In San Jose, obtaining your official traffic collision report (California Form CHP 555) costs $10 to $16 depending on whether your crash occurred on city surface streets (investigated by the San José Police Department) or on a Silicon Valley freeway (US-101, I-280, I-680, I-880, SR-85, SR-87, or SR-17, investigated by the California Highway Patrol). Reports take 7 to 14 business days to process.
San Jose Crash Report Quick Reference
| Investigating Agency | Where Crash Occurred | Cost | Portal / Office Address | Turnaround Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San José PD (Online) | City surface streets | $10–$15 | LexisNexis BuyCrash | 7–14 business days |
| San José PD (In Person) | City surface streets | $16 (Cash/Check/MO) | 201 W. Mission St., San José, CA 95110 | 7–14 business days |
| CHP San Jose Area Office | Freeways (101, 280, 680, 880, 85, 87) | $10 | CHP Online Portal or 2020 Junction Ave | 7–14 business days |
| Santa Clara County Sheriff | Unincorporated county & expressways | $15 | 55 W. Younger Ave., San José, CA 95110 | 10–14 business days |
Step 1: Identify Whether SJPD, CHP, or the County Sheriff Has Your Report
City Surface Streets (SJPD): Order online at policereports.lexisnexis.com by selecting California and San Jose Police Department* and entering your SJPD Case Number (formatted like 26-XXX-XXXX). For in-person pickup, visit the SJPD Records Unit at 201 W. Mission St. (Phone: 408-277-4261).
- Freeways (CHP Golden Gate Division - San Jose Area): Crashes on US-101, I-280, I-680, I-880, SR-85, SR-87, and SR-237 are investigated by the CHP San Jose Area Office (2020 Junction Ave., San José, CA 95131; Phone: 408-467-5400). Request online via the CHP portal or submit Form CHP 190.
- Santa Clara County Expressways (Lawrence, Montague, San Tomas, Capitol, Central): While portions inside San Jose city limits are patrolled by SJPD, segments in unincorporated county areas or contract cities (Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Altos Hills) are handled by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.
Step 2: How to Read Your San Jose Form CHP 555
All California agencies use Form CHP 555. Check these three fields first:
- Primary Collision Factor (PCF): On Page 1 or 2, the officer designates Party 1 as the primary at-fault driver and cites a specific California Vehicle Code (CVC) section—such as
CVC 22350(Unsafe Speed),CVC 21703(Following Too Closely), orCVC 21801(a)(Left Turn Yield). - California's Pure Comparative Negligence Rule (Civil Code § 1714): California reduces your compensation by your percentage of fault rather than cutting off recovery at 50%.
- Witness & Bicycle/Pedestrian Supplemental Pages: Check Page 2 and Page 3 for independent witness statements and whether SJPD checked the Inattention - Electronic Device box.
Step 3: Mandatory 10-Day California DMV Form SR-1
Ordering your SJPD or CHP report does not fulfill your state DMV obligation. Under California Vehicle Code § 16000, you must file Form SR-1 with the California DMV within 10 days if the crash caused any injury (even minor neck/back soreness) or property damage over $1,000, or the DMV will suspend your driver's license.
Unfairly listed as "Party 1" on your San Jose Police or CHP 555 report? Get a free legal review of your report at submitaccident.report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn't San Jose Police respond to my fender bender?
SJPD policy only dispatches officers to collisions involving injuries, fatalities, suspected DUI, felony hit-and-run, or disabled vehicles blocking a major roadway. For minor property-damage crashes, exchange information at the scene and file your mandatory DMV Form SR-1 within 10 days.
Can I submit a correction to my SJPD collision report?
While SJPD will not delete an officer's Primary Collision Factor opinion, you can submit a signed Supplemental Written Statement with photos to the SJPD Records Unit at 201 W. Mission St. so your statement is permanently indexed under your SJPD Case Number.