California Accident Reports: CHP, City Police and the SR-1 Form
Who has your crash report, what drivers must report, insurance rules and traffic deaths in California.
There's I-5, which runs the whole length of the state, nearly 800 miles from the Mexican border at San Ysidro all the way up to Oregon, passing through San Diego, LA, the Central Valley, and Sacramento along the way.
And then there's the 405, which Southern Californians love to complain about for good reason. The stretch near Seal Beach has been ranked the busiest piece of interstate in the country, and stop-and-go traffic through the Sepulveda Pass is basically a daily ritual.
Depending on where a collision takes place, the report may be handled by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) or a local police department. Generally speaking, CHP covers the freeways, so a wreck on the 5 or the 405 will usually mean a CHP report, while a fender bender on a city street is more likely to be handled by local police.
So, if you have recently been in a crash, the first step is figuring out which agency responded and wrote your report, since that determines where you will need to go to get a copy.
Who Has Your California Crash Report
In most of the state, the California Highway Patrol investigates crashes on freeways and state highways, plus county roads outside city limits. City police handle city streets, and in cities that contract with the county for policing, the sheriff’s department takes the report. If an officer gave you a card or case number at the scene, it names the agency.
CHP reports can be requested online through the CHP Crash Portal or on a CHP 190 form. Submit the form in person or by mail to a CHP Area office. By mail, include a copy of your driver’s license or picture ID, and pay by check or money order to the California Highway Patrol. CHP’s published fee is $10 for every 25 pages, and its request page tells you to confirm the exact amount with the Area office.
Under Vehicle Code 20012, reports go to people with a proper interest in the crash. The CHP lists drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, parents of minors, legal guardians, vehicle and property owners, their legal representatives, manufacturer representatives, and insurance companies with a valid claim or policy number.
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 California’s Largest Cities
Each city police department releases its own reports, and these are the request routes for several of the largest:
| Agency | How to request | Fee |
| Los Angeles Police Department | Mail to Records and Identification Division, P.O. Box 30158, Los Angeles, CA 90030, or online through LexisNexis | $19 check or money order by mail |
| San Diego Police Department | Records Division, 1401 Broadway; by mail to SDPD Records, P.O. Box 121431, San Diego, CA 92112; or LexisNexis eCrash online | $12 in person or by mail; set at request online |
| San Jose Police Department | Police report request form, by mail or in person | $16 |
| San Francisco Police Department | Request form by email or by mail to 1245 3rd Street; pick up the report at the same address | Free |
| Fresno Police Department | Records lobby, 2323 Mariposa Street, or BuyCrash online | Free in person, with a $0.20 per page for reports over 10 pages; $12 online |
| Oakland Police Department | Traffic Investigations Unit, 2651 73rd Avenue, or BuyCrash online | $25 in person; $30 online |
| Long Beach Police Department | Request form to 400 West Broadway, Information Management Division | $30 |
| Los Angeles County Sheriff | Through the station that handled the crash, listed on the LASD records page | $25 for the first copy of the report; subsequent copies are free if less than 10 pages long, $0.13 per additional page |
The Reports California Drivers Must File
Two deadlines apply to every driver, regardless of who wrote the police report.
Police: within 24 hours. If anyone was hurt or killed, the crash has to be reported to the CHP or local police within 24 hours, according to the DMV’s driver handbook.
The DMV: within 10 days. File an SR 1 with the DMV within 10 days when anyone was injured, however slightly, or killed, or when property damage tops $1,000. This is required on top of any police or insurance report. You, your insurance agent, broker, or legal representative can file it online or on the paper form.
California Insurance Rules After a Crash
Policies issued or renewed since January 1, 2025 must carry at least $30,000 for injury or death to one person, $60,000 for more than one person, and $15,000 for property damage. That doubled the old injury limits and tripled the property limit, and the minimums rise again to $50,000, $100,000 and $25,000 in 2035 under SB 1107.
Those minimums are for liability coverage, which the Department of Insurance says helps pay for injuries or damage you cause to others. When both drivers are at fault, each carries a percentage of responsibility, which the Department calls comparative negligence. The Department notes that being found at least 51% at fault can raise your premium. Uninsured motorist coverage is optional, though your insurer has to offer it and you have to sign a waiver to turn it down.
