Reviewed September 1, 2026. This page provides general information, not legal advice.
Find the right record source before you start a request
A collision report is not kept in one statewide folder that works the same way for every crash. The road and investigating agency matter. A state-highway collision handled by a DPS trooper follows the DPS records path. A crash handled by a city or county agency may require a separate request to that agency. The simplest first step is to identify the facts that narrow the search.
- The date and approximate time of the collision.
- The road, nearest cross streets, mile marker, or address.
- Vehicle plate information and the names shown on exchange paperwork.
- The report number, if one was given to you.
- The agency that handled the collision, when known.
Keep those details in one note. It reduces the chance that a request goes to the wrong place or that you later have to reconstruct basic facts from memory.
DPS-investigated highway collision
For a collision investigated by a DPS trooper on an Interstate or state highway, begin with the DPS records-request guidance. DPS currently says it receives completed reports from troopers within 14 days of the incident and asks requesters to wait at least 14 days before checking availability.
City or county road collision
For a collision handled on a city or county road, identify the local agency that investigated it and follow that agency’s current records process. DPS does not say it retains those local-jurisdiction reports simply because the crash happened in Arizona.
Know the difference between a completed report and an online citizen report
Arizona DPS offers an online citizen-report tool for some minor collisions in its jurisdiction. DPS lists eligibility conditions that include a state-highway location, no reported injuries, estimated damage below $2,000, and no more than two vehicles. The agency also says the online tool does not replace an Arizona Crash Report.
That distinction matters. The online report is based on information submitted by the person making it. DPS explains that it does not lead to a further investigation to identify an at-fault driver, find insurance information, or locate a vehicle that left the scene. Read the current DPS citizen-report instructions before assuming the tool fits your situation.
Use the report as one part of your record, not the entire answer
A collision report can record early information such as names, identifying details, a diagram, or observations. It can be useful. It is also only one document created close to a stressful event. Photos, messages, video, witness contact information, vehicle records, medical records, repair information, and insurance communications may raise separate questions.
Save the original file or mailed copy, not only a cropped screenshot. Write down when you requested it and where it came from. If something on a report seems incomplete or does not match what you remember, keep the report with the material that provides the missing context instead of treating the discrepancy as a final conclusion.
A report number can make the next record request easier
When an insurer, repair shop, medical provider, or government office asks about the collision, use the report number and request date carefully. Do not guess at a number or change the location details to make a request fit. Accurate, plain information is more useful than a complete-looking answer built from assumptions.
Insurance information can be a separate request
A collision report and insurance information are not the same record. ADOT publishes a separate insurance-information request for someone involved in a crash with an Arizona-registered vehicle. Its current instructions list a report from the investigating agency as required documentation. Read the eligibility and documentation instructions directly before sending a request, especially when the other vehicle is registered outside Arizona or the collision happened on private property.
Keep a clean file while the facts are still easy to trace
Start with a folder that holds the report request, report number, photos, insurer messages, medical paperwork, repair records, and a short timeline. Put the date on notes from a call and preserve the original message when you can. That does not decide a claim. It gives you a clearer factual record when you need to understand the next practical step.
For broader information about collision-related injury claims, see the Arizona car accident lawyer resource. It explains the service path without replacing the agency-specific records process described here.
Sort the records before an insurer asks you to decide.
Bring the report request, photos, messages, medical information, and the questions you have. A private case review can help you understand which facts are already documented and which practical questions still need attention.
Request a private case review
Share the basic facts and a callback number. You can also call if that is easier.
Arizona collision-report questions
Can I get every Arizona collision report from DPS?
No. DPS says its Department Records Unit maintains collision reports investigated by DPS troopers on Interstate or state highways. A collision handled on a city or county road may require a request to the jurisdiction that investigated it.
How long should I wait before checking whether a DPS report is available?
DPS currently says it receives completed reports from troopers within 14 days of the collision and asks requesters to wait at least 14 days before checking availability. Request procedures can change, so use the current DPS records page when you are ready to request one.
Does the DPS online citizen report replace an Arizona Crash Report?
No. DPS says its online citizen-report tool does not replace an Arizona Crash Report. The tool has specific eligibility requirements, and the report number it creates is based on the information submitted rather than a further on-scene investigation.
Does a collision report decide fault or insurance coverage?
No. A report can preserve initial details, but it does not settle every responsibility, injury, coverage, or claim question. Keep it with the other records connected to the collision.
