Spanish 
English 
El CHP 190 form, called the Application for Release of Information, lets an eligible person request a copy of a crash report investigated by the California Highway Patrol. You can submit the form by mail or in person. Eligible requesters can also use CHP’s online Crash Portal. A request for a report is not the same as reporting an accident to the DMV.
Start with the official CHP crash-report request instructions. They link to the current form, online portal and Area offices. State Law Firm is not a government records office and does not issue CHP reports.
Who can request a CHP crash report?
CHP requires a proper connection to the incident, described as being a “party of interest.” Its request guidance includes involved drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians and passengers; parents of minors and legal guardians; vehicle or property owners; legal representatives; manufacturer representatives; and insurers with a valid policy or claim number.
Your relationship to the person involved does not, by itself, settle every eligibility question. Before submitting identification or paying a fee, ask the Area office what proof it needs for your particular role. Do not select a category simply because it seems most likely to obtain the report.
Choose an online, mail or in-person request
| Option | Where to start | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Online | CHP Crash Portal | Follow the portal’s account and eligibility instructions; confirm whether your report is available. |
| CHP 190 and the receiving Area office | Confirm the mailing address, required identification and exact payment before sending the packet. | |
| In person | A CHP Area office | Check office hours and what to bring before traveling. |
CHP’s current request page permits submission to the nearest Area office. Its collision-report FAQs also explain that one CHP office can help obtain a report investigated by another CHP office. If another police agency investigated the crash, request the report from that agency instead.
How to fill out the CHP 190 form
Use the form linked from CHP’s request page rather than an unofficial form-filling service. The official CHP 190 PDF identifies the information requested and the sections reserved for office use.
- Identify the incident. Enter the collision date, location and driver or owner information. If the date is uncertain, identify it as approximate; describe the location as specifically as you can.
- Select your role. Check and complete one party-of-interest category. An insurance representative must provide the policy or claim number. An authorized person needs signed authorization.
- Provide the applicant details. Print your name and complete mailing address. Complete agency or company information when applicable.
- Sign accurately. Read the declaration before signing and dating. It is a statement under penalty of perjury about your claimed party-of-interest status.
- Leave office-use areas alone. The report and receipt number boxes are marked for office use. If you already have a report number, keep it available to help the office identify the record.
Before sending the request, compare the identifying details with your own crash paperwork. Keep a copy of what you submit and a note of when and where you sent it. This gives you a clear reference if you need to follow up.
Identification, payment and report fees
For a mailed request, CHP instructs applicants to attach a photocopy of a driver license or picture identification card. If neither is available, CHP says the request must be certified by a notary. Confirm any additional documentation required for a representative request.
El CHP report-request guidance lists reproduction fees by length: $10 for 1–25 pages, $20 for 26–50, $30 for 51–75 and $40 for 76–100. It lists another $10 for each additional 25 pages or portion above 100. Confirm the exact charge with the receiving office rather than guessing the report length.
For mail, that guidance specifies a personal check or money order payable to California Highway Patrol and says not to send cash. Ask separately about photographs or other materials; do not assume the standard report charge includes every record you want. Follow the portal’s own instructions for an online request.
How long does a CHP report take?
Do not plan around a guaranteed release date. Ask the handling office whether the report is ready, whether your request is complete, and when to check again. Online access does not establish that an investigation is finished or that a particular report is immediately downloadable.
If a search does not locate the report, recheck the crash details and investigating agency before submitting another request or payment. Keep the response from CHP with your claim records. If your insurer is waiting for the report, explain its status and ask what other documents it can review meanwhile.
You can also ask whether your insurer already obtained a copy. CHP identifies requesting a copy from your insurance provider as another option that may save the report fee.
What if the report contains an error?
Read the report against your own records. Separate a factual discrepancy, such as an incorrect vehicle description, from disagreement with an account of how the crash occurred. Identify the precise item rather than saying only that the entire report is wrong.
For an involved party who disagrees with a report, CHP’s FAQs describe submitting a written supplemental statement. Include the report number, your name and the specific disputed items, then deliver it to a CHP office or send it by mail. CHP says it responds by mail and discourages calling the investigating officer directly because that prevents tracking the concern.
Keep the original report unchanged. Save your supplemental statement and supporting records separately. Submitting a disagreement is not a promise that CHP will change its findings, and the report should not be treated as a substitute for reviewing the other evidence in an injury claim.
CHP 190 is different from DMV SR-1 and SR-19C
These forms serve different purposes:
- CHP 190: requests information from CHP, including a CHP-investigated crash report.
- SR-1: reports a qualifying accident to DMV. DMV requires this report within 10 days when someone is injured or killed, or property damage exceeds $1,000. A report to police, CHP or an insurer does not replace it. See our California SR-1 filing guide.
- SR-19C: requests financial-responsibility information from DMV. It is not a request for the investigating officer’s CHP report. Our SR-19C guide addresses that separate process.
Likewise, requesting a written collision report should not be treated as confirmation that traffic-camera footage or other recordings have been requested or preserved. Identify the specific evidence needed rather than assuming every record comes in the same packet.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I download the CHP 190 form?
Use the PDF linked from CHP’s official crash-report request page. You do not need a third-party document subscription to locate the government form.
Can a passenger request the report?
CHP lists involved passengers among eligible parties of interest. Confirm what identification or supporting information the office needs for your request.
Do I have to return to the city where the crash happened?
Not necessarily. CHP offers online and mail options, and its FAQs explain that another CHP office can help obtain a CHP-investigated report. Verify arrangements before making a trip.
Do I need an attorney just to request a report?
No. Eligible people can request their own reports. Legal review may be useful when an injury claim involves disputed responsibility, conflicting evidence, significant losses or an unclear settlement proposal, rather than simply because a form is required.
Using the report in an injury claim
Obtaining the report is one documentation step. Keep it with photographs, witness information, medical records and insurance correspondence so the different records can be considered together. A report request does not resolve every question about responsibility, available insurance or the effects of an injury.
If those issues remain disputed after a California crash, State Law Firm’s Abogados de accidentes automovilísticos en Sherman Oaks can review the circumstances and explain potential next steps. You can request a consultation without assuming that obtaining a report requires a lawsuit.
This article provides general information, not individualized legal advice. Confirm current forms, fees and submission requirements directly with the responsible agency.
