Reviewed by: Douglas Hoffer, Personal Injury Attorney, Dansker & Aspromonte Associates LLP, admitted to the New York State Bar. Last reviewed: May 2026.
This page is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Procedures for obtaining accident reports and applicable fees may change. Verify current requirements with the NYPD or New York State DMV before submitting a request. For legal questions specific to your car accident case, consult a qualified New York attorney.
In New York City, you can get a car accident report online through the NYPD Collision Report Portal, in person at the precinct where the crash was reported, or through the New York State DMV for incidents more than 30 days old. A fourth option — a FOIL request — is available when other channels are not accessible. If you are pursuing a personal injury claim, the report is a key piece of evidence, but you do not have to obtain it alone. Our New York car accident attorneys can request the report on your behalf as part of building your case.
Four Ways to Get Your NYC Car Accident Report
Four official pathways exist for requesting a police crash report in New York City. The right one depends on when your accident occurred and how you need the document delivered.
Option 1: NYPD Online Collision Report Portal
For crashes reported by the NYPD after September 30, 2016, the NYPD Collision Report Retrieval Portal is the fastest starting point. According to the NYPD, reports may take up to seven business days from the date of the incident before they are accessible through this system.
To request your report online, you will need:
- The date of the accident
- The borough where it occurred
- Your driver’s license number or plate number
- A report number, if the responding officer provided one
Only parties directly involved in the collision are eligible to access reports through this portal. Confirm eligibility requirements at the portal before submitting.
Option 2: In-Person at the Reporting Precinct
You can request a physical copy directly from the NYPD precinct. Within 30 days of an accident you can obtain the police report from the precinct where the accident was reported. Use the NYPD precinct locator to identify the correct location. After 30 days you can obtain the police report from any police precinct.
Steps for in-person or mail requests:
- Download and complete two copies of the NYPD form “Request for Copy of Collision Record,” available at nyc.gov.
- Bring or mail both copies to the police precinct.
- Provide the crash date, borough, and driver details as identifying information.
According to the NYPD, collision reports are held at the precinct for 30 days before being forwarded to the New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Source: NYPD Motor Vehicle Accident Reports page. If 30 days have passed, use the DMV pathway below if you cannot obtain the police report from any police precinct.
Option 3: New York State DMV (Crashes More Than 30 Days Old)
Once a report transfers from the precinct, you can request it through the New York State DMV. Current fees as of May 2026 — verify at dmv.ny.gov before submitting, as fees are subject to change:
- Online request: $22 ($7 search fee plus $15 report fee)
- Mail request (form MV-198C): $25 ($10 search fee plus $15 report fee)
Option 4: FOIL Request
If standard channels are unavailable or you are not a directly named party in the report, you may request it under New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). FOIL requests go to the NYPD’s Records Access Officer. Processing times vary and can take several weeks. Attorneys, insurance representatives, and parties not listed in the original report commonly use this pathway. An attorney can submit a FOIL request on your behalf as part of gathering evidence for your case.
What Information Is in an NYC Car Accident Report?
In New York City, the police accident report is officially documented on form MV-104AN — the “Police Accident Report” form used only within New York City, per the New York State DMV Police Accident Report Manual. The report typically contains:
- Date, time, and location of the crash
- Names, addresses, license numbers, and insurance information for all drivers involved
- Vehicle descriptions: make, model, year, plate number, registration state
- Names and contact information for witnesses
- Responding officer’s name, badge number, and precinct
- A diagram of the crash scene as recorded by the officer
- Contributing factors listed by the officer — such as distracted driving, failure to yield, or speeding
- Injury notation: whether injuries were reported at the scene and to what degree
- Whether any parties were cited for a traffic violation
The contributing factors and injury notation are particularly significant in a personal injury claim. They do not determine fault as a matter of law, but they form part of the evidentiary record your attorney will use. If the report contains errors, an attorney can take steps to address inaccuracies and present additional evidence to support your account of the crash.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Car Accident Report in NYC?
Timeline varies by method:
- NYPD online portal: up to seven business days from the date of the crash, per NYPD
- In-person at the precinct: varies — call ahead to confirm availability
- NYS DMV (older reports): up to 14 days if the report was filed electronically; longer for paper reports
- FOIL request: several weeks, depending on NYPD workload
If timing is critical to an insurance claim or legal proceeding, the NYPD online portal is the fastest option for recent crashes. An attorney can expedite document gathering when the timeline matters.
Do You Need a Car Accident Report to File a Claim in New York?
As a general matter of practice, you are not required to have a copy of the police report before filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit — but the report is important supporting documentation that insurers and courts routinely rely on. Consult an attorney about the specific evidence requirements for your situation.
Other evidence can supplement or, in some circumstances, challenge the report’s account of the crash. Witness statements, medical records, traffic and security camera footage, and dashboard camera video all form part of the evidentiary picture your attorney assembles.
