How Long Do You Have to Report a Car Accident in New York State?

Last Updated on March 14, 2026

As of 2026, New York gives drivers 10 days to file a written crash report with the DMV when a crash is reportable. The most important question is whether the accident caused an injury, a death, or more than $1,000 in damage to any one person’s property. Not every minor fender-bender has to be reported to the DMV, but when the threshold is met, each involved driver has a separate duty to file.

That distinction matters because many drivers assume the police report is enough. In New York, it usually is not. A police report can help with documentation, but your own DMV filing requirement is separate from what law enforcement does at the scene.

When You Must Report a Car Accident in New York

Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 605, you must file a DMV crash report within 10 days if any person is injured or killed or if damage to the property of any one person, including you, exceeds $1,000. The DMV also requires a report if an e-bike or e-scooter is involved and a person is injured or killed. If you are unsure whether the damage threshold was crossed, it is usually safer to file than to guess. This is especially true when modern vehicles have hidden sensor, bumper, or lighting damage that is not obvious at the scene.

If you are trying to evaluate whether the crash may involve significant property damage, document the scene carefully and do not assume a low-speed impact means the loss is minor.

New York Reporting Deadlines at a Glance

Crash Situation	DMV Report Required?	What Else You Must Do	Deadline
Someone is injured or killed	Yes	Notify police immediately and exchange information	DMV report within 10 days
Property damage to any one person exceeds $1,000	Yes	Exchange license, registration, and insurance information	DMV report within 10 days
Damage is $1,000 or less and no one is hurt	Usually no DMV report	Exchange information and preserve evidence for any later claim	At the scene
An e-bike or e-scooter is involved and someone is injured or killed	Yes	Notify police immediately	DMV report within 10 days

Who You Must Report the Crash To

Police: If anyone is injured or killed, New York requires you to notify the police immediately. If the crash involves only property damage, you still must exchange identifying and insurance information with the other driver. If you damage a parked car or other property and the owner is not present, you must try to locate the owner or contact the police. That same rule is important in parked-car situations like the ones discussed here: hit a parked car.

DMV: If the crash is reportable, file your own DMV report using the MV-104 form or the NY DMV’s online crash-report portal. A police report does not replace your filing obligation. Even if an officer responds and even if the other driver files, you should still file your own report when New York law requires it.

Your Insurer: State law does not create one universal deadline for every insurer notification, but your policy may require prompt notice. That means you should tell your auto insurer quickly if there is any chance you may need coverage, defenses, or help to file a claim.

If police prepared a report and you need a copy for your records, claim, or attorney, you can order a police crash report separately. That is useful documentation, but it is still different from the driver’s own MV-104 filing.

How to File the MV-104 With the DMV

The cleanest way to think about the process is this: reportable crash, then MV-104. You can file online or by mail. Keep a copy of whatever you submit, along with photos, contact information, and the date of filing.

Filing Method	How It Works	Best Use
Online	Use the DMV’s online motorist crash report portal with an NY.gov ID	Fastest option for most drivers
By Mail	Complete the MV-104 and mail it to the address listed on the form	Good if you prefer paper records
Police Report Copy	Order a separate copy of the police crash report if you need it	Helpful for claims and documentation, but not a substitute for MV-104

Who Files if the Driver Cannot

New York also addresses situations where the driver is hurt or otherwise unable to file. If the driver is physically incapable of making the report and another participant is not incapacitated, that participant must file within the 10-day window. If the driver cannot file, the vehicle owner may also have a reporting duty after learning about the crash.

Situation	Who Should File
The driver is able to file	The driver
The driver is physically incapable and another participant is not incapacitated	The other participant
The driver cannot file and the owner learns of the crash	The vehicle owner, if not involved or incapacitated

Insurance Deadlines That Matter After a Crash

Even when the DMV rule is the main legal deadline, insurance timing still matters. Report the loss to your insurer promptly, especially if there is any possibility of vehicle damage, injuries, or disputed fault. Late notice can complicate coverage decisions, and in some cases it can lead to denials or other policy problems discussed in articles like this guide on coverage cancellation issues.

If anyone is hurt, New York’s no-fault system creates another important timeline. The Department of Financial Services says written notice of a no-fault claim generally must be given within 30 days of the accident unless there is a clear and reasonable justification for late filing. That is one reason to review your injury-related protections, including bodily injury-related coverage issues, as soon as possible after the crash.

If the injury claim involves an uninsured vehicle or hit-and-run, additional notice rules can apply through MVAIC. In those cases, prompt reporting to the proper authority becomes even more important.

What Happens If You Do Not Report a Crash

The consequences depend on which obligation you missed. Failing to file a required MV-104 with the DMV is different from leaving the scene or failing to give information to the other party or police. New York treats those issues separately, and the penalties can become much more serious when injuries are involved.

Missed Obligation	Possible Consequence
Failing to file a required MV-104 within 10 days	Misdemeanor exposure; DMV may suspend your driving privilege, license, registration, or all three until the report is filed
Leaving a property-damage scene without providing required information	Can lead to traffic or criminal penalties depending on what was omitted
Leaving an injury crash or failing to report it properly	Can rise to misdemeanor or felony-level consequences, especially when serious physical injury or death is involved
Missing insurer or no-fault notice deadlines	Can delay benefits, create coverage disputes, or reduce your ability to recover under the policy

If you need more background on scene-level reporting, this overview of filing a police report after an accident in New York can help. Just remember that police reporting and DMV reporting are related, but they are not the same step.

Final Word on Reporting a Car Accident in New York State

For most drivers, the core New York rule is simple: if the crash caused an injury, a death, or more than $1,000 in damage to any one person’s property, file the DMV report within 10 days. Notify the police immediately when injuries are involved, exchange information at the scene, and give your insurer prompt notice if there is any chance you will seek coverage. This article focuses on New York State law, and rules can differ in other states or under individual insurance policies.

FAQs on Reporting a Car Accident in New York State