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Looking for a Michigan crash report? Detroit PD routes online purchases through LexisNexis (BuyCrash). Michigan State Police charges $15 through TCPS / MiLogin for the UD-10. Oakland and Macomb agencies use CLEMIS at $11. All free via FOIA under MCL 15.231 (Act 442 of 1976) with a 5-business-day response window.
Need it now
MSP TCPS $15; Detroit PD $10 in person or via LexisNexis online; CLEMIS $11 (Oakland/Macomb). 5 to 7 business days typical.
See agency directory ↓Want it free (FOIA)
FOIA under MCL 15.231. Most Michigan agencies waive or reduce fees for parties to the crash. 5-business-day response.
FOIA walkthrough ↓Michigan Crash Report at a Glance
- Form: UD-10 Traffic Crash Report (the only MSP-approved crash form).
- State portal (MSP TCPS): michigan.gov/msp/.../traffic-crash-reporting-unit — $15, 3-30 days. MiLogin required since April 14, 2026.
- Detroit PD: $10 cash/money order in person at DPD 3rd Precinct (2875 W. Grand Blvd); online via LexisNexis BuyCrash with additional convenience fee.
- CLEMIS (Oakland & Macomb counties): $11 at payments.clemis.org, 5-7 business days. Covers Sterling Heights, Warren, Southfield, and most Oakland/Macomb agencies.
- FOIA statute: MCL 15.231 et seq. (Act 442 of 1976). 5-business-day response under MCL 15.235; one 10-business-day extension allowed.
- SOL: 3 years for tort claims under MCL 600.5805(10); 1 year for PIP no-fault benefits under MCL 500.3145.
- No-fault PIP: tiered since July 1, 2020 (Unlimited / $500K / $250K / $50K with qualifying health insurance).
- Tort threshold: “serious impairment of body function” under MCL 500.3135 (codified McCormick standard) for non-economic damages against the at-fault driver.
Where Your UD-10 Lives in Michigan
Michigan crash reports are routed through three main systems: MSP’s Traffic Crash Purchasing System (TCPS), CLEMIS for Oakland and Macomb counties, and individual local agency channels. Some local agencies (Detroit PD) route their online purchases through LexisNexis BuyCrash. The table below covers the agencies SetCalc most often helps Michigan users with.
| Agency | Paid Channel | Free FOIA Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan State Police (freeways & rural) | MSP TCPS via MiLogin — $15 | Michigan State Police FOIA michigan.gov/msp/services/foia |
| Detroit Police Department | $10 cash/MO in person at 3rd Precinct; LexisNexis online with convenience fee | DPD Public Info: (313) 596-2200 2875 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit 48202 |
| Wayne County Sheriff | Via CLEMIS — $11 | WCSO records: (313) 833-0864 |
| Oakland County agencies (Southfield, Troy, etc.) | CLEMIS — $11, 5-7 days | FOIA via individual agency (CLEMIS does not handle FOIA) |
| Macomb County agencies (Sterling Heights, Warren) | CLEMIS — $11, 5-7 days | FOIA via individual agency (Sterling Heights, Warren PD) |
| Grand Rapids Police Department | Routes UD-10 to MSP TCPS — $15 | GRPD Records Unit 1 Monroe Center NW, GR 49503 |
| Lansing Police Department | Routes UD-10 to MSP TCPS — $15 | Lansing PD Records 120 W Michigan Ave, Lansing 48933 |
Sources: Michigan State Police Traffic Crash Reporting Unit, Detroit PD records page, CLEMIS (Oakland County), Grand Rapids PD Records Unit, Michigan Legislature MCL Act 442 of 1976. Verified April 2026. Confirm fees on the linked agency page before submitting.
The CLEMIS shortcut
The Free Path: FOIA Under MCL 15.231
Michigan’s FOIA (Act 442 of 1976) gives any person the right to request public records. Crash reports are public records. Most agencies waive or reduce fees for parties to the crash and for requests in the public interest. Here is the five-step process.
Identify the responding agency
Your exchange-of-information card from the responding officer shows the agency name. MSP handles freeways and rural areas. City PDs (Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Warren, Sterling Heights) handle their cities. Oakland and Macomb agencies route through CLEMIS for paid copies but FOIA still goes to the individual agency.
Locate the FOIA coordinator
Every Michigan public body must designate a FOIA coordinator under MCL 15.232. Contact info is published on the agency website. For the major agencies:
- Michigan State Police: michigan.gov/msp/services/foia
- Detroit Police Department: (313) 596-2200, public info office
- Grand Rapids Police Department: GRPD Records Unit
- CLEMIS-county agencies: FOIA goes directly to the city PD or sheriff, not to CLEMIS itself
Submit a written FOIA request
Email is fastest. Cite MCL 15.231, identify yourself as a party to the crash, give the date, location, and case number, and request a fee waiver in the public interest. Use the sample letter in the next section.
Wait for the 5-business-day response
Under MCL 15.235, the public body must respond within 5 business days of receipt. The agency can extend the deadline once by up to 10 business days with written notice and a stated reason. Note that an email or fax FOIA request is not officially received until 1 business day after transmission, so factor that into your timeline.
Appeal denials in writing
If the agency denies your request or charges a fee you believe is unreasonable, file a written appeal under MCL 15.240 within 180 days. The appeal goes to the head of the public body. If denied again, you can file an action in the Michigan Circuit Court for the county where the public record is located.
What you get: a UD-10 with possible redactions
Sample Michigan FOIA Request Letter
Copy this template and replace the bracketed fields. The Michigan-specific statute citation and fee-waiver request are pre-filled.
