How to Get Your Austin Police Accident Report (APD & TxDOT CR-3 Guide)

In Austin, official police accident reports (Texas Form CR-3) cost $6 ($8 for a certified copy) and are available 5 to 10 business days after the collision. You can purchase an unredacted PDF online through the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) CRIS portal or in person from the Austin Police Department (APD) Report Sales unit.

Austin Crash Report Quick Reference

Step 1: Order Your Unredacted Report Online or at APD Headquarters

Online via TxDOT CRIS ($6): Visit cris.dot.state.tx.us and select Purchase Crash Reports*. Enter your crash date and driver's license number or APD Case Number (formatted like 26-XXXXXXX). Check the statutory certification box confirming you were an involved party under Texas Transportation Code § 550.065 so the system generates an unredacted PDF showing all driver names, addresses, and insurance policy numbers.

• In Person at APD ($6): Visit APD Report Sales at 715 E. 8th St., Austin, TX 78701 (Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Phone: 512-974-5499). Bring photo ID and cash or money order.


• Suburban & Highway Jurisdictions: Crashes on I-35, MoPac (Loop 1), US-183, or SH-130 may be filed by Texas DPS Highway Patrol, while crashes outside city limits (such as parts of Wells Branch, Manchaca, or Del Valle) are filed by the Travis County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) or Williamson/Hays County. All of them feed into the central TxDOT CRIS portal.

Step 2: How to Read Your Austin CR-3 Report

When your Texas Form CR-3 downloads, check Page 2 before speaking with an insurance adjuster:

1. Box 36 (Investigator's Opinion of Contributing Factors): Located on the right margin of Page 2. Officers enter numeric codes for Unit 1 and Unit 2—such as Code 22 (Failed to Control Speed, common in I-35 stop-and-go rear-ends), Code 20 (Driver Inattention), Code 41 (Faulty Evasive Action), or Code 67 (Under Influence - Alcohol).
2. Texas's 51% Modified Comparative Negligence Bar (CPRC § 33.001): Texas law reduces your payout by your percentage of responsibility. If Box 36 codes lead an adjuster to assign you 51% or more of the blame, you are barred from recovering a dime.
3. Commercial Vehicle Box (Page 2): If you were hit by a commercial truck or delivery van on I-35 or US-290, verify the USDOT / TxDOT Carrier ID recorded in the Commercial Motor Vehicle supplement block.

Step 3: What If Austin Police Did Not Respond to the Scene?

Austin Police Department policy does not dispatch patrol officers to non-injury collisions where vehicles can be safely driven off the roadway and both drivers have valid licenses and insurance. Because Texas abolished the old state Form CR-2 ("Blue Form") in 2017:

• File an official APD Incident Report online at ireportaustin.com or by calling Austin 3-1-1 (512-974-2000).


• You will receive an official APD Case Number to give your insurance company, though no state CR-3 diagram or Box 36 fault code will be generated.

Disputing a Box 36 Contributing Factor code on your Austin CR-3? Get a free review from a Texas accident lawyer at submitaccident.report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I find my APD report on the TxDOT CRIS website?
First, confirm at least 5 to 10 business days have passed. Second, if you filed a self-report through Austin 3-1-1 or ireportaustin.com because no officer came to the scene, that report stays in APD's internal records system and is never sent to TxDOT CRIS (which only houses officer-investigated CR-3 forms resulting in injury or $1,000+ damage).

How do I correct a factual error on an Austin Police CR-3?
Only the investigating APD officer can submit a CR-3 Supplement to change Box 36 or the diagram. To fix clerical errors (wrong plate, VIN, or insurance policy number), contact APD Report Sales at 512-974-5499 with copies of your registration or insurance card.