Updated August 29, 2026
After a crash, the police report is usually the first document an insurance company asks for. Which agency has yours depends on where the collision happened.
Step 1: Figure out which agency wrote the report
- City streets in Long Beach: the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) handles collisions on surface streets inside the city.
- Freeways: crashes on the 405, 710, 91, or 605, and on other state highways, are handled by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), not LBPD.
Requesting a report from LBPD
- Complete the Application for Release of Traffic Collision and/or Crime Report, available on the city's Request a Police Report page, and submit it online, by mail, or in person.
- The processing fee is $29 per application and is not refundable, even if no report is found. Victims of crimes are exempt from the fee.
- In person or by mail: Long Beach Police Department, Attention: Records Division, 400 West Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802. Mail requests must pay by check or money order.
- Questions: the report request line is (562) 570-7381.
Requesting a report from the CHP
- Complete form CHP-190, Application for Release of Information, and submit it to the CHP Area office that handled the crash, in person or by mail.
- Include a legible photocopy of your government-issued photo ID.
- Fees are tiered by report length, starting at $10 for reports up to 25 pages. Mail requests pay by check or money order; call ahead to confirm the amount.
- Mailed requests commonly take two to four weeks after the office receives them.
Who can get a copy
Collision reports are released to parties of interest: drivers, injured passengers, vehicle owners, and their representatives, such as an attorney or insurer. Expect to show ID that connects you to the crash.
Why the report matters for an injury claim
The report records the parties, insurance information, witness names, the officer's diagram, and often a preliminary fault assessment. Insurers lean on it heavily. If the report gets a key fact wrong, it can be worth addressing early, and if the insurance company is already pushing back, that is a good moment to talk with a personal injury attorney.
This page is general information for Long Beach residents, not legal advice about any specific situation. Agency fees and procedures change; confirm details with the agency before you rely on them.
