California regions · SAN DIEGO COUNTY
San Diego County collision reports: SDPD, three city departments and CHP
San Diego, Chula Vista, Escondido and Oceanside each run their own police department; none of the four contracts with the county sheriff. Who wrote your report depends on the road and on whether anyone was hurt.
On San Diego city streets, SDPD responds only to injury and hit-and-run collisions, and freeway incidents go to CHP. SDPD: Traffic accidents SDPD sells its reports online through LexisNexis, by phone, by mail, or at 1401 Broadway, usually 3-10 business days after the crash. In Chula Vista, Escondido and Oceanside, ask that city's police records unit. LegalMax helps gather your claim details in one place and prepare for the adjuster, in English or Spanish.
When SDPD comes to a crash, and when it does not
The San Diego Police Department says it responds only to injury accidents and hit-and-run collisions. Freeway incidents go to the California Highway Patrol at 800-835-5247. SDPD: Get a police report For a city-street crash SDPD did not come out to, your own photos and the other driver's insurance details become the main record, so keep them together from day one.
Four ways to request an SDPD report
- Online through LexisNexis BuyCrash.
- By phone at 866-215-2771, Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Eastern time.
- By mail to SDPD Records MS#726, P.O. Box 121431, San Diego, CA 92112, with a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
- In person at the SDPD Records Division, 1401 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101, Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Allow 3-10 business days after the accident. Under Vehicle Code 20012, reports go to anyone subject to civil liability, such as drivers, injured passengers, insurers and the employer of an employee-driver; they are not released to arrested individuals or suspects. As of October 31, 2026, per SDPD, a report costs $12 by mail or in person, by check or money order payable to the City Treasurer. Online, “a small fee may be charged,” so check that fee with SDPD. SDPD: Get a police report
Chula Vista, Escondido and Oceanside records units
| Department | How to request | What to provide | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chula Vista PD, Police Support Services source | In person Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (not holidays), or by mail to 315 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910, with the Police Report Request Form (English or Spanish) or a written request. Questions: records@chulavistapdca.gov. | Date, time and location; parties involved; report number if known; a copy of photo ID. Most requests take 10-14 business days. | As of October 31, 2026, per Chula Vista PD, $1.00 per police report, collision reports included, by check or money order to City of Chula Vista. |
| Escondido PD, Records Division source | The online Police Records Request, with online payment and status updates; or the Records Division, 1163 North Centre City Parkway, Escondido, CA 92026, 760-839-4722, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Not listed on the Records page. | Paid online; the amount is not stated. Check the current fee with Escondido PD. |
| Oceanside PD, Records Section source | Pick up the Report Request form at the lobby counter and take it to the Records Section window, or mail it to Oceanside Police Department, Attention: Records, 3855 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92058. Records: 760-435-4944. | Case number, or the date, time and location; photo ID may be required. Processed within 10 days and returned by mail. | As of October 31, 2026, per the City of Oceanside FAQ, a $5.50 processing fee per report. The FAQ is undated, so check the current fee with Oceanside PD. |
San Diego, Oceanside or El Cajon: the CHP Area that has it
- San Diego Area (645), 5902 Kearny Villa Road, San Diego, CA 92123, (858) 293-6000: fourteen freeway systems covering over three hundred miles, serving San Diego, Chula Vista, National City and Coronado, plus unincorporated Bonita, Otay Mesa, Lincoln Acres and 4S Ranch. CHP San Diego Area
- Oceanside Area (650), 435 La Tortuga, Vista, CA 92081, (760) 643-3400: North County, including I-5, I-15, unincorporated SR-78 and SR-76, and county roads in Rancho Santa Fe, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Valley Center and Palomar Mountain. CHP Oceanside Area
- El Cajon Area (680), 1722 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92021, (619) 219-6900: unincorporated East County communities such as Granite Hills, Dehesa, Spring Valley, Rancho San Diego, Jamul, Lakeside and Alpine, with I-8 and SR-52, 54, 67, 78, 79, 94, 125 and 188. CHP El Cajon Area
CHP takes requests through its online Crash Portal for crashes filed online, or on form CHP 190, mailed or handed to the Area office. You must be a proper party of interest, insurers need a claim or policy number, and for the exact fee CHP refers you to that Area office. CHP: Request a crash report
Oceanside's motorcycle ranking and other 2023 figures
- Oceanside: 1st of 62 similar-size cities for motorcyclists killed or injured (84), 2nd on the OTS composite ranking, and 864 people killed or injured overall (22nd). OTS: Oceanside
- Escondido: 860 killed or injured (12th of 62) and 10th on the composite. OTS: Escondido
- Chula Vista: 969 killed or injured (10th of 15 large cities) and 6th on the composite. OTS: Chula Vista
- San Diego: 4,861 killed or injured (13th of 15), including 522 pedestrian victims (10th) and 380 bicyclist victims (6th). OTS: San Diego
In these rankings 1 is the worst, and the counts cover crashes inside city limits only. OTS crash rankings
Chula Vista: nearly half speak Spanish at home
In Chula Vista, 46.8% of residents age 5 and older speak Spanish at home, according to the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (table S1601), and the city's police offer their report request form in Spanish. Census S1601: Chula Vista The share is 37.7% in Escondido, 25.3% in Oceanside, 21.4% in the City of San Diego and 24.1% county-wide. Escondido Oceanside San Diego city San Diego County
511 Roadside Assistance on San Diego freeways
SANDAG's Freeway Service Patrol helps for free on the freeway: a gallon of gas, a flat-tire change, a jump start or radiator water, and a free tow to a CHP-designated safe location. Call 511 and say “Roadside Assistance.” It runs weekdays 5:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m.-6 p.m., not on federal holidays, and not on the Santee portion of SR-52, SR-56, SR-67, SR-125 or SR-905. 511 San Diego: Freeway Service Patrol
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