How to File a Police Report After an Accident in New York
Last Updated on September 24, 2026 by James Shaffer
After a car accident in New York, you may need to notify the police, file a separate crash report with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), or both. These are two different reporting requirements, and confusing them can cause drivers to miss an important deadline.
If anyone is injured or killed, New York requires you to notify the police immediately. Separately, drivers generally must file a DMV Report of Motor Vehicle Crash (Form MV-104) within 10 days when someone is injured or killed or when damage to the property of any one person exceeds $1,000. You can learn more about New York’s accident reporting deadlines.
At a Glance
- Injury or death: Notify the police immediately and file an MV-104 with DMV within 10 days.
- More than $1,000 in damage: If damage to the property of any one person exceeds $1,000, each involved driver generally must file an MV-104 within 10 days.
- A police report is not an MV-104: Even if an officer investigates the crash and prepares a report, you still have to submit your own MV-104 when the crash meets New York’s reporting threshold.
- Reports take time to appear: DMV says electronically filed NYC police reports may take at least 14 days to become available, paper police reports at least 30 days, and motorist reports at least 60 days.
- When Do You Have to Report a Car Accident in New York?
- Police Report vs. DMV MV-104: What's the Difference?
- How to File an Accident Report in New York
- What Happens If You Don't File the MV-104?
- How to Get a Copy of a New York Accident Report
- What Should You Do Immediately After an Accident?
- Does a Police Report Determine Who Was at Fault?
- FAQs on Filing an Accident Report in New York
When Do You Have to Report a Car Accident in New York?
New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 605 requires a driver to report a crash to DMV when someone is injured or killed or when damage to the property of any one person, including the driver, exceeds $1,000. The required driver report is Form MV-104, and it must generally be filed within 10 days of the crash.
| What Happened? | What You Generally Need to Do |
|---|---|
| Someone was injured or killed | Notify police immediately and file an MV-104 with DMV within 10 days. |
| Property damage to any one person exceeds $1,000 | File an MV-104 with DMV within 10 days and exchange required information with the other driver. |
| Property damage only and the reporting threshold is not met | Stop and exchange driver, registration, and insurance information. An MV-104 generally is not required under Section 605 solely for minor property damage below the threshold. |
| Parked vehicle or other property is damaged and the owner is not present | Try to locate the owner or notify police. |
| A domestic animal is injured | Try to locate the owner or notify police. |
The New York DMV’s crash-reporting guidance explains these requirements and provides access to the online filing system and Form MV-104.
Police Report vs. DMV MV-104: What’s the Difference?
A police crash report and a driver’s MV-104 report are not the same document.
- Police report: A law enforcement agency prepares this report after an officer responds to or investigates the crash.
- MV-104: This is the motorist’s own report to New York DMV when the crash meets the state’s reporting requirements.
If your accident requires an MV-104, having the police respond does not eliminate your responsibility to file it. Likewise, reporting the accident to your insurance company does not satisfy the DMV filing requirement.
Quick tip: If you are unsure whether property damage exceeds $1,000, remember that modern bodywork, paint, sensors, lights, and bumpers can make apparently minor damage expensive to repair. Do not rely only on how the damage looks at the scene.
How to File an Accident Report in New York
If police respond to the scene, the responding agency generally handles its own police crash report. If police did not respond but you need to report the incident to law enforcement, contact the police agency responsible for the location where the crash occurred and ask about its reporting procedure.
Your MV-104 is filed separately with New York DMV. DMV currently allows motorists to submit a report online or by mail.
Option 1: File the MV-104 Online
New York DMV provides an Online Motorist Crash Report Portal. You can access it through the DMV’s official motorist crash report page. The online process uses an NY.gov ID.
Option 2: File Form MV-104 by Mail
You can also complete the DMV’s Report of Motor Vehicle Crash (MV-104) and mail it to the Crash Records Center at the address listed on the form.
The report asks for information about the drivers, registered vehicle owners, insurance, vehicles, crash location, injuries, property damage, and circumstances of the collision. Gather as much accurate information as possible before completing it.
What Happens If You Don’t File the MV-104?
Failing to file a required crash report is more serious than simply forgetting paperwork. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 605 states that failure to make the required report is a misdemeanor and can be grounds for suspension or revocation of a driver’s license. DMV also warns that your driving privilege may be suspended until the required report is on file.
This is why the 10-day deadline matters. Do not assume that a police report or a report to your insurance company automatically satisfies your obligation to DMV.
How to Get a Copy of a New York Accident Report
If police investigated your accident, you can first contact the police agency or precinct where the crash occurred. New York DMV recommends asking the agency whether the report is available and what fee, if any, the agency charges.
After a police or motorist report has been filed and processed by DMV, you can also order a certified copy through the New York DMV crash report system.
Current DMV processing guidance lists the following minimum timeframes before reports enter its system:
| Report Type | Earliest DMV Availability |
|---|---|
| Electronically filed police report from one of New York City’s five boroughs | At least 14 days after the crash |
| Paper police report | At least 30 days after the crash |
| Motorist report | At least 60 days after the crash |
For DMV’s standard online crash-report portal, the current fee is a $7 search fee plus a $15 report fee, for a total of $22 per report. Reports ordered through DMV’s Records Request Navigator or by mail have a $10 search fee plus the $15 report fee, for a total of $25 per report. Fees and procedures can change, so confirm them with DMV when you order.
To search online, DMV says you may use information such as the crash date, county, vehicle plate number, VIN, driver license number, police code, or DMV case number. You must also certify that you are legally authorized to obtain the requested record. A crash report can later be relevant to an insurance dispute or civil action arising from the accident.
What Should You Do Immediately After an Accident?
Your first priority after a crash should be safety. New York DMV advises drivers to stop after any crash, regardless of the amount of damage. Leaving without fulfilling your legal obligations can result in serious consequences. Learn more about New York hit-and-run rules.
- Stop and check for injuries. If anyone is injured or killed, notify police immediately and request emergency medical assistance when needed. This includes accidents involving an injured pedestrian.
- Move to a safer location if possible. If the vehicles can be safely moved out of traffic, doing so can reduce the risk of a secondary collision. Follow instructions from police or emergency personnel at the scene.
- Exchange information. Obtain the other driver’s name, address, driver license information, registration information, insurer, policy information, and vehicle details.
- Document the scene. If it is safe, photograph vehicle damage, the roadway, traffic controls, license plates, and other relevant conditions.
- Give accurate information to police. Describe what happened truthfully and avoid guessing about details you do not know or did not observe.
- Notify your insurer promptly. Follow your policy’s claim-notification requirements and provide the available documentation when you file an insurance claim after an accident.
- File your MV-104 when required. Do not miss the 10-day DMV deadline simply because police already prepared their own report.
Does a Police Report Determine Who Was at Fault?
No. A police crash report can contain useful information about the accident, including observations, statements, vehicles involved, and other details, but it does not by itself determine liability for an insurance claim or lawsuit.
New York DMV also specifically states that having a crash listed on a driver’s DMV record does not mean that driver was at fault. DMV does not determine fault when processing crash reports.