Austin Police Department Crash Reports, How To Request And Read Your CR 3 Form

If you were in a wreck in Austin and the police came to the scene, there is a very good chance a Texas Peace Officer Crash Report, called a CR 3, exists for your crash. This guide walks you through how to get that report through the TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System, then how to read the most important parts of the form in plain English.

In Texas, crash reports from law enforcement, including the Austin Police Department, are stored by the Texas Department of Transportation, often called TxDOT, for at least ten full calendar years plus the current year.

You can buy a copy of your CR 3 report online through TxDOT’s Crash Report Online Purchase System for a small fee, usually six dollars for a regular copy and eight dollars for a certified copy.

This article explains:

The Texas Peace Officer Crash Report, called form CR 3, is the official state form that police use when they investigate certain crashes.

In simple terms, your CR 3 report is:

Under Texas law, when a peace officer investigates a motor vehicle crash that causes injury, death, or at least one thousand dollars in apparent property damage, the officer must submit a written crash report to TxDOT within ten days. 

TxDOT then keeps those reports in its Crash Records Information System for at least ten full years plus the current year. 

Crash reports are not fully public for everyone. Texas Transportation Code section 550 point zero six five limits who can receive a copy. 

You can usually get the report if you are:

The TxDOT online system will ask you to confirm that you fit one of these categories. Be honest, since this is a legal requirement.

If your crash was inside Austin city limits and the Austin Police Department handled it, you have two main ways to request the report:

This article focuses on the TxDOT system, since it works statewide and uses the same steps whether your crash was handled by APD, DPS, or another Texas agency.

The officer has up to ten days to submit the crash report to TxDOT. 

In real life, many reports show up in the TxDOT system within about one to two weeks after the wreck. 

If you search too early, the system may simply say no report is available.

The TxDOT online system needs enough information to find your specific crash. You can usually search using one of these:

Before you sit down at the computer, write down:

The more information you can enter, the easier it is for the system to match the correct report.

You should see a TxDOT page that explains this is the official system for locating and purchasing Texas Peace Officer Crash Reports, CR 3.

The site will ask you to agree that:

Read the notice, then click to confirm and continue.

The exact screen layout can change over time, but the usual process is:

If the system finds possible matches, it will list them so you can pick the right crash based on date, time, and location.

If the system cannot identify your crash with the information given, it will not let you purchase the report. In that case, double check the spelling of names and the crash date, or try searching by a different item, such as VIN or TxDOT Crash ID. 

Once you select your crash, the system will ask what type of copy you want.

Current TxDOT fees are usually:

You pay online with a debit or credit card through the secure portal.

After you pay:

Save the PDF to your computer and also print a paper copy for your files and for your insurance claim.

If you cannot use the online system, TxDOT allows you to request a CR 3 report by mail using form CR 91, Request for Copy of Peace Officer Crash Report.

Very short version of that process:

For most people in Austin, the online system is faster and easier.

Once you have the PDF, it can look confusing. It is full of boxes, codes, and abbreviations. Here is a simple road map.

Near the top of page one you will usually see:

Check this section to confirm that:

The report calls each vehicle or road user a unit. For example:

Below each unit, there are sections for people in that unit.

Look for:

If this information is wrong, insurance companies can get confused about who was involved.

Next to each person, you will see a small box for injury severity. The officer uses a code that connects to a separate TxDOT code sheet for the CR 3. 

Common codes include things like:

You can download the official CR 3 code sheet from TxDOT and compare the numbers on your report to the list of meanings. 

There is a section labeled with contributing factors or similar language. This is where the officer records what they believe caused or contributed to the crash, using codes and short descriptions. 

Examples include:

This section matters because insurance adjusters often look at it when deciding fault.

At the end of the report, you should see:

In the diagram, look for:

In the written narrative, look for:

If something seems very wrong in the narrative, talk to a lawyer about your options for addressing it.

There is usually a section that lists any tickets or charges the officer issued, for example speeding or failure to control speed.

Even if the officer did not give a ticket, that does not automatically mean no one is at fault. It simply means the officer chose not to issue a citation at that time.

Here are problems that come up again and again:

It is wise to at least consider speaking with a Texas lawyer if:

A lawyer can:

Remember, this article is general education for Texas readers. Only a licensed attorney who reviews your actual report and paperwork can give advice for your specific situation.

If APD handled your crash, you can usually get your report in two ways. The City of Austin links people to LexisNexis BuyCrash for APD reports, and you can also request the same Texas Peace Officer CR 3 report through the TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System. 

In both systems, you search using basic crash information, then pay a small fee to download the report.

TxDOT typically charges six dollars for a regular copy and eight dollars for a certified copy of a Texas Peace Officer Crash Report.

You can usually pay online with a debit or credit card. Prices can change over time, so always double check the fee listed in the TxDOT portal.

Officers are supposed to file the report with TxDOT within ten days when the crash involves injury, death, or at least one thousand dollars in property damage.

Many reports show up in the TxDOT system within about one to two weeks. If you search and do not find it, wait a few days and try again.

If the TxDOT search says no report is available, first check:

Then try a different search type, such as VIN or driver license number.

If you still cannot find it, you can contact TxDOT Crash Records support or ask APD records if a CR 3 was filed for your crash.

Most of the time, a regular copy is enough for insurance claims and for your own records.

You may want a certified copy if:

Certified copies cost a little more and include a TxDOT certification that confirms the report is an official record.

No. Texas Transportation Code section 550 point zero six five limits who can get a copy.

In general, it is limited to people with a direct interest in the crash, such as people involved, their insurers, and their lawyers, plus certain news organizations. The TxDOT system will ask you to confirm what role you have before releasing a report.

If you see serious mistakes, such as the wrong vehicles, wrong directions of travel, or wrong statements about who was injured, you have a few options:

There is no simple online button to edit the report yourself.

The crash report is important, but it is not the final word. It records the officer’s observations and opinions at the time of the investigation. 

Insurance companies and courts can consider other evidence, such as witness testimony, videos, and expert opinions, when deciding fault and damages.

TxDOT keeps crash reports and related data for the previous ten full calendar years plus the current year.

If your crash is older than that, the report may no longer be available through the online system, and you may need to look for other records such as court filings or insurance files.

TxDOT is allowed by law to charge a fee for crash reports, and the online system always requires payment.

Some private law firms offer to get the report for you at no cost to you as part of a possible injury claim, but usually they are paying the TxDOT fee behind the scenes. Always read any agreement carefully before you sign.

For Austin wrecks investigated by Austin police, your Texas Peace Officer Crash Report, the CR 3, is stored with TxDOT and is usually available through the TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System for a small fee. The process is straightforward once you gather your crash information and follow the steps in the portal.

Once you have the report, spend time with the key sections, crash details at the top, units and persons involved, injury codes, contributing factors, and the narrative and diagram. What is written there can strongly affect your insurance claim and any future legal case.

If you feel overwhelmed, if the injuries are serious, or if you think the report is wrong or unfair, speaking with a Texas lawyer can help you understand your options and protect your rights.