How to Get a Crash Report in Texas

TxDOT is the custodian of crash records for the state of Texas. State law on crash reports calls TxDOT "the department."^1,3

TxDOT collects crash reports from every law enforcement agency in Texas. This covers crashes on any public roadway, not just the state highway system.^1,2

An officer who investigates a crash must write a report if the crash caused injury or death, or apparent damage of $1,000 or more to any one person's property.³

TxDOT keeps crash reports and data for 10 years plus the current year.¹

Online (fastest). Buy a copy of the Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report (CR-3) through TxDOT's Crash Report Online Purchase System. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Search for your report. Choose a certified or uncertified copy, and a redacted or non-redacted copy. Enter a valid email address and pay through Texas.gov. The report is delivered by email after purchase. You can buy only one non-redacted report per purchase. Any other reports in your cart must be redacted.^1,4,5

By mail (Form CR-91). If you can't use the online system, download Form CR-91 from TxDOT's crash records forms page. Fill it out and mail it with the required payment to the address on the form: Crash Data and Analysis, Texas Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 12879, Austin, Texas 78711.^6,7

Subpoena and affidavit requests. File these through CRIS Request, the TxDOT Subpoena and Affidavit Request System. You search for the report and upload your legal documents as PDF files. Since January 1, 2025, TxDOT no longer accepts subpoena and affidavit requests by mail. The CR-91 is no longer required for them, and requests sent by mail are returned.¹

Government agencies. A government agency can use CRIS Request to ask for a standalone certified crash report.⁸

Bulk requests. TxDOT will not supply bulk copies of crash reports. For a bulk request, it gives you the matching crash ID numbers. You then buy each report one at a time.¹

To find your report online, you can search by name, driver license or ID card number, vehicle identification number (VIN), TxDOT Crash ID, or the agency's case ID. The driver license or ID number can be that of any driver involved in the crash.^4,9

A name search needs the first and last name of someone involved in the crash. This can be a driver, an occupant, a pedestrian, a cyclist or a property damage owner. You can add the county, city and crash date to narrow the search. Advanced search fields include license plate number and investigating agency.⁴

To pay online, you need a valid email address and one of these: a credit or debit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover) or an electronic check (ACH). Electronic checks funded by a foreign source can't be processed.^4,10

For a non-redacted report online, you must complete the Crash Report Purchase Certification form under Texas Transportation Code 550.065. It asks for your first and last name, plus an organization name if that applies.⁴

For a mail request, the CR-91 asks for the crash date and location (county, city and street or highway). It also has fields for the driver's full name, date of birth and Texas driver license number. Pay by check or money order made out to the Texas Department of Transportation.⁷

On the CR-91, you certify that you meet the requirements of Texas Transportation Code §550.065(c)(4). If you qualify as an insurer, claims contractor, broadcaster or newspaper (categories G through K), you must also give an organization name. The form warns that giving false information violates Texas Penal Code §37.10 and could lead to criminal penalties.⁷

A regular (uncertified) copy costs $6. A certified copy costs $8. These are the same online and on the CR-91 mail form, and they match the fees set in state law.^1,3,5,7

A certified copy includes a certification signed by TxDOT's Custodian of Motor Vehicle Crash Records, with the TxDOT seal. People usually need one for legal proceedings or employment verification.^1,4

Buying online adds a minimal surcharge. If you pay by card, the total includes a Texas.gov processing fee and surcharge. Electronic check (ACH) payments have no fee, but the report is held for a period before it is released.^1,4

If there is no report: online, a Letter of "No Records" is free. On a mail request, if the report is not on file when your request arrives, you get a certification saying so, and the fee is kept for that certification.^5,7

Subpoena and affidavit requests through CRIS Request cost $8 plus a minimal surcharge.¹

After you buy a report, you can make more copies at no charge.⁴

The officer must file the report electronically with TxDOT no later than the 10th day after the crash. After TxDOT receives it, processing may take up to 4 business days.^3,11

It can take up to 14 days from the crash date for a report to show up in the online search.⁴

If you buy a non-redacted report by credit card, you can download it right away. This does not apply if your purchase relies on a written justification. Electronic check purchases have a holding period of ten business days.^4,12

Redacted reports go through a TxDOT review. Purchases of fewer than 100 reports are available to download within ten business days.¹²

The download feature stays available for 10 days from the purchase date. To download again, use the "Download Previous Purchase" button and enter the Local Reference ID from your receipt.⁴

Don't mail a CR-91 until at least 10 days after the crash. A mail request may take up to 30 days to process.^6,7

TxDOT lists these processing times: 20 business days for a state or federal subpoena request, 10 business days for an affidavit request, and 10 business days for a combined affidavit and state or federal subpoena request.¹

Crash report information is confidential under state law, except where the law allows release. Because of this, crash reports are not available for the public to view online.^1,3

TxDOT releases a crash report to anyone directly concerned in the crash or with a proper interest in it. You must make a written request and pay the fee.¹

Under state law, you can get the full report if you are a person involved in the crash or their authorized representative, or any driver involved. You can also get it if you are the employer, parent or legal guardian of a driver involved, or the owner of a vehicle or property damaged in the crash.³

Others entitled to the full report include an insurance company that issued a policy covering a vehicle or person involved, and a person under contract to provide claims or underwriting information to a policyholder or insurer. Also entitled are anyone who may sue because of a death caused by the crash, an employee or authorized representative of a vehicle storage facility that stored a vehicle involved, and FCC-licensed radio and TV stations.³

TxDOT also releases reports to federal, Texas state and Texas local government agencies. A court where a case involving someone in the crash is pending gets the report if it subpoenas it.^1,3

If you don't fit a listed category, you can explain how you meet the criteria another way. If your explanation is not enough or does not qualify, you get a redacted copy.^1,4

Anyone can get a redacted report. A redacted report hides all personal information, such as phone numbers, addresses and dates of birth. If you don't meet the eligibility rules, or don't check a qualification on the CR-91, you get a redacted copy.^1,3,7,13

The state rules on releasing crash reports apply to TxDOT and to any other government entity that holds a report. On written request and payment of any required fee, that entity must release the report to the people the law lists.³

State law sets the fee for a copy at $6. Certification by TxDOT or the government entity costs $2 more.³

If your crash was more than two weeks ago and your report is not available, contact the investigating agency, such as the police department. Ask whether the report has been submitted.⁴

TxDOT holds only the crash report. Send subpoena requests for dash cam video, field notes, photographs or other on-scene information to the investigating agency.¹

If you need information from the Texas Department of Public Safety, you must make a separate request to DPS.¹

If a city requires drivers to file a collision report, that report is confidential to the city department and follows the same state rules (§550.065).³

TxDOT no longer keeps the Driver's Crash Report (Form CR-2). Since Sept. 1, 2017, under Senate Bill 312, TxDOT does not retain CR-2 reports. It has none in its records and no longer hosts or gives out the form.¹

The retention period for all CR-2 reports ended on January 1, 2019. Any CR-2 or similar local form sent to TxDOT will be destroyed.¹

If a police officer did not investigate your crash and you were given a CR-2 or a similar local agency form, keep that information for your records.¹

If a crash causes injury or death, or leaves a vehicle unable to be driven normally and safely, the driver must give notice right away by the quickest means of communication. In a city, the notice goes to the local police department. If the crash was no more than 100 feet outside city limits, it goes to the local police department or the sheriff's office.³

A city may pass an ordinance requiring drivers to file a report with a city department if a crash causes injury or death, or apparent total property damage of $25 or more.³