How to Get an Accident Police Report in NYC

In New York City, you can get your accident police report three ways. You can use the NYPD Collision Report Retrieval Portal online, usually about 7 business days after the crash. You can go in person to the precinct that responded, within 30 days. Or you can order it from the New York State DMV for older reports, which costs about $22 online or $25 by mail.

Knowing how to get an accident police report in NYC matters because this one document often shapes your entire personal injury claim. It is the official record of what happened. Insurance adjusters, attorneys, and courts all rely on it. Below, we walk through every way to get the report, the fees and timelines, what the report contains, and what to do if you find an error. The Orlow Firm has helped injured New Yorkers get and use these reports for over 40 years. We have seen how much a clear, accurate record can change a case.

Why the Police Report Matters for Your Case

The officer's accident report is the main document insurance companies use to open a claim and assign fault. Adjusters read the narrative, the contributing factor codes, and any violation codes to decide who they think was responsible. A delay in getting the report can slow your claim. Retrieving it early is one of the most useful things you can do after a crash.

The report also locks in evidence that disappears quickly. Police officers record the names and contact information of witnesses at the scene. Those people become very hard to find weeks later. The report preserves that information. It also documents visible injuries right away, which later helps support your medical records by showing that symptoms appeared at the time of the crash rather than long after.

In a lawsuit, a properly certified police report can be admitted under New York's business records exception, CPLR 4518. Certification is what makes the difference: an uncertified report is usually treated as inadmissible hearsay. Even when certified, the officer's opinions about who was at fault may be challenged. A finding of liability (legal responsibility) rests with the judge or jury, not the responding officer. The report's factual observations, such as road conditions and vehicle positions, usually carry more weight than opinions. In short, the report is one important piece of evidence, not the final word on your case.

MV-104 vs. MV-104A: Two Forms, Two Very Different Rules

Many people do not realize there are two separate accident report forms in New York. They are treated very differently under the law.

The MV-104A is the officer's report, completed and filed by law enforcement. This is the document you get from the NYPD portal, the precinct, or the DMV. It is the one that can be admitted in court when properly certified.

The MV-104 is the motorist's own self-report. You file it yourself when police do not respond, or when you have a separate duty to report. Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 605, the MV-104 self-report is privileged. That means it generally cannot be used as evidence against you in a civil lawsuit. That protection is real. If you filed a civilian self-report after your crash, the other side usually cannot bring it into the case against you. You may run into both terms while searching for your report, so it helps to know which one you actually need.

When Police Must Be Called and When You Must Self-Report

Before you can get a report, one has to exist. That depends on whether police came to the scene.

Call 911 whenever anyone is injured or killed, or when the other driver leaves the scene in a hit-and-run. An officer will respond and file the MV-104A. Always get the responding officer's name, badge number, precinct, and the report number before you leave. Those details make retrieval far easier later.

When police do not respond, which often happens with minor collisions, you may still be legally required to file an MV-104 self-report. According to the New York DMV, you must file within 10 days in three cases. The first is when any person was injured or killed. The second is when property damage to any one person tops $1,000. The third is when an e-bike or e-scooter was involved and a person was injured or killed. If you fail to file, the DMV can suspend your driving privileges until the report is on file. One more thing to know: even when police do respond, you may still have your own MV-104 filing duty for the DMV's records, and the other driver has the same duty.

How to Get Your NYC Accident Police Report: Three Methods

There are three main ways to get your accident police report in New York City. The right one depends mostly on how long ago your accident happened.

Method A: Online via the NYPD Collision Report Retrieval Portal (Fastest)

Use this method when your accident happened after September 30, 2016, the earliest date the portal covers. This is the quickest option for most recent crashes.

1. Go to collisionreport.nypdonline.org.
2. Have ready your accident date, the borough, your driver's license number and date of birth, your license plate number and state, and your email address.
3. Search for the report using the accident details, or the report number if you have it.
4. Pay any fee by credit or debit card. Fees can change, so check the current amount on the portal when you make your request.
5. Download and save several copies as PDFs. You usually have about 7 calendar days to re-access a purchased report.

Reports usually become available up to 7 business days after the accident date. Reports involving critical injuries or fatalities may be free, so check the current fee schedule on the portal.

Method B: In Person at the Precinct

Use this method within 30 days of the accident, while the responding precinct still holds the report.

1. Find the precinct that responded to your accident, using your officer's precinct information or the NYPD precinct finder.
2. Download and complete the Police Collision Report request form from the NYPD website.
3. Bring valid identification, such as a driver's license or passport, along with the report number if one was provided at the scene.
4. Visit the precinct's records desk during business hours, and call ahead to confirm the hours.

If you cannot reach the responding precinct, the NYPD Records Section at One Police Plaza is another option. It is at 1 Police Plaza, Room 110, New York, NY 10038, generally open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. You can call the NYPD switchboard at (646) 610-5000 to confirm before visiting. Keep the 30-day window in mind. Precincts hold reports for only about 30 days, after which they are forwarded to the New York State DMV.

Method C: Through the NYS DMV (Older Reports)

Use the DMV when more than 30 days have passed, or when the NYPD portal does not have your report.

For the online DMV portal, visit dmv.ny.gov and choose to order crash reports online. This requires a NY.gov ID login. You can search by DMV case number, police code, crash date, county, VIN, plate, or license number. The cost is a $7 search fee plus $15 per report, for $22 total. Electronic reports for the five boroughs are usually available at least 14 days after the crash, and paper reports at least 30 days.

