If you’ve been in an accident near or in Austin, Texas, and need access to a police report, getting one is a fairly straightforward process if you know where to look.

However, accessing these documents involves navigating the procedures of both the Austin Police Department (APD) and, in some cases, the State Highway Patrol. Understanding the processes for obtaining reports from both entities can help you get access to these essential records quickly and efficiently.

Here are the ways you can get a copy of an Austin police accident report. 

Obtaining a Police Report from the Austin Police Department

The APD offers three methods for obtaining an accident report: via mail, online, or in person.

Online

Access to crash reports online is available for a fee via the legal research company LexisNexis in both English and Spanish. Take note that these reports are no longer available on the APD Incident Report Database.

To access the report you are looking for, you’ll need to provide specific incident information such as date, location, and involved parties. Once the information and payment are processed, you will be able to download the report.

In Person

Accident reports can be accessed in person as well, but it is important to remember that you must have a case number for this method. To purchase a report in person, visit the APD’s Main Police Headquarters, located at 715 E 8th Street. The hours of operation for report sales are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4 PM. You can also call 512-974-5499 to see if the report is ready before visiting.

Mail

The final way to obtain your accident report is via mail. To obtain a copy of a crash report by this method, you must send a self-addressed, stamped envelope with the required fee (cash, check, or money order) and mail it to: 

Austin Police Department Report Sales P.O. Box 689001, Austin, TX 78768.

State Highway Patrol Reports in Texas

When a police report is filed by the State Highway Patrol in Texas, accessing these reports involves a different process, which is handled by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).To obtain a copy of a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3), you’ll need to access TxDOT’s Crash Report Online Purchase System.

Using this website, you can search for your specific accident report and pay a fee to download it. Before 2019, TxDOT also stored Driver's Crash Reports (Form CR-2), but these are no longer available through the agency. It is important to note that TxDOT stores crash reports for 10 years, so reports made prior to that may not be accessible. 

Key Considerations

While processing report requests typically doesn’t take too long, the time it takes to receive it depends on the request method. If you need a report as quickly as possible, online is usually the fastest way. Fees may change as well, so check with either the APD or TxDOT to see what each copy of a report will cost.

Questions? Contact Us

If you are involved in an accident in the Austin area, the personal injury team at the Grossman Law Offices is here to help. With decades of combined experience and millions of dollars earned on behalf of our clients, we have the skills to help those injured by the negligence of others.

For a consultation, call our office at 855-326-0000 or fill out our online contact form to get started today.