What it is: After an NYC crash, the responding officer prepares a Police Crash Report (Form MV-104P). Some older NYPD materials may still use the previous form number, MV-104AN.
Where it goes: The precinct holds the report for about 30 days after filing, then sends it to the NY DMV.
What it does: The report can support fault and insurance claim review. Medical evidence, not the report alone, establishes the serious-injury threshold under Insurance Law § 5102(d).
This guide applies to New York State law.
The short answer: start with the NYPD Collision Report Retrieval Portal — usually the fastest route, though reports may take up to 7 business days to appear. If it isn't there yet, the precinct holds it for about 30 days, then the NY DMV takes over.
- Fastest route: NYPD portal (crashes after Sept 30, 2016) — up to 7 business days
- First ~30 days: precinct of occurrence — photo ID in person, or Form PD301-165 by mail (two copies)
- After ~30 days: order from the NY DMV with Form MV-198C — $22 certified online, $25 assisted/mail
- Separate 10-day rule: self-file Form MV-104 within 10 days for a crash with death, injury, or over $1,000 property damage (NY VTL § 605)
Quick Answer: Source Index5◎ 4 GOV§ 1 LAWclaim-level sources
NYPD: Motor Vehicle Collision ReportsNYPD: Motor Vehicle Collision Reports✓ Official (source-only)
NYPD: Non-Injury Vehicle Collisions (citywide policy)NYPD: Non-Injury Vehicle Collisions (citywide policy)✓ Official (source-only)
NY DMV: Get a Copy of an Accident ReportNY DMV: Get a Copy of an Accident Report✓ Official (source-only)
NY DMV: Form MV-198CNY DMV: Form MV-198C✓ Official (source-only)
NY VTL § 605: Driver Reporting RequirementNY VTL § 605: Driver Reporting Requirement✓ Official (source-only)
Accidents move fast. This guide doesn't. Every step below is attorney-reviewed, specific to New York City, New York law, and written in plain language instead of legal jargon, with each answer linked to its source, so you don't miss what matters.
The diagram below shows the three retrieval routes for a New York City crash report in time order — NYPD portal, precinct, then NY DMV — plus the separate 10-day self-filing rule and what to do about errors.
- 1Check the NYPD portal — NYPD Collision Report Retrieval Portal — the fastest route. Reports may take up to 7 business days to appear.
- 2Request at the precinct — The precinct where the collision occurred holds the report ~30 days. In person with photo ID, or by mail with Form PD301-165.
- 3Order from the NY DMV — Certified copy online: $22 total ($7 search + $15 report). Assisted or mailed request: $25 total. Available online for up to 4 years after the crash. (as of Jul 2026)
- 4Self-file Form MV-104 — NY VTL § 605: required within 10 days when there is death, any injury, or over $1,000 damage to any one person's property. Your own filing with the DMV — different from the police-prepared crash report.
- 5Contact the preparing precinct — Raise report errors with the precinct that prepared it. Corrections are not guaranteed.
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What You're Experiencing
You need the NYPD crash report for an insurance claim or your own records, and you don't know whether to call the precinct, the DMV, or wait for it in the mail.
What This Likely Means
- If the precinct says 'we don't have it' → After about 30 days the precinct forwards reports to the NY DMV — order it there with Form MV-198C
- If 30+ days have passed and the report still isn't online → The officer may not have filed yet, or the crash may have been logged with a typo in the plate or date
- If the report shows errors that hurt your case → Raise them with the precinct that prepared the report; corrections are not guaranteed
Your Options
You Can Do This
- •File your own MV-104 with NY DMV within 10 days of the crash (required by VTL § 605 when there is death, any injury, or over $1,000 damage to any one person's property)
- •Check the NYPD Collision Report Retrieval Portal first — reports may appear within 7 business days
- •Within the first ~30 days, request the report from the precinct of occurrence (photo ID in person, or Form PD301-165 by mail); after that, order from the NY DMV ($22 certified online, $25 assisted/mail)
- •Photograph the scene, vehicles, and your injuries the same day for an evidentiary backup
Attorney Handles
- •Requests a certified copy through the NYPD records division when a disputed claim needs the report quickly
- •Raises report errors with the preparing precinct, with supporting evidence
- •Cross-references the crash report against EDR data, traffic camera footage, and witness statements
- •Requests NYC DOT camera footage quickly — recordings can be overwritten
Avoid Doing This
- •Don't rely on a verbal account from the responding officer — only the filed crash report counts
- •A statement signed before the police report is in your hands can conflict with it later. Attorneys advise reading the report first.
- •Don't assume report errors will be corrected — corrections are not guaranteed, so keep your own photos and witness information as independent evidence.
What This Typically Costs
The report itself is cheap: $22 certified online, $25 by assisted or mailed request from the NY DMV.
