How to Get Your Police Report in Kansas City After an Accident

The first step is figuring out which law enforcement agency investigated your accident. This determines where you request your report and how much it costs. Check the exchange of information form you received at the scene — it lists the investigating agency and the report number. If you do not have the form, think about where the accident happened.

Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) handles crashes within Kansas City, Missouri city limits. Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) typically handles crashes on interstate highways and state routes — I-70, I-35, I-49, I-435, I-470, and US-71. Suburban municipal police departments handle crashes within their city boundaries — including Independence, Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, Grandview, and North Kansas City. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office may respond to unincorporated areas.

If your accident happened on the Kansas side of the metro — in Kansas City, Kansas, Overland Park, Olathe, or Lenexa — you need to request your report from the Kansas agency that responded. These are separate jurisdictions from KCPD. If you are unsure which agency responded, call the non-emergency dispatch number for the municipality where the accident occurred.

The fastest way to get your KCPD crash report is online through LexisNexis BuyCrash at buycrash.com. KCPD uses the BuyCrash system for all online crash report purchases. The cost is $9 per report.

To find your report on BuyCrash, you will need your report number (from the exchange of information form), your name, and the date of the incident. Enter this information into the search portal. If your report is available, you can purchase and download it immediately as a PDF. If it is not yet available, BuyCrash will notify you by email when it has been posted.

Reports typically take 10 to 20 business days to appear on BuyCrash after the accident. KCPD's FAQ page states 10 to 14 business days, while their main reports page references 20 business days. The actual timing depends on the severity of the accident and the investigating officer's workload. Check back regularly if your report is not immediately available. For BuyCrash technical support, call (866) 495-4206 ext. 4.

You can also get your KCPD crash report in person at the Criminal Records Section, 1125 Locust Street, Kansas City, MO 64106. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for requests, with pickup available until 3:00 p.m. The office is closed on weekends and holidays. Phone: (816) 234-5100. Email: KCPD_Records@kcpd.org. Bring a photo ID.

To request by mail, send a written request with the report number (if available), the crash date, driver names, and crash location, along with a check payable to 'Board of Police Commissioners' and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the 1125 Locust address. Mail requests can take up to 30 days to process.

Call (816) 234-5100 before visiting to confirm your report is available and to verify the current fee for in-person requests. The online BuyCrash price is $9 — in-person fees may vary. Calling ahead saves you a trip if the report has not been filed yet.

If your accident happened on an interstate highway or state route in the Kansas City area — I-70, I-35, I-49, I-435, I-470, US-71, or another state-maintained road where MSHP responded — your crash report comes from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, not KCPD.

Request MSHP crash reports through their online portal at mshp.dps.mo.gov under Traffic Crash Reports. The cost is $6 for a basic crash report. You must wait at least 10 days from the date of the crash before submitting your request. MSHP is currently experiencing a processing backlog, so allow additional time beyond the 10-day minimum.

To request an MSHP report, you will need: the date of the crash, the county where it occurred, and the driver's last name. Having the report number speeds up the process. You can also request by mail: send a check or money order payable to 'DPS — Missouri State Highway Patrol' to Missouri State Highway Patrol, Patrol Records Division, P.O. Box 568, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Attn: Traffic Crash Reports. Phone: (573) 526-6113 ext. 1702.

If your accident happened in a KC metro suburb, the local police department handles the crash report. Each agency has its own process and fees.

Independence Police Department — Records Unit, 223 North Memorial Drive, Independence, MO 64050. Phone: (816) 325-7300. Email: RecordsRequests@indepmo.org. Lee's Summit Police Department — Records Unit phone: (816) 969-1715. Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays. Online requests available at cityofls.net. Processing takes 7 to 10 business days. North Kansas City Police Department — report requests available through nkc.org.

For accidents on the Kansas side: Overland Park Police Department offers free crash report PDF downloads at their website — you need the driver's name and case number. Address: 12400 Foster Street, Overland Park, KS 66213. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department (KCK) handles crashes within Wyandotte County — visit kckpd.org for request procedures.

Regardless of which agency has your report, gather as much of the following information as possible before submitting your request: the crash report number or RD number (from the exchange of information form you received at the scene), the date of the accident, the location of the accident (intersection or nearest address), the names of all drivers involved, and your driver's license number.

The report number is the most efficient way to locate your report. If you do not have the report number, the agency can usually find your report using the crash date combined with driver names and the crash location. Some online portals allow you to search by date and location without a report number.

For in-person requests at any agency, bring a valid photo ID. You can generally request a report if you were a driver or passenger in the accident, the owner of a vehicle involved, an insurance company representative, or an attorney representing a party to the accident. Missouri's Sunshine Law (RSMo Chapter 610) governs access to police reports — most crash reports are considered open records.

Your crash report is one of the most powerful pieces of evidence in a personal injury claim. It is written by a trained law enforcement officer who arrived at the scene, assessed the physical evidence, spoke to drivers and witnesses, and formed an independent opinion about what happened. Insurance adjusters review the crash report before anything else when evaluating a claim.

The report typically includes: a diagram of the accident scene showing vehicle positions, the direction of travel for each vehicle, the officer's narrative describing how the accident occurred, a fault assessment or contributing factors for each driver, contact information for all parties and witnesses, weather and road conditions at the time, whether citations were issued, and whether any driver appeared impaired.

If the report contains errors — your name is misspelled, the diagram is wrong, or the fault assessment does not match what happened — you can request a correction or supplement from the investigating agency. Do this as soon as you notice the error. Your attorney can also address report inaccuracies during the claims process. Under Missouri law, you have 5 years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (RSMo 516.120), but getting your crash report early gives you and your attorney more time to build a strong case.

If you have been in an accident in Kansas City and you are working on getting your crash report, get your free Injury Claim Check while you wait. You will answer a few quick questions about your accident and injuries, and we will give you a personalized report that includes Missouri's filing deadline for your specific claim, your legal options based on the details of your accident, and whether connecting with a personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Your crash report is a critical piece of the puzzle, but understanding the full picture — fault, insurance coverage, deadlines — matters just as much. Our Injury Claim Check gives you clear, actionable information about what comes next. Free, confidential, and takes less time than waiting on hold with the records section.