A Texas crash report is often the first official record of what happened in a car accident, and insurers ask for it almost immediately. The good news is that getting a copy is usually quick and inexpensive once you know where to look and what information to have ready.
Knowing who can see the full version, how to read the codes, and how to fix mistakes makes the report far more useful to you.
How Do You Get a Texas Crash Report?
Buy the Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report (CR-3) through TxDOT's online Crash Report Online Purchase System, usually within about 14 days of the crash. A regular copy costs $6, and a certified copy costs $8.
Key takeaways:
- Texas officers must file a CR-3 with TxDOT within 10 days when a crash causes injury, death, or at least $1,000 in property damage.
- TxDOT sells copies online for $6, or $8 for a certified copy.
- Only people directly concerned in the crash can get the unredacted version, and others receive a copy with personal details removed.
- Errors in the report are fixed through the law enforcement agency that wrote it, not through TxDOT.
What Is a Texas Crash Report?
A Texas crash report, formally the Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report or CR-3, is the standard form police officers, sheriff's deputies, and state troopers use to document a crash they investigate. It records the drivers, vehicles, insurance, injuries, road conditions, a diagram, and the officer's narrative of what happened. Local police, county sheriffs, and DPS troopers all use the same form, so the report looks the same whether the crash happened on a city street or an interstate.
When an Officer Must File One
Under Section 550.062 of the Texas Transportation Code, an officer who investigates a crash involving injury, death, or apparent property damage of $1,000 or more to any one person must submit a written report to TxDOT within 10 days. Because of that filing window and TxDOT's processing time, a report is often not available for purchase until about two weeks after the crash.
How to Get Your Texas Crash Report Online
The fastest way to get a CR-3 is through TxDOT's online purchase system, and the process takes only a few minutes once the report is available. Here is how it works:
- Go to TxDOT's Crash Report Online Purchase System, part of the state's Crash Records Information System.
- Search for the crash using details such as the date, the name of a person involved, and the county or location.
- Enter the crash ID or report number if the officer gave you one, which makes the search more precise.
- Choose a regular copy for your own records or a certified copy if you may need it for court.
- Pay by card and receive the report by email.
If the system cannot find your crash, the report may not have been filed or processed yet. Waiting a few more days, or contacting the agency that investigated, usually solves the problem. Once you have it, keep the email with your report, since you may need to forward it to your insurer or your Texas car accident lawyer.
Who Can Get an Unredacted Crash Report in Texas?
Texas treats these reports as confidential, so the full report is available only to people with a direct connection to the crash. According to TxDOT's crash records page, Section 550.065 allows release to anyone directly concerned in the crash or with a proper interest in it, including:
- A person involved in the crash
- That person's authorized representative, such as a lawyer
- The owner of a vehicle or property damaged in the crash
- An insurance company that issued a policy covering a vehicle involved
- A parent, guardian, or employer of a person involved, in certain situations
Requesters who do not qualify can still receive a copy, but personal information is redacted. People who do qualify generally must supply at least two identifying details, such as the date of the crash, the name of a person involved, or the specific location.
Other Ways to Request the Report
The online system works for most people, but it is not the only option. The main methods compare like this:
| Method | Cost | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| TxDOT online purchase system | $6 regular, $8 certified, plus a small processing surcharge | Delivered by email once the report is available |
| TxDOT request by mail | $6 regular, $8 certified | Uses TxDOT's request form and takes longer than ordering online |
| The investigating police department | Set by the agency | Many departments, including the San Antonio Police Department, accept records requests for these reports |
| A lawyer's request | Usually handled as part of the case | Often paired with requests for body camera video and supplemental reports |
Crashes worked by the Texas Department of Public Safety on highways are ordered through the same TxDOT system. A certified copy carries an official seal and is the version to request if the report may be used in a lawsuit.
How to Read a Texas Crash Report
The CR-3 packs a lot of information into codes and boxes, and a few sections matter most for an injury claim. Reading them carefully helps you spot problems early.
Injury Severity
Officers rate each person's apparent injuries using letter codes: K for fatal, A for suspected serious injury, B for suspected minor injury, C for possible injury, and N for not injured. That rating reflects what the officer saw at the scene, not a medical diagnosis, so a "possible injury" code does not limit what your doctors later find.
Contributing Factors and the Narrative
The report lists factors the officer believes contributed to the crash, such as failure to yield, speeding, or driver inattention, along with a written narrative and a diagram. Insurers read these sections closely, because they often reflect the officer's view of who was at fault.