California Traffic Deaths by the Numbers
| Measure | Figure | Year | Source |
| People killed in traffic crashes (early estimate) | 3,630 | 2025 | NHTSA |
| People killed in traffic crashes | 3,876 | 2024 | NHTSA |
| Pedestrians killed | 1,090, the most of any state | 2024 | NHTSA |
| Motorcyclists killed | 522 | 2024 | NHTSA |
| Deaths in crashes with an alcohol-impaired driver | 1,311 (34% of all deaths) | 2024 | NHTSA |
| Bicyclists killed | 163 | 2024 | NHTSA |
Note that the 2025 count is NHTSA’s early estimate, published in April 2026, and may change when final data is released. Pedestrians made up 28% of California’s traffic deaths in 2024.
California Crash Guides by City and County
At Local Accident Reports, we cover accidents throughout the country, working county by county and then city by city. From car crashes and motorcycle wrecks to commercial and residential fires, we report on the incidents that happen in communities across the nation.
California is no exception. With 58 counties and 483 municipalities, there are accidents to report every day, and we keep track of what is happening across the state. Our goal, however, goes beyond telling people when and where a crash occurred. We also want drivers and commuters to understand the places they travel through, from major roads and busy highways to dangerous intersections where accidents can happen.
Here, you can find the latest accident reports from communities across California, along with guides to some of the state’s most important cities. That way, you can stay informed about local crashes while learning more about the roads and areas you travel every day.
City crash guides: Anaheim, CA · Bakersfield, CA · Chico, CA · Fresno, CA · Long Beach, CA · Los Angeles, CA · Modesto, CA · Oakland, CA · Oxnard, CA · Redding, CA · Riverside, CA · Sacramento, CA · Salinas, CA · San Bernardino, CA · San Diego, CA · San Francisco, CA · San Jose, CA · Santa Rosa, CA · Stockton, CA · Visalia, CA
County accident news: Los Angeles County · San Diego County · Sacramento County · Riverside County · Orange County · San Bernardino County · Fresno County · Alameda County
Compare nearby states: Western crash reports and car accident laws by state · No-fault states and insurance minimums in all 50 states
The intersections with the worst records statewide are on our California 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.
- California Victim Compensation Board Offers compensation to victims of DUI crashes, hit-and-runs, and vehicular manslaughter. Apply within seven years of the crime.
- MADD Services at no charge for victims and survivors of drunk and drugged driving crashes. 24-hour help line: 877-MADD-HELP (877-623-3435).
- 911. Call 911 after a crash for support.
- Trauma centers. California has 86 designated trauma centers, listed by the state EMS Authority in its trauma center directory.
California Crash Questions
How do I get a CHP accident report?
Request it online through the CHP Crash Portal, or fill out a CHP 190 and take or mail it to a CHP Area office. The CHP’s published fee is $10 per 25 pages, and drivers, injured people, owners, their attorneys and insurers can request a copy.
Do I still need to file an SR-1 if the police made a report?
Yes. The DMV requires the SR 1 within 10 days of any crash that injured or killed someone or caused more than $1,000 in damage, in addition to any police, CHP or insurance report. You, your insurance agent, broker or legal representative can file it online or on the paper form.
Is California a no-fault state?
California’s required minimums are for liability coverage, which the Department of Insurance says helps pay for injuries or damage you cause to others. When both drivers are at fault, each carries a percent of responsibility, which the Department calls comparative negligence. The Department says your premium can go up at renewal if you are at least 51% at fault.
How long do I have to file an injury claim in California?
Two years from the crash for injury claims and two years from the death for wrongful death claims, under Code of Civil Procedure 335.1. A claim against a city, county or state agency must be filed within six months under Government Code 911.2.
Recent California Crash Coverage
Multiple Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash at Corbin Ave and Nordhoff St in Los Angeles, CA
Cyclist Killed in Pickup Truck Collision on Stockton Blvd in South Sacramento, CA
Injury Crash on Santa Fe Ave in Huntington Park, CA
Hit-and-Run Crash Injures Person on SB US-101 at Balboa Blvd in Encino, CA
Two-Vehicle Crash Blocks Westbound SR-91 at Green River Rd in Corona, CA
You can check crashes happening throughout the Golden State at our California accident news page, and our 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.