How to Get a Crash Report in Iowa

The Iowa DOT holds officer reports. Iowa Code section 321.266 requires every law enforcement officer who investigates a reportable crash to send a written report to the Iowa DOT. The officer must send it within 24 hours after finishing the investigation.^1,3

The investigating officer's own agency may also keep a copy. If it does, it must make a copy available to any party to the crash.²

The Iowa State Patrol posts the crash reports it writes, for the whole state, on its Crash Reports website. Reports stay there for 15 days. After that, they are available at the State Patrol District Office during normal business hours.⁵

State Patrol reports come in two kinds. A minimal report is called in by the trooper to the State Patrol Communications Center shortly after a major incident or crash. A full report has much more detail and can include a crash diagram.⁶

If no law enforcement agency investigated a crash that must be reported, the driver sends a written report to the Iowa DOT. Driver reports are for the DOT's confidential use.^1,2,3

By mail from the Iowa DOT. Fill out Form 431007, Request for Copy of Investigating Officer's Report of an Accident. Print and sign it. Mail it with $4 to the address on the DOT's records page: Bureau of Enforcement, Audits, & Records, Iowa Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 9204, Des Moines, IA 50306-9204. The form's header lists a different address: PO Box 9278, Des Moines, IA 50306-9278.^3,4

Online, for State Patrol reports. If the Iowa State Patrol wrote the report on your crash, you can view it free on the Iowa State Patrol Crash Reports website. Reports stay on the site for only 15 days. The site does not show details such as dates of birth, home phone numbers or Social Security numbers.^5,6

From the investigating agency. If the officer's own agency kept a copy of the report, it must make one available to any party to the crash. Send the agency a written request and pay a fee.²

In person at a State Patrol District Office. After 15 days, State Patrol reports are available at the State Patrol District Office during normal business hours. Each district office also has hard copies of the site's information for its own district that you can inspect. The online reports say which district office to contact if you need more information.^5,6

Limited information from the Iowa DOT. If you only need basic facts about a crash, such as the date, time, specific location, and immediate facts and circumstances, write to the Iowa DOT at the address on its records page (P.O. Box 9204, Des Moines, IA 50306-9204). The DOT charges $4 for a limited information accident report.³

A copy of a driver's report you filed. If you completed a driver's crash report within the last 10 years, the Iowa DOT says to follow its steps for ordering other documents. Fill out Form 431069, the Privacy Act Agreement for Request of Motor Vehicle Records. Send it with a legible photocopy of your driver's license or non-driver ID card and a check for 50 cents per document, made payable to "Treasurer, State of Iowa," to the address on the DOT's records page.^2,3,7

Complete Form 431007 and include all required attachments. The Iowa DOT will not consider your request without them. The form must also be approved before the DOT releases personal information.⁴

Attach a legible photocopy of your driver's license or non-driver ID card.⁴

In Part B, give a party's name, address, and driver's license or non-driver ID number. Also give the crash date, approximate location and county.⁴

Complete Part C. Sign the agreement and initial each certification item. You certify, under penalty of perjury, that all information in Parts A, B and C and any attachments is true and correct.⁴

Some requesters must attach more. A parent or guardian attaches custody, guardianship or power-of-attorney documents. An insurance company representative attaches proof of status with the insurer. A party's attorney attaches a copy of the judicial branch's website showing good standing.⁴

On the Iowa State Patrol Crash Reports website, you can search by date, type, county, or any combination.⁵

To order a copy of your own driver's report, you need a legible photocopy of your driver's license or non-driver ID card.³

A copy of an officer's crash report from the Iowa DOT costs $4 per copy.^2,3,4

The DOT keeps the $4 processing fee even if no crash report exists for the information you send.³

A limited information accident report from the Iowa DOT costs $4.³

Viewing a report on the Iowa State Patrol Crash Reports website is free.⁵

A copy of a driver's report you filed costs 50 cents per document. Pay by check made payable to "Treasurer, State of Iowa."³

The investigating agency gives out its copy when you make a written request and pay a fee.²

The investigating officer must send the written report to the Iowa DOT within 24 hours after finishing the investigation.¹

State Patrol reports stay on the Crash Reports website for only 15 days. After that, they are available at the State Patrol District Office during normal business hours.⁵

You can order a copy of a driver's report you completed within the last 10 years.^2,3

The Iowa DOT says state law lets it give officer crash reports only to people involved in the crash, their attorneys, and insurance companies or insurance agents.^2,3

Form 431007 says only requesters who meet the criteria in its Part A can get the information. A party to the crash can be a driver, owner or lessee, a passenger or pedestrian, a parent or guardian, or an owner of damaged property.⁴

The Iowa State Patrol Crash Reports website gives the public access to reports written by the State Patrol.⁵

A report a driver files is for the Iowa DOT's confidential use. If you were involved in the crash, you, your insurer or its agent, or your attorney can ask the DOT for the names and addresses of the other people involved. The DOT may also give the names of their liability insurance companies.²

If you filed a driver's report, the Iowa DOT must give you a copy of your own report when you ask in writing.²

Limited information about a crash, such as the date, time, specific location, and immediate facts and circumstances, is handled differently. Under Iowa Code section 321.271(3), these details are not kept confidential, except in unusual cases where release would plainly and seriously jeopardize an investigation or pose a clear and present danger to someone's safety. The State Patrol says Iowa Code chapter 22 requires law enforcement to provide them.^2,3,6

If the investigating officer's own agency keeps a copy of a report it filed with the Iowa DOT, it must make a copy available to any party to the crash. Send the agency a written request and pay a fee.²

If your crash caused injury or death, Iowa Code section 321.266(1) requires you, as the driver, to immediately notify the county sheriff, the nearest State Patrol office, or another peace officer, by the quickest means of communication.¹

The Iowa DOT says that if your crash caused death, personal injury, or total property damage of $1,500 or more, you should contact the nearest law enforcement agency to have it investigated.³

If no law enforcement agency investigates a crash that caused injury, death, or $1,500 or more in total property damage, you must report it yourself on Iowa DOT Form 433002, Iowa Accident Report. Iowa Code section 321.266 requires you to send this written report to the Iowa DOT within 72 hours. You do not need to file it if a law enforcement agency investigated the crash.^1,3,8

The form asks you to return it as soon as you can get estimates. If you don't return it within 72 hours of the crash, your driving privileges may be suspended. If you leave out the insurance coverage information, your driving and registration privileges may be suspended.^3,8

Sign the report. The Iowa DOT records page says to mail pages 3 and 4 to the address at the bottom of that page: Bureau of Enforcement, Audits, & Records, Iowa Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 9204, Des Moines, IA 50306-9204. Form 433002 gives a different return address: Iowa Department of Transportation, Driver & Identification Services, 6310 SE Convenience Boulevard, Ankeny, IA 50021.^3,8

Form 433002 says you should also report the crash directly to your insurance company. If you don't, your automobile liability insurance may be at risk.⁸