Accident Report Resources · Statewide overview
California Accident Report Guide
Which agency holds your accident report depends on where the collision happened and who responded. This guide helps you identify the right agency and find its official request process.
- Jurisdiction
- Varies by where the collision occurred and which agency responded
Step by step
How report requests work in California
- Identify the investigating agency
Which agency holds the report depends on where the collision happened and who responded:
- California Highway Patrol — state highways, freeways and unincorporated areas
- City police department — collisions on city streets (for example, the LAPD within the City of Los Angeles)
- County sheriff — areas patrolled by the sheriff
- Information commonly useful when locating a report
- Report or DR number, when you have it
- Accident date
- Location (road, intersection or freeway and nearest exit)
- Involved-party information, where legally appropriate
- Who may obtain a report
Reports are generally released to the parties involved and their representatives, as provided in California Vehicle Code § 20012. Eligibility, fees, processing times and availability vary by agency — check the specific agency’s official resource.
- Agency guides
Locate your accident
Not sure which report is yours?
Use Find My Accident to search recent Southern California collisions by location, date and road. If it is not listed, you can ask for help locating your accident information and next steps.
Sources & verification
Last verified Sep 17, 2026- California Vehicle Code § 20012 (release of reports)
- California Highway Patrol — Request a Crash Report
- LAPD — Request a Traffic Report
Agency procedures can change. If any detail here is out of date, please let us know — the official agency resource is always the authoritative source.
Editorial trust
An independent information resource
SoCal Crash Report helps you find accident information and official request resources. We are not a police department, a government agency, or an official crash-report database, and we do not issue accident reports.