STATES & DISTRICTS / DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA / WASHINGTON, D.C.
Use this Washington, D.C. guide to find the correct crash-report request, understand local data coverage, and reach official traffic resources. Start with the investigating agency and report number on your paperwork.
Request the PD-10 accident report
Metropolitan Police distinguishes a PD-10 accident report from a PD-251 incident or offense report. Keep the six-digit Central Complaint Number, or CCN. If it is missing, the department directs applicants to the responding police district.
First-party email or mail requests require the department’s completed form and government photo identification. Third-party requests follow a FOIA route, and in-person service requires an appointment. Read the current instructions for your situation rather than treating every police-record request as the same process.
MPD accident and incident-report instructions ↗
LOCAL RESOURCE CONTEXT
Keep street quadrants and regional boundaries precise
DDOT’s Vision Zero initiative addresses traffic safety within the District. For a specific collision, preserve the street quadrant—NW, NE, SW, or SE—along with the intersection and agency name. Regional traffic services can include Maryland and Virginia events; those entries are not necessarily MPD investigations or District safety statistics.
Official traffic resources: Washington, D.C. area
MATOC regional travel information provides regional travel information. Select the relevant roadway, direction, and event category and check the source’s own update time. Coverage may include construction, hazards, and incidents outside city limits; it is not a complete record of all local crashes.
MATOC regional travel information ↗
This opens an external service. An automated Washington, D.C. feed is not connected here. A missing alert does not mean roads are clear. Do not use traffic maps while driving.
Keep a useful record for follow-up
- Save the investigating agency, report number, date, and precise road or intersection.
- Retain your request confirmation and a dated copy of any report received.
- Keep original photos, repair estimates, and towing or rental receipts together.
- List missing documents or corrections for the records office separately from insurance questions.
Continue with the right resource
District of Columbia resources · Evidence guide · Expense tracker · Consultation preparation
Sources checked October 23, 2026. Procedures and availability may change; the linked agencies control eligibility, fees, and release rules. Educational information, not legal advice. No attorney review is represented. Call 911 for emergencies.