How to Get Your California Crash Report
Where to request it: Online through the CHP Crash Portal.
Portal checked 2026-09-26
Written by
Settlement Scout editorial team
Checked against
official sources, linked
Key takeaways
- Fee: Mixed: CHP online Crash Portal (CHP 190, $10–$40+ tiered by pages) for CHP-investigated crashes; local PDs handle their own (some via BuyCrash) — effectively local-agency-only outside CHP jurisdiction.
- Where: Online through the CHP Crash Portal.
- Public? Rules vary; check the official page for this state's current policy.
On this page
California crash reports, at a glance
Where to request
What you need
Who can request it
Statute: Cal. Veh. Code § 20012 (official text). Official source
How we checked the California route
We read the state's own crash-report page and the law behind it, then recorded who may request a report, the fee and the official channel. Statute: Cal. Veh. Code § 20012 (official text). The portal link was last opened on 2026-09-26.
Why you can trust Settlement Scout
Every figure on this page comes from an official source we link. We are not a law firm or a government agency, and no agency pays us to be listed. Read our editorial policy.
Steps to get your report
- 1Find out which agency responded to your crash: a city police department, a county sheriff's office, or the state patrol.
- 2Request it online through the CHP Crash Portal.
- 3Pay the fee, if any. Mixed: CHP online Crash Portal (CHP 190, $10–$40+ tiered by pages) for CHP-investigated crashes; local PDs handle their own (some via BuyCrash) — effectively local-agency-only outside CHP jurisdiction.
- 4Download or receive your copy. Most agencies process new crashes within one to two weeks before the report is available to request.
California agencies with a records page
Showing 22 of 22
| Agency | Place | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley Police Department | Berkeley | $10 | Details |
| Burbank Police Department | Burbank | $20.00 | Details |
| Corona Police Department | Corona | $0.25 per page for agency copies; online portal pricing may differ | Details |
| Gilroy Police Department | Gilroy | $63 | Details |
| Hayward Police Department | Hayward | $22.00 | Details |
| Lincoln Police Department | Lincoln | Confirm the fee with the records unit | Details |
| Monterey Park Police Department | Monterey Park | Confirm the fee with the records unit | Details |
| Moreno Valley Police Department | Moreno Valley | $10 | Details |
| Ontario Police Department | Ontario | Not published for crash or traffic reports — confirm with Records | Details |
| Palo Alto Police Department | Palo Alto | Confirm the fee with the records unit | Details |
| Rancho Cucamonga Police Department | Rancho Cucamonga | Not published unambiguously for public copies — confirm with Records | Details |
| Richmond Police Department | Richmond | $10 | Details |
| Roseville Police Department | Roseville | Confirm the fee with the records unit | Details |
| Salinas Police Department | Salinas | Confirm the fee with the records unit | Details |
| San Ramon Police Department | San Ramon | $0.20 per page for agency copies; online portal pricing may differ | Details |
| South Gate Police Department | South Gate | $3 | Details |
| Stockton Police Department | Stockton | $15.00 (Accident Reports via LexisNexis) | Details |
| Tustin Police Department | Tustin | $10 | Details |
| Yorba Linda Police Department | Yorba Linda | Confirm the fee with the records unit | Details |
| Orange County Sheriff's Office | Orange County | Not published — call the records unit. | Details |
| Placer County Sheriff's Office | Placer County | Not published — call the records unit. | Details |
| Los Angeles Police Department | Los Angeles | $11.00 per Traffic Collision Report by mail (+$5.00 for a photograph), per LAPD's own request form | Details |
Don't see your city or county listed? The agency that responded to your crash still has your report — contact its records unit directly, or start with the state route above.
What's on your report, and why it matters
A standard crash report records the date, time, and location of the crash; the vehicles, drivers, and any passengers involved; a diagram of how the crash happened; any citations issued; and the officer's notes on contributing factors and fault. Insurers use this report as their starting point, so double-check that the facts, especially the fault narrative, are accurate before you rely on it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a crash report in California cost?
Mixed: CHP online Crash Portal (CHP 190, $10–$40+ tiered by pages) for CHP-investigated crashes; local PDs handle their own (some via BuyCrash) — effectively local-agency-only outside CHP jurisdiction.
Who can request a crash report in California?
"any person who may have a proper interest therein, including… the authorized representative of a driver, or… any named person injured therein… and any attorney who declares under penalty of perjury that he or she represents any of the above persons."
Can someone else request my California crash report for me?
"any person who may have a proper interest therein, including… the authorized representative of a driver, or… any named person injured therein… and any attorney who declares under penalty of perjury that he or she represents any of the above persons."
Is my California crash report public?
Rules vary; check the official page for this state's current policy.
Find the crash report route for your state
Each state page names the agency that holds your report, its fee and who may ask for a copy.
Choose a state
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Article sources
- Statute: Cal. Veh. Code § 20012 (official text)
- Official source
About the authors
Settlement Scout editorial team
We write from official sources (state agencies, legislatures and insurers' own pages) and link each one. We are not a law firm and this is not legal advice.
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