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Right to Know Law (Request records)

Before filing a request under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), note that RTKL should NOT be used to ask questions or report a transportation or driver/vehicle concern. Please view the statewide contacts page to report a roadway concern or driver/vehicle question or concern.

This page provides information for the processing of written requests for records under the RTKL. Requesters can access PennDOT records as follows:

1. The Department of Treasury operates the Pennsylvania Contracts e-Library website that contains state contracts, including Department of Transportation contracts, executed after July 1, 2008, which involve consideration of $5,000 or more.

2. DRIVER INFORMATION — Under certain circumstances, driver information may be available to you through the Request for Driver Information Form DL-503, also located on PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services website.

3. MOTOR VEHICLE INFORMATION — Under certain circumstances, motor vehicle information may be available to you through the Request for Vehicle Information Form DL-135, also located on PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services website.

4. Right-to-Know requests to PennDOT for public records can be made in writing by submitting either a letter or PennDOT's RTKL request form to PennDOT in person or via email, U.S. mail or fax as indicated in the form instructions.

For more information on submitting your RTKL request, please review PennDOT's RTKL Policy (PDF) and frequently asked questions below.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get information about a person's driver license record or driver history?

PennDOT does not release driver information under the RTKL. Driver license information is available only pursuant to 75 Pa. C.S. § 6114 and 67 Pa. Code § 95.2(c). See also 65 P.S. § 67.708 (b)(6). It is also subject to the limitations of the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act, 18 U.S.C. §2721-2725.

Under certain circumstances, driver information may be available to you. Request for Driver Information Form DL-503 is located on PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services website. The appropriate fee per record must accompany each completed form. You must meet the requirements stated on the form in order to receive information.

How do I get information about a particular motor vehicle or license plate?

PennDOT does not release motor vehicle records under the RTKL. Vehicle record information is available only pursuant to 75 Pa. C.S. § 6114 and 67 Pa. Code § 95.2(c). See also 65 P.S. § 67.708 (b)(6). It is also subject to the limitations of the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, 18 U.S.C. §2721-2725.

Under certain circumstances, motor vehicle information may be available to you. Request for Vehicle Information Form DL-135 is located on PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services website. The appropriate fee per record must accompany each completed form. You must meet the requirements stated on the form in order to receive information.

How can I have a specialized report based on motor vehicle records created for me?

Under the RTKL, PennDOT is not "required to create a record which does not currently exist or to compile, maintain, format or organize a record in a manner in which the agency does not currently compile, maintain, format, or organize a record." 65 P.S. § 67.705.

Under the Vehicle Code, as compared to the RTKL, PennDOT may be able to create a customized report for you. If PennDOT were to create a record for you, at your request, it is authorized to collect a reasonable fee for compiling data and statistical information under Section 1955(b) of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. The established fee under Section 1955(b) is presently $100 per hour. To request an estimate of how long it will take to generate a customized report and what you might expect to pay for a request under the Vehicle Code, 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

How do I get a copy of a contract?

Contracts utilized by PennDOT are available online in two locations. Contract solicitations, awards and contracts that are managed by the Department of General Services (DGS) are on the DGS website. PennDOT contracts valued at more than $5,000 are uploaded to the Department of Treasury website, pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 17 of the RTKL, 65 P.S. §§ 67.1701-1702. We recommend that you search these locations first before submitting a RTKL request.

How do I get a copy of a police accident report?

PennDOT does not release copies of accident reports under the RTKL. Pursuant to Section 3751 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, 75 Pa. C.S. § 3751, only police departments are statutorily authorized to provide copies of accident reports, and then only to a defined group of parties. We recommend that you contact the appropriate police department to request a copy of an accident report.

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

How do I know how much to pay for the records I'm requesting?

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

It's been five days since I made my RTKL request. Why haven't I received a response?

The RTKL requires PennDOT to issue a response to your request no later than the fifth business day after the request is received by the Open Records Officer. Requests received after 4:30 p.m. will be considered received 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.

Is my RTKL request a public record?

Yes, your RTKL request is a public record. Please do not include any private information such as your driver license number, credit card number or Social Security number in your RTKL request. RTKL requests are kept on file at PennDOT for two years in accordance with the Commonwealth Record Retention and Disposition Schedule.

Can I send my RTKL request to the PennDOT District or County Office?

The RTKL provides that, to be considered a valid request under the RTKL, a written request must be addressed to the Agency Open Records Officer designated pursuant to Section 502 of the RTKL, 65 P.S. § 67.502. The correct address, email and fax number for the designated PennDOT Open Records Officer are:

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

Fax: 717-787-8779
Email: PENNDOT-RightToKnow@pa.gov

Requests received at other PennDOT offices, fax locations or emails may not be treated as a valid request under the RTKL.