To request by mail, complete Form MV-198C, the Request for Copy of Crash Report. Mail it to the New York State DMV, MV-198C Processing, 6 Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12228. The cost is a $10 search fee plus $15 per report, for $25 total, and the search fee is non-refundable. This route is slower. It is best used when you cannot access the online portal.

One note on coverage: some reports may need the mail request or a DMV records navigator instead of the main online portal. That applies to reports with no injuries and property damage under $1,000, along with certain e-bike and e-scooter incidents.

What Information Is in Your Report

When you get your report, you will find a detailed snapshot of the crash. The key fields include:

• Date, time, and exact location of the accident
• Identifying information for all parties, including names, addresses, license numbers, and insurance details
• Vehicle details such as make, model, year, plate number, and VIN
• The officer's narrative describing how the accident happened
• Contributing factor codes, which are the key fault indicators adjusters focus on
• A diagram of the accident scene showing vehicle positions and lane markings
• Witness names and contact information
• Recorded statements from drivers and witnesses
• Injuries noted at the scene
• Any citations or violations issued
• The officer's name, badge number, precinct, and the report number

How to Review for Errors and What to Do If You Find Them

Review your report carefully as soon as you get it. Do not wait. Errors are easier to fix while the accident is fresh, and supplemental reports are easier to get.

Common mistakes include wrong dates or times, misspelled names, incorrect vehicle descriptions, the wrong contributing factor code, missing witness information, and an inaccurate account of how the crash happened. These are not minor clerical issues. A single wrong contributing factor code can shift how an insurer assigns fault. That directly affects your claim and can even change premiums for the at-fault driver.

If you find an error, take these steps:

1. Act within 30 days when you can, while the responding precinct still holds the report and supplemental reports are easier to request.
2. Contact the precinct's records bureau or the responding officer directly to ask about their amendment process.
3. Bring documents that show the error, such as scene photos, witness statements, video footage, or medical records.
4. Request a written supplemental report from the officer.
5. If the precinct declines, an attorney can pursue other evidence. That includes traffic camera footage, surveillance video, event data recorder data from a vehicle's black box, or an accident reconstruction expert.

The NYPD does let people submit amendment requests, but you generally have to show the error with evidence rather than just claim it. Remember that the MV-104A is not your only chance to correct the record. If the other driver's MV-104 self-report contains statements that help your case, your attorney can depose that driver and cross-examine the responding officer.

How Long Does It Take to Get an Accident Police Report in NYC?

Timelines depend on which method you use and how complex your accident was. The table below shows the typical waiting periods.

Wait times vary because the officer must complete and submit the report, and it then goes through precinct review before it is entered into the system. If your report is not available yet, check the portal daily starting around day 7, and contact the precinct if it has not appeared by day 14. You do not have to wait passively. The statute of limitations (the deadline to file your lawsuit) for most personal injury claims in New York is generally three years, per CPLR § 214. Still, the sooner you have the report, the sooner your attorney can start building your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my NYC accident police report for free?

Reports involving critical injuries or fatalities may be free through the NYPD portal. Standard reports carry a fee, so check the current amount at collisionreport.nypdonline.org. There is no fee to submit the initial in-person request at the precinct within 30 days. DMV-sourced reports cost about $22 online or $25 by mail.

Do I need the report number to request my accident report?

It helps, but it is not always required. The NYPD online portal lets you search by accident date, borough, driver's license number, and plate number. Getting the report number from the responding officer at the scene is ideal, because it makes retrieval much faster.

What if the police did not respond to my accident?

If police did not come and your accident met the MV-104 filing rules (injury, death, or property damage over $1,000), you must file an MV-104 self-report within 10 days. You can file through dmv.ny.gov or by mail. Keep a copy, and remember the other driver has the same duty.

Can I use the police report as evidence in court?

A certified NYC accident police report can be admitted under CPLR 4518, the business records exception, but only when it is properly certified. Uncertified reports are generally inadmissible hearsay. The officer's opinions about fault may also be challenged, since they are not binding decisions. The report's factual observations, such as weather, road conditions, and vehicle positions, tend to carry more weight than opinions.

What if my accident happened outside NYC?

State Police accident reports come from New York State Police barracks or through the NY DMV system. County-level reports go through the relevant county sheriff or municipal department. The same DMV portal at dmv.ny.gov handles statewide crash reports older than 30 days.

Sources & Official Resources

New York Laws Cited

1. VTL § 605: Report Required Upon Accident (10-day filing requirement, $1,000 threshold)
2. CPLR § 4518: Business Records Exception
3. CPLR § 214: Three-Year Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury

Official Government Resources 4. NY DMV: File a Motorist Crash Report (MV-104) 5. NY DMV: Order and Access Motor Vehicle Crash Reports (MV-198C, fees, timelines) 6. NYPD Collision Report Retrieval Portal 7. NYC 311: Vehicle Accident Report (precinct request process)

Contact The Orlow Firm

Getting your accident police report is step one. Understanding how it affects your personal injury claim, and knowing what to do if it contains errors, is where an experienced attorney makes a real difference. If you were injured in a New York City car accident and have questions about your police report, The Orlow Firm is here to help.

Call (646) 647-3398 for a free consultation. We have served injured New Yorkers in Queens and across NYC for over 40 years, and we work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win.

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