How to get a car accident report in Pennsylvania
Every rule below is quoted from Pennsylvania law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
The short answer
You can request a copy of a Pennsylvania State Police crash report online. It costs $22 and is not available until 15 days after the crash. A driver must immediately notify police by the fastest means available if the crash caused injury or death, or if a vehicle is damaged badly enough that it cannot be driven away under its own power without further damage.
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 request a copy of a Pennsylvania State Police crash report online. It costs $22 and is not available until 15 days after the crash.
“The fee for a crash report is $22. Crash reports are available 15 days after the date of the crash. Use the Online Crash Report Requests site to get a crash report.”
Your reporting duties
When you must report to police
A driver must immediately notify police by the fastest means available if the crash caused injury or death, or if a vehicle is damaged badly enough that it cannot be driven away under its own power without further damage.
“The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice to the nearest office of a duly authorized police department if the accident involves: injury to or death of any person; or damage to any vehicle involved to the extent that it cannot be driven under its own power in its customary manner without further damage or hazard to the vehicle, other traffic elements, or the roadway, and therefore requires towing.”
Whether you must file your own report
If police do not investigate a crash that should have been reported, the driver must send a written report to PennDOT within 5 days.
“If a police officer does not investigate an accident required to be investigated by section 3746 (relating to immediate notice of accident to police department), the driver of a vehicle which is in any manner involved in the accident shall, within five days of 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.