If police did not respond to your accident, a report may not exist. For crashes involving property damage over $1,000 or personal injury, drivers may be required to file their own MV-104 form with the DMV within 10 days. An attorney can advise whether you are required to file and how to document the accident without an official police report.
When Does It Help to Work With a Car Accident Lawyer?
If your injuries required medical treatment, hospitalization, or ongoing care, consult a personal injury attorney before relying solely on what the insurance company offers. New York’s no-fault insurance system covers basic medical costs and lost wages up to policy limits, but does not compensate pain and suffering or losses above those limits without meeting the serious injury threshold under New York law.
An attorney can assess whether your injuries qualify for a claim beyond no-fault, gather the full evidence record, and handle insurer negotiations. Filing deadlines and notice requirements in New York vary by case type and defendant. Claims against government entities — such as the MTA or City of New York — require a Notice of Claim to be filed within a very short window after the incident, well before the standard civil deadline. Consult an attorney as soon as possible after your accident to protect your rights.
Contact Dansker & Aspromonte for a free case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions: NYC Car Accident Reports
How do I get a car accident report in New York City?
Request it online through the NYPD Collision Report Portal at collisionreport.nypdonline.org, in person at the precinct where the crash was reported, or through the New York State DMV for accidents more than 30 days old. A FOIL request is available when other channels are not accessible. You will need the crash date, borough, and your driver’s license or plate number. Reports are accessible online up to seven business days after the collision, per the NYPD.
How long does it take to get an accident report in NYC?
Online through the NYPD portal: up to seven business days from the date of the crash. In-person at the precinct: call ahead to confirm. Through the NYS DMV: up to 14 days for electronically filed reports, longer for paper reports. FOIL requests can take several weeks. The NYPD online portal is the fastest option for recent crashes when the report is already accessible.
How much does it cost to get a car accident report in NYC?
NYPD precinct requests are generally no-fee or low-cost. DMV requests for older reports cost $22 for online requests ($7 search fee plus $15 report fee) or $25 by mail ($10 search fee plus $15 report fee), as of May 2026. Verify current fees at dmv.ny.gov before submitting, as fees are subject to change.
What information is in a New York car accident report?
The report (form MV-104AN in NYC) includes crash date, time, and location; driver names, license and insurance information; vehicle descriptions; witness contact information; the officer’s scene diagram; contributing factors noted by the officer; and whether injuries were reported. The contributing factors and injury notation are particularly relevant in personal injury claims and insurer negotiations.
Do I need a police report to file a car accident claim in New York?
As a general matter, you are not required to have the report before filing a claim, but it is important supporting documentation. Insurers and courts routinely rely on it. If you cannot obtain the report quickly, an attorney can request it on your behalf. If no police report exists, other evidence — medical records, witness statements, camera footage — can support your claim. Consult an attorney about your specific situation.
What if the police did not come to my accident scene?
If NYPD did not respond, no official police crash report may exist. For crashes involving property damage over $1,000 or injury, drivers may be required to file form MV-104 with the New York State DMV within 10 days. Failure to file when required can result in license suspension. An attorney can advise whether you are required to file and how to document the accident without a police report.
How do I get an accident report more than 30 days after the crash?
After 30 days, the report transfers from the NYPD precinct to the New York State DMV. Request it at dmv.ny.gov. Online requests cost $22 and mail requests (form MV-198C) cost $25, as of May 2026. Verify current fees at dmv.ny.gov before submitting. The DMV retains reports for four years from the accident date under certain conditions.
Can my lawyer get the accident report for me?
Yes. Personal injury attorneys routinely obtain police and accident reports as part of building your case. If standard channels are unavailable or you are not listed as a party in the report, an attorney can submit a FOIL request to the NYPD on your behalf. This is one of the evidence-gathering steps your attorney handles so you can focus on recovery.
Sources
- New York City Police Department. “Collision Report Retrieval Portal.” Accessed May 2026. collisionreport.nypdonline.org
- New York City Police Department. “Motor Vehicle Accident Reports.” Accessed May 2026. nyc.gov/site/nypd
- New York City Police Department. “Request for Copy of Collision Record” form. Accessed May 2026. nyc.gov/assets/nypd
- New York City Police Department. “Find Your Precinct.” Accessed May 2026. nyc.gov precinct locator
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. “Order and Access Motor Vehicle Crash (Accident) Reports.” Accessed May 2026. dmv.ny.gov
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. “Police Accident Report Manual” (form MV-104AN designation). Accessed May 2026. dmv.ny.gov/forms/p33.pdf
Sources last reviewed May 2026. Procedures and fees are subject to change. Verify current requirements with the NYPD or DMV before submitting a request.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Filing deadlines and legal rights in New York vary by case type and defendant. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.