Last Updated: September 29, 2026
Knowing how to get police report after car accident Tennessee starts with what you do at the scene. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the official online crash report costs $10.00, and that document begins with the officer who responds to your call.
Here's what to do first.
Call 911 if anyone is hurt, a lane is blocked, or a driver leaves the scene.
Swap the basics with every other driver involved:
Take photos of the damage, the road, and any skid marks, and get witness names and numbers, those statements matter later.
There is no single counter for how to get police report after car accident Tennessee, where you get it depends on which agency worked the scene. In most of the state that is the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), whose reports flow into the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's central crash records system. In some larger cities, the municipal police department files its own report and either hands you a copy or points you to the state portal.
The state's online crash report system is the fastest route for most people, and most municipal departments now direct residents to it. Here is the sequence:
A few practical notes that trip people up:
If you want a paper copy, or the online portal keeps failing, request the report in person at a Tennessee Highway Patrol District Office during business hours, generally 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.
Bring:
Mail is the slowest option, use it only if you cannot access the portal or a district office. Send a written request to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security records unit that handles crash reports. Include:
A crash inside Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, or another municipality with its own police department may be documented by that department rather than THP. Many now route public requests through the state portal, but the report may live in the local records division before it syncs. If the portal shows nothing after a week, call the local records division and ask whether the report is still local-only, that call resolves most "no record" problems.
Cost is the easy part. Timeline frustrates people because the clock starts when the officer submits the report, not when the crash happens, and that depends on the agency's workload, the crash severity, and whether the investigation is still open.
| Method | Cost | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Online portal | $10.00 | Same day once the report is uploaded; often several business days after the crash |
| THP District Office | Varies; confirm with the office | A few business days after the report is finalized |
| Mail request | Varies; confirm with the records unit | Several weeks door to door |
A simple two-car fender bender with no injuries processes fastest. Crashes involving injuries, fatalities, hit-and-run suspects, commercial vehicles, or an ongoing investigation take longer because the report may be held until the investigation reaches a certain stage. If a driver was cited or arrested, the report may be tied to a court file and released on a different schedule.
You do not have to sit idle. The report is one piece of evidence; build the rest in parallel:
Separate from retrieval, Tennessee law puts a filing duty on drivers involved in a crash causing injury, death, or property damage above the statutory threshold. Under Tennessee Code Annotated, the driver must ensure a written report is filed with the Department of Safety within the required timeframe (Submit an Owner Operator Report). Missing it can put your license at risk, and the responding officer's report does not always satisfy this obligation, read the statute or ask an attorney if you are unsure whether your crash triggers it.
Almost no guide covers this step, and it matters because an error in the report can follow you into every insurance conversation that comes after.
A police report is powerful for insurance claims, but it is generally not admissible in a Tennessee injury lawsuit to prove fault. If your case goes to litigation, you will need independent evidence, witness testimony, vehicle crash data, medical records, and expert reconstruction. Treat the report as the starting point, not the finish line.
Errors in crash reports are common and can hurt your insurance claim. The fix is to request a correction, not ignore it.
A police report is the backbone of most car accident insurance claims. It gives the insurer an official record of the crash, the parties, and the officer's view of fault.
Tennessee law requires a written report when a crash causes injury, death, or property damage above a set threshold. The core rule sits in T.C.A. 55-10-107, which puts the filing duty on the drivers involved, not just the responding officer.
What you need to know:
You can obtain a copy online through the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security portal for $10.00, in person at a THP District Office, or by mail. The online portal is often the fastest method. You will need your incident number and personal information. For Memphis-specific incidents, the Memphis Police Department Central Records office also facilitates requests.
Yes, accident reports in Tennessee are generally considered public records. However, access may be restricted to involved parties, insurance companies, and legal representatives. You may need to provide identification and a reason for the request. The Tennessee Department of Safety maintains these records and provides them upon request for a fee.
In Tennessee, accident records are typically kept by the Department of Safety for a certain period, but the exact duration can vary. For legal purposes, it's best to obtain your report promptly. Consult a Tennessee personal injury attorney for specific guidance on your situation.
To request a crash report, you will need the incident number, date of the accident, location, and names of involved parties. For online requests, you may need to provide your driver's license number and payment information. In-person requests require a valid ID and a completed request form. Having these details ready speeds up the process.
Cummings Law Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Address: 4235 Hillsboro Pike #300, Nashville, TN 37215
