How to Get a Crash Report in Maryland

MSP's Central Records Division is the state's central repository for motor vehicle crash reports. MSP provides those reports to legally entitled parties.^1,2

If State Police investigated your crash, you can get a copy through the Central Records Division. You can also review the report at the State Police installation in the area where the crash happened.⁴

For a crash in Baltimore City, MSP tells you to contact the Baltimore Police Department instead. Montgomery County Police also provide their own collision reports.^1,5

Fill out MSP's online form, "Request for Motor Vehicle Accident Report." It's only for an initial crash report or call-for-service request. Don't use it for photos or for theft, assault or similar records. The form asks whether you want the report by email, by U.S. mail or by picking it up in person. If you choose email, you don't need to send a self-addressed envelope. You then get an email with a Form 30-12 that lists your details. Print it. Mail or hand-deliver it to the Central Records Division at 1711 Belmont Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21244, with a $4 check or money order made out to the Maryland State Police. MSP won't process the request until the fee arrives with the form.³

To request by mail, complete MSP's request form and mail it to the Central Records Division, 1711 Belmont Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21244. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Add a $4 check or money order payable to the Maryland State Police.^1,3,4,6

You can get a crash report in person at the MSP barrack where it was filed. Call ahead to confirm it's ready.¹

You can also go to the Central Records Division at 1711 Belmont Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21244, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can hand-deliver your printed request form and check or money order there.^1,3,6

To request by email, send the completed request form to the Central Records Division. Then mail a $4 check or money order to complete the request. The division's email address appears in the contact text of MSP's online form. If you email a question, put "Accident Report Request" and your local case number in the subject line.^1,3

Under the State Police regulation, every request must give the exact date of the crash, the driver's name, the county, the route number, the name of anyone who died, and any pedestrian's or bicyclist's name. Add the MAARS report number if you know it.⁴

The online form asks for the Local Case Number. For an MSP report, it starts with the two-digit year, then "MSP," then six digits.³

The online form requires a valid email address. It says records are delivered to that address.³

Write your local case number in the memo section of your check or money order.³

Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with a mailed request. If you used the online form and chose email delivery, you don't need one.^3,4

MSP charges a $4 non-refundable document search fee for a crash report. Pay by check or money order made out to the Maryland State Police. MSP doesn't accept cash.¹

Maryland law sets the document search fee at $4. The State Police regulation asks for $4 for each document search.^4,7

Send the exact amount. Under the State Police regulation, a check or money order is returned if it isn't for the exact amount. It's also returned if it's made out to an agency other than the Maryland State Police.⁴

The $4 fee is for MSP reports. Montgomery County Police charge $10 per collision report. Baltimore Police ask for a $25 search fee for microfilmed reports from 2000 and earlier.^1,5,8

MSP tells you to wait at least 10 days after the crash so the report can be processed.¹

The State Police regulation still says requests for copies won't be considered until at least 20 days after the crash. That conflicts with MSP's current 10-day guidance.⁴

The State Police regulation also says requests to review a report at the local State Police installation won't be considered until at least 5 days after the crash.⁴

If you use the online form, allow at least 10 business days for a response.³

MSP provides crash reports to legally entitled parties. It handles requests under MSP policy and the Maryland Public Information Act.¹

MSP says it may release records to the person named in the record, that person's attorney, or others allowed by law.⁹

A Maryland Public Information Act provision covers police reports of traffic accidents. Under it, a records custodian must deny inspection to an attorney who wants the reports to solicit or market legal services. This doesn't apply to the attorney of record for someone named in the report. The same rule covers anyone employed by, retained by, associated with or acting for such an attorney who wants the reports for that purpose.¹⁰

For a crash in Baltimore City, MSP tells you to contact the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) Central Records Division.¹

BPD says Baltimore City accident reports from January 1, 2011 onward are available only online. They're on LexisNexis BuyCrash. You need one of these: the report number, the full name and the date of the incident, or the location. BPD's Form 380 says to allow at least 10 business days from the accident date for a report to be available online.^8,11

For Baltimore City reports from before 2011, BPD says you can request them by email. The address is on BPD's Obtain a Police Report page. BPD says it usually produces disclosable records within 30 days of receiving a request. Some requests take longer.¹¹

For microfilmed Baltimore City reports from 2000 and earlier, BPD's Form 380 asks for a non-refundable $25 search fee. Pay by certified check or money order made out to the Director of Finance. Mail it to the Community Correspondence Unit, 242 W. 29th Street, Baltimore, MD 21211.⁸

Montgomery County Police provide their own collision reports online, by mail, or in person at a district station or Public Safety Headquarters. Each report costs $10. The department must verify that you were involved in the incident. A report can take about three to five days to be processed and ready to buy.⁵

To order a Montgomery County report online, create an account at the Montgomery County Police Department Records Center. Upload a copy of your photo ID. Then select "Submit a Records Request" and "Accident Report." The online portal accepts all major credit cards.⁵

To order a Montgomery County report by mail, fill out and sign the collision report request form. Include a copy of your photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope and a $10 check or money order payable to Montgomery County Government, Maryland. Mail it to Public Safety Headquarters, Records Division, 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.⁵

Before you go to Montgomery County's Public Safety Headquarters, call the Records Section to make sure your report is ready. A ready report can be picked up there Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. At county police district stations, a report confirmed as ready can be picked up 24 hours a day. In person, a report costs $10. Pay by major credit card or cash.⁵

If you're a driver in a crash that causes bodily injury or death, Maryland law says you must report it in writing to "the Administration" within 15 days. Use the form it requires.^12,13

You don't need to file this written report if a police officer investigated the crash and filed a report with the Department of State Police.¹²

Within the same 15 days, you must file evidence of liability insurance or other security with your report. It must include the name and address of the insurer or other provider of security. It must also include the policy or other identifying number.¹²

If the driver is physically unable to make the report, is unavailable or refuses, the Administration may require the vehicle's owner to report the crash instead.¹²

If you don't file a required written report, the Administration may suspend or revoke your driver's license. It may also suspend or revoke the registration of each vehicle you own.¹⁴