Police Reports

Last updated or reviewed on February 27, 2026

The Asheville Police Department’s Records Unit is dedicated to providing public access to Asheville Police Department records, including incident and accident reports.

File a police report

If you have an emergency or a crime is in progress, call 9-1-1. Find more information on reporting crimes.

You can report non-emergency incidents at your convenience using the Asheville-Police-to-Citizen online reporting portal

Online reporting can be used for crimes that meet these criteria:

  • are not currently in progress;
  • occurred within the city limits of Asheville; and
  • do not have an offender known to the reporting party or an offender known but not on the scene.

Depending on the incident, a police officer may need to come to you, or your report can be taken over the phone. You can call the APD non-emergency line 24/7 at (828) 252-1110 to find the right resource.

Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse can also find resources through the Buncombe County Family Justice Center. Visit the Family Justice Center website to see available services.

Get a copy of a police report

You may obtain a copy of a police report or a crash report at no cost:

Crash Reports

The copies of crash reports on the Police-to-Citizen (P2C) website are missing certain information that cannot be released to the public. A federal law from 1994 and a North Carolina law from 1997 protect your privacy. These laws require the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to keep your personal information private.

What information is kept private?

The DMV cannot share the following items with the general public:

  • Your photo
  • Your Social Security number
  • Your driver’s license number
  • Your name and home address
  • Your phone number
  • Your medical history

When can your information be shared?

The law allows the DMV to share your information, which is listed on accident reports, only in special cases. Some (not all) reasons include:

  • Government use: Police and other government agencies can use it to do their jobs.
  • Legal matters: For use in court cases or by a business trying to prevent fraud or collect a debt.
  • Insurance: For insurance companies to handle claims or check for fraud.
  • Towing: To notify owners if their car has been towed or impounded.
  • Your consent: If you give written permission for someone else to see your records.

Information shared for the special reasons above cannot be published or used to contact you for unrelated reasons.

How to request a full (certified) copy of your report

If you are the driver, owner, or someone else involved in a car crash, you can get a full copy of the report. This version includes details that are not available to the general public. Please fill out the Federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act Request Form to request a full copy from the department.