Arizona Crash Reports: DPS, City Police and Insurance Rules
Who has your crash report, what drivers must report, insurance rules and traffic deaths in Arizona.
With long stretches of open highway meeting busy suburban roads throughout the Valley, crashes can happen in very different driving environments, and the agency that responds depends on where the collision takes place. That matters when you need a copy of your crash report, because the Arizona Department of Public Safety and local police departments do not handle every crash. Knowing which agency responded is the first step toward finding your report.
Who Has Your Arizona Crash Report
The Arizona Department of Public Safety’s Highway Patrol covers the state highway system, including all six interstates, with troopers across 16 districts. City police handle city streets, and county sheriffs handle unincorporated areas, such as the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office around the Valley and the Pima County Sheriff around Tucson.
DPS reports are requested online through the DPS Public Services Portal. An electronic copy costs $9. The DPS records unit receives troopers’ completed reports within 14 days of a crash, and once a report is in, the portal generally fills requests that include the full incident number within 48 hours.
Paper copies of the report are $9 for the first nine pages, and records can also be picked up at DPS headquarters, 2222 W. Encanto Boulevard in Phoenix, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
People involved in the crash, vehicle owners, their representatives, and attorneys or licensed private investigators representing someone involved can get an unredacted report. Licensed insurers can too when the report relates to a fraudulent claim investigation. State law bars using crash reports to solicit business.
Don’t want to deal with the forms, or not sure which agency took your report? We can get a copy of your report for you at no cost.
Police Reports From Major Arizona Cities
Each city police department and sheriff’s office releases its own reports, and many sell them through an outside vendor:
| Agency | How to request | Fee |
| Phoenix Police Department | City public safety records portal, “Traffic Crash” request | $0.24 per page |
| Tucson Police Department | Crashdocs online | Set at request |
| Mesa Police Department | BuyCrash online; fatal crash reports are not online | $2.60 for involved parties; $5 if not |
| Chandler Police Department | BuyCrash or Crashdocs online, or a request to the department (normal processing 7 to 10 business days) | Department copies: $5 for the first 50 pages, $0.15 for each additional page |
| Gilbert Police Department | BuyCrash online, or the Records Section for fatal crashes | Set at request |
| Glendale Police Department | JustFOIA portal or BuyCrash | Set at request |
| Scottsdale Police Department | Crashdocs, using the report (DR) number | Set at request |
| Tempe Police Department | JustFOIA portal, or 120 E. 5th St. | Department copies: $5 for the first 20 pages, $0.25 for each additional page |
| Maricopa County Sheriff | BuyCrash; allow seven business days; reports on fatal or serious injury crashes or DUIs are delayed and can take six months or longer | Set at request |
| Pima County Sheriff | Online records form, or 1650 E. Benson Hwy., Suite C, Tucson | $5 for up to 20 pages, $0.25 for each additional page |
Once you have the report, ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division will look up the other driver’s insurance company for $3 on Form 40-5901, if the other vehicle is registered in Arizona. The form only works with a police crash report.
What Arizona Drivers Must Report
Arizona law, under Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) section 28-666, says the driver in any crash that injures or kills someone must notify police immediately, by the fastest means available: city police inside a city, the county sheriff, or the nearest Highway Patrol office.
Officers then write the report themselves. Under section 28-667, an investigating officer files a written report within 24 hours of finishing the investigation whenever the crash caused injury, death, or more than $2,000 in damage. The investigating agency sends a copy of the report to ADOT, and a city may also require drivers to file a report with it by local ordinance under section ARS 28-671.
Arizona Insurance Rules After a Crash
Since July 1, 2020, Arizona policies must carry at least $25,000 for injury or death to one person, $50,000 for two or more people, and $15,000 for property damage under ARS section 28-4009. Insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in writing, and it is added only if you ask for it.
A person hurt in a crash can bring a damages claim against the driver responsible. Under section 12-2505, a claimant who was partly at fault can still recover, with the award reduced in proportion to their own share of fault.
