Search For Your Florida Accident Report

No. Pursuant to section 316.066(1)(f), Florida Statutes, either the long-form or short-form crash reports prepared by law enforcement must be submitted to FLHSMV and may be maintained by the law enforcement officer’s agency.

A Florida Traffic Crash Report, Long Form must be completed and submitted to the department within ten days after an investigation is completed by the law enforcement officer who, in the regular course of duty, investigates a motor vehicle accident that:

• Resulted in death of, personal injury to, or any indication of complaints of pain or discomfort by any of the parties or passengers involved
• Involved a violation of sections 316.061(1) (leaving the scene of a crash with an attended vehicle or property) or 316.193 (driving under the influence), Florida Statutes
• Rendered a vehicle inoperable to a degree that required a wrecker to remove it from the scene of the crash
• Involved a commercial motor vehicle

• The date, time, and location of the incident.
• A description of the vehicles involved.
• The names and addresses of the parties involved, including all drivers and passengers, and the identification of the vehicle in which each was a driver or a passenger.
• The names and addresses of witnesses.
• The name, badge number, and law enforcement agency of the officer investigating the crash.
• The names of the insurance companies for the respective parties involved in the crash.

In any accident for which a Florida Traffic Crash Report, Long Form is not required, the law enforcement officer may complete a short-form crash report or provide a driver exchange-of-information form to be completed by all drivers and passengers involved in the crash. The short-form report must include:

• The date, time, and location of the accident.
• A description of the vehicles involved.
• The names and addresses of the parties involved, including all drivers and passengers, and the identification of the vehicle in which each was a driver or a passenger.
• The names and addresses of witnesses.
• The name, badge number, and law enforcement agency of the officer investigating the crash.
• The names of the insurance companies for the respective parties involved in the crash.

To protect your privacy, only parties directly involved in the crash can receive a Florida traffic crash report. All Florida car accident reports are made available ten days after the incident, but they are prohibited from public disclosure for 60 days after the report date.

While only parties directly involved in the crash may receive a copy of their Florida crash report, other specific parties listed in the Florida statutes may also request a report. Unlawful disclosure of confidential personal information before the 60-day limit is up can lead to criminal third-degree felony charges.

Within the 60-day window, you can request your report by mail or in person, but you must have a Sworn Statement to Obtain a Crash Report to submit to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).

You can request your accident report through the FLHSMV crash portal. Enter your report number, if available, and pay the $10 free plus an added $2 convenience fee for each transaction. If your request is accepted, you will need to wait for an email containing a download link with the required PDF files.

Note that this link to your FLHSMV crash report will only remain valid for 48 hours.

Why should you obtain a Florida accident report in the first place?

When an incident on the roads occurs, a Florida Highway Patrol officer will respond and attend the scene. They will create a Florida highway patrol accident report containing vital information about the incident.

When you search for an accident report, you can expect to see the following:

• Parties involved
• Insurance information from both parties
• Time, date, and location of the accident
• Road conditions at the time of the accident
• Vehicular damage
• Injuries sustained
• If tickets were administered at the scene
• Any other relevant information

Remember, a Florida crash report is not a binding document but an interpretation of what the officer saw. However, knowing how to read a Florida crash report is essential because it can still paint a fuller picture of the accident, which can support your injury claim and defend yourself against liability.

No. In accordance with section 316.066, Florida Statutes, crash reports are confidential and exempt for a period of sixty-days. During this period, only the specific entities identified in section 316.066(2), Florida Statutes, can obtain a copy of the report. These entities include both the parties involved in the crash and their licensed insurance agents. For a complete list of entities, please refer to section 316.066, Florida Statutes. After sixty-days, all crash reports are public records and can be released.

A police department is required to accept a report filed by an owner or operator whose vehicle has been damaged in an accident in which another person unlawfully left the scene even if damage to the vehicle does not exceed $1,000.