HomeCrash reportsIllinois
How to get an Illinois crash report
Copies come from Illinois State Police (ISP) Patrol Records Unit, for crashes ISP investigated. Request one at isp.illinois.gov. Cost: $5.00 statutory fee (service fee added online: 2.35% with a $1.00 minimum on credit cards); an unredacted copy needs a subpoena or judge's order plus a $20.00 subpoena processing fee. Online requests "may take 10 or more business days to process".
Checked against the official pages on October 2, 2026
The statewide copy
| Who has it | Illinois State Police (ISP) Patrol Records Unit, for crashes ISP investigated |
|---|---|
| Where to request it | isp.illinois.gov |
| Covers | Only crashes the Illinois State Police investigated (check the 'Investigated By' box on your motorist report). ISP "rarely handles traffic crashes occurring on municipal streets"; other crashes come from the investigating city or county agency. |
| Cost | $5.00 statutory fee (service fee added online: 2.35% with a $1.00 minimum on credit cards); an unredacted copy needs a subpoena or judge's order plus a $20.00 subpoena processing fee |
| Usually ready | Online requests "may take 10 or more business days to process" |
| What you need | Agency crash report number, a driver's first and last name, date and location of the crash, and county. By mail: also names of involved parties and a self-addressed stamped envelope. |
| Who can get a copy | Redacted reports are released under the Illinois FOIA; to get an unredacted copy send a subpoena or an order signed by a judge. |
| By mail | Written request with a $5.00 check or money order payable to "Illinois State Police" (no cash) and a self-addressed stamped envelope to Illinois State Police, Patrol Records Unit, 801 South 7th Street, Suite 600-M, Springfield, IL 62703. Phone 217/785-0614. |
Reports taken by city police or a sheriff
For most crashes, contact the police department or sheriff named in the 'Investigated By' box on your Driver's Information Exchange or motorist report; each sets its own process and fee. ISP says to "contact the listed investigating agency to obtain a copy of your traffic crash report."
The form: SR 1050
Officers in Illinois write crash reports on the Illinois Traffic Crash Report (SR 1050). Most boxes on it hold numeric codes for things like contributing factors, injuries and road conditions. The state publishes the key to those codes:
City police and sheriff reports in Illinois
| Agency | Covers | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Police Department | Chicago | $6.00 per report |
When you must call the police
If no officer is present, give notice by the fastest means to local police, the county sheriff or Illinois State Police when anyone is injured or killed, damage to anyone's property (including yours) exceeds $1,500 ($500 if a vehicle lacks required liability insurance), or a school bus is involved in certain crashes (625 ILCS 5/11-407(a))
After you have the report
Illinois gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Every Illinois deadline and fault rule.
Illinois is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
6,213 people died in crashes in Illinois from 2020 to 2024 (NHTSA FARS). See the record for your county.
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for Illinois. Both take under a minute.
Questions
How much does an Illinois crash report cost?
$5.00 statutory fee (service fee added online: 2.35% with a $1.00 minimum on credit cards); an unredacted copy needs a subpoena or judge's order plus a $20.00 subpoena processing fee, from Illinois State Police (ISP) Patrol Records Unit, for crashes ISP investigated. Reports taken by a city police department or sheriff may be priced differently by that agency.
How long does it take to get a crash report in Illinois?
Online requests "may take 10 or more business days to process". The officer has to finish and submit the report before it can be sold.
Are Illinois crash reports public?
Redacted reports are released under the Illinois FOIA; to get an unredacted copy send a subpoena or an order signed by a judge.
Sources
- Statewide crash reports: isp.illinois.gov/CrashReports/Mail
ISP: "In order to obtain a copy of a crash report completed by the ISP, first verify the ISP handled the traffic crash. ... If this box does not indicate 'Illinois State Police', please contact the listed investigating agency to obtain a copy of your traffic crash report." "The Illinois State Police rarely handles traffic crashes occurring on municipal streets." "A service fee will be added to the statutorily set fee of $5.00 for crash reports obtained through this service." "All requests for crash reports will be governed by the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 ILCS 140/1, and yo…
- Request portal: isp.illinois.gov/CrashReports/EPay
- Local police and sheriff reports: isp.illinois.gov/CrashReports/EPay
- SR 1050 codes: idot.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idot/documents/transportation-system/ma
- Driver report duty (Public Act 102-0560; 625 ILCS 5/11-406 and 11-410 (repealed)): idot.illinois.gov/form-and-reports/crash-reports.html
IDOT: "Under a recent change to Illinois Statute, completion of the Illinois Motorist Report is no longer a requirement. Based on Public Act 102-0560, a motorist involved in a motor vehicle crash will not need to fill out an SR1B Illinois Motorist Report and send it to the Illinois Department of Transportation." 625 ILCS 5/11-406: "Sec. 11-406. (Repealed). (Repealed by P.A. 102-560, eff. 8-20-21.)" ISP page (conflicting): "Each driver involved in an Illinois traffic crash must file a crash report if the crash caused a death, bodily injury, or more than $1,500 of property damage when all driver…
- When to call police (625 ILCS 5/11-407(a)): www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/062500050K11-407.htm
"The driver of a vehicle that is in any manner involved in a crash in this State that requires notice to be given to the local police department, the county sheriff, or the Illinois State Police under this Section shall, if no police officer is present, give notice of the crash by the fastest available means of communication ... Notice is required to be given under this subsection (a) if the crash: (1) results in injury to or death of any person; (2) results in damage to the property of any person, including the driver, in excess of $1,500 (or $500 if any of the vehicles involved in the accide…
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.