How to Get Your Illinois Crash Report (Free Guide): SR-1, Chicago Police, Cook County | Chicago Accident Encyclopedia
Free Guide · By County · Attorney-Reviewed

How to get your Illinois crash report.

A step-by-step guide to obtaining your Illinois police crash report, including SR-1 self-reports, the Illinois Traffic Crash Report (SR-19), and local police department records from every major Chicagoland law enforcement agency. Most reports are available within 7-10 business days and cost between $0 and $20. This guide also explains your reporting obligations under 625 ILCS 5/11-406.

Direct Answer

To get your Illinois crash report, contact the law enforcement agency that responded to the scene. In Chicago, request the report from the Chicago Police Department records division. For crashes on Illinois interstates or expressways, request the report from the Illinois State Police. For suburban crashes, contact the responding municipal or county police department. Most reports are available within 7-10 business days of the crash and cost $0-$20 depending on the agency. You will need the report number, date, location, and your name to request the report.

Cost $0 to $20 depending on agency
Timeline 7-10 business days typical
Required info Report number, date, location, name
Statute 625 ILCS 5/11-406 reporting

The three types of Illinois crash reports

Illinois recognizes three distinct types of motor vehicle accident reports, each with different filing requirements, different agencies, and different uses in personal injury cases. Understanding which report applies to your crash is the first step in obtaining it.

Form SR-1

Illinois Motorist Report

The driver self-report. Required when a crash involves injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,500 (or $500 if any party is uninsured) and was not investigated by police at the scene. Filed by the driver with the Illinois Secretary of State within 10 days under 625 ILCS 5/11-406.

Form SR-19

Illinois Traffic Crash Report

The standard police-investigated crash report. Completed by responding officers (Chicago Police, Illinois State Police, municipal, or county police) when officers investigate the crash scene. This is the report most commonly requested for personal injury claims.

Local PD Report

Municipal Police Report

The agency's own incident report. Many municipalities maintain additional internal incident reports alongside SR-19. Often more detailed than the SR-19 form alone. May include officer narrative, witness statements, and supplemental documentation.

CPD Report

Chicago Police Department Report

CPD case report (RD number). Chicago Police generate an RD (Report) number for every responded incident. Crash reports are obtained through the CPD records division. Chicago crashes also feed into the SR-19 system for state-level tracking.

Educational Purposes Only

This information is for educational purposes only. Every case and situation is different. If you have questions about your case and would like to hire a lawyer, please call (312) 278-3625 for a free consultation.

How to request your report

The process to obtain an Illinois crash report follows a consistent five-step framework regardless of the responding agency. Allow 7-10 business days for processing in most jurisdictions, longer for some county and rural agencies.

  1. Identify the responding agency

    Check the business card or paperwork the officer gave you at the scene. If you do not have it, the agency is typically the police force for the municipality where the crash occurred (Chicago Police for Chicago crashes, Cook County Sheriff for unincorporated Cook County, Illinois State Police for interstates and expressways).

  2. Locate your report number

    The responding officer should have provided a report number or case number at the scene. Chicago Police uses an "RD" number (e.g., RD #JG-123456). Illinois State Police uses a case number. Local PDs use various formats. If you do not have it, the agency can often look it up by your name, date, and approximate location.

  3. Choose request method (online, phone, mail, in-person)

    Most major Illinois agencies accept online requests through BuyCrash.com, LexisNexis Police Reports, or the agency's own portal. Phone and in-person requests are also accepted by most agencies. Mail requests are slowest but acceptable everywhere. Online is fastest, typically processed in 24-72 hours when the report is ready.

  4. Pay the request fee (if any)

    Fees range from $0 (Illinois State Police direct) to $20 (Chicago Police, BuyCrash.com). Most agencies accept credit card, debit card, money order, or in some cases cash. Some agencies waive the fee for parties to the crash; others charge regardless. Insurance companies and attorneys representing parties can also obtain reports, often through expedited channels.

  5. Wait 7-10 business days, then follow up

    Most agencies need 7-10 business days after the crash before the report is available, even though the officer completed it at the scene. The delay accommodates supervisor review, data entry, and quality control. If the report is not available by day 14, call the records division directly. If you have hired an attorney, the attorney will obtain the report on your behalf.

