How to get a car accident report in Washington
Every rule below is quoted from Washington law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
The short answer
You can request a Washington State Patrol collision report online through the WRECR system, or by mail to the Collision Records Section in Olympia. The fee is $10.50 per report. Reports are typically ready within 2 to 4 weeks, since officers have up to that long to finish and get their report approved. A driver must report a crash if it hurt or killed someone, or caused $500 or more in damage to one person's property. The written report is due within four days, to city police if the crash was in a city, or to the county sheriff or State Patrol if it happened outside a city.
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 Washington State Patrol collision report online through the WRECR system, or by mail to the Collision Records Section in Olympia. The fee is $10.50 per report. Reports are typically ready within 2 to 4 weeks, since officers have up to that long to finish and get their report approved.
“search for a collision report from a computer station with internet access and an e-mail account... a fee of $10.50 will be charged per RCW 46.52.085... It may take up to a total of 2-4 weeks before the report is available for request”
Your reporting duties
When you must report to police
A driver must report a crash if it hurt or killed someone, or caused $500 or more in damage to one person's property. The written report is due within four days, to city police if the crash was in a city, or to the county sheriff or State Patrol if it happened outside a city.
“the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or damage to the property of any one person to an apparent extent equal to or greater than the minimum amount... within four days after such accident, make a written report”
Whether you must file your own report
Washington's crash report law does not send drivers to a separate DMV form. The same written report described in police_report_duty goes to city police, the county sheriff, or the State Patrol within four days when the crash meets the injury, death, or $500 property damage threshold.
“within four days after such accident, make a written report”
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.