Reviewed by Mike Redondo, Founding Attorney, Redondo Law, P.A. • Updated October 2026
To get your Miami-Dade crash report, first find out which police agency wrote it. Then order it online through the Florida Crash Portal, run by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), or ask that agency directly. For the first 60 days, only the people in the crash, their lawyers, their insurers and a few others can get it, and you must sign a sworn statement.
Below, we walk through each step: which agency handles which roads, what to have ready, what it costs, and how to fix mistakes.
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Step 1: Find out which agency took the report
The agency that responded to the crash writes the report. In Miami-Dade, that is usually one of three.
- City police. If the crash happened inside a city, that city’s police department usually handles it. Examples include the Miami Police Department, Hialeah Police, Miami Beach Police and Doral Police. Other cities, such as North Miami and Miami Gardens, have their own departments too.
- Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. If the crash happened in an unincorporated area, such as Kendall or Westchester, the Sheriff’s Office usually handles it. This agency used to be called the Miami-Dade Police Department.
- Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). Crashes on the expressways usually go to FHP. That includes I-95, the Palmetto Expressway (SR 826), the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836), Florida’s Turnpike, I-75, I-195 and I-395. See our guide to Florida Highway Patrol crash reports for those cases.
Not sure who came? Check any card or paper the officer gave you. It often shows the agency and a report number. If you got nothing, call the non-emergency line of the agency you think responded.
Step 2: Gather the information you need
Have these details ready:
- The date of the crash
- The place: street names, nearest cross street or exit, and the city
- The crash report number or agency case number, if you have one
- The full names of the drivers involved
- Your driver license number, which the online portal asks for during the first 60 days
- A photo ID for in-person requests
Step 3: Order the report online through the Florida Crash Portal
FLHSMV runs the Florida Crash Portal at floridacrashportal.gov. It is the state’s official site for buying crash reports. Florida law requires officers to send long-form crash reports to FLHSMV, so the portal is often the easiest place to start.
FLHSMV lists the price as $10 per report, plus a $2 convenience fee for each online payment. Once you pay, you can download the report right away. The download link lasts 48 hours, so save a copy at once.
During the first 60 days, the portal asks which legal exception lets you see the report, such as being a driver in the crash, and asks for your driver license number.
FLHSMV says a report can take up to 10 days to show up. If you can’t find yours after that, contact the agency that wrote it. FLHSMV has noted trouble loading reports from some agencies, so the local agency is your backup.
Step 4: Request it in person or by mail
- Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. It takes records requests online. Its records counter at 9105 NW 25th Street in Doral sees people by appointment, which you can book through Miami-Dade 311.
- City police. Each city has its own records unit. Hialeah’s Records Unit, for example, is at 5555 E 8th Avenue. Call ahead about hours, fees and ID.
- Florida Highway Patrol. FLHSMV says you can ask for an FHP report in person at the FHP troop station nearest the crash. In Miami-Dade, that is Troop E.
- FLHSMV by mail. Send a request letter, a sworn statement for each report inside the 60-day period, and a check or money order made out to FLHSMV, to FLHSMV Crash Records, 2900 Apalachee Parkway, MS 28, Tallahassee, FL 32399. FLHSMV says this takes 4 to 6 weeks.
The sworn statement form is HSMV 94010. The part for requests within 60 days must be signed in front of a notary. Local agencies set their own copy fees.
Florida’s 60-day confidentiality rule
The Florida rule: 60 days of confidentiality
Under Fla. Stat. 316.066, a crash report that shows personal information is confidential for 60 days after it is filed. During that time, it is open only to the people in the crash, their lawyers, their insurance agents and insurers, police agencies, victim services programs, certain government agencies, and some news outlets (with personal details removed). Anyone who asks must show photo ID and sign a sworn statement that the report will not be used to solicit crash victims. After 60 days, a wider group of people may get it.
