Getting a Copy of your Virginia State Police Accident Report

It is important to note that the Virginia State Police do not maintain accident reports completed by local police or sheriffs departments. You will have to get in touch with your local station to obtain these reports. The following information applies to Virginia State Police reports ONLY.

Who may obtain a copy of a Virginia accident report (FR300)?

CODE OF VIRGINIA: § 46.2-380. Reports made under certain sections are open to inspection by certain persons; copies; maintenance of reports and photographs for three-year period.

A. Any report of an accident made pursuant to §§ 46.2-372, 46.2-373, 46.2-375, or § 46.2-377 shall be maintained by the Department for a period of at least thirty-six months from the date of the accident and shall be open to the inspection of any person involved or injured in the accident or as a result thereof, or his attorney or any authorized representative of any insurance carrier reasonably anticipating exposure to civil liability as a consequence of the accident or to which the person has applied for issuance or renewal of a policy of automobile insurance.

The Commissioner or Superintendent, or the area or division offices of the Department of State Police having a copy of the report, shall on written request of the person or attorney or any authorized representative of any insurance carrier reasonably anticipating exposure to civil liability as a consequence of the accident or to which the person has applied for issuance or renewal of a policy of automobile insurance, furnish a copy of the report at the expense of the person, attorney, or representative.

Any such report shall also be open to inspection by the personal representative of any person injured or killed in the accident, including his guardian, conservator, executor, committee, or administrator, or, if the person injured or killed is under eighteen years old, his parent or guardian. The Commissioner or Superintendent shall only be required to furnish under this section copies of reports required by the provisions of this article to be made directly to the Commissioner or Superintendent, or to the area or division offices of the Department of State Police having a copy of any such report, as the case may be.

The Commissioner and the Superintendent, acting jointly, may set a reasonable fee for furnishing a copy of any report, provide to whom payment shall be made, and establish a procedure for payment. Nothing contained in this section shall require any division office of the Department of State Police to furnish any copy when duplicating equipment is not available.

B. The Commissioner or Superintendent of State Police having a copy of any photograph taken by a law-enforcement officer relating to a nonfatal accident, shall maintain the negatives for such photographs in their records for at least 36 months from the date of the accident.

What information is needed to obtain a copy of an accident report:

*Requests must include all of the following information:

  1. Names of all parties involved.
  2. Date of the accident.
  3. Location of the accident. (City or County and Highway/Interstate or Street Name)
  4. Investigating State Police trooper’s name. (Virginia State Police does not maintain accident reports completed by local police or sheriffs departments.)
  5. Payment of $8.00 per accident report, payable by company check or money order made payable to the “Department of State Police.” No personal checks accepted.
  6. Written requests must include a postage-paid, self-addressed envelope.

How to obtain a copy:

1. Send a written request *(see above) to the State Police office closest to where the crash occurred. Mailing addresses available at: http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Office_Locations.shtm.

Virginia state map available at: http://www.virginiadot.org/zoomablemap.htm

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2. Or, personally visit your nearest Virginia State Police Division Headquarters or Area Office. Office locations & directions available at http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Office_Locations.shtm.

COST – There is an $8.00 fee per accident report, payable by company check or money order made payable to the “Department of State Police.” No personal checks OR credit cards accepted.

Virginia State Police employees cannot give legal advice, nor interpret the law for members of the public. Information within this Web site is provided for general guidance purposes only and may not apply to all factual situations. Persons needing legal advice may contact the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service at 1-800-552-7977 for referral to a private attorney for consultation at a nominal fee.