Citations Issued at the Scene
The report may note whether the officer issued a citation, such as for failure to control speed or running a red light. A citation can support a claim, but it does not decide fault in a civil case, and a driver who was not cited can still be found responsible. Texas assigns a percentage of responsibility to every driver or corporate entity whose negligence contributed to the collisions.
Insurance and Vehicle Details
Each vehicle section lists the driver, owner, and insurance company. That information is often the fastest way to learn whether a commercial vehicle, a company, or a rideshare driver was involved.
What If Your Crash Report Is Wrong?
Mistakes in the report are corrected through the law enforcement agency that wrote it, not through TxDOT. The right approach depends on what kind of mistake it is.
Factual Errors
A wrong name, license plate, insurance company, or location can often be fixed by contacting the investigating officer or the agency's records division with documentation. The agency may issue a supplemental or amended report that replaces the incorrect information.
Disagreeing With the Officer's Conclusions
An officer is unlikely to change an opinion about fault simply because a driver disagrees. That view is not the final word, though, and photos, witness statements, video, and vehicle data can all show that the crash happened differently than the report suggests.
What to Do When No Officer Files a Report
Not every Texas crash produces an officer's report. Officers may not respond to minor crashes with no injuries, and TxDOT collects reports for crashes on public roadways, so a parking lot crash may be documented differently or not at all.
The End of the Driver's Report
Texas once allowed drivers to file their own report, known as the CR-2 or "blue form." TxDOT states that it has not retained CR-2 forms since 2017, so when no officer investigates, your own photos, witness contacts, and information exchanged at the scene become the main record.
When no report exists, the information you gather yourself carries more weight. Before leaving the scene, try to collect:
- The other driver's name, phone number, license number, and insurance information
- Photos of both vehicles, license plates, the scene, and any visible injuries
- Names and phone numbers of witnesses
- The exact location, time, and weather conditions
Report the crash to your insurer promptly as well. If injuries appear later, you can still ask the local police department whether any record of the call or incident exists.
Why Your Crash Report Matters for an Injury Claim
The CR-3 shapes the early stages of an injury claim, even though it does not decide the outcome. Insurers use it to make initial fault decisions, and a helpful report can move a claim forward faster.
Fault and Proportionate Responsibility
Texas reduces a recovery by the injured person's share of fault and bars it above 50% under Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 33. If a report wrongly lists you as partly at fault, correcting that impression with other evidence can change what you recover.
The Filing Deadline
Most Texas injury claims must be filed within two years under Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. Getting the report early gives you time to fix errors and gather other evidence well before that deadline.
Was your child hurt in a Texas accident? Find out how to stand up for their rights and secure the care they deserve.
How Cowen Law Helps After a Texas Car Accident
Cowen Law Car & Truck Accident Lawyers orders and reviews the CR-3 in every case we handle, then goes beyond it to the evidence the report leaves out. Michael Cowen has been Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2001 and has tried more than 120 jury trials.
More Than the Report
The report is a starting point, and many cases turn on what it missed, such as a second witness, a dashcam, or a company vehicle hidden behind a personal-looking car. Every case depends on its own facts, and past results do not predict the outcome of another case.
FAQs: Texas Crash Report
These are common questions Texans ask about getting and using the CR-3.
Can I get a Texas crash report for free?
Generally no, because Texas law sets a $6 fee for a copy, with $2 more for certification, under Section 550.065 of the Transportation Code. Some agencies may provide limited information at the scene or on a slip, but the full CR-3 requires payment.
Does a Texas crash report say who was at fault?
The CR-3 does not make a legal finding of fault, but it lists contributing factors and may note citations that suggest the officer's view. Insurers and courts can consider other evidence that shows a different picture of what happened.
How do I get a crash report if DPS investigated my crash?
A crash investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety is ordered through the same TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System used for local police reports. You will need the same identifying details, such as the date, a name, and the location.
Do I need a crash report to file an insurance claim in Texas?
You can usually start a Texas insurance claim without a police report, but insurers will ask for one when it exists. Some coverages, such as uninsured motorist claims for hit and run crashes, may require that the crash was reported to police.
Can a crash report be used in court in Texas?
A certified CR-3 can be offered as evidence, but court rules may limit how parts of it are used, especially an officer's opinions about fault. Lawyers often rely more heavily on the officer's testimony, photos, and other evidence than on the report itself.
Talk to Cowen Law About Your Texas Car Accident
If your report is wrong, incomplete, or missing, Cowen Law can help you fill the gaps before an insurer uses them against you. We offer free consultations in English and Spanish, and there is no cost to you unless we win.
Call (210) 941-1306, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., to talk through your crash.
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Address: 6243 I-10 #801, San Antonio, TX 78201
Contact No: (210) 941-1306