How to Get a Stolen Car or Motorcycle Report

If you’re looking for how to get a copy of a stolen car or motorcycle report, you can thank Melvin, who found our page How to Get a Copy of a Police Report for car and motorcycle accidents.

I added this page about how to get a copy of a stolen car or motorcycle report when Melvin wrote, “My motorcycle was stolen, NYPD came to the scene, and I made, and I filed a report then I obtained a report number now how do I get a copy of that report?”

Note: This article shows how you can get a copy of a stolen car or motorcycle report in New York. We cannot help you unless you are injured in an accident. If you were injured in an accident, we can get a copy of a stolen car or motorcycle report for you. If you we not injured, but have a question, leave a comment below.

NYPD will file a police report or police accident report when there is an accident, but when a car or motorcycle is stolen, NYPD will file a report called a Crime/Lost Property report for a stolen car or motorcycle.

How to Get a Copy of a Stolen Car or Motorcycle Report in NYC From NYPD

If your car or motorcycle was stolen in NYC and you need a copy of the police report to verify that you reported your car or motorcycle stolen, you can get a Verification of Crime/Lost Property report from the NYPD Criminal Records Section.

A stolen vehicle report (Verification of Crime/Lost Property) request form can be obtained from any NYPD precinct. You can also download a stolen vehicle report request form here.

If you are the Complainant/Victim (usually the owner of the car or motorcycle): You only need to fill out the first page of the Verification of Crime/Lost Property form.

If you are an authorized representative: You must also complete the second page of the  Verification of Crime/Lost Property form and have your signature notarized.

You must mail the completed Verification of Crime/Lost Property form to NYPD. Reports will be sent to you only by mail and cannot be picked up at Police Headquarters.

What you need to mail:

• The completed form
• Two copies of the completed form, and
• A self-addressed stamped envelope

Where to mail the completed form:

NYPD Criminal Records Section
Verification of Crime/Lost Property Records
375 Pearl Street
Suite 4, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10038

How to Find Out if a Car or Motorcycle Was Reported Stolen

The National Crime Information Bureau (NICB) has a free online service called VINCheck.

VINCheck is a free lookup tool available to the public to find out if a vehicle may have been reported stolen and has not been recovered or has ever been reported as a salvage vehicle by participating NICB member insurance companies.

To look up a vehicle, you must enter a vehicle identification number (VIN). You can manually enter a VIN or take a photo of a VIN to upload into VINCheck.

How to Report a Stolen Vehicle

If your vehicle was stolen, report it to the police and your auto insurance company as soon as possible.

You can report a stolen vehicle online to NYPD if the theft occurred within the five boroughs of New York City (Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, or Staten Island) and certain other conditions exist (see below).

The New York Police Department will enter the information into NCIC and state auto theft computer records. The theft will be noted on your vehicle title record to help prevent someone from selling the stolen vehicle or applying for a new title.

What Is Required to File an Online Theft Report?

• The incident occurred within the five boroughs of New York City (Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, or Staten Island).
• You must have a valid email address.
• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You are the owner or the owner’s parent/guardian or employer/employee.
• You do not know who committed the crime.
• The crime was not captured on video.
• Note: The NYPD Online Reporting Service does not accept reports of lost or stolen vehicle license plates.

How to Report a Recovered Vehicle

If your vehicle is recovered after being stolen, make sure the police cancel the stolen vehicle alarm so the recovery will be listed on your title record. Do not use the vehicle or apply for plates/registration until you are sure the alarm has been canceled. Keep a receipt with you for at least 90 days showing that the stolen vehicle alarm was canceled.

If your NYS license plates are recovered with your vehicle, and you filed form MV-78B, bring the license plates and your copy of the MV-78B to an NYS DMV office to surrender them and apply for new plates to reinstate your registration.

If the vehicle and plates are recovered before you file form MV-78B, and the stolen vehicle alarm has been canceled, your registration is still active, and you may continue using the registration.

If the plates are missing, bring your copy of form MV-78B to a DMV office, apply for new plates, and reinstate your registration.

When a Vehicle is Stolen, But the Title Was Not Issued Yet

If the vehicle was stolen before you could apply for a registration and title in your name, and you have insurance coverage for theft, you must first apply for a title in your name to transfer ownership to your insurance company.

You must obtain a letter from your insurance company on their letterhead stating that proof of ownership is required for insurance transfer only.

Submit the letter with your Application for Title [Only] (MV-82TON), along with Proof of Sales Tax (FS-6T) and Title Fee. DMV will issue a New York State Title in your name branded “Stolen Vehicle Insurance Transfer Only.” This title is an ownership document that can be transferred to your insurance company. See Apply for a Title Certificate Only.

How Can I Report Stolen License Plates?

See what to do if one or both of your license plates were stolen.

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