How to Get a Police or Crash Report in Florida, County by County

Reviewed by Mike Redondo, Founding Attorney, Redondo Law, P.A. • Updated November 2026

After a crash in Florida, the police report is one of the first things an insurance company asks for. It shows who was involved, where it happened, and what the officer saw. Getting it is usually simple once you know which agency wrote it.

This guide explains the statewide rules first. Then it walks through 12 counties we get the most calls about. Redondo Law helps injured people anywhere in Florida, and our team can request the report for you.

Step 1: Figure out which agency wrote your report

The agency that responded to your crash is the one that wrote the report. In most counties, that is one of three:

• The sheriff’s office, for crashes outside city limits (and inside some cities that contract with the sheriff).
• The city police department, for crashes inside a city that has its own police.
• The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), which patrols state highways and often handles crashes on interstates and toll roads. See our guide to getting a Florida Highway Patrol crash report.

If the officer gave you a card or slip at the scene, it usually shows the agency name and a report number. Keep it. It makes every step faster.

Step 2: Get the report online from the Florida Crash Portal

FLHSMV runs the Florida Crash Portal for official Florida law enforcement crash reports. Here is how it works:

• Each report costs $10. There is a $2.00 convenience fee per order.
• You can buy up to 10 reports in one order.
• Reports can take up to 10 days after the crash to become available.
• After you pay, you get a download link by email. You must download the report within 48 hours.
• Within the first 60 days, you must state which legal exemption applies to you, give a driver license number, and sign an attestation.

If a report older than 10 days does not load, contact the agency that wrote it.

The 60-day rule: who can get a crash report early

Under Florida law, crash reports that show personal details are confidential for 60 days after the report is filed. During that time, a report is available to:

• The people involved in the crash
• Their lawyers (legal representatives)
• Their insurance companies and licensed insurance agents
• Law enforcement, victim services programs and government agencies, including the State Attorney
• Licensed radio and TV stations and qualified newspapers, with personal details removed

If you ask in person or by mail during the 60 days, you must show a photo ID and sign a sworn statement for each report. The statement says you will not use the report to solicit accident victims. After 60 days, anyone can get a copy, but some personal details may be blacked out.

Other ways to get your report

• By mail from FLHSMV: Send a request letter, payment and, for reports in the 60-day window, a signed sworn statement to Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Crash Records, 2900 Apalachee Parkway, MS 28, Tallahassee, FL 32399. Make checks or money orders payable to FLHSMV. Allow 4 to 6 weeks.
• In person at FHP: For 10 or fewer reports, go to the FHP troop station nearest the crash. Bring the sworn statement if it is within 60 days.
• From the local agency: Every sheriff’s office and city police department has a records unit. The county list below shows how each major sheriff’s office handles requests.

What to have ready

Crash reports county by county

Below are the 12 counties we get the most calls about. In every county, city police departments handle crashes inside their own cities, and FHP handles many highway crashes. Most reports from any of these agencies can also be bought on the Florida Crash Portal.

Miami-Dade County

Outside city limits, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office responds. It replaced the Miami-Dade Police Department in January 2025. Cities such as Miami, Hialeah and Miami Beach have their own police. The Sheriff’s Office points people to the Florida Crash Portal for online reports. You can also ask in person or by mail at its Central Records Bureau, 9105 NW 25th St., Miami, FL 33172. The public counter works by appointment only. For mail requests, include a notarized sworn statement, payment and the report number. Our Miami-Dade crash report guide has more detail.

Broward County

The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) covers unincorporated areas and the cities that contract with it. Cities like Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood have their own police. BSO takes all records requests, including crash reports, through its Public Records Unit online portal. If you cannot use the portal, write to Broward Sheriff’s Office, Public Records Unit, P.O. Box 9507, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33310, or call 954-831-8700. BSO accepts checks, money orders, and credit or debit cards. It gives an estimate before any paid work.

Palm Beach County

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) covers unincorporated areas and some cities. West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and other cities have their own police. PBSO takes requests through its online records request system. You can also go to Central Records at 2195 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, or one of its district records offices. Call 561-688-3140. Central Records is cashless: card or check only.

Orange County

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office covers unincorporated Orange County, and Orlando has its own police department. The Sheriff’s Office sends people to the Florida Crash Portal for online reports at $10 each plus the $2.00 fee. For mail requests, it uses the FLHSMV mail process described above.

