Crash reports and records

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

You may file a subpoena or affidavit request by using our CRIS Request - TxDOT Subpoena and Affidavit Request System link below.

• CRIS Request - TxDOT Subpoena and Affidavit Request System

TxDOT introduced this system in August of 2024 to provide customers with an electronic option for submitting and communicating with TxDOT for their subpoena and affidavit requests. This method eliminates the need for mailing in documents, accruing unnecessary fees, and decreases processing time.

Customers using the online system can search for the desired crash report(s), upload any documentation such as the subpoena, affidavit and any associated legal documents in PDF format to initiate their request for a subpoena and/or affidavit. The customer must pay the required $8 fee with a minimal surcharge for their associated request(s).

CRIS Request will notify the customer and provide a status update. Once TxDOT has processed the request, the customer will receive an email that contains a link allowing the customer to download the necessary documents associated with their request.

The processing times for each request are listed below.

• Affidavit - 10 business days
• Affidavit and a State or Federal Subpoena - 10 business days
• State or Federal Subpoena - 20 business days

All questions in the Subpoena and Affidavit Request must be addressed to TxDOT. If any information is required from the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS), a separate request must be submitted to TxDPS and will not be considered part of the request.

TxDOT 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.