Get Your NC Accident Report (2026)
How to get your NC DMV-349 accident report for free via the NCSHP portal, by mail using TR-67A, or in person — plus how to read fault codes and correct errors.
The Bottom Line
In North Carolina, your accident report is held by the law enforcement agency that responded to your crash. If the NC State Highway Patrol investigated, you can get a free copy online at vehicle-search.ncshp.org within 5-7 business days. For all other agencies, use form TR-67A by mail ($6.50) or contact the local police or sheriff directly. The fault code boxes on the report -- not just the narrative -- are what insurance adjusters read first.
What Is a NC Accident Report and Why Do You Need One?
An accident report (officially the DMV-349 crash report form) is the document completed by the law enforcement officer who responded to the collision. It contains:
- Names, addresses, and insurance information for all drivers
- The officer's description of what happened and a crash scene diagram
- Road and weather conditions at the time of the crash
- Any citations issued
- Numeric codes in boxes 14-19 indicating the officer's preliminary assessment of each driver's contributing factors
You need this report because it is the foundation of any insurance claim or legal action. Your insurer will request it, the other driver's insurer will use it, and any attorney you consult will review it first. Review the report before giving any detailed statements to the other driver's insurer, so you know exactly what the officer documented. For a full guide on NC accident reporting requirements, including when you must report to law enforcement, see our dedicated page.
DMV-349 vs. TR-67A: The Two Forms You Need to Know
Many NC accident victims confuse these two forms:
DMV-349 is the crash report form that the responding law enforcement officer files with the NC DMV after the accident. This is the document you want a copy of. You never fill this out yourself.
TR-67A is the civilian request form that you complete to obtain a certified copy of a DMV-349 by mail from the NC DMV Traffic Records Section. Think of it as the "order form" for your crash report.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1 — NC Public Records Act
Accident reports filed by law enforcement are public records. Any member of the public -- not just the parties involved -- may request a copy of a NC DMV-349 crash report.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-166.1 — Mandatory Crash Investigation and Reporting
Requires law enforcement to investigate and file a DMV-349 for accidents involving injury, death, or property damage estimated at $1,000 or more. The filing officer's agency holds the report.
How Accident Reports Work in North Carolina
Unlike some states that have a centralized online system for all reports, NC crash reports are managed by the individual agency that responded. There are three types of agencies:
Municipal police departments handle accidents within city or town limits. Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD, Raleigh PD, and Greensboro PD are the largest, but most NC cities with their own police force handle crashes within their jurisdiction.
County sheriff departments handle accidents in unincorporated areas -- the parts of a county outside any city or town. They also cover small towns that lack their own police force. Every one of NC's 100 counties has a sheriff's office.
NC State Highway Patrol handles accidents on interstates, US highways, and state highways, as well as some unincorporated crashes. If your accident happened on I-40, I-85, I-77, I-95, or any major numbered highway, the Highway Patrol likely responded.
Use the Search Tool to Find Your Agency
Where did your accident happen?
Search for a city, town, or county in North Carolina.
Three Ways to Get Your NC Accident Report
Option 1: Free Online — NCSHP Portal (Fastest for Highway Patrol Crashes)
If the NC State Highway Patrol investigated your crash, you can get a free unofficial copy through the NCSHP vehicle search portal at vehicle-search.ncshp.org. This is the fastest and cheapest route for the majority of NC highway and interstate accidents.
Search options: Report number, license plate, driver's license number, last name, or county.
Coverage: HP-investigated crashes since May 16, 2013.
Timeline: Reports are typically posted within 5-7 business days after the crash.
Important: This portal does not include reports filed by municipal police departments or county sheriffs. For those agencies, contact the department directly.
Option 2: By Mail — TR-67A Form ($6.50)
For any NC crash report, including those investigated by local agencies, you can request a certified copy by mail from the NC DMV Traffic Records Section.
Steps:
- Download or obtain form TR-67A (available from NCDMV offices)
- Complete the form with the crash date, location, and parties involved (report number helps but is not required)
- Mail the completed form with a $6.50 check or money order payable to NCDOT-DMV to:
NCDOT-DMV Traffic Records Section
3106 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27697-3106
Timeline: Allow 10 business days from the date your request is received.
Note: The myNCDMV online ordering system is available to businesses, insurers, and attorneys -- not to individual civilians requesting their own report. Use the TR-67A mail method or the NCSHP portal instead.
Option 3: In Person — NCDMV Raleigh Central Services
You can obtain up to 5 reports immediately in person at:
NCDMV Raleigh Central Services
4121 New Bern Ave, Raleigh, NC
Cost: $6.50 per report.
Timeline: Immediate fulfillment at the counter (if the report has been filed).
