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How to Get Your Ohio Crash Report

Where to request it: Online through the Ohio Crash Retrieval.

Open the Ohio Crash Retrieval

Portal checked 2026-09-26

Written by
Settlement Scout editorial team

Checked against
official sources, linked

Updated Sep 26, 2026Sources linked

Key takeaways

  • Fee: Free via ohtrafficdata.dps.ohio.gov/crashretrieval for OSHP-investigated crashes; other agencies contacted directly (fee varies).
  • Where: Online through the Ohio Crash Retrieval.
  • Public? Yes — a version is available to the public, though some personal details may be redacted.
On this page
  1. At a glance
  2. Steps to get your report
  3. Ohio agencies
  4. What's on your report
  5. Frequently asked questions

Ohio crash reports, at a glance

Where to request

Online through the Ohio Crash Retrieval

What you need

The report number (or the names of the drivers involved), the date of the crash, and a valid photo ID.

Who can request it

Not needed — crash reports are public records by default; only phone numbers are exempt, and only for the first 30 days post-accident.

Statute: Ohio Rev. Code §5502.11 (reporting duty) + §149.43(A)(1)(oo) (public-records structure) (official text). Official source

How we checked the Ohio 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: Ohio Rev. Code §5502.11 (reporting duty) + §149.43(A)(1)(oo) (public-records structure) (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

  1. 1Find out which agency responded to your crash: a city police department, a county sheriff's office, or the state patrol.
  2. 2Request it online through the Ohio Crash Retrieval.
  3. 3Pay the fee, if any. Free via ohtrafficdata.dps.ohio.gov/crashretrieval for OSHP-investigated crashes; other agencies contacted directly (fee varies).
  4. 4Download or receive your copy. Most agencies process new crashes within one to two weeks before the report is available to request.

Ohio agencies with a records page

Ohio agencies
AgencyPlaceFee
Columbus Police DepartmentColumbusNot published — call the records unit.Details
Dayton Police DepartmentDaytonNot published on the city page — confirm for complete official copiesDetails
Hamilton Police DepartmentHamiltonConfirm the fee with the records unitDetails
Middletown Police DepartmentMiddletownNot published on the agency page — confirm with the records unitDetails
Springfield Police DepartmentSpringfieldConfirm the fee with the records unitDetails
Stark County Sheriff's OfficeStark CountyNot published — call the records unit.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 Ohio cost?

Free via ohtrafficdata.dps.ohio.gov/crashretrieval for OSHP-investigated crashes; other agencies contacted directly (fee varies).

Who can request a crash report in Ohio?

Not needed — crash reports are public records by default; only phone numbers are exempt, and only for the first 30 days post-accident.

Can someone else request my Ohio crash report for me?

Not needed — crash reports are public records by default; only phone numbers are exempt, and only for the first 30 days post-accident.

Is my Ohio crash report public?

Yes — a version is available to the public, though some personal details may be redacted.

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
Article sources
    • Statute: Ohio Rev. Code §5502.11 (reporting duty) + §149.43(A)(1)(oo) (public-records structure) (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.

    Editorial policy

    How this site is paid for

    Participating law firms and legal marketing companies pay us a fee when a visitor opts in to be connected with them. They cannot pay to change what a guide says.

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