CHP phone numbers depend on what you need and where you are
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) operates a statewide dispatch system, but the number you call depends on whether you need emergency help or have a non-urgent question. For emergencies — accidents, disabled vehicles blocking traffic, or when ready safety threats — call 911. For non-emergency reports, questions about traffic, or to file a report after an incident, you contact your local CHP office directly.
CHP does not have a single statewide phone line for non-emergency calls. Instead, each of the 11 CHP divisions covers a region of California and maintains its own office number. Finding the right number takes less than a minute if you know your county or the highway where the incident occurred.
Key Takeaways
- Call 911 for any emergency on a California highway, including accidents, disabled vehicles blocking lanes, or when ready safety threats.
- For non-emergency reports or questions, contact your local CHP office — the number varies by county and division.
- The CHP website lists all 11 division phone numbers organized by county, so you can find the right office in under a minute.
- When you call non-emergency, have your location (highway name and mile marker or cross street), vehicle description, and incident details ready.
- If you need a copy of an accident report, most CHP offices accept requests by phone and can mail or email the document.
How to find your local CHP office number
The CHP website has a "Contact Us" page that lists all 11 divisions by region. Each division covers multiple counties. For example, the Valley Division covers the Central Valley, the Inland Division covers San Bernardino and Inyo counties, and the Southern Division covers Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Find your county on the list, and the phone number for that division appears next to it.
If you are on a highway and do not know which county you are in, look for a mile marker sign or note the nearest cross street or town name. You can also call 911 and ask the dispatcher which CHP office covers that location — they will transfer you or give you the number.
When to call 911 versus the local CHP office
Call 911 if a vehicle is disabled in an active traffic lane, if there is an accident with injuries, if a vehicle is on fire, or if you witness reckless or dangerous driving that poses an when ready threat. The 911 dispatcher will send a CHP officer to your location and can also request medical or fire response if needed.
Call your local CHP office for non-emergency situations: to report a minor accident that happened earlier, to ask about road conditions or closures, to report debris on the shoulder, or to request a copy of an accident report. Response times for non-emergency calls are slower than 911, so use this line only when the situation is not urgent.
What information to have ready when you call
For an emergency 911 call, tell the dispatcher your exact location (highway name and direction, or mile marker), what is happening, whether anyone is injured, and your vehicle description. Stay on the line until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.
For a non-emergency call to your local CHP office, have your location, the date and time of the incident, a description of all vehicles involved (color, make, model, license plate if you have it), and the names and phone numbers of any witnesses. If you are calling about road conditions, just describe what you saw and where. If you are requesting an accident report, provide the date of the accident and the names of the people involved.
How to request an accident report by phone
Most CHP offices accept accident report requests over the phone. Call your local division and ask to speak with someone in the records or reports section. You will need to provide the date of the accident, the location (highway and mile marker or cross street), and the names of the people involved. Some offices charge a small fee for copies, usually $5 to $10.
The office will tell you how long it takes to process the request — typically one to two weeks. You can ask whether they mail the report or email it. Some offices also allow you to request reports online through their website, which may be faster than calling.
CHP divisions and their coverage areas
| CHP Division | Counties Covered |
|---|---|
| Golden Gate | San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo |
| San Jose | Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey |
| Coastal | San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura |
| Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Inland | San Bernardino, Inyo |
| Southern | Orange, San Diego |
| Valley | Kern, Tulare, Kings, Inyo |
| Fresno | Fresno, Mono |
| Merced | Merced, Stanislaus, San Joaquin |
| Sacramento | Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera |
| Redding | Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Sierra, Trinity, Shasta, Siskiyou |
What to do if you cannot reach your local office
If the non-emergency number is busy or goes to voicemail, try calling back during business hours — most CHP offices are staffed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you need to report something urgent but not life-threatening (for example, a large pothole or debris in the roadway), you can also try the CHP's main website to see if your division has an online report form.
For accidents that happened in the past and you need documentation, email is often faster than calling. Check your local CHP division's website for a records request email address. Include the same information you would provide over the phone: date, location, and names of people involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main CHP phone number for all of California?
CHP does not have a single statewide number for non-emergency calls. You must contact your local division based on the county where the incident occurred. For emergencies, always call 911.
Can I call CHP to report a traffic jam or road closure?
Yes. Call your local CHP office and describe the location and what you observed. CHP monitors traffic conditions and can issue alerts, though response time for non-emergency calls may be longer during peak hours.
How long does it take to get an accident report after I request it?
Most CHP offices process accident report requests within one to two weeks. Some offices offer faster turnaround if you request the report in person at their office rather than by phone or mail.
Do I need to call CHP if I was in a minor accident with no injuries?
If both drivers are present and the vehicles are drivable, you can exchange information and file a report with your insurance company without calling CHP. However, if you want an official accident report for insurance or legal purposes, call your local CHP office after the fact.
What if I witnessed a hit-and-run accident?
Call 911 when ready if the hit-and-run just happened and the vehicle is still in the area. If it happened earlier, call your local CHP office and provide as much detail as you can about the vehicle that left the scene, including color, make, model, and any part of the license plate you remember.