For a recent New York City crash, the NYPD precinct of occurrence is usually the first place to request the collision report. After the precinct window passes or once the report is available through the DMV, you can request a certified copy through the DMV online portal, the DMV Records Request Navigator, or by mail using form MV-198C. Drivers must also file their own MV-104 with the DMV within 10 days after a qualifying crash.
At Kucher Law Group, our Brooklyn car accident attorneys represent people injured in collisions across Brooklyn and the rest of New York City. Attorneys Samantha Kucher, Michael Roitman, and Alex Rybakov handle car accident claims involving police reports, insurance issues, disputed fault, medical documentation, and damages.
This guide explains why a police report matters, how the MV-104 works, where to request a NYC accident report, what timing rules apply, and what to do if the report is delayed or inaccurate. Call Kucher Law Group at (929) 563-6780 to schedule a free consultation.
Why Does a Police Report Matter After a NYC Car Accident?
A police report helps create an official record of what happened after a New York car accident. It may include the crash location, involved drivers and vehicles, injuries, damage, road conditions, and details recorded by the officer. The report can support an insurance claim or lawsuit, but it does not decide fault by itself.
How Does a Police Report Help Determine Liability?
After a New York car accident, a police report can give insurers and attorneys a starting point for evaluating who may be at fault. It may provide a third-party account of the crash, but it does not automatically prove liability.
If the report conflicts with other evidence, Kucher Law Group can review the full record and explain how the issue may affect the claim.
What Evidence Does a Police Report Capture?
A New York police crash report may document key details from the scene, including the crash location, involved vehicles, injuries, road or weather conditions, visible vehicle damage, contributing factors, and any apparent violations noted by the officer. In serious injury or fatal crashes, additional investigative records may address pedestrians involved, possible Vehicle and Traffic Law violations, and findings about how the crash occurred.
The report may include witness or party information when available, but it should not be treated as the only evidence in the case. Photos, medical records, repair estimates, witness follow-ups, and insurance documents may still matter when fault or damages are disputed.
When Must You File an Accident Report in New York?
In New York, a driver must file an MV-104 with the DMV within 10 days if a crash caused injury, death, more than $1,000 in property damage to one person, or involved an e-bike or e-scooter and someone was injured or killed. If no one is hurt and the vehicles can be moved safely, drivers should move to a safe location, but they must still exchange license, registration, and insurance information. If anyone is injured or killed, the driver must notify police immediately. If the crash damaged a parked vehicle or other property, or injured or killed a domestic animal, the driver must try to find the owner or notify police.
The DMV can suspend your driving privilege if you do not file a required MV-104. The 10-day deadline matters even when the police did not come to the scene or an officer prepared a separate crash report.
Key Takeaway: The MV-104 is separate from the police report. A driver may still need to file the MV-104 within 10 days even when an officer responded to the crash and prepared a separate report.
What Is the MV-104 Form and Who Must File It?
The MV-104 is the driver’s own Report of Motor Vehicle Crash. Drivers can file the MV-104 online or mail the completed form to the DMV. Any driver involved in a qualifying New York crash must submit it within 10 days.
Leaving the scene of a crash that causes injury or death is a crime. An accident on your driving record does not automatically mean you were at fault because the DMV does not decide fault in a crash.
If you are unsure whether your Brooklyn crash requires an MV-104, attorney Michael Roitman can review the collision details and help confirm your filing obligations before the 10-day deadline passes.
Car Accident Attorney in Brooklyn, Kucher Law Group
Samantha Kucher, Esq.
Samantha Kucher is a New York personal injury attorney whose practice centers on accident and injury claims. She handles negligence-based matters involving car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, premises liability, construction accidents, and wrongful death.
Samantha earned her bachelor’s degree from New York University and her Juris Doctor from New York Law School. She was admitted to practice law in New York in 2015 and volunteered with the New York County Family Law Pro Bono program early in her career.
Michael Roitman, Esq.
Michael Roitman represents injured clients in negligence cases involving vehicle crashes, premises liability, medical malpractice, construction accidents, brain injuries, dog bites, and wrongful death. He is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey.