Hillsborough County

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office covers unincorporated Hillsborough, and Tampa has its own police. Use the Traffic / Crash Report Request option in the Sheriff’s Office online Records Request Center. You can track the request and download the report there. The Records Section is at 1900 East 9th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605. Call (813) 247-0960.

Duval County

Jacksonville and Duval County share one government, so the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) handles most crashes. The beach cities have their own police. Request records through the JSO online public records portal, by mail to Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Attn: Public Records Unit, 532 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32202, or in person at a JSO district office or the Public Services Building, 450 Magnolia Street. Call 904-630-2209.

Pinellas County

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office covers unincorporated areas and contract cities. St. Petersburg and Clearwater have their own police. The Sheriff’s Office has its own crash report website. Enter the report number, the crash date and a driver’s last name, and you can download the report as a free PDF. Reports stay on the site for one year. If you cannot find yours after two weeks, call the Records Division at 727-582-6281.

Lee County

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office covers unincorporated Lee County, and Fort Myers and Cape Coral have their own police. Request a report online through the Sheriff’s Office records request link, or go to Central Records at 14750 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers, FL 33912, open weekdays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (the lobby opens at 8 a.m.). Call 239-477-1350. People involved in the crash can get a free copy with a photo ID.

Polk County

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office covers unincorporated Polk, and Lakeland and Winter Haven have their own police. Contact the Records Management Bureau by email at recordsrequest@polksheriff.org, by phone at 863-298-6300, or in person at 1891 Jim Keene Blvd., Winter Haven, FL 33880, or any Sheriff’s Office substation.

Osceola County

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office covers unincorporated Osceola, and Kissimmee and St. Cloud have their own police. The Sheriff’s Office charges $2.00 per traffic crash report. During the first 60 days, people in the crash or their representatives can get it with ID. Allow 3 to 5 business days. Records hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Brevard County

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office covers unincorporated Brevard, and cities like Melbourne, Palm Bay and Titusville have their own police. Requests go through the Sheriff’s Office online public records portal. They are reviewed first, so they are not filled the same day. You can also write to Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, 700 Park Ave., Titusville, FL 32780.

Monroe County (Florida Keys)

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office covers most of the Keys, and Key West has its own police. Copies of Sheriff’s Office reports are available during business hours at Central Records, 5525 College Road, Key West, FL 33040 (305-292-7050), and at the Plantation Key Substation, 50 Highpoint Rd., Tavernier (305-853-3211). You can also request a report online through the Sheriff’s Office records portal.

Summary table

Why the report matters for your injury claim

The report helps your insurer process your PIP claim. It also helps prove who caused the crash when you claim against the other driver. If the report has a mistake, such as a wrong name or a missing witness, our team can work on getting it corrected or adding evidence. If your insurer is slow or refuses to pay, read about what to do when a PIP claim is denied.

In Florida, most injury claims from crashes after March 24, 2023 must be filed within 2 years. Getting the report early keeps your claim on track.

Talk to Redondo Law

Redondo Law takes car accident cases across Florida. Before founding Redondo Law in 2019, Mike Redondo spent six years at Holland & Knight defending major corporations in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Mike and his team give every case personal attention, and our team keeps you updated. We meet by phone or video, and if your injuries keep you from traveling, we come to you. Learn more about our car accident practice.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Florida crash report cost?

On the Florida Crash Portal, each report costs $10, plus a $2.00 convenience fee per order. Some local agencies charge less. For example, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office charges $2.00, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office lets you download a free PDF.

How long does it take for a crash report to be ready?

Reports can take up to 10 days to appear on the Florida Crash Portal. Officers must turn in long-form reports within 10 days after the investigation. Some agencies take longer to approve and post reports.

Can I get my crash report before 60 days pass?

Yes, if you were in the crash. People involved, their lawyers and their insurers can get the report right away. Online, you state your exemption and sign an attestation. In person or by mail, you sign a sworn statement and show ID.

What if no officer came to my crash?

If anyone was hurt, call the police and ask for a report. For a minor crash with only property damage and no officer report, the driver must send a self-report to FLHSMV within 10 days. Call us if you are unsure whether a report was written.

Can my lawyer get the report for me?

Yes. Florida law lets your legal representative get the report during the 60-day window. When you hire Redondo Law, our team requests the report and other records for you.

Hurt in a crash anywhere in Florida? Call Redondo Law at (305) 908-6778, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The consultation is free, our bilingual team is ready to help, and there is no fee unless we win. You can also contact us online.