How to Get an Oakland Police Accident Report (Online & In-Person)

By Yosi Yahoudai Founder and Managing Partner

December 22, 2025

Car Accidents

If you were involved in a car crash in Oakland, it’s important to be aware of how to get an Oakland police collision report (online and in person).

You can request a report via the city’s online portal, by mail, or in person at the Oakland Police Records Division. The legal process can be overwhelming, especially in the aftermath of a car crash.

An Oakland car accident lawyer from J&Y Law can help you procure a crash report and build a strong case so you can focus on recovering from the accident.

How to Order an Oakland Police Accident Report Online

The city of Oakland offers an online portal where you can request collision reports. Here’s how to do it and what to expect:

1. Visit the online portal: Navigate to the Vehicle Collision Reports page on the City of Oakland’s website.
2. Enter identifying information: You will need to provide either the report number, your first and last name, and the incident date or your first and last name and the street address where the crash occurred.
3. Pay the fee: The online cost is $25, which includes a $5 convenience fee.
4. Wait for the report: Reports typically become available within 60 to 90 days. Once you request yours, you may have to wait up to 10 days to receive it.

Some reports (for example, collisions involving serious injury, death, or a city vehicle) will not be available online. In these cases, you will need to go in person or request a copy of the report by mail.

How to Get an Oakland Car Accident Report In Person

If you prefer handling things face-to-face (or if your report isn’t available online), here’s how to request an accident report in person from OPD:

1. Visit the Oakland Police Department Traffic Investigations Unit, located at 2651 73rd Avenue in Oakland, CA. The office is open Monday–Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and is closed on holidays.
2. Bring a valid photo ID (driver’s license or other government-issued ID), as well as the report number, if you have it (this speeds things up), or as much detail about the crash as possible (names, date, location).
3. Pay the $20 fee. OPD accepts cash, checks, Visa, or MasterCard.

Often, if the report is already processed, you might be able to take a copy with you. But if internal review is still ongoing, there may be a delay.

Redacted vs. Unredacted Copies of a Car Accident Police Report

Knowing the differences between redacted and unredacted reports can help you understand what information you can access and how it can be used.

What’s the Difference?

The difference between unredacted and redacted copies of collision reports is:

• Unredacted copy: This is the full version of the report, typically including names, personal information of all parties, narratives, witness statements, and diagrams.
• Redacted copy: Some information may be blacked out to protect privacy (such as personal data about other people involved in the crash).

Who Can Request Which Type?

Only involved parties (driver, passenger, vehicle owner) or their legal representatives are usually permitted to get unredacted reports from OPD. Third parties may be able to receive redacted versions via a public records request.

Subpoena or Legal Request

If you need a report for litigation, your attorney can subpoena the unredacted version. But if you are just requesting it for insurance, you will likely just need to verify that you are a “party of interest” and follow OPD’s request process.

What’s Inside the Accident Report & How to Read It

An OPD collision report is more than just a form—it’s a detailed breakdown of the crash, and understanding its parts can help you and your lawyer interpret what happened. Here are the relevant sections and some reading tips:

Key sections to know:

• Diagram / Sketch: This visual shows the position of vehicles, direction of travel, point of impact, and sometimes lane markings.
• Narrative / Officer’s Description: The investigating officer writes a prose account of what they observed, statements from drivers or witnesses, and how they think the crash occurred.
• Unit Pages: For each vehicle, there’s usually a “unit” section listing driver, owner, description, registration, and insurance, plus damage estimates.
• Contributing Factors & Causation: These fields capture what the officer believes caused or contributed to the crash (such as “speed too fast,” or “failure to yield”).

Report reading tips (quick-reference):

Timeline & Follow-Up

OPD aims to make reports available 60–90 days after the crash. For public records requests, the agency must respond within 10 calendar days, though it can extend by another 14 days under certain circumstances.

You will need a valid ID (driver’s license, state ID) to pick up your report in person. For mail or third-party requests, you may need a signed release or proof you are a “party of interest.

If your report hasn’t appeared after 60 days, call the Traffic Operations Section at (510) 777‑8570. Have your report number, name, date/time of incident, and other identifying details ready.

Get Help from a Car Accident Lawyer in Oakland

If you are struggling to get your accident report, dealing with redactions, or trying to make sense of a complicated crash narrative, J&Y Law can help.

An Oakland car accident attorney from our team can help obtain the documentation you need to support your car accident claim, as well as guide you through the rest of the legal process.

Schedule a free consultation to get legal assistance today.