Michael earned his bachelor’s degree from New York University and his Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. His case history includes accident claims and other serious injury matters involving disputed liability, medical evidence, insurance coverage, and damages.
Alex Rybakov, Esq.
Alex Rybakov represents injured clients in New York accident and negligence cases. He has handled matters involving car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and fall incidents, workplace injuries, medical malpractice, product liability, and wrongful death.
Alex earned his bachelor’s degree from New York University and his Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law. He was admitted to practice law in New York in 2010.
How Do You Pick Up a Police Report at an NYPD Precinct?
If the crash happened recently, you can request the NYPD collision report from the precinct of occurrence during the 30-day NYPD precinct window. You may request it in person, by mail, or through the NYPD Collision Report Retrieval Portal once it becomes available.
To request the report in person, bring a current, valid photo ID and as much crash information as you have, including the date and place of occurrence, precinct of occurrence, crash report number if available, and involved plate numbers if known. Passengers may need vehicle and driver details before requesting the report.
Request the report from the precinct where the collision happened, not the precinct closest to your home. For a Brooklyn crash, that means the Brooklyn precinct of occurrence. You can also complete two copies of the Request for Copy of Collision Record and submit them in person or by mail to that precinct.
How Do You Order a New York Car Accident Report Online?
The DMV keeps certified crash reports on file for four years from the date of the accident. To order through the DMV Online Crash Report Sales Portal, you need a NY.gov ID, which you can create before ordering. If the report is not available through the standard DMV online portal, another request method may be needed.
Once you are logged in, the portal walks you through these steps:
- Perform a search using the identifiers you have. Some fields require at least one additional piece of information to continue.
- Certify that you are legally authorized to obtain the report. If you are ordering more than one report, you must complete this certification for each new search.
- Pay the required DMV fees for the report. The search and report fees are charged together, and you receive a single confirmation email.
- Download your certified report in PDF format directly inside the portal. Note that you have exactly 7 calendar days to download and save your report once purchased before access expires.
Kucher Law Group can assist with identifying the right request option and reviewing how the report may fit into your injury claim.
The table below summarizes which request method may apply based on where the report is in the process.
| Method | Where and How | Use This Method When | Timing / Cost |
| NYPD precinct or portal request | In person or by mail through the precinct of occurrence, or online through the NYPD Collision Report Retrieval Portal | The report is still within the 30-day NYPD precinct window | NYPD reports may take up to seven business days to appear online |
| DMV online crash report portal | Online with a NY.gov ID through the DMV Online Crash Report Sales Portal | The report has been processed and is eligible for purchase through the standard DMV online portal | $7 search fee plus $15 report fee |
| Record Request Navigator or MV-198C | Request online through the DMV Records Request Navigator or mail a completed MV-198C to the DMV | The report is not available through the standard DMV online crash report portal | $10 search fee plus $15 report fee |
What Information Do You Need to Search for Your Report?
To search in the DMV portal, you need at least one identifier. Some search fields may require an additional detail before the portal allows you to continue:
- DMV case number (an 8-digit number)
- Local police code
- Date of the crash
- County of the crash
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Plate number of one of the involved vehicles
- Driver’s license number
How Long Until a Report Is Available in the DMV System?
The waiting period before a report appears in the DMV system depends on how it was filed:
- Electronically filed police report in one of the five boroughs of New York City: at least 14 days after the crash
- Paper police report: at least 30 days after the crash
- Motorist report from anywhere in New York State: at least 60 days after the crash
What Are the Deadlines for Getting Your NYC Accident Report?
Timing affects where you should request the report. Recent reports usually start with the NYPD, while older or processed reports may need to be requested through the DMV.
NYPD collision reports are held at the precinct for 30 days before being forwarded to the New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. During that window, you may request the report from the precinct of occurrence or use the NYPD Collision Report Retrieval Portal once it becomes available. After the precinct window passes, use the DMV online crash report portal if the report is eligible, or request it through the Records Request Navigator or form MV-198C. DMV availability can take longer, depending on how the report was filed.
Key Takeaway: The right request method depends on timing. Recent NYC reports usually start with NYPD, while older or processed reports usually move through the DMV portal, Records Request Navigator, or MV-198C.
