Crash reports and records (2024)

TxDOT is the custodian of crash records for the state of Texas. Texas Transportation Code §550.062 requires any law enforcement officer who in the regular course of duty investigates a motor vehicle crash that results in injury to or the death of a person or damage to the property of any one person to the apparent extent of $1,000 or more, to submit a written report of that crash to TxDOT not later than the tenth day after the date of the crash.

TxDOT collects crash reports from Texas law enforcement agencies for crashes occurring on public roadways and the state highway system. The state retention schedule for crash reports and data is 10 years plus the current year. Data analysis for years outside this retention period is unavailable. However, published annual reports may be available for years outside the retention period.

Effective Sept. 1, 2017, per the 85th Texas Legislature Senate Bill 312, the Driver's Crash Report (Form CR-2) is no longer retained by TxDOT. As of Jan. 1, 2019, the retention period expired for all CR-2 forms. As a result, TxDOT no longer has any Driver’s Crash Reports in its custodial records and no longer hosts or provides copies of the CR-2 form. Drivers involved in a crash not investigated by a police officer who were provided a CR-2 or similar local agency form should retain this information for their records. Please note that any CR-2 or similar local agency form submitted to TxDOT will be destroyed as required by our records retention policy.

Due to their confidential nature, crash reports are not available for online viewing by the general public.

Crash Report Online Purchase System

You may obtain a copy of a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3) by using our Crash Report Online Purchase System link below. Customers using the online system receive their report(s) via email following the purchase. There is a minimal surcharge for using this system.

  • Crash Report Online Purchase System

Texas Transportation Code §550.065allows for the release of a crash report on written request and upon payment of the required fee to any person directly concerned in the accident or having proper interest therein, including:

(A)Any person involved in the accident
(B)The authorized representative of any person involved in the accident
(C)A driver involved in the accident
(D)An employer, parent or legal guardian of a driver involved in the accident
(E)The owner of a vehicle or property damaged in the accident
(F)A person who has established financial responsibility for a vehicle involved in the accident in a manner described in Texas Transportation Code 601.501, including a policyholder of a motor vehicle liability insurance policy covering the vehicle.
(G)An insurance company that issued an insurance policy covering any vehicle involved in the accident
(H)An insurance company that issued a policy covering any person involved in the accident
(I)A person under contract to provide claims or underwriting to a person described in sections (F), (G) or (H)
(J)A radio or television station that holds a license issued by the Federal Communications Commission
(K)A newspaper that is a free newspaper of general circulation or qualified under Section 2051.044, Government Code, to publish legal notices; published at least once a week; and available and of interest to the general public in connection with the dissemination of news
(L)Any person who may sue because of death resulting from the accident.
(M) An employee or authorized representative of a vehicle storage facility, as defined by Section 2303.002, Occupations Code, that stored a vehicle involved in the accident.

OR

An agency of the United States, this state (Texas), or a local government of this state (Texas)

If a person or entity does not meet any of these criteria, TxDOT does provide an option for the customer to identify how they meet the criteria in a manner that is not listed in the above reasons (A) through (L). Persons or entities who do not meet the criteria will receive a redacted copy of the crash report.

Crash data request/bulk request for crash IDs

Individuals and organizations looking to submit bulk requests for crash IDs or crash data requests may do so by submitting an online Crash Data Request Form. Customers may also search public data by using the CRIS Query Tool. Annual reporting or data extract may also be useful to some customers.

Important Information when filing:

  • The Texas Department of Transportation’s retention period for records include the previous 10 full calendar years plus the current calendar year.
  • The Texas Transportation Code requires that all crash records be purchased and therefore bulk requests for multiple crash reports cannot be provided. Crash ID numbers corresponding to the request parameters will be provided instead, allowing the requestor to purchase at their leisure. NOTE: TxDOT cannot fulfill bulk requests that require searching any confidential fields as provided in Transportation Code 550.065(f), unless the requestor is otherwise entitled to such information under section 550.065(c). For example, TxDOT cannot release the results of a search for all accidents involving a particular person.

Costs

Crash reports

Additional processing fees may be applied for credit card transactions.

  • $6 for a regular copy.
  • $8 for a certified copy - A certified copy is requested when a person needs an official document, such as for a legal proceeding.

Subpoenas and affidavits

  • $8 for subpoenas for federal court.
  • $8 for subpoenas for state court.
  • $8 for affidavits.

How to file a subpoena or affidavit for crash records

All requests for crash records made to the Texas Department of Transportation, including subpoena and affidavit requests, are subject to the requirements promulgated in Texas Transportation Code 550.065. As such, the following action items must be taken for the department to consider a subpoena or affidavit request complete:

  • A completed CR-91 Form identifying an individual crash must be submitted along with all request paperwork.
  • An $8.00 check or money order made out to the Texas Department of Transportation must also be submitted with the CR-91 Form and all request paperwork. Any amount above or below $8.00 or payments made in cash will not be processed. One check may be submitted along with the paperwork for multiple requests, however, the check amount must be exact.
  • All paperwork must be made out to the Texas Department of Transportation. NOTE: The Texas Department of Public Safety is a separate state agency. The Texas Department of Transportation will not complete any request made out to another state agency.
  • All paperwork must be mailed to:

Crash Data and Analysis, Texas Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 12879, Austin, Texas 78711

  • Since a fee is required, email and faxed submissions are not considered valid forms of filing a subpoena or affidavit with TxDOT.

Please allow 20 business days for all requests to be completed and returned to your office. TxDOT does not provide confirmation of receipt and all requests are processed in order received. The Texas Department of Transportation is the custodian of record for the crash report only. Any subpoena requests for dash cam videos, field notes, photographs, or other information taken on scene, should be submitted to the investigating agency. This information is not part of the department’s custodial files.

Crash reports and records (1)

Crash data analysis and statistics

TxDOT maintains a statewide, automated database for reportable motor vehicle traffic crashes received by TxDOT.

How to obtain crash data

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Annual Texas motor vehicle crash statistics

Cumulative crash statistics 2003 - 2023

View crash statistics

Crash reports and records (3)

Crash record forms for law enforcement

This page contains the crash report forms and instructions used for all Texas Peace Officers to submit crashes. These forms may only be submitted to TxDOT by investigating agencies via CRASH, submission services, or mobile. Due to TxDOT’s 10-year retention policy for crash reports, there have been several form changes. There are three groups of crash reports and instructions to be used by investigating agencies when reporting crashes.

View Texas Peace Officer’s crash report forms

Crash reports and records (4)

Crash data visualizations

Crash data visualizations available through dashboards and the Traffic Safety Data Portaldraw data from the Crash Records Information System (CRIS) and provide advanced and vital analysis of key emphasis areas to support TxDOT's education campaigns, engineering counter measures, and other efforts to reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on Texas roadways.

  • Comprehensive Crash Data Analysis Dashboard
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Crash reports and records (2024)
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