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Yes, if the crash happened in New York and someone was hurt or killed, or if any one person's property had more than $1,000 of damage. Your own car counts. You must send the MV-104 crash report to NY DMV within 10 days, online or by mail. After that, the TLC vehicle owner must send TLC a copy within 10 days of the DMV due date. If you don't own the car, that means passing your copy to the owner.
Below: the exact triggers, the two deadlines, and the reports people often mistake for the MV-104.
When you must file
The MV-104 form says: "You must report within 10 days any crash occurring in New York State causing a fatality, personal injury or damage over $1,000 to the property of any one person" (NY DMV, MV-104). DMV's crash-report page adds that the $1,000 is for one person's property "including yourself" (NY DMV).
The question is the amount of damage, not who was at fault. A small bumper hit can still go over $1,000 on one car. If you can't tell, get a repair estimate early. You only have 10 days.
Two deadlines: yours and the owner's
The crash deadline planner works out these dates from your crash date, together with the workers' comp deadlines.
How to file
DMV gives two ways (NY DMV):
- Online: the Online Motorist Crash Report Portal. You sign in with a NY.gov ID or create one.
- By mail: fill in the MV-104 and mail it to the Crash Records Center, 6 Empire State Plaza, PO Box 2925, Albany, NY 12220-0925 (the address printed on page 2 of the form).
You must sign the form. It says a report "is not considered complete and filed unless it is signed", and an unsigned report may lead to suspension of your driver's license. Keep a copy, or a screenshot of the online confirmation. The vehicle owner will need it.
Your insurance claim is not the DMV report
After a crash in a TLC car you may report to several places: the vehicle owner, the insurance company, the app or base, and the Black Car Fund if you were hurt. None of these is the MV-104. The duty to file comes from Vehicle and Traffic Law §605 and applies to the driver.
The owner's duties are in TLC rules §58-13(e) for taxis (Chapter 58) and §59A-12(d) for for-hire vehicles (Chapter 59). Each says the owner must report to the carrier "immediately … in writing" ($500–$1,000) and must report to TLC every collision that §605 says must go to DMV. If you lease or rent the car, the owner is the fleet, garage or rental company, so tell them the same day. Not telling the owner is a separate driver summons under §80-13(a)(5).
What to do next
- Write down the crash date and count 10 days. Put the date in your phone.
- Collect what the form asks for: the other driver's license and insurance details, plate numbers, the location and the time.
- In a taxi or green cab, ask for the in-car camera video soon. See how to get taxi camera footage. The system only has to keep images for 30 days.
- File the MV-104 and send a copy to the vehicle owner.
- If someone was critically injured or killed, read the serious-crash rules. TLC can suspend your license during its review.
The full crash sequence, including what to say at the scene, is in the TLC accident reporting guide. The penalty for leaving without exchanging information is on the 80-13(a)(4) page. If you had been drinking that day, read how long after drinking you can drive a TLC car before you give any statement, and talk to a lawyer. More safety topics are on the safety hub.
Frequently asked questions
Does damage to my own car count toward the $1,000?
Yes. NY DMV says the $1,000 threshold is damage to the property of any one person, including yourself. If your TLC car alone needs more than $1,000 of repairs, you must file.
I told my insurance company and the app. Is that enough?
No. Those are separate reports. The MV-104 goes to NY DMV, and the law that requires it (Vehicle and Traffic Law §605) is a duty on each driver involved.
What happens if I file late?
The MV-104 form says failing to report within 10 days is a misdemeanor, and your license and/or registration may be suspended until a report is filed. If you are late, file as soon as you can.
Does TLC need a copy of my MV-104?
The vehicle owner must send TLC a copy within 10 days of the date the DMV report was due (§58-13(e)(2) for taxis, §59A-12(d)(2) for for-hire vehicles). If you don't own the car, give the owner a copy so they can do this.
Do I file if the crash happened in New Jersey?
Not the MV-104. The form tells you to stop if the crash did not happen in New York State. Follow the rules of the state where it happened.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- NY DMV: File a Motorist Crash Report (read 2026-10-12) dmv.ny.gov
- NY DMV: Form MV-104, Report of Motor Vehicle Crash (version 5/25) dmv.ny.gov
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 58 (updated Feb 27, 2026), §58-13(e) nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 59 (updated Feb 27, 2026), §59A-12(d) nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 80 (Drivers), §80-13(a)(4)–(5) nyc.gov
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the official source.
TLC Help is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission or OATH. Explanations on this site are general information, not legal advice. Legal representation is provided by independent attorneys and OATH-registered representatives in our network.