Note: This location handles reports statewide -- you do not need to visit the local agency for a certified copy through DMV.
How to Find Your Report
Identify which agency responded
Check the business card or incident card the officer gave you at the scene. Look for the agency name and report number. If you do not have this, consider where the crash happened: city street = local police, major highway = NC State Highway Patrol, rural or unincorporated area = county sheriff.
Check the NCSHP free portal first
If the Highway Patrol responded, go to vehicle-search.ncshp.org and search by plate, driver's license, or last name. Reports are typically available within 5-7 business days. This is the fastest and least expensive option.
If a local agency responded, contact them directly
Call the municipal police or county sheriff's records division. Ask for the report number and the process for requesting a copy. Many agencies allow in-person, mail, or online requests through their own portals. Fees vary by agency.
Use the TR-67A mail request for a certified copy
Complete form TR-67A and mail it with a $6.50 check to NCDOT-DMV Traffic Records Section, 3106 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27697-3106. Allow 10 business days from receipt.
Review the report as soon as it arrives
Check all personal information, the crash description, diagram, and -- critically -- the contributing circumstance codes in boxes 14-19. These codes are what insurance adjusters read to assess fault.
Request corrections within 10-15 days if needed
If you find errors, act quickly. Contact the responding agency's records division or the investigating officer in writing. Objective errors (wrong plate number, wrong address) are correctable; subjective narrative errors require a written addendum request.
How to Read Your NC Accident Report: The Fault Code Boxes
Most people focus on the officer's written narrative, but insurance adjusters go directly to the contributing circumstance codes. Understanding these codes tells you how the officer assigned fault before you give any statement.
The Boxes That Matter: 14-16 and 17-19
On the DMV-349 form, look for two sets of boxes:
- Boxes 14, 15, 16 — Driver 1 Contributing Circumstances: Numeric codes indicating what Driver 1 did wrong (or did not do wrong)
- Boxes 17, 18, 19 — Driver 2 Contributing Circumstances: The same for Driver 2
These codes come from the NC DMV-349 Code Sheet, which is publicly available at connect.ncdot.gov. Code 0 means "No Contributing Circumstance" -- in other words, the officer found no fault in that driver. Code 19 means "Failed to Yield Right of Way." Code 05 means "Following Too Closely." The full list is on the code sheet.
What to look for: If your boxes contain code 0 or are blank, and the other driver's boxes contain one or more non-zero codes, the officer's data supports your account of the crash. If your boxes contain codes, review them -- those are the fault factors the other driver's insurer will emphasize.
The narrative is secondary. Officers are trained to enter codes accurately; the written narrative is a summary and may contain imprecise language. The codes are what computerized claim systems read automatically. Both matter, but disputes often turn on codes.
How to Correct Errors in Your NC Accident Report
Only the responding law enforcement agency can amend a NC DMV-349. The NC DMV itself cannot change report content -- only the investigating officer's agency can file a supplemental report. Act within 10-15 days of receiving the report; corrections become harder to obtain as time passes.
Types of errors and what you can realistically correct:
| Error Type | Correctable? | How |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong plate number, address, or VIN | Yes — objective error | Contact agency records with documentation |
| Missing witness information | Yes — verifiable | Provide witness contact info in writing |
| Officer's narrative description of fault | Limited | Request written addendum (not a replacement) |
| Contributing circumstance codes | Rarely changed | Requires officer to agree and file supplemental |
| Citations issued | No (through this process) | Contest in traffic court |
Obtain your copy of the report and document the error
Get your copy from the agency or NCSHP portal. Write down exactly what the report says and what it should say. Gather evidence supporting the correction: photos, dashcam footage, witness contact information, or medical records.
Contact the responding agency's records division in writing
Call the agency to find out the correct contact and process. Follow up with a written request (email or letter) specifying the exact error, box number or section where it appears, and the evidence you are submitting. Keep a copy of everything you send.
Request a supplemental DMV-349 or written addendum
Ask the officer or their supervisor to file a supplemental DMV-349 correcting objective errors, or -- if the issue is with the fault narrative -- a written addendum attached to the original report. Both are standard procedures.
Confirm the amendment was filed
Contact the NC DOT Crash Reporting Unit at (919) 861-3098 to confirm when the amended or supplemental report has been posted statewide. Get a new copy after the amendment to verify the correction was made accurately.
If the agency will not correct a clear error, document your position
If the agency declines to correct a factual error, document the error and your evidence in writing. Your attorney can attach this documentation to your claim file. In North Carolina, where contributory negligence can bar recovery entirely, having documented evidence of a report error is especially important.
