How to Get a Crash Report in North Carolina

The easiest way to obtain your North Carolina crash report is through the myNCDMV online portal^[2] operated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation^[8] at payments.ncdot.gov. Log in to your myNCDMV account, select "Crash Reports" from the Services dropdown menu, complete the required search fields, and add the report to your cart. You can pay with a credit card and download the report as a PDF instantly.

If you prefer to request your report by mail, download and complete Form TR-67A^[1] (Crash Report Request) from the NCDMV website. Mail the completed form along with a check or money order for $6.50^[1] payable to "NCDMV" to the Crash Reports Unit, 1515 N. Church St., Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Processing by mail typically takes 2-3 weeks.

You can also request a crash report in person at the NCDMV Vehicle Registration offices^[7] in Raleigh (4121 New Bern Ave.) or Huntersville (12101 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road). Bring a valid photo ID and payment. In-person requests are generally processed the same day if the report is available in the system.

To search for your crash report, you will need to provide at least some identifying information about the crash. The NCDMV^[7] system allows you to search by driver name, driver license number, crash report number, or a combination of date and county^[2]. Having the crash report number will give you the most accurate results.

If you are requesting by mail using Form TR-67A^[1], you must provide the driver's full name, driver license number, date of the crash, and the county where the crash occurred. The form also requires your signature and contact information for return delivery.

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID if requesting in person. If you are requesting a report on behalf of someone else, you may need written authorization from the person involved in the crash or proof of legal representation.

North Carolina crash reports follow the standardized DMV-349 format^[1] and contain detailed information about the collision. The report includes identifying information for all drivers and vehicles involved, a narrative description of the crash written by the investigating officer, and a diagram showing the positions of vehicles and the point of impact.

The report also contains the officer's assessment of contributing factors, weather and road conditions, and any citations issued at the scene. North Carolina is a contributory negligence state^[6], which means that if you are found to be even partially at fault for the accident, you may be barred from recovering damages. The crash report's determination of fault can be critical in insurance claims and legal proceedings.

Look for the "Contributing Circumstances" section, which lists factors the officer identified as contributing to the crash. Also review the "Driver Action" codes, which describe what each driver was doing at the time of the collision. These sections are often closely examined by insurance adjusters when determining liability.

After a reportable crash occurs in North Carolina (one involving $1,000 or more in property damage, or any injury or death^[5]), law enforcement officers are required to investigate and file their crash report within 24 hours of responding to the scene^[3]. However, it typically takes 2 to 4 weeks for the report to be processed and entered into the NCDMV system^[1] where it becomes available for public request.

Once available in the system, online requests through myNCDMV^[2] are fulfilled instantly as a downloadable PDF. Mail requests take an additional 2 to 3 weeks for processing and delivery. In-person requests can usually be fulfilled the same day if the report has been entered into the system.

If you need the report urgently for an insurance claim, you may be able to obtain a preliminary copy directly from the law enforcement agency that responded to the crash before the official report is available through the DMV system.

The fastest method to obtain your crash report is through the myNCDMV online portal^[2]. Create an account if you don't already have one, as it gives you access to the crash report ordering system as well as other DMV services. Having your crash report number handy will make the search process much quicker.

If you were involved in a crash and police responded, ask the responding officer for the crash report number (also called the DMV-349 number)^[1] at the scene. This number is your key to quickly locating the report later. If you did not get the number, you can contact the responding law enforcement agency to obtain it.

Keep in mind that North Carolina follows a strict contributory negligence rule^[6]. Even a finding of 1% fault on your part could affect your ability to recover damages. Review your crash report carefully, and if you believe any information is inaccurate, contact the investigating agency to request a correction or supplement to the report.

Consider obtaining your crash report as soon as possible after the crash. Insurance companies typically require a copy of the official crash report to process your claim, and having it early can speed up the claims process significantly.

Your crash report serves as the official record of what happened during the collision and is one of the most important documents in any car accident claim. Insurance companies rely heavily on the crash report when evaluating claims, determining fault, and calculating settlement offers. Without the report, your claim may face delays or reduced compensation.

In North Carolina's at-fault insurance system, the crash report's determination of fault is especially important. The report documents the investigating officer's findings, including which driver violated traffic laws and the contributing factors of the crash. Since North Carolina follows contributory negligence rules^[6], the fault determination in the crash report can be the difference between receiving full compensation and receiving nothing.

If you plan to hire an attorney or file a lawsuit, the crash report provides essential evidence for your case. North Carolina has a 3-year statute of limitations^[4] for both personal injury and property damage claims, so obtaining your report promptly gives you and your attorney maximum time to prepare. It documents witness information, vehicle damage descriptions, injury details, and the officer's professional assessment. Your attorney will use this information to build your case and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.