Glendale and Los Angeles accident reports: find the right agency

Identify the investigating agency first

A collision's city or mailing address does not always identify the report custodian. A freeway collision near Glendale may have a CHP report, while a nearby street collision may have a Glendale Police report. Within the Los Angeles area, other municipal departments and the Sheriff's Department may also investigate incidents.

Look for the agency name on the officer's card, an incident receipt, towing paperwork, or correspondence from your insurer. If you have only a location and date, contact the likely agency's records unit and ask whether it has the report or can identify the investigating agency.

A DMV SR-1 is a separate accident report. Submitting it does not mean there is a police investigation report to purchase.

Gather the details before opening a request

Keep the following together so a missing detail does not interrupt the request:

• The collision date, approximate time, street or intersection, and travel direction.
• The report or incident number, if you have one.
• Names of involved people and vehicle plates.
• Your contact information and a clear explanation of your involvement.
• Identification and any authorization required for a representative.

Report access is restricted to people entitled to receive it. A relative, witness, or person who knows a party should not assume automatic eligibility. Ask the agency which supporting documents it needs rather than submitting someone else's identity information.

Glendale Police Department reports

If Glendale Police investigated the collision, use the dedicated Glendale accident-report guide for the official online entry point, eligibility questions and Records Bureau follow-up. A collision near Glendale may instead have been investigated by CHP or another agency, so check the agency name before starting a paid search.

Los Angeles reports: LAPD, LASD or another agency

The Los Angeles accident-report guide explains LAPD online and mail requests, LASD records contacts and the separate CHP process. Use the investigating agency rather than choosing a department from the city or county name alone. Report availability, eligible requesters and the applicable request channel can differ.

California Highway Patrol reports

CHP’s current request page offers an online Crash Portal and CHP 190 requests by mail or in person. Our CHP collision-report guide explains eligibility, identification, fees and follow-up.

CHP supplies reports for collisions it investigated. It cannot obtain another police department’s report. Check the agency name before choosing a request route.

If the report cannot be found

A missing online result can mean the report is pending, ineligible for online release, filed under different information, or held by another agency. It does not establish that no report exists. Check spelling, the date, the report number, and whether the incident crossed midnight.

Ask the records unit a focused question: Is a report on file, is it still awaiting release, or is a different request process required? Preserve the response and any reference number. Avoid repeatedly paying for searches until you understand the problem.

Continue preserving photographs, video, witness details, bills, and other evidence while you wait. An administrative delay does not extend a legal or insurance deadline.

Review the report and keep the original

Save the complete report, attachments, and any later supplements. Check names, plates, location, diagrams, and the description of the event. If something appears inaccurate, note the exact page, the issue, and what independent information supports a correction.

Ask the investigating agency how it receives correction requests or supplemental information. Do not edit the report yourself. A report may contain important observations and statements, but it does not by itself settle every question about civil liability, injury, or insurance coverage.