How to Order a Motor Vehicle Accident Report in New York

If you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident in New York, you’ll want to make sure to obtain an official copy of the accident report that was filed with the state. This report will be essential when dealing with your own insurance company for repairs after the crash, and will be vital to your injury attorney should you need to pursue an injury claim against another driver.

It is a good idea to get a copy of your report as soon as possible after a crash, because the Department of Motorized Vehicles (DMV) will only keep accident reports for four years from the date of the accident (except under rare circumstances).

You have two options for obtaining a copy of your report. You can do so by mail or online, and we’ve provided the steps below:

Ordering Your Accident Report By Mail

To get a copy of your report sent to you by mail, download and fill out the Request for Copy of Accident Report form.

You’ll be asked to provide information including the date of the collision and the county in which it occurred. You’ll also need to provide at least one of the following pieces of information:

• The other person’s drivers’ license information
• The license plate of the other vehicle(s) involved
• The other driver’s name, phone number, and date of birth

Ordering Your Accident Report Online

Online accident reports will be delivered in PDF form, and can be requested at Order and Access Motor Vehicle Accident Reports online. To get the copy online you’ll need:

• The other person’s driver’s license info
• The license plate of the other vehicles involved
• The DMV case number, which will be an 8-digit number starting with the number 3

If the responding officer filed the report electronically in one of the five boroughs of New York City, it will typically take at least 14 days for your report to be available. If the report was filed in paper form, it will take at least 30 days from the date of the accident. If another motorist filed the report, it will take at least 60 days (regardless of where in the state the crash occurred) for the report to be available.

How Much Will It Cost?

Ordering a copy of your report by mail will cost $10.00 (a search fee) and an additional $15.00 per report that you request. Ordering it online is cheaper, and only costs $7.00.

Were You Injured in a Crash? Call Finz & Finz, P.C.

If you were hurt in a collision in New York, be sure to obtain a copy of your accident report as soon as possible and discuss your case with an experienced attorney at Finz & Finz, P.C. Our car accident attorneys will help you understand your rights and will be ready to fight for you. Don’t let someone else’s negligence cost you everything. Call us and let us help you get the compensation you are owed. We can be reached at 1-855-TOP-FIRM or online, so schedule a free consultation with us today.