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How to Get a New York Crash Report

Buy a New York crash report from the DMV online or by mail, or ask the local police. See the fees, when reports are ready, and the MV-104 report you may need to file.

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Updated Oct 6, 202629 sources

This may apply to you if

  • Describe the crash, date, location and your role.
  • Bring injury, care, car damage and work-loss records you have.
  • Show policy papers, claim notices and any offer or signed agreement.

The short answer

How do I get a New York crash report online?
The New York State DMV sells crash reports online. You search for the report, pay, and download a certified copy. You need an NY.gov ID account. When you search, you must certify that you are legally allowed to get the report. [23]
When will my New York crash report be ready?
It depends on how the report was filed. A police report filed online in New York City reaches the DMV at least 14 days after the crash. A paper police report takes at least 30 days. [23]
Can I order a New York crash report by mail?
Yes. Use the DMV’s form MV-198C, Request for Copy of Crash Report. Attach a copy of a valid government ID. [23]
Who can get a New York crash report?
The DMV pages we read do not list who can buy a report. You must certify that you are legally allowed to get it, and pick a use the federal privacy law allows. [23]

What rules a case out

Not covered by this case

  • This page does not cover fees that New York City or other local police charge for their own copies.
  • It does not explain how to read a crash report.

The process

What happens next

  1. 01

    You answer a few questions

    About two minutes. Nothing is sent until you agree on the last step and press submit.

  2. 02

    A lawyer looks at it

    A lawyer at the firm reads your answers and checks them against the current case criteria.

  3. 03

    The firm decides and gets in touch

    If the firm takes your case, you get the terms in writing to read before you sign. You can always say no.

How do I get a New York crash report online?

The New York State DMV sells crash reports online. You search for the report, pay, and download a certified copy. You need an NY.gov ID account. When you search, you must certify that you are legally allowed to get the report.

Online, you pay a $7 search fee and a $15 report fee for each report.

Source: New York DMV: Order and access crash reports · as of Oct 5, 2026

You have 7 days to download a report you bought. After that, you must buy it again.

Crashes with no injury and no property damage over $1,000 cannot be bought through the online sales portal.

Source: New York DMV: Order and access crash reports · as of Oct 5, 2026

The same goes for crashes with an e-bike or e-scooter. You can still ask for these through the DMV’s Records Request Navigator, or by mail on form MV-198C.

When will my New York crash report be ready?

It depends on how the report was filed. A police report filed online in New York City reaches the DMV at least 14 days after the crash. A paper police report takes at least 30 days.

A report that a driver files on form MV-104 takes at least 60 days.

You can also order online through the DMV’s Records Request Navigator, where a DMV worker does the search. If the DMV cannot find the crash from the details you give, it will tell you by certified letter.

Can I order a New York crash report by mail?

Yes. Use the DMV’s form MV-198C, Request for Copy of Crash Report. Attach a copy of a valid government ID.

By mail, the fee is $15 for each report plus a $10 search fee that is not refunded.

Source: New York DMV form MV-198C · as of Oct 5, 2026

Pay by check or money order to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Do not send cash.

On the form, you pick the reasons you are allowed to get the report under a federal privacy law, the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act.

State law sets the $15 copy fee. It says copies are certified at no extra cost.

Source: New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 202 · as of Oct 5, 2026

Who can get a New York crash report?

The DMV pages we read do not list who can buy a report. You must certify that you are legally allowed to get it, and pick a use the federal privacy law allows.

Reports kept by the State Police or local police are open for inspection by anyone with an interest in the crash, or that person’s lawyer or agent. Police may set rules on when and how. They may hold back a report if release would hurt a criminal case.

The State Police charge $15 to search for a report and $15 more for a certified copy.

Source: New York Public Officers Law § 66-a · as of Oct 5, 2026

You can also call or visit the local police agency or precinct where the crash happened. Ask if your report is ready and what it costs.

Do I need to file my own report, the MV-104?

After some crashes, you must file a report with the DMV within 10 days. This is on top of any police report. A crash on your driving record does not mean you were at fault.

A driver must file if someone was killed or hurt, or if property damage to any one person was over $1,000.