Educational Purposes Only

This information is for educational purposes only. Every case and situation is different. If you have questions about your case and would like to hire a lawyer, please call (312) 278-3625 for a free consultation.

Chicagoland law enforcement agency directory

Direct contact information for every major law enforcement agency that responds to motor vehicle crashes across the six-county Chicagoland region. Each agency has its own records division, fee structure, and processing timeline. Phone numbers, online portals, and addresses are verified as of May 2026.

Cook County · Chicago

Chicago Police Department (CPD)

City of Chicago · All 25 districts · 12,000+ officers

Records 3510 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60653 · (312) 745-5670
Online BuyCrash.com · ~$15-20 fee · 24-48 hour delivery
Timeline 7-14 business days from date of crash
Required RD number, date, location, parties involved

Cook County Sheriff's Office

Unincorporated Cook County · Highways · Forest preserves

Records 50 W. Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602 · (773) 674-7100
Online cookcountysheriff.org records request portal
Timeline 7-10 business days · $5-10 fee typical

Illinois State Police (ISP) - District Chicago

Interstates · Tollways · State routes · I-90, I-94, I-55, I-57, I-290, I-294

Records 801 S. 7th St, Suite 700-S, Springfield · (217) 524-2155
Online isp.illinois.gov crash report lookup · FREE
Timeline 10-14 business days · No fee for parties

Evanston Police Department

City of Evanston · Northwestern University area

Records 1454 Elmwood Ave, Evanston, IL 60201 · (847) 866-5000
Timeline 7-10 business days · $5 fee

Skokie Police Department

Village of Skokie · Edens Expressway corridor

Records 7300 Niles Center Rd, Skokie, IL 60077 · (847) 982-5900
Timeline 7-10 business days · $10 fee

Oak Park Police Department

Village of Oak Park · Eisenhower (I-290) corridor

Records 123 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302 · (708) 386-3800
Timeline 5-10 business days · $5 fee

Rosemont Public Safety Department

Village of Rosemont · O'Hare International Airport approach

Records 9501 W. Devon Ave, Rosemont, IL 60018 · (847) 823-1134
Timeline 7-10 business days · $10 fee

Schaumburg Police Department

Village of Schaumburg · I-90 corridor

Records 1000 W. Schaumburg Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60194 · (847) 882-3586
Timeline 7-10 business days · $5 fee

Cicero Police Department

Town of Cicero · Stevenson (I-55) approach

Records 5410 W. 34th St, Cicero, IL 60804 · (708) 652-2130
Timeline 7-14 business days · $10 fee

DuPage County

DuPage County Sheriff's Office

Unincorporated DuPage · County highways · I-355 / I-88 incidents

Records 501 N. County Farm Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187 · (630) 407-2400
Online dupagesheriff.org records request
Timeline 7-10 business days · $5-10 fee

Naperville Police Department

City of Naperville · I-88 / Route 59 corridors

Records 1350 Aurora Ave, Naperville, IL 60540 · (630) 420-6666
Timeline 5-10 business days · $5 fee

Wheaton Police Department

City of Wheaton · DuPage County seat

Records 900 W. Liberty Dr, Wheaton, IL 60187 · (630) 260-2161
Timeline 7-10 business days · $5 fee

Lake County

Lake County Sheriff's Office

Unincorporated Lake · I-94 north of Edens · US-41 corridor

Records 25 S. Martin Luther King Jr Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085 · (847) 377-4000
Timeline 7-10 business days · $5-10 fee

Waukegan Police Department

City of Waukegan · Lake County seat

Records 101 N. West St, Waukegan, IL 60085 · (847) 360-9000

Will County

Will County Sheriff's Office

Unincorporated Will · I-55 freight corridor · I-80

Records 16 W. Jefferson St, Joliet, IL 60432 · (815) 727-8574
Timeline 10-14 business days · $5-10 fee

