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How Long Does It Take to Get a Police Report in Georgia?
By Mark Wade, Attorney at Georgia Auto Law | Last reviewed: July 21, 2026
The short answer
Plan on about a week. Georgia agencies that publish timelines quote 2–7 business days— Cobb County says 2–3, Gwinnett 4, and Atlanta 5–7. Serious-injury and fatality crashes take longer because the investigation stays open. If your report is late, we can chase it down for you free if your accident type is eligible.
After a crash, the officer’s report doesn’t become available the moment it’s written. It has to be completed, reviewed, and filed with the agency — and, for online access, submitted to the state crash system that feeds BuyCrash. Here’s what Georgia agencies actually publish about how long that takes.
Published timelines, agency by agency
| Agency | Published timeline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cobb County Police | 2–3 business days | county website |
| Chatham County Police | Within 3 business days | records unit |
| Savannah PD (records requests) | Up to 3 business days | department website |
| Gwinnett County Police | 4 business days | county website |
| Richmond County Sheriff (Augusta) | 3–5 days | sheriff’s office website |
| Atlanta Police Department | 5–7 business days | City of Atlanta (ATL311) |
Sources: Cobb County, Chatham County, Savannah PD, Gwinnett County, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Atlanta.
Why reports get delayed
- Supervisor review. Reports are checked before release — routine, but it adds days.
- Open investigations. Fatalities, serious injuries, DUI, and hit-and-run crashes often involve specialized units, and the report may be held until their work is done.
- State-system lag. The report can be finished at the agency but not yet posted to BuyCrash — the agency has to submit it to the statewide GEARS system managed by GDOTfirst. That’s why calling the records unit sometimes turns up a report BuyCrash can’t find yet.
Your report is late — now what?
- Call the investigating agency’s records unitwith your name and the crash date (Gwinnett’s status line, for example, is 770-513-5000).
- Confirm you’re asking the right agency. City crashes belong to city departments, and weekday-daytime interstate crashes in Atlanta go to the Georgia State Patrol — see our Atlanta guide and county guides for who covers what.
- Or skip the chase: if your accident type is eligible, we track the report down and cover the cost. Start your free request.
Full retrieval options — BuyCrash, records counters, and GDOT’s $5 mail request — are in every way to get your Georgia crash report.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a Georgia crash report to be ready?
Usually less than a week. Published agency timelines in Georgia range from 2–3 business days (Cobb County) to 5–7 business days (City of Atlanta), with Gwinnett citing four business days and Richmond County three to five. Serious-injury and fatality investigations take longer.
Why is my accident report taking so long?
The usual reasons: the officer’s report is still in supervisor review, the crash involves serious injuries or a fatality that requires additional investigation, or the report is done but hasn’t yet been submitted to the state system that feeds BuyCrash. Checking with the agency’s records unit directly — with your name and the crash date — is faster than refreshing BuyCrash.
Can I get my crash report the same day as the accident?
Almost never. The officer must complete and file the report and a supervisor typically reviews it before release, which is why even the fastest metro agencies quote two or more business days. What you can get at the scene is the report number — keep the officer’s card or exchange-of-information slip.
Does my insurance claim have to wait for the police report?
No — you can and should report the crash to your insurer right away; the adjuster will pull the report when it posts. But fault decisions usually wait on it, since insurers lean heavily on the report’s contributing-factor codes and narrative.
Tired of waiting? We'll handle it
If your accident type is eligible, we cover the cost of your official Georgia crash report and reach out by phone to get it to you — typically within a few business days.
Get your FREE crash report