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How to get a crash report from the Philadelphia Police Department
The Philadelphia Police Department sells crash reports at public-safety-reports.phila.gov. Cost: $25 per police accident (crash) report. Paid by cash, money order, business check or certified check payable to City of Philadelphia for in-person or mail requests; personal checks, credit cards and debit cards are not accepted for in-person or mail requests. Processing estimate for crash reports: 2 to 3 weeks.
From the Philadelphia Police Department's own pages, checked October 2, 2026
Requesting the report
| Covers | crashes inside Philadelphia worked by PPD; crash reports are issued by the city Department of Records, not by PPD directly |
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| Request online | public-safety-reports.phila.gov |
| Cost | $25 per police accident (crash) report. Paid by cash, money order, business check or certified check payable to City of Philadelphia for in-person or mail requests; personal checks, credit cards and debit cards are not accepted for in-person or mail requests. |
| Usually ready | Processing estimate for crash reports: 2 to 3 weeks |
| What you need | Application and affidavit for crash report (PDF) certifying eligibility to request the report; some reports contain confidential information and are not available to everyone |
| In person | Department of Records, Public Safety Records Unit, City Hall, Room 170, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19107. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| By mail | Mail the application and payment to the same Public Safety Records Unit address (City Hall, Room 170, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19107) |
| Phone | (215) 686-2266 |
Need a different police report (theft, incident)? Police incident or offense reports must be requested in person or by mail through the Department of Records ($25, processing estimate 10 to 12 weeks)..
Fatal crashes in Philadelphia
712 people died in 675 crashes in Philadelphia from 2020 through 2024 (NHTSA FARS), more of them on SR-611 than on any other road. In 2024, 136 were killed, 18% fewer than in 2020.
After you have the report
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Get the crash report
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Know your deadline
Pennsylvania gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2)). If a city, county or state vehicle was involved: Within six months of the injury or accrual of the cause of action, a person about to sue a government unit must file a written statement of the claim with that unit (and with the Attorney General for Commonwealth parties).
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Who pays
Pennsylvania lets drivers choose between no-fault and traditional at-fault coverage.
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If you were partly at fault
You can recover if your negligence is not greater than the defendants' (50% or less), with your award reduced by your share; at 51% or more you recover nothing.
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The other driver’s minimum coverage
The legal minimum liability coverage in Pennsylvania is $15,000 per injured person, $30,000 per crash and $5,000 for property (15/30/5).
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for Pennsylvania. Both take under a minute.
Questions
How much is a crash report from the Philadelphia Police Department?
$25 per police accident (crash) report. Paid by cash, money order, business check or certified check payable to City of Philadelphia for in-person or mail requests; personal checks, credit cards and debit cards are not accepted for in-person or mail requests.
How long does it take to get a Philadelphia crash report?
Processing estimate for crash reports: 2 to 3 weeks.
Can I get my Philadelphia crash report online?
Yes, at public-safety-reports.phila.gov. You need: Application and affidavit for crash report (PDF) certifying eligibility to request the report; some reports contain confidential information and are not available to everyone.
Sources
- Philadelphia Police Department crash reports: www.phila.gov/services/crime-law-justice/get-a-copy-of-a-public-safety-report/
You can use the public safety reports application to get copies of: Crash reports; Fire incident reports. You must request all other reports in person or by mail. | You can pay by cash, money order, business check, or certified check. We do not accept personal checks, credit cards, or debit cards. Make checks payable to "City of Philadelphia." | Crash report ... Department of Records ... 2 to 3 weeks | Department of Records, Public Safety Records Unit, City Hall, Room 170, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19107. Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. [Source…
- Request portal: public-safety-reports.phila.gov/
- Other police reports: www.phila.gov/services/crime-law-justice/get-a-copy-of-a-public-safety-report/
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.