Short-form vs long-form crash reports
An officer must complete a long-form report when the crash:
- Caused a death, an injury, or any complaint of pain or discomfort
- Involved a driver leaving the scene, or a driver under the influence
- Damaged a vehicle so badly that a tow truck had to remove it
- Involved a commercial motor vehicle
The officer must file the long form within 10 days after finishing the investigation. For smaller crashes, the officer may fill out a short-form report or just give the drivers an exchange-of-information form. A short-form report may stay with the local agency instead of going to the state. If the portal does not have yours, check with the agency.
Where the $500 figure fits
Florida law says a driver must call police right away if a crash causes an injury, a death, or apparent damage of at least $500 to a vehicle or other property (Fla. Stat. 316.065). Even a minor crash can pass that amount. If no officer writes a report, a driver may need to file a self-report with FLHSMV within 10 days.
What to do if your crash report has mistakes
Officers work fast at busy scenes, and errors happen. Read every page, including the diagram and the narrative.
- Gather proof: photos, your insurance card, your registration, witness names and phone numbers, and medical records.
- Call the agency that wrote the report. Ask for the officer or the records unit.
- Ask whether the officer can add a supplement or amended report. Simple factual errors, like a wrong tag number, are the easiest to fix.
- If the officer will not change an opinion, such as who caused the crash, ask whether you can add your own written statement to the file.
- Keep copies of everything you send.
Why the crash report matters for your claim
Insurers look at the crash report early. It names the drivers, vehicles, insurers and witnesses, and it may include a diagram and the officer’s notes. If the other driver fled, as in a hit-and-run accident, the report shows you went to police promptly, which matters for an uninsured motorist (UM) claim.
For more on how adjusters use these reports, read our guide to police reports and car accidents.
The report is not the final word on fault
Florida law limits how crash reports are used in court. The report, and the statements people make to an officer for it, generally cannot be used as evidence at trial (Fla. Stat. 316.066(4)), with some exceptions. Traffic tickets are generally not admissible at trial either (Fla. Stat. 316.650(9)).
In an injury claim, fault is decided by the evidence: photos, video, vehicle damage, witnesses and the scene itself. Florida uses modified comparative fault. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you generally recover nothing. At 50% or less, your recovery is reduced by your share. So even if a report blames you, the facts are worth a closer look.
A Miami car accident lawyer can gather that evidence before it is lost. Business video may be recorded over, and witnesses get harder to reach.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a crash report in Miami-Dade?
FLHSMV says a report can take up to 10 days to appear in the Florida Crash Portal. Once it is there and you pay, you can download it right away. A serious crash with a longer investigation can take more time. Mailed requests take 4 to 6 weeks.
How much does a Florida crash report cost?
Through the Florida Crash Portal, FLHSMV charges $10 per report plus a $2 convenience fee for each online payment. City police departments and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office set their own fees when you ask them directly.
Can I get the other driver’s insurance information from the report?
Usually, yes. Florida law requires each driver to show the officer proof of insurance, and the officer documents it in the report. A long-form report must list the insurance companies of the people involved. Check these details carefully.
Can someone who was not in the crash get the report?
Not during the first 60 days, unless they fall into a group the law allows, such as your lawyer or your insurer. After 60 days, a wider group may get it. Federal privacy law still limits how personal details from the report can be used.
What if police did not come to my crash?
Call police right away if anyone is hurt or the damage looks like $500 or more. If no officer writes a report, a driver may need to file a Driver Report of Traffic Crash (Self Report) with FLHSMV within 10 days. Either way, get medical care within 14 days to protect your PIP benefits.
Do I need a lawyer to get my crash report?
No. You can buy it yourself. But if you were hurt, a lawyer can get it, check it for errors, and gather the evidence beyond it. Mike Redondo personally oversees every case at our firm, and our bilingual staff answers the phone 24/7.
If you or a family member was hurt in a crash anywhere in Miami-Dade, we can help you get the report and understand what it means for your claim. The consultation is free, and there is no fee unless we win. Call (305) 908-6778 or contact us online.
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