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Official Website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means its official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Submit a Right To Know Request

    Pennsylvanians can submit a Right To Know Request to receive records from local and state governments. 

    Overview

    Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) is a useful tool that lets people request and receive government records to see what the government is doing. The records that requesters have access to include: 

    1. State Contracts: The Pennsylvania Contracts e-Library website has state contracts, including the Department of Transportation contracts that were carried out after July 1, 2008. 

    2. Driver Information: You may be able to get driver information through the Request for Driver Information Form DL-503, depending on the case. 

    3. Motor Vehicle Information: You may be able to get motor vehicle information through the Request for Vehicle Information Form DL-135. 

    4. Public Records: Requests for public records can be made by either  writing a letter or filling out PennDOT's RTKL request form and sending it to PennDOT in person or via email, U.S. mail, or fax. 

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    PennDOT does not release driver information. In some cases, driver information may be available to you. A Request for Driver Information Form DL-503 is located on PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services website. For each completed form, please provide the appropriate fee. You must meet the requirements stated on the form in order to receive information.

    PennDOT does not release motor vehicle records. In some cases, motor vehicle information may be available to you. A Request for Vehicle Information Form DL-135 is located on PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services website. For each completed form, please provide the appropriate fee. You must meet the requirements stated on the form in order to receive information.

    Under the Right To Know Law, PennDOT is not required to create a record that does not currently exist or arrange an existing record in a new way if it is already organized. 

    Under the Vehicle Code, however, PennDOT may be able to customize a report for you. If PennDOT were to customize a record for you, it may come with a reasonable fee of $100 per hour, under Section 1955(b) of the Code. To get an estimate of what you might pay, please send your request to: 

    PennDOT Safety Administration
    ATTN: License Control Division Manager
    Riverfront Office Center, Fourth Floor
    1101 S. Front St.
    Harrisburg PA 17104

    PennDOT contracts are available online in two locations:

    1. Contract solicitations, awards and contracts that are managed by the Department of General Services (DGS) are on the DGS website. 
    2. PennDOT contracts valued at more than $5,000 are uploaded to the Department of Treasury website. 

    We recommend that you search these locations first before submitting a RTKL request.

    PennDOT does not give out copies of accident reports. Only police departments are allowed to provide copies of accident reports. We recommend that you contact the appropriate police department to request a copy of an accident report.

    If you are looking for crash-related data, please visit the Pennsylvania Crash Information Tool website.

    Please do not send payment with your initial request. Once your request is received and processed, an invoice will be sent if a payment is needed.

    PennDOT will respond to your request no later than five business days after your request is received by the Open Records Officer. Requests received after 4:30 p.m. will be considered the following business day. If we are responding to you via U.S. Mail, we will mail your response on or before the fifth business day.

    Yes, your RTKL request is a public record. Please do not include any private information such as your driver's license number, credit card number or Social Security number in your RTKL request. RTKL requests are kept on file at PennDOT for two years. 

    Your written RTKL request must be addressed to the Agency Open Records Officer and sent to the correct address below: 

    PennDOT Open Records Officer
    Bureau of Office Services, PennDOT
    400 North St.
    PO Box 3451
    Harrisburg, PA 17105-3451

    You can also send your request via email or fax (see contact information). Requests received at any other PennDOT offices, fax locations or emails may not be accepted.

    Ways to Send Your Right To Know Request

    Email Us

    You can email your RTKL request to PennDOT's Open Records Officer at: PENNDOT-RightToKnow@pa.gov

    PENNDOT-RightToKnow@pa.gov

    Fax Us

    You cans end us a fax to the PennDOT Open Records Officer at: 717-787-8779

    717-787-8779