How to get a car accident report in Iowa
Every rule below is quoted from Iowa law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
The short answer
You can look up a free Iowa State Patrol crash report online for 15 days after the crash. After that, you have to contact the Iowa State Patrol district office directly. If the crash injured or killed someone, the driver must notify police or the state patrol right away.
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
You can look up a free Iowa State Patrol crash report online for 15 days after the crash. After that, you have to contact the Iowa State Patrol district office directly.
“There is no charge to view any report that is posted on this site.”
Your reporting duties
When you must report to police
If the crash injured or killed someone, the driver must notify police or the state patrol right away.
“shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice of such accident to the sheriff of the county in which said accident occurred, or the nearest office of the state patrol”
Whether you must file your own report
The driver must send Iowa's Department of Transportation a written crash report within 72 hours if the crash caused injury or death, or at least $1,500 in total property damage. You do not have to file it yourself if a law enforcement agency already investigated the crash.
“total property damage to an apparent extent of one thousand five hundred dollars or more shall, within seventy-two hours after the accident, forward a written report of the accident to the department”
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.