Joliet Police Department

City of Joliet · Will County seat · CenterPoint Intermodal area

Records 150 W. Washington St, Joliet, IL 60432 · (815) 724-3100

Kane County

Kane County Sheriff's Office

Unincorporated Kane · I-88 corridor · Fox Valley

Records 37W755 IL-38, St. Charles, IL 60175 · (630) 232-6840

Aurora Police Department

City of Aurora · Second-largest city in Illinois

Records 1200 E. Indian Trail, Aurora, IL 60505 · (630) 256-5000

McHenry County

McHenry County Sheriff's Office

Unincorporated McHenry · Rural routes · Wisconsin border

Records 2200 N. Seminary Ave, Woodstock, IL 60098 · (815) 338-2144
Timeline 10-14 business days · $5-10 fee

Educational Purposes Only

Phone numbers, addresses, and fees verified as of May 2026 but subject to change. Call the agency directly to confirm current information. This information is for educational purposes only. If you have questions about your case and would like to hire a lawyer, please call (312) 278-3625 for a free consultation.

Frequently asked questions

The most-asked questions about obtaining Illinois crash reports.

How long does it take to get an Illinois crash report?

Most Illinois crash reports are available 7-10 business days after the crash. Some agencies process faster (Naperville, Oak Park) while larger or rural agencies (Chicago Police, Cook County Sheriff, McHenry County Sheriff) may take 10-14 business days. Online platforms like BuyCrash.com deliver within 24-48 hours once the agency has uploaded the report.

How much does an Illinois crash report cost?

Fees range from $0 (Illinois State Police direct request) to $20 (Chicago Police via BuyCrash.com). Most suburban agencies charge $5-$10. Many agencies waive fees for parties to the crash; others charge regardless. Online platforms add convenience fees on top of the agency fee.

Do I need to file an SR-1 if police came to the scene?

No. If law enforcement responded and completed an SR-19 traffic crash report, the driver is not required to also file an SR-1 self-report under 625 ILCS 5/11-406. The SR-1 is required only when no police-investigated report exists and the crash met the reporting threshold (injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,500, or $500 if any party is uninsured).

Can I get the crash report if I was not driving but was a passenger?

Yes. Passengers, injured parties, attorneys for any party, and insurance carriers are all entitled to obtain Illinois crash reports. You will need to provide your name and the date/location of the crash. Some agencies require additional verification of your involvement, such as confirmation that you were named in the report.

What if the police did not file a report at the scene?

If police responded but did not file a written report (common in minor fender-benders), you should file an SR-1 Motorist Report with the Illinois Secretary of State within 10 days if the crash meets the threshold (injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,500). The form is available at cyberdriveillinois.com or by mail. SR-1 filings are required by 625 ILCS 5/11-406 and failure to file can result in license suspension.

Will my insurance company get the report for me?

Usually yes. Insurance carriers routinely obtain crash reports as part of claim investigation. If you have hired a personal injury attorney, the attorney will typically obtain the report on your behalf at no cost to you. Attorneys often have established accounts with BuyCrash.com and direct relationships with agency records divisions that allow expedited access.

What information does an Illinois crash report contain?

A typical SR-19 Illinois Traffic Crash Report contains: date, time, and location of crash; identifying information for all parties and vehicles; insurance information; description of vehicle damage; description of injuries; witness names and contact info; officer's narrative and crash diagram; citations issued; and the officer's preliminary assessment of fault. The crash diagram and officer narrative are particularly important in personal injury cases.

Is the officer's fault determination binding in my case?

No. The officer's preliminary assessment of fault on the crash report is not binding on insurance companies or courts. In Illinois civil cases, fault is determined by a jury (or judge in a bench trial) based on all the evidence, including testimony, physical evidence, and expert analysis. However, the officer's fault assessment is influential and insurance adjusters typically follow it absent compelling evidence to the contrary. See our Illinois comparative fault reference.

Educational Purposes Only

This information is for educational purposes only. Every case and situation is different. If you have questions about your case and would like to hire a lawyer, please call (312) 278-3625 for a free consultation.

Related references

After obtaining your crash report, these references explain how it fits into your Illinois personal injury case.

An attorney can obtain your crash report on your behalf and walk you through every step of an Illinois personal injury claim. Free consultation. No obligation. Available 24/7.

Call (312) 278-3625