How Do You Get a California Crash Report, and What Changes in 2027?

Last updated November 2, 2026

After a crash, one of the first records people ask about is the report the officer wrote. Getting it means knowing which agency investigated, who is allowed to ask, and how to ask. A new law, Assembly Bill 2761 (Chapter 964, Statutes of 2026), changes parts of the process starting in 2027 and sets a 2030 deadline for statewide electronic reporting standards. This guide explains both in general terms.

How do you get a crash report in California?

Short answer: Ask the agency that investigated the crash, either the CHP or the local police or sheriff’s department. Drivers, injured people, vehicle owners and their attorneys are among those who may request it. AB 2761 says an electronic copy must be provided at no cost to the requester, and it should take effect January 1, 2027.

Start with the report number the officer gave you, or the date, location and names of the people involved. If you do not know which agency responded, call the local police department or a CHP office, and they can help you identify it. The CHP says it can only obtain copies of reports that the CHP investigated, so a report written by a city police department has to come from that department.

How do you request a crash report from the CHP?

You can ask online, in person or by mail. The CHP’s crash report request page describes two routes for a proper party of interest.

• Online. Submit the request through the CHP Crash Portal, without going to the Area office where the report was filed.
• In person or by mail. Complete the CHP 190 form and send or bring it to your nearest CHP Area office. If you do not know the exact date or location, give an approximate date and as much location detail as you can.

For mailed requests, the CHP’s CHP 190 page says to attach a copy of your driver license or other photo identification, or have the form certified by a notary. The CHP also says any CHP office can obtain a copy of a CHP report from another CHP office. The CHP asks you to contact the Area office for the exact fee for a printed copy, so ask before you send payment.

How do you request a crash report from a local police or sheriff’s department?

Contact the agency’s records unit and ask how it takes requests. Procedures and fees vary by agency, and the CHP process above does not apply to a report that a city police department wrote. Some agencies take requests online, and others by mail or in person, so check the agency’s website or call. Bring the report number, the date and place of the crash, the names of the people involved, and proof that you are a person with a proper interest. Under current law, a request for a printed copy can carry a fee that cannot exceed the actual cost of providing the copy.

Who can request a crash report in California?

A person with a proper interest in the crash can request it. Vehicle Code section 20012 lists examples: a driver involved, the guardian or conservator of a driver, the parent of a minor driver, a driver’s authorized representative, a named person injured in the crash, the owners of vehicles or property damaged, persons who may incur civil liability, and any attorney who declares under penalty of perjury that they represent one of those people. The CHP’s list of parties of interest also includes bicyclists, pedestrians, passengers, parents of minors, legal guardians and insurance companies with a valid claim or policy number. If you are not sure you qualify, the CHP says to contact any Area office to check.

What does AB 2761 change?

It adds a sentence about electronic copies to Vehicle Code section 20012 and moves crash reporting toward electronic submission. AB 2761 was signed on September 30, 2026. These are its main provisions.

• Electronic copies. Under amended Vehicle Code section 20012(b), the law says: “An electronic copy of a crash investigation report shall be provided at no cost to the requester.” A request for a printed copy still carries a fee that cannot exceed the actual cost of providing it.
• Electronic submission. Amended section 20008(b) requires a law enforcement agency to document crashes under section 2407 and to submit completed reports electronically in the timeframe the CHP sets. Amended section 20011 requires coroners and medical examiners to report traffic deaths electronically.
• Plain wording. New section 271 provides that “crash” has the same meaning as “accident” or “collision,” and the bill replaces “accident” with “crash” in the sections it amends.
• Same disclosure rule. The people entitled to the report under section 20012(a) are described in substantially the same terms as before.

The bill does not say how each agency must deliver an electronic copy, so check with the agency that holds your report.

When does AB 2761 take effect?

It should take effect on January 1, 2027. The bill has no urgency clause, and under Article IV, section 8(c) of the California Constitution, a statute enacted at a regular session goes into effect on January 1 next following a 90-day period from the date of enactment. Until then, current section 20012 applies, and a request for a copy of a report must be accompanied by a fee that cannot exceed the actual cost. One provision has its own date: the CHP deadline in the next section.

What is the CHP’s 2030 deadline for electronic crash reports?

