After a crash in Buffalo, you’ll likely need the police report for your insurance claim, and you may owe the DMV a report of your own.
Your MV-104
New York Vehicle and Traffic Law 605 requires every driver in a crash to file an MV-104 with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was killed or hurt, or if damage to any one person’s property is over $1,000. File online through the DMV’s crash report page or by mail. Not filing is a misdemeanor and can lead to a suspension.
Buffalo Police reports
Buffalo Police Headquarters
68 Court Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
Headquarters (716) 851-4444
Accident Investigation Unit (716) 851-4537
Call ahead to ask about the request process and fee. Bring ID, the date and location, the names involved and any report number.
DMV copies
The DMV keeps police and motorist reports for four years. Per its crash report ordering page, ordering costs a $7 search fee plus $15 per report online, or a $10 search fee plus $15 per report by mail with form MV-198C. Paper police reports take at least 30 days to show up in the DMV system, and motorist reports at least 60.
Other agencies
- State Police Troop T for the Thruway and the 190.
- Erie County Sheriff for some areas outside city limits.
- Town and village police, like Amherst, Cheektowaga, Tonawanda and Hamburg.
- NFTA Transit Police for Metro bus and rail incidents.
Each has its own request process, and the DMV route works for all of them.
Hit-and-run
Tell police about a hit-and-run within 24 hours to protect claims through MVAIC or your own uninsured motorist coverage.
More detail is in our crash report guide.