How to Get a CMPD Accident Report
Complete guide to getting your Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department crash report: cost, timeline, location, online options, and what to do if a different agency responded.
The Bottom Line
To get your CMPD accident report, visit CMPD headquarters at 601 East Trade Street in Charlotte or call (704) 336-7600. Reports cost $14 to $16, are available within 5 to 10 business days, and you will need to provide the date and location of the accident. If a different agency responded to your crash -- the Highway Patrol or a neighboring town's police department -- you will need to request the report from that agency instead.
Where to Get Your CMPD Crash Report
CMPD handles accident reports through their headquarters location:
- Address: 601 East Trade Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
- Phone: (704) 336-7600
- Cost: $14 to $16 per report
- Timeline: 5 to 10 business days after the accident
When you request the report, you will need to provide:
- The date of the accident
- The location (street name, intersection, or mile marker)
- The names of the drivers involved (at least one)
Call ahead before visiting to confirm your report is ready. Reports involving serious injuries, fatalities, or DWI investigations may take longer than the standard timeframe.
What If CMPD Did Not Respond to Your Accident?
Not every accident in the Charlotte area is handled by CMPD. Which agency investigates depends on where the crash happened.
Interstate Crashes (I-77, I-85, I-485)
Accidents on Charlotte-area interstates are typically investigated by the NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP), not CMPD. If your crash happened on I-77, I-85, I-485, or another highway under state jurisdiction, you will need to request the report from the NC DMV rather than CMPD.
NCSHP reports are available through the NC DMV crash reports page for $6.25. You can also use our accident report finder tool to identify the correct agency for your crash location.
Neighboring Town Police Departments
Several municipalities within or bordering Mecklenburg County have their own police departments. If your accident happened in one of these towns, the local PD -- not CMPD -- likely responded:
- Matthews Police Department -- crashes within Matthews town limits
- Huntersville Police Department -- crashes within Huntersville town limits
- Mint Hill Police Department -- crashes within Mint Hill town limits
- Cornelius Police Department -- crashes within Cornelius town limits
Contact the agency that investigated your crash directly. If you are unsure which agency responded, check any paperwork the officer gave you at the scene -- the agency name is printed on the exchange-of-information card.
How to Read Your CMPD Accident Report
CMPD uses the standard NC DMV-349 crash report form -- the same form used by every law enforcement agency in the state. When you receive your report, pay close attention to:
- Contributing circumstances codes -- these indicate who the officer believes caused the crash
- The crash narrative -- the officer's written account of what happened
- The crash diagram -- a sketch of vehicle positions and the point of impact
- Injury classifications -- how the officer categorized each person's injuries at the scene
For a detailed walkthrough of every section, see our guide on how to read your NC accident report.
What to Do If the Report Has Errors
If your CMPD crash report contains factual errors -- wrong vehicle information, incorrect street names, or misattributed statements -- contact the investigating officer and request a supplemental report. Officers will generally correct verifiable factual mistakes.
If the dispute is about the narrative or contributing circumstances (the officer's account does not match yours), the officer is unlikely to change their professional assessment. In that case, you can gather independent evidence -- photos, dashcam footage, witness statements -- to support your version. An unfavorable crash report is not the final word on fault.
If You Hire an Attorney, They Get the Report for You
When you hire a personal injury attorney, obtaining the crash report is one of the first things they handle. You do not need to visit CMPD headquarters or pay the fee yourself -- the report is obtained as part of standard case preparation at no additional cost to you.
More importantly, an attorney knows how to read the report and identify issues that could affect your claim. They can spot inaccurate contributing circumstances codes, inconsistencies in the narrative, and errors in the diagram that a non-lawyer might overlook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a CMPD accident report cost?
A CMPD crash report costs between $14 and $16. You can pay at the CMPD headquarters at 601 East Trade Street in Charlotte. If you hire an attorney, they typically obtain the report for you at no additional cost as part of their case preparation.
How long does it take to get a CMPD accident report?
CMPD crash reports are generally available within 5 to 10 business days after the accident. More complex crashes involving serious injuries or fatalities may take longer. You can call CMPD at (704) 336-7600 to check if your report is ready before making the trip.
What if my Charlotte accident was on I-77, I-85, or I-485?
Interstate crashes in the Charlotte area are usually investigated by the NC State Highway Patrol, not CMPD. If NCSHP responded, you will need to request your report from the NC DMV rather than CMPD. You can order NCSHP reports online through the NC DMV crash reports page for $6.25.
What if CMPD did not respond to my accident?
Several municipalities within the Charlotte metro area have their own police departments. If your accident happened in Matthews, Huntersville, Mint Hill, or Cornelius, the local police department for that town likely responded instead of CMPD. Contact the agency that investigated the crash directly to request your report.
Can my attorney get the CMPD accident report for me?
Yes. When you hire an attorney, obtaining the crash report is one of the first things they do as part of building your case. They get the report at no additional cost to you -- it is included in their standard case preparation. This also ensures the report is reviewed by someone who knows how to identify errors and interpret the contributing circumstances codes.