How to get a car accident report in Illinois
Every rule below is quoted from Illinois law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
The short answer
Illinois State Police crash reports can be ordered online through the E-Pay system for a 5 dollar statutory fee plus a service fee, and requests can take 10 or more business days to process. A driver must immediately report a crash if anyone was hurt or killed, or if the property damage to anyone, including the driver, is more than $1,500, or more than $500 if a car in the crash has no insurance.
Which agency has your report
The report comes from the agency whose officer came to the crash. On interstates and state highways that is usually the state police or highway patrol. On city streets it is the city police, and outside city limits it is often the county sheriff. Ask the officer for the report number before you leave the scene.
Requesting a state police crash report
Illinois State Police crash reports can be ordered online through the E-Pay system for a 5 dollar statutory fee plus a service fee, and requests can take 10 or more business days to process.
“A service fee will be added to the statutorily set fee of $5.00 for crash reports obtained through this service ... your request may take 10 or more business days to process.”
Your reporting duties
When you must report to police
A driver must immediately report a crash if anyone was hurt or killed, or if the property damage to anyone, including the driver, is more than $1,500, or more than $500 if a car in the crash has no insurance.
“Notice is required to be given under this subsection (a) if the crash: (1) results in injury to or death of any person; (2) results in damage to the property of any person, including the driver, in excess of $1,500 (or $500 if any of the vehicles involved in the accident is subject to Section 7-601 but is not covered by a liability insurance policy)”
Whether you must file your own report
Illinois drivers do not file their own written crash report with the state in most cases. When police investigate a crash, the officer must send a written report to the state within 10 days. If police were not called for a minor crash, a driver can file a citizen crash report online with the Illinois State Police.
“Every law enforcement officer who investigates a motor vehicle crash for which a report is required by this Article ... shall forward a written report of such motor vehicle crash to the Administrator ... within 10 days after investigation of the motor vehicle crash”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.