2 to 3 weeks from the date the office receives your request.
In Person at a CHP Area Office: Bring a completed CHP 190 form and your photo ID to any CHP Area Office. Wait at least 7 to 10 business days from the accident date before visiting, as reports need processing time to become available.

Police collecting evidences to mention in accident report

How to Get a Traffic Collision Report From a Local Police or Sheriff’s Department

City police departments cover crashes within their municipal boundaries. The Pomona Police Department handles accidents within Pomona city limits. The Ontario Police Department handles accidents within Ontario. For crashes in unincorporated San Bernardino County, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is the responding agency.

For crashes investigated by a city police department or county sheriff, contact that specific agency directly. Each department sets its own fees, forms, and processing times.

LAPD Traffic Collision Reports: Allow at least 45 days from the collision date before requesting. Online requests are available through the BuyCrash portal at lapdonline.org (fee typically $10-$22, payable by credit or debit card). Mail requests require a $20.00 check or money order payable to the LAPD, mailed to: Los Angeles Police Department, Records and Identification Division, Document Processing Unit, P.O. Box 30158, Los Angeles, CA 90030. Reports involving arrests, fatalities, or juveniles must be requested by mail.
Pomona, Ontario, and San Bernardino County Requests: Contact the appropriate agency for your location: Pomona Police Department Records Division, 490 W. Mission Blvd., Pomona, CA 91766 (Pomona); Ontario Police Department, 2500 S. Archibald Ave., Ontario, CA 91761 (Ontario); or San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Records Division (unincorporated San Bernardino County). Each agency publishes its request forms and fees on its official website. Verify details before submitting to avoid delays.

If you are unsure which agency responded, check the crash card the officer gave you at the scene.

How to File the Mandatory DMV SR-1 Report After a Car Accident

Every California driver involved in a crash must file the DMV SR-1 within 10 calendar days if the accident resulted in any injury, any death, or property damage exceeding $1,000. Law enforcement will not file it for you.

File the SR-1 online through the California DMV Virtual Office. A Spanish version, the SR-1A, is also available. Your attorney or insurance representative can file on your behalf.

Failure to file within 10 calendar days as required by California Vehicle Code Section 16000 can result in a driver’s license suspension under California Vehicle Code Section 16004. The suspension remains in effect until the DMV receives your SR-1 report or you provide proof of financial responsibility (valid insurance coverage).

Gather your driver’s license, vehicle plate number or VIN, and insurance information before beginning the SR-1 form.

Talking with law enforcement officer after a car accident

Who Can Request a California Car Accident Report?

In California, crash reports are generally available only to people with a direct interest in the collision, such as drivers, passengers, vehicle owners, property owners, parents or guardians of minors, legal representatives, and insurers handling a related claim. If you are not connected to the crash, you usually cannot request a copy.

Insurance companies may request the report as part of their investigation, but you are not required to hand it over personally. If you need help getting the report, our auto accident attorneys can request it on your behalf and explain what it means for your claim. Call (877) 622-5888.

How Long Does It Take to Receive Your Car Accident Report?

CHP online requests are available within 8 business days. CHP mail requests take 2 to 3 weeks. LAPD requests require a 45-day wait from the accident date before you can even submit, followed by approximately 2 additional months for processing.

If you submit a CHP mail request and do not receive the report within 15 business days of confirmed delivery, contact the CHP Area Office directly. The CHP general assistance line is 1-800-835-5247. For LAPD report status, call (213) 486-8130.

Reports tied to ongoing criminal investigations, arrests, fatalities, or juveniles take longer across all agencies. Keep a written record of every request submission, including the date sent, the method used, and any confirmation or reference number provided.

What to Do If Your Crash Report Contains Errors

Contact the agency’s records division or the investigating officer’s supervisor and request an amendment or supplemental report. Bring documentation: photos from the scene, medical records, witness contact information, and any available dashcam or surveillance footage.

Agencies can correct factual errors such as wrong dates, incorrect vehicle descriptions, or missing party information. They do not always agree to revise narrative sections or fault assessments. If a revision is denied, the disagreement itself becomes part of the record.

If an error affects liability, an independent accident reconstruction expert can provide a counterpoint to the officer’s account and support your claim during insurance negotiations or litigation. Contact your attorney immediately when you identify errors that affect liability. Delay reduces your options during negotiations.

How Your Car Accident Report Affects Your Personal Injury Claim in California

The crash report is the first document an insurance adjuster reads. The officer’s fault assessment, the citations issued, and the injuries recorded at the scene directly shape the insurer’s opening settlement offer.

California follows pure comparative fault rules, under which your recovery is reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault. A report that attributes partial fault to you, even incorrectly, gives the adjuster a basis to lower the offer before negotiations begin.

Our California personal injury lawyers review accident reports for inaccuracies and supplement the record with independent evidence such as photographs, medical documentation, accident reconstruction, and witness statements to build a more complete liability picture.

Do not delay medical treatment while waiting for the report. Medical records documenting your injuries are the foundation of your claim, regardless of what the officer recorded at the scene.

If the insurer’s opening offer seems low, the crash report may be one reason. Call (877) 622-5888. We can review the report with you to explain what it says, what gaps exist, and how it may affect your claim value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I File an Insurance Claim Without a Police Report?

Yes. File a claim using photographs, witness statements, and your accident account. However, the absence of an official police report increases the likelihood of disputes. The DMV SR-1 filing requirement remains independent of police involvement. Document the scene with photos and witness contact information to strengthen your position during insurance negotiations.

How Long Is My Car Accident Report Valid in California?

California enforces a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims from the accident date. Property damage claims extend three years. The accident report itself remains part of your permanent DMV and law enforcement records. Submit your CHP online request at crashes.chp.ca.gov as soon as possible. Reports are available within 8 business days, so the record is in hand before your claim moves forward.

What If I Cannot Find My Crash Card or Report Number?

Contact the investigating agency directly. For CHP accidents, call 1-800-835-5247 with your accident date, location, and driver information. For local police, call the non-emergency line in your jurisdiction. The agency retrieves reports by date and location without a card. Online portals (crashes.chp.ca.gov) accept manual entry of this information.

Can I Request My Own Report, or Must I Use an Attorney?

You can request your own report. California Vehicle Code Section 20012 designates you a ‘party of interest’ entitled to direct access. Attorneys expedite retrieval through established agency relationships, but you retain the right to request independently. Your attorney requests the report as part of building your claim. You do not need to wait for it on your own.

What If the Other Driver Refuses to Exchange Information?

Contact law enforcement immediately. Refusing to exchange insurance and identification details violates California law. Police document the violation on the report, strengthening your claim. Obtain the other driver’s vehicle description, license plate, and vehicle identification number if verbal exchange fails. Never leave without officer documentation of the refusal.

Still have questions about your specific accident? We answer them for free. Call (877) 622-5888 or request a free case review.

Injured Near Pomona or Ontario? Talk to Pérez Law.

Getting the crash report is only one step. If you were injured, the insurance company for the other driver has already assigned an adjuster and opened a file. Your first call should protect your interests.

We represent injury victims in Pomona, Ontario, and across the Inland Empire. Attorney Ricardo Antonio Pérez founded the firm in 1998. Our team has recovered $1.5 million for a client injured in a T-bone rollover collision. We can request your crash report on your behalf, review it for errors, and build the independent evidence record your claim needs.