The Texas Blue Form, officially the CR-2, is a crash report you fill out yourself after a collision no police officer investigated. You are required to complete one whenever the wreck caused injury, death, or apparent damage of $1,000 or more to any one person’s property.1eLaws. Texas Code Transportation Code 550.061 – Operators Accident Report Since September 2017, the Texas Department of Transportation has not collected or stored these forms, so the completed report stays with you for insurance and any later legal dispute.
When You Have to Fill One Out
Two conditions trigger the requirement, and both must be true: no law enforcement officer investigated the collision, and the crash caused injury, death, or apparent property damage of $1,000 or more to any one person.1eLaws. Texas Code Transportation Code 550.061 – Operators Accident Report The dollar figure is per person, not combined. If your car alone looks like it took $1,000 in damage, you have to file even if the other vehicle came out clean.
Almost any collision beyond a light scuff will cross that line. If the impact left a visible dent or cracked a bumper cover, treat the threshold as met. The scenarios that most often produce a CR-2 are parking lot fender-benders and low-speed rear-end taps where nobody called 911, or private-property crashes where police declined to respond.
Where to Get the Form
TxDOT no longer hosts or distributes the CR-2. As of January 1, 2019, the department’s retention period for previously submitted driver crash reports expired, and the form was removed from its website.2Texas Department of Transportation. Crash Reports and Records Local law enforcement agencies still post printable copies. The Amarillo Police Department, for instance, hosts the official PDF with instructions,3Amarillo Police Department. Texas Blue Form (CR-2) Crash Report and many other Texas police departments and sheriff’s offices keep the same file available. Print a couple of copies and keep one in your glove box so you can start documenting at the scene.
How to Fill Out the CR-2
The form runs two pages. Collect information from every driver before anyone leaves, then work through the sections.
Drivers and Vehicles
For each driver, record full name (last, first, middle initial), current mailing address, and driver’s license number with the issuing state. For each vehicle, note the VIN, year, make, model, vehicle type, and license plate number and state.3Amarillo Police Department. Texas Blue Form (CR-2) Crash Report A quick photo of each person’s license and insurance card is the fastest way to capture it all accurately.
Insurance
Write down the insurance company name, mailing address, and policy number for every involved vehicle.3Amarillo Police Department. Texas Blue Form (CR-2) Crash Report If a driver claims coverage but can’t produce proof, note that. Leave the section blank for anyone who refused to share rather than guessing.
Location
The form asks for the county, city or town, block number, street or road name, and route number. Outside city limits, record the distance and direction from the nearest town. For intersection crashes, fill in the intersecting street name and block number.3Amarillo Police Department. Texas Blue Form (CR-2) Crash Report Dropping a GPS pin on your phone gives you a backup if you aren’t sure of the cross street.
Date, Time, and Conditions
Record the exact date and time. Note weather (clear, rainy, foggy) and road surface (dry, wet, icy). An adjuster weighing fault will look at whether rain or poor visibility contributed.
Narrative and Diagram
The narrative is where you describe what happened in your own words. Stick to observable facts: direction of travel for each vehicle, lane positions, estimated speeds, and the sequence of events leading to impact. Skip conclusions like “the other driver was at fault” and just describe movements. The diagram area is for sketching vehicle positions before, during, and after impact, with lane markings and relevant signs or signals. A clear diagram paired with a factual narrative is the most persuasive combination for an insurance adjuster.
Also note whether any vehicle was towed and whether anything besides vehicles was damaged, such as fences, signs, or guardrails. Fill in everything required unless the information genuinely isn’t available to you.
Evidence to Gather Alongside the Form
Photos and witness information strengthen the record considerably. Take them at the scene before vehicles are moved if it’s safe.
Start with wide shots of both vehicles in relation to the road, lane markings, signals, and cross streets. Then photograph damage on every side of each vehicle plus close-ups of impact points showing paint transfer, cracked plastic, and dents. Capture skid marks, debris, and fluid trails. If glare, standing water, or darkness played a role, photograph the conditions as they appeared. Shoot each license plate, and look around for businesses or intersections with security cameras. If you run a dashcam, preserve the footage immediately; overwrite cycles can erase it within hours.
If bystanders saw the crash, get their name and phone number before they leave. A neutral third-party account carries more weight with insurers than either driver’s version. Write down where each witness was standing or sitting when they saw it happen.
What to Do With the Completed Form
Because TxDOT no longer accepts CR-2 submissions, keeping the report is entirely on you.2Texas Department of Transportation. Crash Reports and Records Each driver should sign and keep an original. Store yours somewhere you won’t lose it, and scan a digital backup.
Send a copy to your insurer as soon as possible. Many auto policies require you to report an accident within a few days, and some set the deadline at 24 hours. Missing that window can mean a denied claim or a reduced payout, so check your policy for the exact reporting deadline. The CR-2 gives your insurer a structured account that moves faster than a phone call.
Keep the form for at least two years. Texas applies a two-year statute of limitations to personal injury and property damage claims, running from the date of the injury or damage.4State of Texas. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 – Two-Year Limitations Period If the other driver or their insurer comes after you a year and a half later, or your own injuries turn out to be worse than they first seemed, the CR-2 is contemporaneous evidence of what happened. Holding onto it longer costs nothing.
What Happens If You Skip the Report
Failing to complete the CR-2 when it’s required is a criminal offense under Texas law. The statute says a person commits an offense if they do not file the report as required.1eLaws. Texas Code Transportation Code 550.061 – Operators Accident Report The practical consequences are often worse than the criminal exposure. Without a written report, you walk into the insurance process with nothing but your word against the other driver’s. If the other party blames you and you have no documentation, your insurer has little to defend you with. The form takes ten minutes at the scene. Reconstructing events from memory weeks later is far less reliable and far less convincing to adjusters and attorneys.