How to get a car accident report in Tennessee
Every rule below is quoted from Tennessee law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
The short answer
You can buy a Tennessee crash report online for $10, or for $4 in person at a Highway Patrol district office or by mail. Reports are usually ready about 7 days after the crash. A driver must immediately report a crash to local police, the county sheriff, or the state highway patrol if it injures or kills someone, or causes $50 or more in property 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 buy a Tennessee crash report online for $10, or for $4 in person at a Highway Patrol district office or by mail. Reports are usually ready about 7 days after the crash.
“Any driver/owner/passenger or their agent or legal representative may purchase a copy of the Crash Report for a fee of $4.00.”
Your reporting duties
When you must report to police
A driver must immediately report a crash to local police, the county sheriff, or the state highway patrol if it injures or kills someone, or causes $50 or more in property damage.
“immediately, by the quickest means of communication, give notice of the accident”
Whether you must file your own report
The driver must send a written crash report to the Tennessee Department of Safety within 20 days if the crash caused an injury or death, or more than $1,500 in property damage to one person, or $400 in damage to government property.
“The driver of a vehicle that is in any manner involved in an accident resulting in bodily injury to or death to any person, or in which damage to the property of any one (1) person, including the driver's, in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) is sustained, shall within twenty (20) days after the accident, forward a written report of the accident to the department of safety.”
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.