How to Get a Crash Report in Indiana

The Indiana State Police (ISP) keeps the central repository of all crash reports for the state.¹

Police crash reports in Indiana are submitted electronically through a system called ARIES. By law, the investigating officer has to forward a written report of each investigated crash to the ISP.^2,3

Under state law, an officer must investigate every crash that causes injury or death, or apparent total property damage of at least $2,500.³

Buy it online through BuyCrash. The ISP makes electronic crash reports available there for a small fee. You can get one at any time. You pay by credit or debit card.^1,4,5

Get a copy in person from the West Lafayette or Shelbyville police. West Lafayette police provide them at the Records Division window during regular business hours. Shelbyville police provide them at the station during business hours. Both charge $5.^4,6

Request a copy by mail from the West Lafayette Police Department. Include the time, date and location of the crash and the parties involved, plus a prepaid check or money order and a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. The department doesn't fax crash reports.⁶

If you need a report for a government agency's official business, the ISP directs you to the Public Records Request section of its Contact ISP page. The ISP takes requests for copies of its public records through its APRA portal.^1,7

Your crash report number. The City of Fort Wayne and the Stilesville Police Department both say to have it ready to buy a report on BuyCrash. Fort Wayne calls it the incident report number.^5,8

The crash date and the name of the insured. Fort Wayne lists both for a BuyCrash purchase.⁵

A credit or debit card to pay on BuyCrash.^4,5

For a request to the West Lafayette Police Department, the time, date and location of the crash and the parties involved.⁶

The ISP describes the BuyCrash charge as a nominal fee. The City of Fort Wayne and the West Lafayette and Shelbyville police departments list it as $12.^1,4,5,6

In person, West Lafayette and Shelbyville police charge $5 for a copy. Pay Shelbyville in cash.^4,6

State law sets $5 as the minimum fee per crash report, both for the ISP and for local police agencies. A local agency's fee is set by local ordinance.⁹

By law, the investigating officer has 24 hours after finishing the investigation to send the written report to the ISP.³

The City of Fort Wayne says its accident reports are available two to three days after the crash.⁵

In Shelbyville, police officers have three working days to complete their reports.⁴

Under state law, an officer's crash report isn't confidential. It has to be made available for inspection and copying under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act.³

In a 2014 opinion, Indiana's Public Access Counselor said any person has the right to inspect and copy ISP public records, unless they are confidential or otherwise exempt.¹⁰

In Fort Wayne, the city directs you to BuyCrash to buy a copy of a Fort Wayne accident report. It lists the cost as $12. If a Fort Wayne Police Department report isn't on BuyCrash, use the City of Fort Wayne Next Request portal.⁵

In West Lafayette, the police department provides crash reports at its Records Division window during regular business hours for $5.00. It also takes requests by mail. It doesn't fax reports. Its Crash Reports page lists its headquarters at 711 W. Navajo St., West Lafayette, IN 47906.⁶

In Shelbyville, you can get a copy in person at the police station during business hours for $5 in cash. Or buy it from the state on BuyCrash at any time for $12, by credit or debit card.⁴

In Stilesville, police say you can buy crash reports through BuyCrash. If a Hendricks County deputy took the report, choose the Hendricks County Sheriff's Department as the agency when you search BuyCrash.⁸

The ISP sends each crash report filed with it to the Indiana BMV. The BMV then asks the drivers for proof of insurance.^11,12

The officer won't give you a paper form. Instead, the BMV mails its request to the address it has on file for you.¹²

The request goes to every driver named in the crash report, regardless of fault. By law, the BMV has to send it within 45 days after it receives a copy of the report.¹³

You then have to arrange for your insurance provider to file a Certificate of Compliance (COC) electronically with the BMV.¹²

The BMV must receive and process the COC within 90 days of mailing its request. If it doesn't, your driving privileges will be suspended.¹²

The BMV says insurance information you give a police officer isn't sent to the BMV or noted on your driving record.¹²

Under state law, a city or town can pass an ordinance requiring drivers involved in a crash to file a report with a city or town department. Check with your city or town to see if it has this rule.¹⁴