What Should You Do If Your Police Report Has Problems?
Delays and errors can happen when requesting a New York police report. A clear follow-up record and supporting evidence can help protect the information needed for an insurance claim or lawsuit.
How Do You Handle a Delayed or Unavailable Police Report?
A report may be unavailable because it is still being finalized, has not appeared in the NYPD portal, or has not reached the DMV system yet. For a recent NYC crash, check the NYPD portal and follow up with the precinct of occurrence. If the report still does not appear after the precinct window, search through the DMV portal or use the Records Request Navigator or MV-198C.
If the delayed report is affecting an injury claim, Kucher Law Group can review other available evidence, such as photos, medical records, witness information, repair records, and insurance documents, while the official report is pending.
How Do You Correct Errors in a New York Police Report?
If a New York police report contains incorrect or missing information, contact the police department or precinct that issued the report and ask about its correction process. Be ready to provide support for the requested correction, such as photos, witness information, repair records, medical records, insurance documents, or a written account of what needs to be corrected.
Keep copies of the original report and all messages about the correction request. If the mistake affects fault, injuries, vehicle information, insurance coverage, or lawsuit timing, a Brooklyn car accident attorney can review the report with the rest of the evidence and explain what next steps may be available.
Key Takeaway: If a report is missing or inaccurate, keep a record of your follow-up efforts and supporting evidence. Report errors matter most when they affect fault, injuries, vehicle information, insurance coverage, or lawsuit timing.
NYC Car Accident Attorney for Insurance Claims
After a car accident, getting the right report is only one part of protecting your claim. You may also need medical records, insurance documents, witness information, repair estimates, and evidence that explains how the crash happened.
Kucher Law Group can assist with requesting the correct accident report, addressing errors, and connecting the report with the other evidence needed for an insurance claim or lawsuit. Our New York car accident lawyers can explain how the report fits into the claim, especially when fault, injuries, insurance coverage, or damages are disputed.
Call Kucher Law Group at (929) 563-6780 to schedule a free consultation. Our office is located at 463 Pulaski St #1c, Brooklyn, NY 11221, serving clients throughout Brooklyn and the surrounding boroughs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a police report to file an insurance claim in New York?
A police report is not always required to start an insurance claim, but it can help support the claim by documenting basic crash details. Insurers may review it, but the report does not decide fault by itself.
What if the police did not come to the scene of my accident?
If the police did not come to the scene, you still have legal duties after the crash. If no one is hurt and the vehicles can be moved safely, move to a safe location, but you must still exchange license, registration, and insurance information. If anyone was injured or killed, notify police immediately. If the crash damaged a parked vehicle or other property, or injured or killed a domestic animal, try to find the owner or notify police. If the crash meets New York’s MV-104 filing requirements, you must file that report with the DMV within 10 days.
How long does it take for an NYPD accident report to be ready?
An NYPD accident report may take up to seven business days from the incident date to appear in the NYPD online portal. DMV availability can take longer, especially if the report was filed on paper or is still being processed.
Can someone other than the driver obtain a copy of the report?
Possibly, if the person is legally authorized and has enough information to identify the report. DMV online requests require the requester to certify legal authorization. Requests through MV-198C or the Records Request Navigator may also require valid ID, permissible use information, payment, and crash details such as the date, location, plate number, driver information, or report number.
What does a New York police crash report include?
A New York police crash report usually includes the crash date, time, location, involved drivers and vehicles, insurance information, injury or fatality information, vehicle damage, road conditions, and officer notes. It is different from the MV-104, which is the driver’s own report to the DMV.
How much does a certified New York crash report cost through the DMV?
A certified crash report through the DMV online portal costs a $7 search fee plus a $15 report fee for each report. Requests through the DMV Record Request Navigator or by mail require a $10 search fee plus a $15 report fee.
What happens if I miss the 30-day window to pick up my report?
After the 30-day precinct window, the report is usually forwarded to the DMV. You can then request a certified copy through the DMV online portal if it is available, or use the Records Request Navigator or form MV-198C.
