How to Get a Crash Report in Colorado

The Colorado State Patrol's Central Records Unit keeps State Patrol criminal justice records. It releases information to the public, other law enforcement agencies and insurance companies. You request a basic State Patrol crash report through this unit.^1,2

The Central Records Unit is at 700 Kipling Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80215. It is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and closed on weekends and holidays. Its phone, fax and email details are on the Central Records Unit page.¹

The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), part of the Department of Revenue, receives crash reports from law enforcement agencies. It enters the data into the driver license system and keeps crash information for seven years.³

Crash reports that drivers file online are called counter reports. They go directly to the Department of Revenue. The State Patrol cannot get copies of them.^2,3

A basic State Patrol crash report is a summary. It does not include witness statements, digital media or other parts of the investigation. The State Patrol's Complete Case File covers the entire investigation report, including witness statements and other written reports if any were obtained.¹

Online (State Patrol reports): Submit your request on the Colorado State Patrol's Records Request Portal. The State Patrol says all records requests must go through this portal. Records are delivered to your portal account, and you are notified by email. Submit only one request form, to avoid duplicate charges.^1,2

By mail (DMV): Mail your request on form DR 2559 or DR 2489 to Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 173350, Denver, CO 80217-3350. That address is on the DMV's crash records page. Form DR 2559 lists a different box for record requests: PO Box 173345, Denver CO 80217.^3,4

In person (DMV): In-person requests are made by appointment at the DMV's Westgate office. On the DMV appointment page, choose the Westgate Office, then choose Driver Records as the appointment type. The office is at 3265 S. Wadsworth Blvd., #3A, Lakewood, CO 80227. It is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.^3,5

Email or fax (State Patrol): The State Patrol's fee schedule says its Central Records Unit accepts requests only in writing or electronically, through its electronic request system, email or fax. The State Patrol's crash page says all records requests must go through the portal. The unit's email and fax details are on the Central Records Unit page.^1,2,6

Contact the DMV: The DMV has an online contact form called "Request for Crash Records, Crash Information and Death Certificate Information." You choose a category, such as Crash Records or Crash Information, and describe your request. Its Driver Services phone line handles motor vehicle record searches and accidents. The number is on the DMV's Contact Us page.^7,8

For a State Patrol report, have the driver's name, the crash date, the case report number and the crash location. The case report number is in the upper right-hand corner of the State Patrol Incident Report form.²

For a copy of your own crash report from the DMV, complete form DR 2559, Permission to Release Driver Records to Self or Another Person.³

To get someone else's crash report from the DMV with their permission, you need form DR 2559 signed by that person. The other route is form DR 2489, Requestor Release and Affidavit of Intended Use.³

Form DR 2489 asks for the police department report number or case number, and the crash city or county. You must complete the driver's information section. Every field in the requester information section must be filled in for the request to be completed.⁹

Form DR 2489 also requires form DR 2478, Driver Record Statement of Fact, unless the permissible use you choose says it is not needed. It also asks whether your request is for federal immigration enforcement. If it is, you must submit a copy of the warrant, court order or subpoena.⁹

For a counter report (a crash report a driver filed online), form DR 2559 asks for the confirmation number and the crash date.^3,4

DMV: Forms DR 2489 and DR 2559 list a $9.25 non-certified search fee and a $10.25 certified search fee.^4,9

State Patrol: Its crash page does not state a fee. It tells you to contact the Central Records Unit for costs. You can pay by check or money order payable to the Colorado State Patrol, or by credit card.²

Credit card payments to the State Patrol go through the Colorado Statewide Internet Portal Authority and are subject to e-commerce portal pricing. The State Patrol's page does not give the amount.¹

The State Patrol treats every records request as a request for criminal justice records. Its fee schedule charges $5.00 for an initial criminal justice record of up to 10 pages. The schedule does not name crash reports.^1,6

The fee schedule also charges $30.00 an hour for staff time spent finding and producing records. The State Patrol may require a $50.00 deposit when research time will run past one hour.⁶

Other charges on the State Patrol fee schedule: $0.25 for each one-sided photocopied page, $5.00 for a CD, DVD or USB drive, and $5.00 for postage.⁶

State Patrol crash reports are not available right after a crash. Processing may take up to 10 working days.²

The State Patrol's fee schedule says it will try to respond to a records request typically within three working days of receiving it.^1,6

The State Patrol processes requests in the order it receives them. You can track the status by logging in to your portal account.¹

The State Patrol sends your copy after it receives both your request and your payment.²

For dash camera or body-worn camera video, the State Patrol must confirm availability and payment before it processes the request.¹

DMV: Allow 90 days for the DMV to receive the crash report from the law enforcement agency and enter the data.³

Mailed DMV record requests take 7 to 10 working days to process after they are received.⁹

The State Patrol will not release records unless you sign a statement that the records will not be used to directly solicit business for financial gain.¹

Apart from records of official actions, the State Patrol's official records custodian decides whether to release its records.¹

DMV crash report requests are subject to the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). Under the DPPA, you cannot get someone else's personal information from their driving record unless you have their written consent or your request falls under one of the law's specific permissible uses.³

Form DR 2489 says the DMV denies driver record inspection to anyone other than the person the record is about, or a government agency carrying out official functions, unless they sign and return this Affidavit of Intended Use.^3,9

Permissible uses listed on form DR 2489 include insurers and insurance support agencies handling claims, investigations, anti-fraud activities, rating or underwriting. They also include use in a civil, criminal, administrative or arbitral proceeding, or under a court order.⁹

A counter report is released only with the written consent of the driver who filed it, using form DR 2559.³

The DMV receives crash reports from law enforcement agencies. Colorado law requires officers who are notified of or investigate a crash in their jurisdiction to send a report within five days after they receive the information or finish the investigation.^3,10

Since August 12, 2026, if someone involved in a crash dies of crash injuries within 30 days, the officer who was notified of or investigated the crash must send an amended report within five days of learning of the death.¹⁰

When you request a police department's crash report from the DMV on form DR 2489, the form asks for the police department report number or case number.^3,9

If no police officer was called to the crash scene, the DMV says you may file a crash report online. The online service only accepts crashes that happened less than 60 days ago and were not investigated by law enforcement.^3,11

Reports filed online are called counter reports. Law enforcement does not investigate them, and they are kept for record purposes only.³

The DMV says that if a police officer came to the scene and collected the needed information, you do not need to file any forms unless the Department of Revenue sends you a letter.³

The State Patrol says crashes must by law be reported immediately to the agency with jurisdiction. It cites CRS 42-4-1601.²

When a crash does not qualify for a police response during an accident alert, the State Patrol tells drivers to file their accident report online as soon as possible. It says a report can be filed online or at a troop office where the accident occurred.²

The State Patrol says that if you did not give the trooper proof of current insurance, you must fill out a financial responsibility form within ten days of the accident.²

To get a copy of a counter report, use form DR 2559. It is released only with the written consent of the driver who filed it.³