Arizona Traffic Deaths by the Numbers
| Measure | Figure | Year | Source |
| People killed in traffic crashes | 1,156 | 2025 | ADOT |
| Total crashes | 118,052 | 2025 | ADOT |
| Deaths on local roads | 709 | 2025 | ADOT |
| Deaths on state highways | 447 | 2025 | ADOT |
| Speeding-related deaths | 367 | 2025 | ADOT |
| Alcohol-related deaths | 334 | 2025 | ADOT |
| Motorcyclists killed | 194 | 2025 | ADOT |
ADOT released these 2025 figures in August 2026, the third straight year of fewer deaths. Most of the state’s traffic deaths happened on local roads, off the state highway system.
Arizona Crash Guides by City and County
At Local Accident Reports, we cover crashes across the country. That means going county by county, and then city by city, focusing on car crashes, motorcycle wrecks, commercial and residential fires, and every other kind of accident happening in every corner of the nation.
Arizona is no exception. With 15 counties and 91 municipalities, there are crashes to report every single day, and that’s what we do. But we don’t stop there. We don’t just want to tell drivers and commuters when and where a crash happened. We also want to help people get to know the cities they drive in, including the most important roads and the most dangerous intersections, so they have a clear picture of what to expect behind the wheel.
Here you’ll find the latest accidents across Arizona’s counties and communities, along with guides to some of the state’s most important cities.
City crash guides: Phoenix, AZ
County accident news: Maricopa County · Pima County · Mohave County · Pinal County · Cochise County · Yavapai County · Yuma County · Coconino County
Compare nearby states: Southwest crash reports and car accident laws by state · No-fault states and insurance minimums in all 50 states
Questions about getting, reading or correcting a police report? See our accident report FAQ.
Intersections and road stretches with high crash counts from 2018 to 2022 are listed on our Arizona dangerous intersections page.
Help After a Crash
- Local Accident Reports. After a crash, we can connect you with local help, from doctors and body shops to injury attorneys. Contact our team.
- Victim Compensation Program Administered by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, with claims processed at the county level, it helps pay crime victims’ expenses, such as medical costs, when no other source covers them.
- MADD Arizona Support at no charge for victims and survivors of drunk or drugged driving crashes. 24-hour help line: 877-MADD-HELP (877-623-3435).
- 911. Call or text 911 after an accident for support.
- Trauma centers. Arizona has 13 adult Level I trauma centers on the Department of Health Services’ designated trauma center list.
Arizona Crash Questions
How do I get an Arizona DPS crash report?
Request it on the DPS Public Services Portal. An electronic copy is $9. The DPS records unit receives troopers’ completed reports within 14 days of the crash, and requests with the full incident number are generally filled within 48 hours after that.
Is Arizona a no-fault state?
Arizona requires liability coverage of at least $25,000, $50,000, and $15,000 under ARS section 28-4009, and a person hurt in a crash can bring a damages claim against the driver responsible. Under ARS section 12-2505, a claimant who was partly at fault can still recover, with the award reduced in proportion to their own share of fault.
How do I find the other driver’s insurance in Arizona?
Send ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division Form 40-5901 with a $3 fee. The MVD then looks up the other driver’s insurance company for you. It works when the other vehicle is registered in Arizona, and the MVD needs a police crash report to process it.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Arizona?
Two years for injury and wrongful death claims under ARS section 12-542. A claim against a city, county, or state agency needs a written notice within 180 days under subsection 12-821.01 and a lawsuit within one year under section 12-821. A claim not filed within those 180 days is barred.
Recent Arizona Crash Coverage
Cyclist Injured in Vehicle Collision on Kinney Rd in Tucson, AZ
Mobility Scooter Rider Injured on Fort Lowell Rd in Tucson, AZ
Serious Injuries Reported in I-10 EB Crash Near SR 85 in Buckeye, AZ
Serious Crash Closes Ln on US 60 Near Gold Canyon, AZ
Crash Reported at South Prudence Rd and East Escalante Rd in Tucson, AZ
The full archive is at Arizona accident news, and recent accident alerts follow new crashes nationwide as they are reported.
Local Accident Reports compiles this information from public agency sources and published reports for general reference. It is not legal advice and is not an official police record. Fees, forms and deadlines change, so confirm with the agency before you send a request. Last updated October 2026.