How to Get a Crash Report in Missouri

For crashes investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP)^[1], you can obtain an official crash report by mail from the Patrol Records Division or the appropriate troop headquarters. The fee is $6.00 per basic motor vehicle crash report.^[1]

Step 1: Search online. Visit the MSHP HP68 portal^[2] at mshp.dps.mo.gov/HP68/search.jsp to locate your crash. This portal contains preliminary information about injury and fatal crashes investigated by the Highway Patrol and serves as a search tool to identify crashes from the past 29 days.^[2] Note that these online reports are unofficial and are for identification purposes only.^[2]

Step 2: Request the official report. Wait at least 10 days after the crash^[1], then complete the records request form (available on the MSHP website) and mail it with a check or money order for $6.00 payable to DPS - Missouri State Highway Patrol.^[1] Send your request to the appropriate troop headquarters or to: Missouri State Highway Patrol, Patrol Records Division, P.O. Box 568, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, Attention: Traffic Crash Reports.^[1] Cash is not accepted and will be returned.

For crashes investigated by local police departments, contact that agency directly. For questions about MSHP crash reports, call the Patrol Records Division at (573) 526-6113, ext. 1702.^[1] The Missouri Department of Public Safety^[8] oversees the Highway Patrol and its records.

To request an official crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol^[1], you will need to complete a records request form and provide the following information: the date of the crash, the location (including road names, county, and nearest city), and the names of all drivers or parties involved. If you have the crash report number, include it to expedite the search.^[1]

Payment of $6.00^[1] per basic report is required. Payment must be by check or money order made payable to DPS - Missouri State Highway Patrol.^[1] Cash payments are not accepted and will be returned. Additional fees may apply for copies of reconstructed crash reports, photographs, certified copies, crash data retrieval (CDR) electronic information, CD copies, and electronic mapping data.^[1]

It is important to wait at least 10 days from the date of the crash before submitting your request.^[1] This allows time for the investigating officer to complete and submit the report. Requests submitted too early may not be processed because the report is not yet in the system.

A Missouri crash report is the official law enforcement record of a motor vehicle accident.^[1] It contains detailed information about the parties involved, including driver and vehicle identification, insurance information, and contact details. The report documents the crash location, date, time, road conditions, weather, and lighting conditions at the time of the incident.

The investigating officer provides a narrative account of the crash sequence, a diagram showing vehicle positions and movements, and their assessment of contributing factors and traffic violations. The report classifies injury severity for each person involved and notes whether alcohol or drug impairment was a factor.

Missouri is an at-fault state that follows a pure comparative fault system.^[6] This means you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault, but your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility.^[6] For example, if you were 20% at fault and your damages total $50,000, you could recover $40,000. The crash report's fault determination is a key factor in how insurance companies and courts assess liability.

The MSHP^[1] advises that you should wait at least 10 days from the date of the crash investigation before submitting your request for an official crash report.^[1] This allows the investigating officer to complete the report and submit it to the records system.

Preliminary crash information for injury and fatal crashes investigated by the Highway Patrol is posted automatically to the HP68 online portal^[2] and remains available for 1 year.^[2] The online search tool displays crashes from the most recent 29 days and can help you identify the crash and obtain the report number before requesting the official copy.^[2]

Once your written request and payment are received by the Patrol Records Division, processing typically takes 2 to 4 weeks.^[1] Complex crashes, crashes requiring accident reconstruction, or requests sent during high-volume periods may take longer. If you need the report urgently, contact the appropriate troop headquarters directly, as they may be able to process your request more quickly.

Use the HP68 portal to find your crash. Before sending a mail request, search for your crash on the MSHP HP68 portal^[2] at mshp.dps.mo.gov/HP68/search.jsp. This free tool lets you verify the crash details and obtain the report number, which makes the official request process faster and more accurate.

Do not send cash. The MSHP only accepts checks or money orders payable to DPS - Missouri State Highway Patrol.^[1] Cash payments are not accepted and will be returned, causing significant delays. Double-check that your payment is for the correct amount of $6.00 per basic report.^[1]

File your DOR report separately. Missouri law requires you to file a written accident report (Form 1140)^[4] with the Department of Revenue^[7] within 30 days if the crash resulted in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $500.^[4] This is a separate obligation from requesting a copy of the crash report.

Take advantage of the long statute of limitations. Missouri has a 5-year statute of limitations^[5] for both personal injury and property damage claims. While this provides a generous window, obtaining your crash report early preserves evidence and allows your attorney to begin building your case while details are fresh.

Your Missouri crash report is the official record of your accident and serves as the foundation for any insurance claim or lawsuit.^[1] Insurance adjusters use the crash report to evaluate claims, determine fault, and calculate settlement offers. Without the report, establishing what happened and who was responsible becomes a much more difficult task. Accidents resulting in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $500 must be reported^[3] under Missouri law.

Since Missouri is an at-fault state^[6], the driver who caused the crash is liable for damages. The crash report's fault determination directly impacts your ability to recover compensation. If the report supports your claim that the other driver was at fault, it significantly strengthens your position in negotiations with the insurance company.

Missouri's pure comparative fault system^[6] means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault, though your compensation is reduced proportionally. This makes the crash report's assessment of contributing factors and fault percentages especially important. If you believe the report contains errors, consult with an attorney about your options for challenging the findings. Your lawyer will need the report to evaluate the merits of your case and develop a litigation strategy within the 5-year statute of limitations.^[5]