Last updated: November 2026
To get a Colorado State Patrol accident report, submit one request through the State Patrol’s Records Request Portal with the driver’s name, the crash date, the case report number, and the crash location. Once the investigation is complete, processing can take up to 10 working days, and the State Patrol mails your copy after it receives your request and payment. Reports you filed yourself online are held by the Colorado Department of Revenue, not the State Patrol.
What Do I Need to Request a Colorado State Patrol Crash Report?
The State Patrol asks for four details:
- The driver’s name
- The date of the crash
- The case report number
- The location of the crash
If your vehicle was towed and the State Patrol called the tow truck, you should have received a Colorado State Patrol Incident Report form with the tow company’s information. The case report number is in the upper right-hand corner of that form. If you did not get the form at the scene, the State Patrol says it will be mailed to you.
How Do I Request a Colorado State Patrol Accident Report?
- Wait for the investigation to finish. Reports are not available immediately after a crash.
- Submit one request. All records requests go through the Colorado State Patrol Records Request Portal. Submit only one request form to avoid being charged twice.
- Pay. The State Patrol accepts check or money order payable to the Colorado State Patrol, or credit card. Contact the Central Records Unit for current costs.
- Watch your mail. Your copy is mailed to you once your request and payment are received.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Colorado State Patrol Accident Report?
Up to 10 working days after the investigation is complete. The State Patrol states that the full process of submittal, review, corrections, and approval may take up to ten working days, and that processing times vary.
Why Can’t the State Patrol Find the Accident Report I Filed Online?
Because the State Patrol never had it. Reports filed through the Colorado Online Crash Reporting System go directly to the Colorado Department of Revenue, and the State Patrol states it does not have access to obtain copies. Call the Department of Revenue at 303-205-5600.
Do I Have to File Anything Else After a Crash the State Patrol Investigated?
Possibly. If you gave the trooper current proof of insurance after the crash, the State Patrol says you do not need to fill out a financial responsibility form. If you did not, you must fill one out within 10 days. The State Patrol also advises notifying your insurer whether or not you received a citation, and telling your insurer if an occupied child safety seat was in the vehicle so they can address replacement.
Have a Car Accident Attorney Review Your State Patrol Report
A State Patrol report can take up to 10 working days to process before it is mailed to you. Once it arrives, how the trooper described each driver’s actions matters, because Colorado bars recovery for anyone found 50 percent or more at fault.
Bring the trooper’s report to a free 30-minute consultation with Greg Francis, the attorney at Francis Law. He’ll review it alongside your photos and any other evidence and tell you what it means for your claim. If the report hasn’t come in the mail yet, you can still schedule now.
Schedule a Consultation or call (303) 409-2050
Francis Law handles car and truck accident and motorcycle injury claims across the Boulder area. For more on how reports are used in a claim, see our police reports and evidence FAQs.