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How to get a crash report from the Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department sells crash reports through BuyCrash (LexisNexis) at buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com. Cost: $19.00 check or money order by U.S. Mail; the online BuyCrash fee is not stated on LAPD's page. Allow a minimum of 45 days from the date of the collision before trying to get the report online.
From the Los Angeles Police Department's own pages, checked October 2, 2026
Requesting the report
| Covers | collisions inside Los Angeles city limits worked by LAPD |
|---|---|
| Request online | buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com |
| Cost | $19.00 check or money order by U.S. Mail; the online BuyCrash fee is not stated on LAPD's page |
| Usually ready | Allow a minimum of 45 days from the date of the collision before trying to get the report online |
| What you need | By mail: the Traffic Collision Report Request form (or a written request with type of report, requester's name, address and phone, LAPD DR or incident number if known, date of birth, names of parties, date and time, location, license plate and state, your interest in the report, and a signed declaration that the statement is true and correct). Reports involving an arrest, fatality or juvenile, and reports issued before February 1, 2016, must be requested by mail. |
| By mail | Los Angeles Police Department, Records and Identification Division, Document Processing Unit, P.O. Box 30158, Los Angeles, CA 90030, with a $19.00 check or money order payable to the LAPD (no cash). |
| Phone | (213) 486-8130 (recorded line for information or status) |
Need a different police report (theft, incident)? Crime reports are requested by mail only, with a $28.00 check or money order payable to the LAPD (may be refunded if no report exists); recorded instructions 213 486-8130..
Fatal crashes in Los Angeles
1,637 people died in 1,558 crashes in Los Angeles from 2020 through 2024 (NHTSA FARS), more of them on I-110 than on any other road. In 2024, 308 were killed, 5% more than in 2020.
After you have the report
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Get the crash report
Statewide copies come from California Highway Patrol (CHP), through its Online Crash Report System (Crash Portal) or any CHP Area office, cost CHP 190 by mail or in person: $10.00 for 1-25 pages, $20.00 for 26-50 pages, $30.00 for 51-75 pages, $40.00 for 76-100 pages, with no extra charge for handling or mailing. The online portal fee is not stated on the CHP web pages. and are usually ready typically within eight (8) business days from the date of the crash.
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Know your deadline
California gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). If a city, county or state vehicle was involved: A written claim for death, injury to person or injury to personal property must be presented to the public entity within six months after the cause of action accrues (one year for other claims).
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Who pays
California is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
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If you were partly at fault
If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can still recover even if you were mostly (even 99%) at fault.
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The other driver’s minimum coverage
The legal minimum liability coverage in California is $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash and $15,000 for property (30/60/15).
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for California. Both take under a minute.
Questions
How much is a crash report from the Los Angeles Police Department?
$19.00 check or money order by U.S. Mail; the online BuyCrash fee is not stated on LAPD's page.
How long does it take to get a Los Angeles crash report?
Allow a minimum of 45 days from the date of the collision before trying to get the report online.
Can I get my Los Angeles crash report online?
Yes, at buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com. You need: By mail: the Traffic Collision Report Request form (or a written request with type of report, requester's name, address and phone, LAPD DR or incident number if known, date of birth, names of parties, date and time, location, license plate and state, your interest in the report, and a signed declaration that the statement is true and correct). Reports involving an arrest, fatality or juvenile, and reports issued before February 1, 2016, must be requested by mail.
Sources
- Los Angeles Police Department crash reports: www.lapdonline.org/office-of-the-chief-of-police/office-of-special-operations/tr
LAPD 'Obtain A Traffic Collision Report': "Traffic Collision Reports may be released to authorized persons such as victims, representative(s) of the victim, or such individuals as provided in Section 20012 of the Vehicle Code, by requesting the report online or via United States Mail." "Before attempting to obtain a copy of a Traffic Collision Report online, please allow a minimum of 45 days from the date of the collision to allow the report to be reviewed and approved for release." "To request a report through the United States Mail, download and complete the Traffic Collision Report Request …
- Request portal: buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com/search/?AGENCY=CA0194200&lang=en
- Other police reports: www.lapdonline.org/how-can-i-get-a-copy-of-a-police-report/
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.