How to get a car accident report in Houston, Texas
The local steps are quoted from Houston agency pages and the Texas rules from state law, each with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
The short answer
Houston crash reports are sold online through the LexisNexis crash report portal that the police department links from its own records page. You pick Texas as the state and Houston PD as the agency.
Houston crash reports take about 5 to 8 days to process before the public can get a copy.
A Houston crash report copy costs $6 and a certified copy costs $8. Buying it online adds a service charge on top.
Online
The portal Houston uses
Houston crash reports are sold online through the LexisNexis crash report portal that the police department links from its own records page. You pick Texas as the state and Houston PD as the agency.
“Crash Reports can be purchased online from the Texas Department of Transportation at https://buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com.”
What it costs
A Houston crash report copy costs $6 and a certified copy costs $8. Buying it online adds a service charge on top.
“Mail request and payment of ($6.00 for Non-Certified Crash Report) or ($8.00 for Certified Crash Report)”
When it is ready
Houston crash reports take about 5 to 8 days to process before the public can get a copy.
“Accident reports require 5 to 8 days processing time before they are available to the public.”
In person or by mail
The records office
You can buy a Houston crash report at the police Records Division public counter at 1200 Travis Street, first floor, in the Edward A. Thomas Building. The counter is open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. You can also mail the request with payment, a stamped self addressed envelope and the signed H.B. 2633 form. Call 713-308-8500 and pick option 3 with questions.
“The Records Division is open Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm.”
If no officer came to your crash
Filing it yourself
When no officer comes to your crash, you make the report yourself. Houston tells drivers to go to a police station or to the Vehicular Crimes Division office within 24 hours of the crash. That office can be reached at 713 247-4072.
“citizen to make a report at a police station or at the Vehicular Crimes Division (VCD) office within 24 hours”
What Texas requires you to file
Texas does not require the driver to separately file a written crash report with the state. That duty falls on the investigating law enforcement officer, who must file an electronic report within 10 days if the crash caused injury, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more. Texas repealed its old driver-filed report requirement in 2017.
“A law enforcement officer who in the regular course of duty investigates a motor vehicle collision shall make a written report of the collision if the collision resulted in injury to or the death of a person or damage to the property of any one person to the apparent extent of $1,000 or more. The report required by Subsection (a) must be filed electronically with the department not later than the 10th day after the date of the collision.”
If the crash was on a highway
A different agency has that report
If a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper worked your crash on a state highway instead of Houston police, do not go to the city records counter. DPS sends you to the Texas Department of Transportation online purchase system for the same CR-3 crash report.
“You may obtain a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3) (regular or certified) from the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Report Online Purchase System.”
Requesting a Texas state police report
You can buy a Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report (CR-3) online through the Crash Report Online Purchase System. A regular copy costs $6 and a certified copy costs $8.
“$6 for a regular copy. $8 for a certified copy”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
The state law behind these steps
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.