How to Get a Crash Report in Kentucky

The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Records Branch receives collision reports. KSP says its crash data comes from both state and local police officers who investigated each crash.¹

KSP's annual Traffic Collision Facts report quotes state law (KRS 189.635). The quoted law requires every law enforcement agency whose officers investigate a reportable crash to file a report within ten days after the investigation.¹

Louisville Metro Police and Lexington Police also provide copies of their own crash reports.^2,3

If no officer investigated a crash, the people involved file their own Civilian Collision Report on the KSP website. KSP says it serves only as a repository for these reports.^5,6

Online through KSP: Submit an open records request through the online portal linked from KSP's open records page. KSP says to use the portal for an immediate response to your request.⁴

Online through BuyCrash: KSP's open records page says you can also get accident reports from BuyCrash.^3,4

By mail or hand delivery: Mail a signed, written request to Kentucky State Police, Official Custodian of Records, Public Records Branch, 1266 Louisville Road, Frankfort, KY 40601. KSP also accepts requests delivered by hand. You can use the 2021 Standardized Open Records Request Form, but KSP says it is not required.⁴

By email: Send your written request to the email address on KSP's open records page. That inbox takes records requests only. It does not answer questions or give status updates.⁴

By fax: Fax your written request to the attention of KSP's Official Custodian of Records. The fax number is on KSP's open records page.⁴

From the city police department: If Louisville Metro Police or Lexington Police handled your crash, you can get the report from that department online or in person. Lexington Police also takes requests by mail.^2,3

KSP says your request must be in writing and signed, with your printed name.⁴

Describe the report specifically, for example by name, date and location.⁴

KSP asks you to include your address and phone number.⁴

If you use the optional 2021 Standardized Open Records Request Form, it asks you to state that you are a Kentucky resident and to check the category that applies to you.^4,7

KSP's open records page lists a general charge of 10 cents per released page. It does not give a separate fee for accident reports.⁴

KSP charges $2 to $3 each for photos, CDs, videotapes and diskettes.⁴

KSP's official custodian sends you a letter saying how much you owe for the records.⁴

If you file your own Civilian Collision Report online, downloading it is free.⁶

Louisville Metro Police charges $10 per report, online or in person. Lexington Police charges $10 per report through BuyCrash or in person, and $5 for a request by mail.^2,3

KSP says to allow 10 days for an officer to complete a crash report and for it to become available in KSP's system.⁵

KSP says records generally are not available at the time you submit a request.⁴

KSP quotes a state law, KRS 61.880(1), that gives an agency five days, not counting weekends and legal holidays, to decide whether to comply with a records request.⁴

Louisville Metro Police says an online request takes 24 to 72 hours to get a response. Lexington Police says you may get a report on an open case five days after it is filed.^2,3

KSP makes accident reports available to the people involved in the crash and to parents or guardians of a minor who was involved.⁴

Insurers, or someone they name in writing, can get reports for insurance business purposes. Attorneys for the people involved can also get them.⁴

If you are a party to a lawsuit, you can also get the report. Send a copy of the first page of the complaint with your request. It must be stamped by the District or Circuit Court clerk and name all parties.⁴

A news-gathering organization must complete form KSP-29 to confirm its status.⁴

KSP's list also includes the Department of Workplace Standards, for occupational safety and health investigations, and law enforcement agencies, within the limits of the law.⁴

KSP says it cannot release personal identifying information, such as names, addresses, dates of birth or vehicle identification numbers (VINs), except as the law permits.⁵

Only an involved party can get a Civilian Collision Report, through a valid open records request, subject to legal restrictions.⁵

Louisville Metro Police (LMPD) sells its own accident reports online for $10 each. You can pay by MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express. LMPD says an online request takes 24 to 72 hours to get a response.²

LMPD also provides accident reports in person for $10 each at its service counter: 701 West Ormsby Avenue, Suite 001, Louisville, KY 40203.²

To find an LMPD report, you need the report number, the report date, and the driver's or owner's last name. If you don't know the report number, you can contact LMPD by email or phone, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. The contact details are on its Get a Police Report page.²

LMPD says its accident reports are not public records. Only these people can get one: an involved party with proper ID whose name is on the report, a representative of the insurance company listed on the report, or an attorney for a listed party.²

LMPD says reports filed through the KSP website must be requested from KSP.²

Lexington Police collision reports cost $10 each online through BuyCrash. To find one, you need the owner's or driver's last name and the report date. You also need one of these: the 10-digit case number, the reporting officer's five-digit badge number, or an involved person's driver's license number.³

You can pick up a Lexington Police report in person for $10 at Lexington Police Headquarters, 150 E. Main St., Lexington, KY 40507.³

To order a Lexington Police report by mail, send your request with the $5 fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope to Lexington Police Department, Central Records, 150 E. Main St., Lexington, KY 40507.³

Lexington Police says only people involved in a collision may get its report. You may get a report on an open case five days after it is filed. For questions, call Central Records during regular business hours. The number is on the department's traffic collision reports page.³

Lexington Police's open records page says you must be a Kentucky resident to make an open records request. Every request must state how you are a resident.⁸

If no police officer investigated your crash at the scene, KSP says the people involved are responsible for completing and submitting a Civilian Collision Report. The civilian report is only needed when no officer investigated.^5,6

KSP says that if an officer responded and said they will complete the report, you do not need to file a second, civilian report.⁵

A 2019 KSP announcement says Kentucky law requires anyone in a crash with more than $500 in property damage to file a written report with KSP within 10 days after the crash.⁶

You file the report online on the KSP website. When you submit it, the system gives it a unique report number and offers your copy as a free download. KSP's 2019 announcement said paper forms would be accepted through June 30, 2020.^5,6

If your parked car was damaged and you don't know who hit it, KSP says you can still file a Civilian Collision Report. Put your information in Unit 1 and enter 'UNK' as the name for Unit 2.⁵

KSP says it serves only as a repository for civilian reports. It does not investigate civilian-reported crashes, and it does not collect, verify or keep insurance information for the people involved.⁵

If you did not save your civilian report, you can get a copy through an open records request to the KSP Custodian of Records. KSP keeps civilian reports for up to two years.⁵

You can reach KSP's Civilian Collision Records Section by email. The address is on KSP's civilian collision reports page.⁵