HomeCrash reportsTexasHouston Police Department
How to get a crash report from the Houston Police Department
The Houston Police Department sells crash reports through BuyCrash (LexisNexis) at buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com. Cost: $6.00 non-certified or $8.00 certified by mail (check or money order payable to the City of Houston); the online BuyCrash fee is not stated by HPD. Accident reports require 5 to 8 days processing time before they are available to the public; HPD's form says not to submit a request until at least 10 days after the crash date.
From the Houston Police Department's own pages, checked October 2, 2026
Requesting the report
| Covers | crashes inside Houston city limits worked by HPD |
|---|---|
| Request online | buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com |
| Cost | $6.00 non-certified or $8.00 certified by mail (check or money order payable to the City of Houston); the online BuyCrash fee is not stated by HPD |
| Usually ready | Accident reports require 5 to 8 days processing time before they are available to the public; HPD's form says not to submit a request until at least 10 days after the crash date |
| What you need | At least two of: date of accident, location of accident, name(s) of driver(s)/party(s) involved; the incident number if available. Full copies by mail or in person need the completed H.B. 2633 crash report request form (an eligibility certification under Texas Transportation Code 550.065); online buyers answer the H.B. 2633 questionnaire. |
| In person | Edward A. Thomas Building, 1200 Travis St., Houston, TX 77002, 1st floor (Records Division). The Records Division is open Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm. |
| By mail | Check or money order ($6.00; $8.00 certified) payable to the City of Houston, a self-addressed stamped envelope and the H.B. 2633 form to HPD Records Division, Public Counter Unit, 1200 Travis Street, Houston, TX 77002. |
| Phone | 713-308-8500, Option 3 (Records Division) |
Crash reports are also sold statewide through TxDOT CRIS at https://cris.dot.state.tx.us/public/Purchase/app/home ($6 regular / $8 certified per https://www.txdot.gov/data-maps/crash-reports-records.html).
Need a different police report (theft, incident)? Offense/incident reports: ask for the 'public information report' by email (HPD.OpenRecords@houstontx.gov), fax 713-308-9150, mail to Office of Legal Services / Open Records Unit at 1200 Travis, 10th Floor, or in person at the Records Division counter; Open Records Unit 713-308-9178..
Fatal crashes in Houston
1,582 people died in 1,498 crashes in Houston from 2020 through 2024 (NHTSA FARS), more of them on I-45 than on any other road. In 2024, 351 were killed, 32% more than in 2020.
After you have the report
-
Get the crash report
-
Know your deadline
Texas gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a)). If a city, county or state vehicle was involved: A governmental unit is entitled to notice of a claim not later than six months after the incident; city charters may set a shorter period. Notice is not required if the unit has actual notice of the death, injury or property damage.
-
Who pays
Texas is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
-
If you were partly at fault
You can recover if you are 50% or less responsible, with your damages reduced by your percentage; if you are more than 50% responsible you recover nothing.
-
The other driver’s minimum coverage
The legal minimum liability coverage in Texas is $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash and $25,000 for property (30/60/25).
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for Texas. Both take under a minute.
Questions
How much is a crash report from the Houston Police Department?
$6.00 non-certified or $8.00 certified by mail (check or money order payable to the City of Houston); the online BuyCrash fee is not stated by HPD.
How long does it take to get a Houston crash report?
Accident reports require 5 to 8 days processing time before they are available to the public; HPD's form says not to submit a request until at least 10 days after the crash date.
Can I get my Houston crash report online?
Yes, at buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com. You need: At least two of: date of accident, location of accident, name(s) of driver(s)/party(s) involved; the incident number if available. Full copies by mail or in person need the completed H.B. 2633 crash report request form (an eligibility certification under Texas Transportation Code 550.065); online buyers answer the H.B. 2633 questionnaire.
Sources
- Houston Police Department crash reports: www.houstontx.gov/police/public_information.htm
HPD Public Information Requests: "Accident reports require 5 to 8 days processing time before they are available to the public. Accident reports are handled by the Records Division, 713.308.8500 - Option 3. You must provide at least two of the following in order to obtain an accident report: Date of accident; Location of accident; Name(s) of driver(s) / party(s) involved". "These are the options on how to obtain an accident report: 1. Crash Reports can be purchased online from the Texas Department of Transportation at https://buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com. 2. Send a check / money order for $6.00…
- Request portal: buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com/ (HPD's 'Purchase a copy of an Accident / Crash Repo
- Other police reports: www.houstontx.gov/police/public_information.htm
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.