Source: New York DMV form MV-104 · as of Oct 5, 2026

If someone was hurt or killed, the DMV says the law also requires you to tell the police right away.

Not filing is a misdemeanor. The DMV may suspend your license or registration until it gets the report. The report must be signed to count as filed.

You can file online through the DMV’s motorist crash report portal. Or fill out form MV-104 and mail it to the address on page two of the form. The DMV does not try to decide who was at fault.

What if I want to talk with a law firm about a New York crash?

You do not need a lawyer to buy a crash report or file an MV-104. You can use the steps above on your own.

Some people also want to ask a law firm about an injury from a crash in New York. People’s Justice is not a law firm. We do not review your crash or recommend a lawyer. If you want, you can use the form on this page to ask to be connected with a law firm that pays us to advertise.

Find out where you stand.

The review is free and private. Asking for it doesn’t commit you to anything.

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Sources

  1. NAIC: A Consumer’s Guide to Auto InsuranceNAIC: A Consumer’s Guide to Auto Insurance
  2. California Department of Insurance: automobile insuranceCalifornia Department of Insurance: automobile insurance · regulator
  3. California Department of Insurance: So You’ve Had an Accident, What’s Next?California Department of Insurance: So You’ve Had an Accident, What’s Next? · regulator
  4. California Courts: personal injury and property damageCalifornia Courts: personal injury and property damage · court
  5. California Courts: before you sue someoneCalifornia Courts: before you sue someone · court
  6. California Courts: statute of limitationsCalifornia Courts: statute of limitations · court
  7. New York Legislature: CPLR1411 damages and claimant faultNew York Legislature: CPLR1411 damages and claimant fault · regulator
  8. CDC: symptoms of mild TBI and concussionCDC: symptoms of mild TBI and concussion · regulator
  9. CDC: what to do after mild TBI or concussionCDC: what to do after mild TBI or concussion · regulator
  10. Nelson et al.: original TRACK-TBI recovery cohort, JAMA Neurology2019Nelson et al.: original TRACK-TBI recovery cohort, JAMA Neurology2019 · study
  11. ABA Model Rule1.5: feesABA Model Rule1.5: fees
  12. HHS: individual access to health informationHHS: individual access to health information · regulator
  13. NHTSA Opens Wave of Vehicle Safety Investigations in 2026nhtsa.gov · Mar 4, 2026 · regulator
  14. NHTSA Opens Multiple Vehicle Safety Investigations in Early 2026nhtsa.gov · Mar 4, 2026 · regulator
  15. NHTSA Opens Investigation into FSD Collisions in Reduced Visibility Conditionsnhtsa.gov · Mar 18, 2026 · regulator
  16. NHTSA Opens Multiple New Vehicle Safety Investigationsnhtsa.gov · Mar 18, 2026 · regulator
  17. NHTSA Opens Wave of Vehicle Safety Investigations in 2026nhtsa.gov · Jul 6, 2026 · regulator
  18. NHTSA Opens Nine New Vehicle Safety Investigationsnhtsa.gov · Jul 13, 2026 · regulator
  19. NHTSA Opens Multiple New Vehicle Safety Investigationsnhtsa.gov · Jul 13, 2026 · regulator
  20. NHTSA Opens New Investigations Into Brake and Engine Failuresnhtsa.gov · Aug 24, 2026 · regulator
  21. NHTSA Opens Several New Vehicle Safety Investigationsnhtsa.gov · Aug 24, 2026 · regulator
  22. NHTSA Opens Investigation Into FSD Collisions Amid Wave of 2026 Vehicle Safety Probesnhtsa.gov · Mar 18, 2026 · regulator
  23. New York DMV: Order and access crash reports
  24. New York DMV: File a motorist crash report
  25. New York DMV form MV-198CNew York DMV form MV-198C · regulator
  26. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 202New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 202 · regulator
  27. New York Public Officers Law § 66-aNew York Public Officers Law § 66-a · regulator
  28. New York DMV form MV-104New York DMV form MV-104 · regulator
  29. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 605New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 605 · regulator

Checked against 27 primary sources by People's Justice editors · Updated

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People's Justice research team · Updated Oct 6, 2026