After You Get Your Report
Once you have a copy of your accident report, take these steps:
Review it carefully for accuracy. Check the date, time, location, vehicle descriptions, your personal information, and the contributing circumstance codes in boxes 14-19. If anything is inaccurate, contact the agency within 10-15 days to request a correction.
Keep the report number handy. You will need to reference it when communicating with insurance companies, medical providers, and attorneys.
Share it with your insurance company. Your own insurer will need a copy to process your claim. The other driver's insurer can obtain their own copy and will do so.
Use the fault codes strategically. Before giving any detailed statement to the other driver's insurer, review boxes 14-19. If your codes show no fault, you have a clear factual basis for your position. If your codes show any contributing factors, discuss this with an attorney before making any statements.
Learn more about how fault is determined in NC and how NC's contributory negligence rule can affect your claim even when you were mostly not at fault.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a copy of my accident report in North Carolina?
In NC, you can get your accident report three ways: (1) free online at vehicle-search.ncshp.org if the NC State Highway Patrol investigated your crash; (2) by mail using form TR-67A sent to NCDOT-DMV Traffic Records Section with a $6.50 check; or (3) in person at NCDMV Raleigh Central Services at 4121 New Bern Ave. For crashes investigated by municipal police or the county sheriff, contact that agency directly.
Is there a free way to get my NC accident report online?
Yes, but only for crashes investigated by the NC State Highway Patrol. Go to vehicle-search.ncshp.org and search by report number, license plate, driver's license number, last name, or county. Reports are typically available within 5-7 business days. This portal covers HP-investigated crashes since May 16, 2013. It does not include reports from municipal police departments or county sheriffs.
What is the TR-67A form and how do I use it to request my NC crash report by mail?
TR-67A is the civilian request form used to obtain a certified copy of a NC accident report by mail. Complete the form with the crash date, location, and parties involved, then mail it with a $6.50 check or money order payable to NCDOT-DMV to: NCDOT-DMV Traffic Records Section, 3106 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27697-3106. Allow 10 business days from receipt.
How much does an accident report cost in North Carolina?
A certified copy by mail or in person from the NC DMV Traffic Records Section costs $6.50 per report. HP-investigated crash reports are free through the NCSHP online portal at vehicle-search.ncshp.org. Individual police and sheriff agencies may set their own fees -- call the agency directly to confirm before mailing payment.
How do I read the fault codes on my NC DMV-349 accident report?
Look at boxes 14-16 (Driver 1 Contributing Circumstances) and 17-19 (Driver 2 Contributing Circumstances). These numeric codes come from the NC DMV-349 Code Sheet. Code 0 means no contributing factor -- the officer found no fault. Non-zero codes identify specific violations: code 19 is failure to yield, code 05 is following too closely, and so on. The full code sheet is publicly available from NC DOT at connect.ncdot.gov. If your boxes show code 0 and the other driver's boxes contain multiple codes, that supports your account of the crash.
How do I correct a factual error in my NC accident report?
Only the investigating officer's agency can amend a NC DMV-349 -- the NC DMV itself cannot change report content. Gather evidence documenting the error (photos, witness statements, dashcam footage), then contact the responding agency's records division in writing. Ask the officer or supervisor to file a supplemental DMV-349 correcting objective errors, or request a written addendum for disputed narrative portions. Act within 10-15 days of receiving the report. Call the NC DOT Crash Reporting Unit at (919) 861-3098 to confirm when the amended report posts statewide.
How long does it take to get an accident report in NC?
For HP-investigated crashes, the free NCSHP portal typically posts reports within 5-7 business days. Mail requests to the NC DMV Traffic Records Section take about 10 business days from the date received. In-person requests at NCDMV Raleigh can be fulfilled immediately for up to 5 reports. Local police and sheriff agencies vary by jurisdiction -- call them directly for their specific timeline.
Can an attorney get my accident report for me?
Yes. If you retain an attorney, they will request and obtain your accident report at no cost to you as part of their representation. Attorneys also know how to interpret contributing circumstance codes strategically and can request supplemental reports if corrections are needed. This is typically faster than navigating agency procedures yourself.
What if I do not know which agency responded to my accident?
Check any paperwork or cards the officer gave you at the scene -- the agency name and case number should be listed. Consider where the accident happened: city streets are typically handled by local police, major highways and interstates by the NC State Highway Patrol, and rural or unincorporated areas by the county sheriff. The NC DMV Crash Reports Unit at (919) 861-3000 can help identify the responding agency as a last resort.
Can I get an accident report if the other driver was at fault?
Yes. Accident reports are public records under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1. Any person involved in the accident, their attorney, or their insurance company can request a copy. You do not need to be the at-fault driver to obtain one. Your insurance company can also obtain a copy independently.