How to Get Your Police Report in Memphis

The fastest way to get your Memphis accident report is through the Tennessee Buy Crash portal, the public-facing system powered by the Tennessee Integrated Traffic Analysis Network (TITAN). Memphis Police Department officers submit electronic crash reports to this statewide database, making it the primary source for official crash reports in Memphis.

Access the Tennessee Buy Crash portal at apps.tn.gov/purchasetncrash (also accessible at tnbuycrash.com). You can search for your report using the crash report number (listed on the exchange-of-information card the officer provided at the scene), the date of the accident, the county (Shelby), or the names of the parties involved. Once you find your report, you can download an electronic copy for $10. Payment is accepted via Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover (no prepaid cards).

Reports typically appear in the system within 7 business days of the accident. Officers are required to complete and submit reports promptly, but processing times vary. Complex crashes — those involving fatalities, multiple vehicles, or ongoing investigations — may take longer. If your report is not available after 7 business days, check again in a few days or call Memphis Police Central Records at (901) 636-3650.

If you prefer to get your report in person, or if you need it before it appears online, visit the Memphis Police Department Central Records Office at 170 North Main Street, 7th Floor, Suite 7-11, Memphis, TN 38103. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The office is closed on weekends and holidays. Reports require a minimum 48-hour processing time after the accident.

Bring a photo ID and, if you have it, the crash report number or the date and location of the accident. The records staff can look up your report by name if you do not have the report number. For Tennessee residents with valid ID, in-person copies cost $0.15 per page. Non-residents pay a $15 flat fee. Phone: (901) 636-3650. Payment accepted: cash, money orders, cashier's checks, Visa, Mastercard, or Discover (no personal checks).

Memphis Police Department also processes requests by mail and fax. Contact Central Records at (901) 636-3650 to confirm the current mail-request process and turnaround time. Faxed or emailed document requests cost $15.

Not all accidents in the Memphis area are investigated by Memphis Police Department. If your accident occurred on an interstate (I-40, I-55, I-240, I-269) or state highway, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) may have responded. THP reports are also available through the Tennessee Buy Crash portal. You can contact THP at (615) 741-3181.

If your accident occurred in a suburb or neighboring jurisdiction — Germantown, Bartlett, Collierville, Millington, Arlington, or Lakeland — the responding agency was that city's police department. Their crash reports are also submitted to the statewide TITAN system, so you can search for them using the same Buy Crash portal at apps.tn.gov/purchasetncrash.

Shelby County Sheriff's Office handles accidents in unincorporated areas of Shelby County. Their reports are also submitted to TITAN and available through the Buy Crash portal. You can contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Office at (901) 222-5500 for records inquiries. If your accident occurred in Mississippi — for example, in DeSoto County (Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake) — you will need to request the report from the Mississippi agency that responded, not from the Tennessee system.

To find your crash report on the Buy Crash portal, you need at least one of the following: the crash report number (the best way to search — the officer should have provided this on an exchange-of-information card at the scene), the date of the accident, the county where the crash occurred (Shelby for Memphis), or the name of a person involved in the crash.

If you were taken from the scene by ambulance and did not receive a crash report number, do not worry. You can search by your last name and the date of the accident. The county (Shelby) will help narrow results. If the officer left a card with a family member, check with them. The report number may also be on the tow receipt if your vehicle was towed.

For in-person requests at the Memphis Police Department Records Office, a photo ID and the date and approximate location of the accident are usually sufficient. If you were not the driver — for example, you were a passenger or a pedestrian — bring any documentation that connects you to the accident, such as an ER discharge summary or an insurance claim number.

Tennessee crash reports contain a detailed record of the accident. The report includes the date, time, and exact location of the crash, weather and road conditions, a diagram of the accident scene showing vehicle positions and directions of travel, and the names, addresses, driver's license numbers, and insurance information for all drivers and passengers involved.

The responding officer's narrative is the most important section for your injury claim. The narrative describes what the officer observed at the scene, what the drivers and witnesses said, and the officer's assessment of how the accident occurred. If the officer determined that one driver was at fault — ran a red light, failed to yield, was following too closely — the narrative will say so. If the officer issued a citation, that is powerful evidence supporting your claim.

The report also notes whether anyone was injured, whether anyone was transported by ambulance, and whether any driver appeared to be impaired. Witness contact information is included if witnesses were present and spoke to the officer. All of this information becomes part of the evidence in your personal injury case.

The police report is one of the first documents the insurance company reviews when evaluating your claim. It documents the officer's assessment of fault, whether citations were issued, the severity of the impact, and the injuries reported at the scene. An officer's determination that the other driver was at fault — especially if backed by a citation — puts significant pressure on the insurance company to offer a fair settlement.

The report also establishes a timeline. It documents when the accident occurred, when police arrived, and what injuries were reported at the scene. If you develop symptoms later that were not immediately apparent — whiplash, concussions, and soft tissue injuries often take 24 to 72 hours to manifest — the report provides context that supports the connection between the accident and your delayed symptoms.

If the police report contains errors — your name is misspelled, the accident description is wrong, or the fault determination seems incorrect — you can request a correction or supplement. Contact the Memphis Police Department Records Office at (901) 636-3650 to ask about the correction process. Your attorney can also address report inaccuracies as part of your claim.

Tennessee law (T.C.A. § 55-10-103) requires the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury, death, or property damage to stop at the scene, provide identification and insurance information, and render reasonable assistance to any injured person. Leaving the scene of an accident involving injury is a Class A misdemeanor. Leaving the scene of an accident involving death is a Class E felony.

Under T.C.A. § 55-10-107, a written crash report is required for any accident resulting in bodily injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,500. The investigating officer must submit this report to the Tennessee Department of Safety within 20 days of the accident. Drivers are separately required to report accidents involving more than $50 in property damage to local police under T.C.A. § 55-10-106.

If the other driver left the scene (hit-and-run), call 911 immediately and file a police report. A documented hit-and-run report is essential for your insurance claim, particularly if you need to use your own uninsured motorist coverage. Tennessee's statute of limitations for personal injury is only 1 year (T.C.A. § 28-3-104) — do not wait to get your police report and begin your claim.

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

Your police report is an important piece of the puzzle, but understanding the full picture — fault, insurance coverage, medical documentation, deadlines — is what determines the strength of your claim. Tennessee's 1-year statute of limitations makes timing especially critical. 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 office.