In San Diego, obtaining your official traffic collision report (California Form CHP 555) costs $12 if investigated by the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) on city surface streets, or $10 if investigated by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) on any San Diego freeway (I-5, I-8, I-15, I-805, SR-163, SR-94, SR-52, or SR-78). Reports typically become available within 10 to 14 business days.
San Diego Crash Report Quick Reference
| Investigating Agency | Where Crash Occurred | Cost | Portal / Office Address | Turnaround Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego PD (Online) | City surface streets | $12 | LexisNexis BuyCrash | 10–14 business days |
| San Diego PD (In Person) | City surface streets | $12 (Cash/Check/MO) | 1401 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101 | 10–14 business days |
| CHP (Form CHP 190) | Freeways (I-5, I-8, I-15, I-805, 163, 94) | $10 | CHP Online Portal or local CHP Office | 7–14 business days |
| San Diego County Sheriff | Unincorporated county & contract cities | $12–$15 | sdsheriff.gov | 10–14 business days |
Step 1: Confirm Whether SDPD, CHP, or the Sheriff Has Your Report
City Surface Streets (SDPD): Order online at policereports.lexisnexis.com by selecting California and San Diego Police Department* and entering your crash date and SDPD Incident/Case Number. You can also request in person at SDPD Records Division, 1401 Broadway, 1st Floor (Phone: 619-531-2846) with photo ID and $12 in cash, check, or money order.
- San Diego Freeways (CHP Border Division): Any crash on I-5, I-8, I-15, I-805, SR-163, SR-94, or SR-52—including freeway on-ramps and off-ramps—is handled by the CHP San Diego Area Office (4902 Pacific Hwy) or El Cajon / Oceanside Area Offices. Order online via the CHP portal or submit Form CHP 190.
- Contract Cities (San Diego County Sheriff): If your crash happened in Santee, Poway, Encinitas, San Marcos, Vista, Imperial Beach, or Lemon Grove, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department serves as the local police force and holds the collision report.
Step 2: How to Read Your San Diego Form CHP 555
San Diego Police, the Sheriff, and CHP all write collision reports on the statewide Form CHP 555. Check these three boxes immediately:
- Primary Collision Factor (PCF): Located on Page 1 or Page 2, the officer identifies which party caused the crash (usually designated as Party 1) and lists the specific California Vehicle Code (CVC) violation—such as
CVC 22350(Unsafe Speed),CVC 21801(a)(Unsafe Left Turn), orCVC 21658(a)(Unsafe Lane Change). - California's Pure Comparative Negligence Rule (Civil Code § 1714): California allows you to recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault, even if you were 90% at fault.
- Property Damage Only (PDO) vs. Full Investigation: For minor non-injury crashes, SDPD sometimes writes a short-form CHP 555-03 (Property Damage Only) report that documents party information and statements without assigning a formal Primary Collision Factor.
Step 3: Mandatory 10-Day California DMV Form SR-1
Under California Vehicle Code § 16000, every driver involved in a San Diego collision causing any injury (even minor soreness) or more than $1,000 in property damage must file Form SR-1 with the California DMV within 10 days. SDPD and CHP do not file the SR-1 for you, and missing the 10-day deadline triggers an automatic driver's license suspension.
Unfairly listed as "Party 1" on your San Diego Police or CHP 555 report? Get a free legal review of your report at submitaccident.report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did SDPD refuse to come to my fender bender?
San Diego Police only dispatch officers to collisions involving injuries, suspected DUI, felony hit-and-run, or disabled vehicles blocking active traffic lanes. For minor non-injury crashes, exchange driver and insurance info at the scene and file your mandatory DMV Form SR-1 within 10 days.
How do I attach a correction to a San Diego Police report?
Mail or deliver a signed Supplemental Statement referencing your SDPD Case Number and crash date to SDPD Records Division (1401 Broadway, MS 726, San Diego, CA 92101) so your correction and photos are permanently attached to the official file.