Which police agency handles my Las Vegas crash, and how do I get the report?

Last updated October 7, 2026.

It depends on where the crash happened. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) handles the City of Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County; Henderson, North Las Vegas and Boulder City have their own police; and freeway crashes go to the Nevada Highway Patrol. LVMPD crash reports cost $13 and can take up to 10 business days to become available.

The report is usually the first document an insurer asks for, and it is the starting point for every Las Vegas car accident claim. Knowing which agency wrote it saves days of calling the wrong office.

How do you find and request your crash report?

Work out which agency responded. LVMPD is responsible for all police services within the City of Las Vegas and the unincorporated areas of Clark County, a responsibility it has held since the 1973 merger of city and county police. LVMPD says it cannot take reports for incidents in Henderson, North Las Vegas or Boulder City, and it sends freeway crashes to the state police.
Find the report or event number. The officer usually gives you a card or slip with a number. For a Highway Patrol crash, the number starts with "NHP".
Wait for the report to be released. LVMPD asks you to allow up to 10 business days after a report is filed. The Highway Patrol says its crash reports are available 7 to 14 days from the date of the crash.
Request it from the right office. LVMPD takes requests online, in person and by mail. Most LVMPD traffic collision reports can be delivered by email through a secure link. In person, you can go to any LVMPD area command or the Records and Fingerprint Bureau at 400 South Martin Luther King Boulevard, Building C, Las Vegas, NV 89106.
Pay the fee. LVMPD charges $13 for a traffic collision report, and the fee is non-refundable. The Highway Patrol charges $10 per crash report.
Check the report for errors. Names, insurance information, the diagram and the narrative should match what happened. If something is wrong, ask the agency how to request a correction or add a statement.

Not every crash gets a police report. If no officer came, you may still owe the Nevada DMV a written report within 10 days; see when you must file an SR-1 crash report with the Nevada DMV.

Which agency covers which crash?

Where the crash happened	Agency	How reports are released
City of Las Vegas	LVMPD	Online, in person (area commands or Records and Fingerprint Bureau) or by mail; $13; up to 10 business days
Unincorporated Clark County	LVMPD	Same as above
Freeways	Nevada Highway Patrol (Nevada State Police), Southern Command	NHP crash number needed; available 7 to 14 days after the crash; $10
City of Henderson	Henderson Police Department	Records Section at the East Police Station, 223 Lead St., Henderson, NV 89015; photo ID required
City of North Las Vegas	North Las Vegas Police Department	Ask that department's records unit
Boulder City	Boulder City's own police	Ask that department

A note on addresses: a "Las Vegas, NV" mailing address does not mean a place is inside the City of Las Vegas. Much of the area with Las Vegas addresses is unincorporated Clark County. Both are covered by LVMPD, which is why the agency is usually the same.

What does a crash report usually contain, and why does it matter?

A crash report gathers the basic facts that every later step relies on: who was involved, their insurance information, the vehicles, the location and time, witness names, a diagram and the officer's narrative. Some reports also note citations. The report is not a verdict on fault, but adjusters read it first and often set their opening position from it.

That is why the details matter. A missing witness, a wrong lane in the diagram or an insurance policy number copied incorrectly can slow a claim for weeks. Reading the report as soon as it is released gives you time to raise a problem while memories are fresh and the officer can still recall the scene.

The report also links to Nevada's other reporting rules. When an officer investigated and the report lists each driver's insurer, policy number and coverage dates, the separate DMV report is not required (NRS 484E.070). If those insurance details are missing, check with the DMV whether you still need to file.

What changes the answer

Freeway or surface street. LVMPD's own reporting page tells people reporting a traffic crash on a freeway to contact the state police. A crash on an on-ramp or an interchange may involve either agency, so check the number on your slip.

Whether an officer came at all. If no officer was at the scene and the crash caused injury or death or happened on a highway, the driver must promptly report it to the nearest police office or the Highway Patrol (NRS 484E.030). For crashes not investigated at the scene, the DMV's SR-1 form is the written report.

A fatal crash. LVMPD notes that fatal traffic collision reports need extra documentation, and the Highway Patrol handles fatal reports and photographs through its regional office. Families may also need records from the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner. See who can bring a wrongful death claim in Nevada.

Who is asking. LVMPD releases reports based on the case status and the requester's involvement, and redacts them under Nevada law. A mailed request needs a notarized letter and a copy of valid photo identification. An attorney requesting for a client needs a signed, notarized letter of authorization.

A hit-and-run. A timely police report matters more than usual: an unknown driver counts as uninsured for your own coverage only when there was contact and the crash was reported within the time the law requires (NRS 690B.020). See what to do after a hit-and-run in Las Vegas.

You went home. If you were visiting and have already left, LVMPD describes a courtesy report process for some incidents; our page for visitors hurt in a Las Vegas crash covers the rest.

For example: a Strip crash and a freeway crash

Imagine two hypothetical drivers. Ana is hit at a light in unincorporated Clark County, so LVMPD responds. A week later she requests the traffic collision report online, pays $13 and receives a secure link by email once the report is released.

Ben is rear-ended on I-15. A trooper responds and gives him a slip with a number starting with "NHP". Ben waits a week and a half, then requests the report from the Highway Patrol using that number, his last name and the crash date, and pays $10.

Both then send the report to their insurers. Neither has to file an SR-1 with the DMV, because an officer investigated, as long as the officer's report lists everyone's insurance. These are hypothetical examples.

Common mistakes with crash reports

Calling the wrong agency. Check whether the crash was on a freeway or inside Henderson, North Las Vegas or Boulder City.
Losing the report number. Photograph the officer's slip at the scene.
Requesting too early. Allow the stated release time before assuming something went wrong.
Not reading the report. Errors in names, insurance or the narrative are easier to address early.
Assuming a report replaces the DMV form. It does only if an officer investigated and the report lists each party's insurance (NRS 484E.070).
Treating the report as the final word on fault. It is evidence, not a verdict; see our post on proving fault in an auto accident.

What to do this week

Find the report or event number and the name of the responding agency.
Count the days: about 10 business days for LVMPD, 7 to 14 days for the Highway Patrol.
Request the report from the right office and pay the fee.
Read it carefully and note any errors.
If no officer came, check whether you owe the DMV an SR-1 within 10 days.
Send a copy to your insurer and keep one with your records. For the next steps, see what happens after a car accident in Las Vegas.
For courts, agencies and crash data across the county, see our Clark County accident page.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Las Vegas crash report cost?

LVMPD charges $13 for a traffic collision report, and the fee is non-refundable. The Nevada Highway Patrol charges $10 per crash report.

How long until my report is ready?

LVMPD asks you to allow up to 10 business days after the report is filed. The Highway Patrol says its reports are available 7 to 14 days from the date of the crash.

Can I get the report by email?

For most LVMPD traffic collision reports, yes: they can be delivered by email through a secured link. Other report types are mailed or picked up in person.

Where is the LVMPD records office?

The Records and Fingerprint Bureau is at 400 South Martin Luther King Boulevard, Building C, Las Vegas, NV 89106. You can also request copies at LVMPD area commands.

Who handles a crash in Henderson?

The Henderson Police Department. Its Records Section works from the East Police Station at 223 Lead St., Henderson, NV 89015, and requires valid government-issued photo identification for most requests.

What if the police did not come?

If no officer was at the scene and someone was hurt or the crash was on a highway, report it promptly to police or the Highway Patrol (NRS 484E.030), and check whether you must file an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days.

If you were hurt in a crash in the Las Vegas Valley and are unsure which agency has your report, attorney Maysoun Fletcher can help you track it down. Call 702-333-6339 for a free consultation.