Just crashed and need help now? Do these five things and get a free case review.
There are two different documents people call a crash report, and the right route depends on which one you need. A long-form or short-form report is written by the officer who investigated. A driver self-report is what you send to the state when no officer wrote a report. This page covers getting the first kind; for filing the second, see what to do after a crash.
Decide where to ask
| You want | Best route | Cost and timing |
|---|---|---|
| A report for a crash anywhere in Florida | Florida Crash Portal | $10 per report plus a $2 convenience fee per transaction; reports may take up to 10 days to appear (FLHSMV) |
| A Fort Myers city crash, in person | Fort Myers Police Department | In person Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or through CrashDocs (Fort Myers PD) |
| A Cape Coral crash, through the city | Cape Coral Police public portal | Records requests at the CCPD portal; to file a report, call (239) 574-3223 (Cape Coral PD) |
| A crash in unincorporated Lee County | Lee County Sheriff's Office Records | (239) 477-1350, with copy charges listed on the LCSO records page |
| A crash in unincorporated Collier County | Collier County Sheriff's Office | (239) 252-9300; a self-reported crash can be saved or printed when you finish the online form |
| A crash in Charlotte County | Charlotte County Sheriff's Office | (941) 639-2101; the agency links to the Florida Crash Portal and a crash-report request (ccso.org) |
The 60-day rule
Under Florida Statutes 316.066(2), a crash report that reveals a party's identity, phone number, address or other personal information is confidential and exempt from public records disclosure for 60 days after it is filed. During that time it may be made available immediately to:
- the parties involved in the crash
- their legal representatives and licensed insurance agents
- their insurers, and insurers they have applied to, plus contractors acting for those insurers
- law enforcement and government agencies acting in their duties
- victim services programs
- licensed broadcasters and qualifying newspapers, with the personal details removed
After 60 days a report may be released to anyone eligible under the statute or with a permitted purpose under federal law. A request from anyone not on that list in the first 60 days can be refused.
Getting a report: steps
- Find the crash date, location and report number. The officer or the agency gives a number at the scene.
- Wait. FLHSMV says reports may take up to 10 days to become available.
- Use the Florida Crash Portal for the quickest route. The download link is emailed and must be used within 48 hours; reports arrive as a zip file of PDFs (FLHSMV portal).
- If you ask an agency directly, bring a valid photo ID and expect to sign a sworn statement that the information will not be used to solicit accident victims. Florida makes this a condition of getting a confidential report, and knowingly obtaining one you are not entitled to, or using it in violation of the sworn statement, is a third-degree felony.
- Check the report for your insurance information, vehicle damage, and the officer's account. If something is wrong, ask the agency how to request a supplement.
What if no officer came?
If the crash did not require a law enforcement report, the driver must send a written report to the state within 10 days (Fla. Stat. 316.066(1)(e)). The Collier County Sheriff and Lee County Sheriff both offer an online form for minor crashes, and the FLHSMV Crash Portal also covers reporting a crash. Keep a copy.
Related
- What to do after a car accident in Southwest Florida
- The 14-day PIP rule
- Florida car accident deadlines
- Kazaam's claim deadline calculator. Disclosure: Kazaam is a marketing and lead-connection service operated alongside SWFL.now by Neural Command, LLC; it is not a law firm.
Sources
- FLHSMV, Traffic Crash Reports, modified October 27, 2026.
- Florida Crash Portal.
- Florida Statutes 316.066.
- Agency pages for Lee, Collier and Charlotte sheriffs, Cape Coral Police and Fort Myers Police, linked above, read November 14, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Florida crash report cost?
- $10.00 per report under section 321.23, Florida Statutes, plus a $2.00 convenience fee for each transaction through the Florida Crash Portal.
- How long does it take for a crash report to be available?
- FLHSMV says reports may take up to 10 days to become available. Once a report is available on the portal, the download link is emailed and must be used within 48 hours of the request.
- Who can get my crash report, and when?
- For 60 days after the report is filed, reports with personal information are confidential. The parties, their legal representatives, licensed insurance agents, their insurers and some others can get them immediately. After 60 days, any person or entity eligible under the statute, or with a permitted use under federal law, can request one.
- Why does the agency ask me to sign a statement?
- Florida law requires a person to show photo identification or proof of status and sign a sworn statement for each report that the information will not be used to solicit accident victims, as a condition of accessing a confidential report.
- Where is the report for a crash in Cape Coral or Fort Myers?
- Cape Coral Police take records requests through their public portal and ask you to call 239-574-3223 to file a report. Fort Myers Police say reports are available in person at the department, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or through CrashDocs. You can also search the statewide Florida Crash Portal.