You do not need the report to start your no-fault claim. The 30-day written-notice deadline under 11 NYCRR 65 runs from the accident, with or without the report.
File the notice first, then add the report when it arrives.
Where delay does cost you: report errors are easier to raise early, while the precinct still holds the report (about the first 30 days).
When to Get Help
Many situations on this page are manageable on your own. The Your Options section above shows what people commonly handle themselves and where an attorney typically adds value.
These signals usually mean it is time to talk to a licensed attorney:
- 1
If the report contradicts your own MV-104 self-filing → Raise it with the preparing precinct promptly; corrections are not guaranteed, so an attorney should see the discrepancy early.
- 2
If the officer's narrative misidentifies the at-fault driver → This can affect your comparative fault percentage under CPLR § 1411, and a 2026 reform bars recovery entirely if your fault is greater than the other driver's (car cases commenced on/after May 26, 2026). A correction request goes to the precinct that prepared the report, and corrections are not guaranteed. Your 30-day no-fault notice deadline runs regardless, so the notice does not wait on the report. Legal help may be relevant when the discrepancy affects a contested claim.
- 3
If fault is disputed and the report's narrative matters to your claim → An attorney can request a certified copy through the NYPD records division and challenge the narrative with your own evidence.
A consultation is information, not a commitment. Free consultations are standard at New York personal injury firms.
Key Numbers
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Police crash report form | MV-104P (replaced MV-104AN in 2026) | .gov ✓NY DMV: Sample Police Crash Report |
| NYPD portal availability | Up to 7 business days | .gov ✓NYPD: Motor Vehicle Collision Reports |
| Precinct holds the report | ~30 days after filing | .gov ✓NYPD: Motor Vehicle Collision Reports |
| DMV certified copy, online | $22 total ($7 search + $15 report) | .gov ✓NY DMV: Order Crash Reports |
| DMV assisted or mailed request | $25 total | .gov ✓NY DMV: Order Crash Reports |
| Online archive window | Up to 4 years | .gov ✓NY DMV: Order Crash Reports |
| NY 10-day driver self-report (MV-104) | Death, any injury, or > $1,000 damage to any one person's property | statuteNY VTL § 605 |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- 1
Mistake #1: Going straight to the DMV and waiting.
Electronically filed NYPD reports reach the DMV system no sooner than 14 days after the crash; paper-filed reports take at least 30 days.
The NYPD portal can have them within 7 business days. The precinct holds the report about 30 days before forwarding it to the DMV.
- 2
Mistake #2: Skipping the MV-104 self-report.
NY VTL § 605 requires drivers to file Form MV-104 with the DMV within 10 days. It applies to any crash with death, injury, or over $1,000 property damage to one person.
This is separate from the police-prepared crash report, Form MV-104P (formerly MV-104AN). The statute lets the DMV suspend a license for failure to file.
- 3
Mistake #3: Assuming report errors will fix themselves.
Officer narratives can contain errors: the wrong direction of travel, missing witnesses, or omitted statements.
Errors are raised with the precinct that prepared the report, ideally while it still holds the report (about the first 30 days).
Corrections are not guaranteed, so keep independent evidence like photos and witness contacts either way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long after the accident before I can get the NYPD crash report?▼
The NYPD Collision Report Retrieval Portal can have reports within 7 business days of the crash (it covers collisions after September 30, 2016). The precinct where the collision occurred holds the report for about 30 days after it is filed. Electronically filed NYPD reports reach the NY DMV system no sooner than 14 days after the crash and stay available online for up to 4 years.
What if the police didn't come to my crash scene?▼
Under NYPD's citywide policy, a police response is not required for crashes involving only property damage, so there may be no police-prepared crash report (Form MV-104P). Drivers are still required to self-file Form MV-104 with NY DMV within 10 days under VTL § 605 if the crash involved death, any personal injury, or over $1,000 damage to any one person's property. Failing to file is a misdemeanor under the statute, and the DMV can suspend your license until the report is on file.
What if the police report has errors?▼
Contact the precinct that prepared the report and provide supporting evidence — photos, witness statements, or documents. Corrections are not guaranteed, so preserve your own evidence independently either way.
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How this was sourced
Reviewed by: William K. Mattar, J.D. · NY Bar #2280535 · Data as of: Jul 2026 · Next review: 2026-Q3.
What this does not cover: the facts of your specific crash, or any outcome.
Sources & Citations
- .gov[1] NYPD: Motor Vehicle Collision Reports ↗
- .gov[2] NYPD: Non-Injury Vehicle Collisions (citywide policy) ↗
- .gov[3] NY DMV: Get a Copy of an Accident Report ↗
- .gov[4] NY DMV: Form MV-198C ↗
- statute[5] NY VTL § 605: Driver Reporting Requirement ↗
This guide applies to New York State law.
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