HomeCrash reportsWashington
How to get a Washington crash report
Copies come from Washington State Patrol, Collision Records Section (WRECR system); WSP is the custodian of all collision reports in Washington. Request one at wrecr.wsp.wa.gov. The fee is not stated on the official page.
Checked against the official pages on October 2, 2026
The statewide copy
| Who has it | Washington State Patrol, Collision Records Section (WRECR system); WSP is the custodian of all collision reports in Washington |
|---|---|
| Where to request it | wrecr.wsp.wa.gov |
| Covers | Collision reports from all Washington law enforcement agencies (WSP 'is the custodian of all collision reports within the State of Washington'), plus civilian motor vehicle collision reports |
| What you need | Name of an involved party and the date of the collision; search at WRECR and complete the transaction |
| Who can get a copy | Entitled parties receive a non-redacted copy; people or agencies who are not entitled parties receive a redacted copy under the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) |
| By mail | Request for Copy of Collision Report form with check or money order for $10.50 payable to the Washington State Patrol to Washington State Patrol, Collision Records Section, P.O. Box 42628, Olympia, WA 98504-2628 |
Reports taken by city police or a sheriff
Local police departments send requesters to WSP: the Seattle Police page says 'Washington State Patrol is the custodian of all collision reports within the State of Washington. You can request a copy of any collision report through their website,' and for collisions outside Seattle, contact the local agency or search the WSP collision report search.
The form: PTCR / MVCR
Officers in Washington write crash reports on the Police Traffic Collision Report (PTCR); civilian report is the State of Washington Motor Vehicle Collision Report (MVCR, WSP form 3000-345-161) (PTCR / MVCR). 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 Washington
| Agency | Covers | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Police Department | Seattle | $10.50 per report through WSP |
| Spokane Police Department | Spokane | $10.50 per report |
After you have the report
Washington gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(2)). Every Washington deadline and fault rule.
Washington is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
3,530 people died in crashes in Washington 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 Washington. Both take under a minute.
Questions
Are Washington crash reports public?
Entitled parties receive a non-redacted copy; people or agencies who are not entitled parties receive a redacted copy under the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56)
Sources
- Statewide crash reports: wsp.wa.gov/driver/collision-records/
Step 2) Provide the name of the involved party(s), the date of the collision, and select "Search" ... Step 4) Complete your transaction to finish your request. If you wish to obtain a copy of your request, a fee of $10.50 will be charged per RCW 46.52.085. It may take up to a total of 2-4 weeks before the report is available for request. | individuals who are entitled parties will receive a non-redacted copy of the record per the RCW listed below. Additionally, those individuals or agencies that do not meet the definition of entitled parties will be provided a redacted copy of the collision re…
- Request portal: wrecr.wsp.wa.gov/wrecr/order
- Local police and sheriff reports: www.seattle.gov/police/need-help/property-crimes/collision
- PTCR / MVCR codes: wsp.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Police_Traffic_Collision_Report_Instructio
- Driver report duty (RCW 46.52.030(1); WAC 446-85-010): app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.52.030
Unless a report is to be made by a law enforcement officer under subsection (3) of this section, the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or damage to the property of any one person to an apparent extent equal to or greater than the minimum amount established by rule ... shall, within four days after such accident, make a written report of such accident to the chief of police of the city or town ... or the county sheriff or state patrol if such accident occurred outside incorporated cities and towns. | WAC 446-85-010: Beginning January 1, …
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.