To get a copy of a Texas car accident report, buy it from the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Report Online Purchase System, or request it from the police agency that investigated. A regular copy costs $6 and a certified copy $8 (Texas Department of Transportation). For a crash investigated by Houston police, the report can also be requested by mail or in person at 1200 Travis Street.
The report, formally the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report or CR-3, is the first document every insurer and attorney asks for. This article explains when a report exists, who is allowed to have it, the ways to get one in Houston and what to do with it. What else to gather is covered in what to do after a car accident.
The short version
- Online from the state: $6 regular, $8 certified; the report is emailed after purchase.
- Houston police: Records Division, 1200 Travis Street, 713-308-8500 option 3; by mail with a $6 check or money order, or in person.
- Timing: the officer has 10 days to file (§ 550.062(b)); Houston police say reports need 5 to 8 days of processing.
- Who can get it: people involved in the crash, their representatives, vehicle owners, insurers and others the statute lists (§ 550.065(c)(4)).
When does a police crash report exist?
When an officer investigated a crash that resulted in injury or death, or in damage to any one person’s property of an apparent $1,000 or more. The officer must make a written report and file it electronically with the Texas Department of Transportation not later than the 10th day after the collision.
That is Tex. Transp. Code § 550.062(a)-(b). If no officer came to the scene, or the damage was below that level, there may be no CR-3 at all. The statute on releasing reports refers to driver-filed reports only as a “former” requirement that ended before September 1, 2017 (Tex. Transp. Code § 550.065(a)), so today the officer’s report is the one that matters. If police did not respond, your own photographs, the other driver’s details and your insurer’s claim record have to do its work.
How do I get a crash report from the State of Texas?
Through the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Report Online Purchase System. You search for the report, pay $6 for a regular copy or $8 for a certified copy, and receive it by email. A certified copy is the one to request when an official document is needed for a legal proceeding.
The department crash reports page links to the purchase system and explains the two kinds of copy. The prices match the statute: the fee for a copy is $6, and it may be certified for an additional $2 (Tex. Transp. Code § 550.065(d)). The department also notes that every report must be purchased individually, so it cannot fill bulk requests.
How do I get a crash report from the Houston Police Department?
Online, by mail or in person. Houston police say reports take 5 to 8 days to process. You will need at least two of the following: the date of the accident, its location, and the name of a driver or other party involved, plus the incident number if you have it.
| Method | What to do | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Online | Purchase through the online system the department links from its public information page; requirements for release are confirmed by questionnaire | Set by the online system |
| By mail | Send your request, the department’s H.B. 2633 crash report request form, a check or money order payable to the City of Houston and a self-addressed stamped envelope to HPD, Records Division, 1200 Travis, Houston, TX 77002 | $6.00 |
| In person | Edward A. Thomas Building, 1200 Travis Street, Houston, TX 77002, first floor, with the H.B. 2633 form | $6.00 |
| Questions | Records Division, 713-308-8500, option 3 |
Source: Houston Police Department, Public information requests. Read October 5, 2026. Check the page before you go; hours and procedures change.
The department’s page says full copies can be purchased only in person or by mail with the form. Crashes investigated by another agency, such as a county constable, the sheriff, the Department of Public Safety or a neighboring city’s police, are requested from that agency or bought from the state system.
Who is allowed to get a copy of a crash report?
Not everyone. Crash reports are confidential except to people with a direct interest: anyone involved in the collision and their authorized representative, a driver’s employer, parent or legal guardian, the owner of a vehicle or property that was damaged, the insurers of the vehicles and people involved, and others listed in the statute.
The list is in Tex. Transp. Code § 550.065(c)(4); the general rule that the information is “privileged and for the confidential use” of government agencies is in subsection (b). An attorney you have hired is your authorized representative and normally orders the report for you.
What should I do with the report once I have it?
Read it for errors and for what it leaves out. Check the names, vehicles, insurers, location and direction of travel; read the officer’s narrative and diagram; and see which contributing factors and citations are recorded. Send a copy to your insurer, and give one to your attorney before you discuss fault with anyone.
The report is evidence, not a verdict. Officers usually arrive after the crash and rely on what they are told, and their conclusions about fault do not bind an insurer or a court. If a fact is wrong, such as a misidentified vehicle or a missing witness, contact the investigating agency and ask how to submit a correction or supplement. If the conclusion is wrong, the answer is evidence: photographs, video and witnesses. Our article on preparing for a consultation with an accident attorney lists what else to gather, and the Houston car accident page explains how the claim proceeds.
Questions people ask about accident reports
How much does a Texas crash report cost?
The fee for a copy of a collision report is $6, and the copy may be certified for an additional $2 (Transportation Code § 550.065(d)). The Texas Department of Transportation lists the same prices: $6 for a regular copy and $8 for a certified copy.
How long after the crash is the report available?
The investigating officer must file it not later than the 10th day after the collision (Transportation Code § 550.062(b)). The Houston Police Department says its accident reports require 5 to 8 days of processing before they are available to the public.
What information do I need to request a Houston police crash report?
According to the department’s public information page, at least two of these: the date of the accident, the location of the accident, and the name of a driver or party involved. Provide the incident number if you have it.
Can the other driver’s insurance company get the report?
Yes. The statute allows release to an insurance company that issued a policy covering a vehicle involved in the collision, and to one that issued a policy covering any person involved (Transportation Code § 550.065(c)(4)).
Is there a report if the crash only damaged the cars?
An officer who investigates is required to make a written report if the collision caused damage to the property of any one person to the apparent extent of $1,000 or more, even where no one was hurt (Transportation Code § 550.062(a)).
If you need help getting a report or working out what it means for your claim, call Maida Law Firm at (713) 785-9484 or use the contact page. The office is at 8313 Southwest Freeway #102, Houston, TX 77074.
Sources
- Texas Department of Transportation, Crash reports and records. Read October 5, 2026.
- Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 550. Read October 5, 2026.
- Houston Police Department, Public information requests. Read October 5, 2026.
About the authors
Sam A. Maida, Jr.
Owner and Managing Attorney
Sam A. Maida, Jr. has represented injured Texans in the greater Houston area since the firm opened in 1993.
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Bernard G. Johnson III
Litigation Managing Attorney
Bernard G. Johnson III is a board certified trial lawyer licensed in Texas since 1996 and a graduate of South Texas College of Law.