Why the email-receipt rule matters
When to Pay vs FOIA in Michigan
Michigan’s no-fault system means many drivers do not need the report immediately for their own PIP claim, but you do need it quickly for any tort claim against the at-fault driver. Here is the calculus:
- Use the paid portal if you are approaching the 3-year tort SOL or the 1-year PIP claim deadline (yes, 1 year — this comes up faster than people expect for late-discovered injuries). MSP TCPS at $15, CLEMIS at $11, and Detroit PD at $10 are all faster than FOIA.
- Use FOIA if you have time and want the UD-10 plus other records (witness statements, dash-cam, internal memos). FOIA is the only way to access records beyond the report itself.
- Ask your no-fault carrier first. Your own insurer needs the report for the PIP claim and obtains it as part of their standard investigation. They typically will not charge you for it.
The 1-year PIP deadline is the silent killer
How Michigan’s No-Fault System Affects Your Claim
Michigan is a no-fault state, which changes how the police report drives settlement value. Your own insurer pays your medical bills and wage loss under PIP regardless of who caused the crash. Tort claims against the at-fault driver are limited.
Where the UD-10 still drives value
- Tort claim for non-economic damages. You can sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering only if you cross the “serious impairment of body function” threshold under MCL 500.3135. The contributing-factor codes on the UD-10 establish liability for that tort claim.
- Mini-tort claim for vehicle damage. Up to $3,000 against the at-fault driver for vehicle damage not covered by collision insurance, under MCL 500.3135(3)(e). The report’s fault designation is the basis.
- Tiered PIP coverage selection. If you chose a $50,000, $250,000, or $500,000 PIP cap under the 2019 reform (effective July 1, 2020), and your medical bills exceed your cap, you can pursue the at-fault driver for the excess. The report establishes who is at fault.
- DUI or impairment cited. If the responding officer cited the other driver for DUI or drug impairment, that opens the door to punitive damages and removes some no-fault protections. The citation is on the UD-10.
For a deeper breakdown of how the report’s codes drive value, see the car accident police report guide. For Michigan-specific settlement averages and city data, see the Michigan car accident settlement calculator.
See What Your Michigan Case Is Worth
Michigan Frequently Asked Questions
Does Detroit Police use BuyCrash?
Yes. The Detroit Police Department directs online crash report purchases through LexisNexis (policereports.lexisnexis.com / BuyCrash). In-person reports at the DPD 3rd Precinct (2875 W. Grand Blvd) are $10 cash or money order, exact amount required. Online reports through LexisNexis carry an additional convenience fee.
How can I get a Michigan UD-10 crash report free?
File a FOIA request under MCL 15.231 (Act 442 of 1976) with the agency that responded to your crash. Most Michigan agencies waive fees for parties to the crash and may reduce or waive fees for FOIA requests in the public interest. The standard MSP UD-10 portal charges $15; CLEMIS (Oakland and Macomb counties) charges $11; FOIA can produce the same report free.
How long does a Michigan FOIA request take?
Michigan public bodies must respond within 5 business days under MCL 15.235. The deadline can be extended once by up to 10 business days with written notice. Email or fax requests are deemed received 1 business day after transmission. Most crash report requests are fulfilled within the initial 5-day window.
What does CLEMIS charge for a Michigan crash report?
CLEMIS (Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System, run by Oakland County) charges $11 per crash report at payments.clemis.org. Reports are typically available 5 to 7 business days after the crash. CLEMIS covers most Oakland and Macomb County agencies including Sterling Heights, Warren, Southfield, and Troy.
What is the Michigan statute of limitations for an auto-injury claim?
Three years for tort (third-party bodily injury) claims under MCL 600.5805(10), and one year for PIP no-fault benefits claims under MCL 500.3145. The 1-year PIP deadline catches people off-guard for late-discovered injuries.
How does Michigan’s no-fault system affect my crash report?
Your own insurer pays your medical bills and wage loss under PIP regardless of fault, up to your selected coverage tier (Unlimited, $500K, $250K, or $50K under the 2019 reform effective July 1, 2020). The crash report still matters for: (1) tort claims against the at-fault driver if you cross the serious-impairment threshold, (2) the mini-tort claim for vehicle damage up to $3,000, and (3) determining whether the at-fault driver was uninsured or impaired (which can unlock additional recovery).
What is the “serious impairment of body function” threshold in Michigan?
Under MCL 500.3135, you must cross a threshold to bring a tort claim for non-economic damages against the at-fault driver. The 2019 reform codified the McCormick standard: an objectively manifested impairment of an important body function that affects the person’s general ability to lead their normal life. Common qualifying injuries include fractures, herniated discs requiring surgery, traumatic brain injuries, and serious soft-tissue injuries with documented functional limitations. See the back injury settlement calculator for how disc injuries are valued.
Where do I get a Michigan State Police UD-10 report?
Michigan State Police runs the Traffic Crash Purchasing System (TCPS), now accessed through MiLogin since April 14, 2026. The fee is $15 per report. Reports take 3 to 30 days to appear in TCPS after the crash. The MSP TCPS also covers crashes investigated by many Michigan local agencies that submit their UD-10 reports to MSP.
You Have the UD-10. What Is Your Michigan Case Worth?
Michigan’s no-fault system and serious-impairment threshold make settlement calculation complex. Our free calculator factors in your PIP tier, the threshold standard, and your specific injuries to estimate a realistic Michigan settlement range. Three minutes, no signup, attorney-reviewed.
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