By January 1, 2030, the CHP must prescribe the minimum requirements for documenting crashes and set the method and standards for electronic submission of all crash investigation reports. Under new Vehicle Code section 2407, the CHP does that by providing a crash investigation report system to police departments, coroners, sheriffs and other suitable agencies or individuals. The requirements are exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act rulemaking provisions. This is a standards and submission deadline for agencies. It does not promise that every report will be online on a particular date.

Can a crash report be used as evidence in court?

Generally not at trial, but it can still help a claim. Vehicle Code section 20013 says a crash investigation report shall not be used as evidence in any trial, civil or criminal, arising out of a crash. There is a narrow exception for a certificate showing whether a report was made. AB 2761 amends that section, and the amended text keeps the same rule.

A report can still show names, insurance details, the vehicles involved, diagrams and witness statements, which can lead to evidence that can be used. A report is not a final finding of who is at fault, and it can contain mistakes. Read it closely and tell your lawyer about anything that looks wrong.

What if the crash involved a robotaxi, a police chase or a hit-and-run?

The request process is the same, but more records may exist and more agencies may be involved. Vehicle Code section 20008 requires a driver in a crash that injures or kills someone to make a written report within 24 hours to the CHP or, in a city, to the CHP or the city police department.

• Robotaxi crashes. Our guides to driverless car crash claims and robotaxi crashes in San Diego explain the police report and the other records that may exist.
• Police pursuit crashes. Several agencies may have responded, so get the report number from each. See our post on crashes involving a driver fleeing police.
• Hit-and-run crashes. A prompt police report can matter for uninsured motorist coverage. See our hit-and-run page and our post on e-bike hit-and-run claims.

What should you do after a crash to get the report?

Collect the details at the scene, then request the report once it is available. Here is a simple order.

1. Get the report number. Ask the officer for it, along with the agency name.
2. Report an injury crash. The driver’s 24-hour written report is a separate duty from the officer’s report.
3. Identify the agency. CHP, city police or sheriff.
4. Make the request. Use the CHP Crash Portal or CHP 190, or the local agency’s process.
5. Check the report. Compare it with your photos, witness names and insurance information.
6. Keep a copy and share it with your lawyer. A report does not replace your own evidence.

E-bike and micromobility crashes are changing too. Under SB 1167, police reports must record e-bike classification and label information when it is available, or note that it is not. See our guide to California’s new e-bike laws and our post on who pays when a child is hurt on an e-bike. For general crash claims, see our motor vehicle accident page, and for help near our office, see our Tustin page.

Frequently asked questions

Who can get a California crash report?

A person with a proper interest in the crash. Vehicle Code section 20012 lists drivers, named injured people, owners of damaged vehicles or property, persons who may incur civil liability and attorneys who declare they represent one of them.

How do I get a CHP crash report?

Request it through the CHP Crash Portal, or complete the CHP 190 form and send it or bring it to your nearest CHP Area office. Attach identification or have the form notarized, and ask the Area office about the fee.

Is a crash report the same as a police report?

Usually, yes. People say police report, collision report and crash report for the same investigation record, and AB 2761 uses the word crash. Ask the agency that investigated, whether the CHP, a city police department or a sheriff.

What does AB 2761 change about crash reports?

The law says an electronic copy must be provided at no cost to the requester. It also moves agencies to electronic submission and sets a January 1, 2030 CHP deadline for the standards.

When does AB 2761 take effect?

January 1, 2027, because the bill has no urgency clause and takes effect under the usual constitutional rule. The CHP’s electronic standards deadline is January 1, 2030.

Can I use the crash report in court?

Generally not at trial. Vehicle Code section 20013 says a crash investigation report shall not be used as evidence in any trial arising out of a crash, but the report can still help guide a claim.

Talk to us

If you were hurt in a crash and need to sort out reports, insurance and next steps, we are here to listen and to explain your options. Win Attorneys is a California firm that represents injured people throughout the state. Talk to us at (562) 296-5380. We speak Spanish and Vietnamese.

Hablamos español. Chúng tôi nói tiếng Việt.

Win Attorneys, 17291 Irvine Blvd., Suite 210, Tustin, CA 92780. Phone (562) 296-5380.

This article is general information and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Sources: AB 2761, Chapter 964, Statutes of 2026, Vehicle Code section 20012, section 20013, section 20008, California Constitution, Article IV, section 8, CHP: Request a Crash Report, CHP: Collision Report, CHP 190, CHP 190 form.