MV-198C

The New York State DMV form MV-198C, titled Request for Copy of Crash Report, is the official document used by individuals and organizations to obtain paper copies of accident records. This form is primarily required for crashes involving e-bikes or e-scooters, or incidents where no injuries occurred and property damage was under $1,000, as these specific reports are generally unavailable through the DMV's standard online portal. It is also the necessary method for requesting any accident report once it has been transferred from a local police precinct to the DMV, which typically occurs 30 days after the incident.

To process a request, applicants must provide their personal information, a copy of a valid government-issued ID, and specific crash details such as the date, location, and the names of parties involved. The submission requires a non-refundable $10 search fee plus a $15 fee for each report requested. Under the Federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), requesters must certify they have a permissible use for the data, such as for legal proceedings, insurance claims, or government functions. Once mailed to the MV-198C Processing unit in Albany, the DMV typically requires at least five business days to process the request, though the availability of the report itself depends on whether it was filed electronically or via paper by the investigating agency.