How to Get a Missouri Crash Report (and Why Names Are Blacked Out Now)?

You got hit. You’re sore, your car’s in a tow lot, and the insurance adjuster already called twice. Now somebody tells you to “get the crash report.” Fine. From where? And why does the one you found online have the other driver’s name blacked out?

Here’s how it actually works in Missouri right now, including an October 2026 lawsuit that could change what the public gets to see.

What changed: the Highway Patrol started redacting crash reports?

For a long time, the Missouri State Highway Patrol put crash reports online with names and details showing. According to a Sunshine Law petition filed against the Patrol, it did that for nearly 30 years, and its own website once told people that “all information on crash reports is considered an ‘open record’ and cannot be withheld from the public.” (That quote comes from the Missouri Press Association’s announcement of the suit.)

Then it changed. The petition alleges that since sometime in 2024, the Patrol has redacted names, addresses, telephone numbers, and other identifying information from the versions of crash reports it hands out in response to Sunshine Law requests, and only shows part of each report online.

KOMU reported, in a story republished by the Missouri Independent, that the Patrol began redacting personal information in its online crash reports on Nov. 1, 2024, citing concern that scammers could use the information to target victims’ families. At the time, the Patrol said the change would apply only to the online preliminary reports. In one response quoted in the petition, the Patrol said the redactions were meant to protect personal information and comply with the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act.

The October 2026 Sunshine Law lawsuit

On October 16, 2026, the Missouri Press Association, the Missouri Broadcasters Association, Gray Local Media (owner of KMOV in St. Louis and other Missouri stations), Warden Publishing Company, and one of Warden’s managing editors filed a petition in Cole County Circuit Court against the Patrol.

Their argument is simple. Under the Sunshine Law, crash reports are “incident reports” under RSMo 610.100, and incident reports “shall be open records.” The petition says the redactions aren’t authorized by the Sunshine Law or any other law.

The petition describes several 2026 requests by news outlets for unredacted reports. Each time, according to the petition, the Patrol sent back a redacted version. The groups are asking the court to order full, unredacted reports, restore complete online access, and award civil penalties and attorney’s fees.

That’s the media’s fight, and it’s still a lawsuit, not a ruling. Nothing has been decided yet. But it matters to you for one reason: the free online version of a Patrol crash report may not tell you who hit you.

How to request your own crash report?

The official report is different from the online preliminary report. Which agency you ask depends on who worked the crash. Look at the card or slip the officer gave you. If you don’t have one, think about where it happened: interstates and state highways are often the Highway Patrol, city streets are usually city police, and unincorporated county roads are often the sheriff.

Missouri State Highway Patrol

• Wait about 10 days. The Patrol says to wait 10 days from the date of the crash investigation before requesting. It also warns on its site that it’s backlogged, so the report may take an extended time even after that.
• Request online. The Patrol’s preferred route is its Public Records Center. From statepatrol.dps.mo.gov, go to “Patrol Records Request,” then “Traffic Crash Report Request.”
• Or by mail. Send the Traffic Crash Report Request Form to the troop headquarters where the crash happened (or the one nearest you) or to the Patrol Records Division, P.O. Box 568, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Attention: Traffic Crash Reports. Check or money order payable to “DPS – Missouri State Highway Patrol.” No cash.
• Cost. $6.00 for a basic crash report. Photos, reconstruction reports, certified copies, and crash data cost extra.
• Questions. Patrol Records Division: (573) 526-6113, ext. 1702.

The Patrol’s online preliminary crash reports only stay up for 29 days, so don’t count on finding yours there later.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD)

• Who can get it: People involved in the crash, or their authorized representative.
• When: SLMPD says crash reports are usually completed and approved within about 5 days. You can check status on its online traffic accident page.
• In person: Records Service Center, 1915 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63103. Bring a state-issued photo ID or a valid passport and fill out the “Request for Crash Report/Criminal Incident Report” form.
• Online or by mail: Use the SLMPD Public Records portal or mail the form. Mail and online requests from involved people must be notarized.
• Cost: SLMPD’s FAQ lists $6.50 for an accident report, and its records page says fees follow the Sunshine Law (copying and search time). No personal checks or credit cards in person.

Columbia Police Department

Columbia PD’s Information Center handles police and accident report requests. You can submit a public records request through the City of Columbia’s records portal (NextRequest), or go to the front desk at police headquarters, 600 E. Walnut St. If there’s a cost, the city will tell you how to pay.

Boone County Sheriff’s Office

If the sheriff worked your crash, use the Boone County Sheriff’s online Open Records Request form. Describe the date, location, and people involved as specifically as you can. Payment is due before records are released, and they’ll tell you the cost. Office: (573) 875-1111.

What to do if your report is redacted or wrong?

Read it the day you get it. Check the date, location, vehicles, and the narrative. In the petition, one reporter says the Patrol first sent her a report that appeared to be for a completely different crash. Mistakes happen. Catch them early.

If key information is blacked out, you still have options. Your own insurance claim, the other driver’s insurer, and a lawyer can all help identify who was involved. Don’t let a redacted box stall your claim.

What a lawyer can get that you might not?

When we take a crash case, the crash report is the starting line, not the finish. Depending on the case, a lawyer can:

• Request the full official report, plus reconstruction reports, scene photos, and crash data the Patrol offers for extra fees.
• Send Sunshine Law requests for 911 recordings, dispatch logs, and body or dash camera video where available.
• Send preservation letters so video, vehicle data, and records don’t disappear.
• Once a lawsuit is filed, subpoena records and use discovery to get information that isn’t released to the public.

Do it early. Video gets overwritten. Memories fade. Missouri gives you five years to file most injury claims, but evidence doesn’t wait five years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a Missouri crash report?

The Highway Patrol says to wait at least 10 days after the crash investigation before requesting, and it warns of a backlog. SLMPD says its crash reports are usually ready in about 5 days.

How much does a Missouri crash report cost?

The Highway Patrol charges $6.00 for a basic crash report, with extra fees for photos, reconstruction reports, and certified copies. SLMPD lists $6.50. Columbia PD and the Boone County Sheriff tell you the cost when you request.

Why are names blacked out on Missouri Highway Patrol crash reports?

The Patrol began redacting personal information in online crash reports on Nov. 1, 2024, citing scam concerns, according to KOMU. A petition filed Oct. 16, 2026 alleges it also redacts names, addresses, and phone numbers in reports released through Sunshine Law requests. The Patrol has cited the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act.

Who is suing the Missouri State Highway Patrol over crash reports?

The Missouri Press Association, Missouri Broadcasters Association, Gray Local Media, Warden Publishing Company, and a Warden managing editor, in Cole County Circuit Court. They say crash reports are open records under RSMo 610.100.

Can I get the online crash report later?

Don’t wait. The Patrol says preliminary online crash reports stay up for 29 days. The official report is a separate request.

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Missouri?

For most personal injury claims, five years. Some claims, like wrongful death or claims against government entities, have different and shorter deadlines, so talk to a lawyer early.

Talk to Mutrux Firm

Got your report and still don’t know where you stand? Call us. Main line 888-550-4026, St. Louis 314-270-2273, Columbia 573-722-2121.