New Mexico · Reporting a crash · Updated Oct 2026
Reporting a car accident in New Mexico: police, state report and crash report copies
When to call the police or file your own report, and how to get the crash report.
Short answer
Call 911 if anyone is hurt. If anyone is hurt or killed or total property damage looks like $500 or more, the driver must send a written crash report to the New Mexico Department of Transportation within 5 days.
- Damage that requires a report
- $500
- Your own report is due within
- 5 days
- Crash report copies
- Can be ordered online (see below)
- Law
- NMSA 1978, § 66-7-207
When to call the police in New Mexico
Always stop and help anyone who is hurt. Leaving the scene of a crash is a crime in every state.
- When to call the police
- Call 911 if anyone is hurt.
- Damage amount
- $500
- Law
- NMSA 1978, § 66-7-207 (text as quoted in 2024 HB 186, which died)
- Official text
- Read the official text
Your own report to the state in New Mexico
- Your own report
- If anyone is hurt or killed or total property damage looks like $500 or more, the driver must send a written crash report to the New Mexico Department of Transportation within 5 days. (Bills to raise the threshold to $1,000 died in 2023 and 2024.)
- Deadline for your report
- 5 days
How to get a copy of the crash report in New Mexico
- For crashes handled by New Mexico State Police, request the report from the Department of Public Safety Law Enforcement Records Bureau, by written or oral request or through the GovQA public records portal (no fee for records sent electronically through GovQA).
- For crashes handled by city police or a sheriff, ask that agency. https://www.dps.nm.gov/law-enforcement-records-bureau/
New Mexico has an online way to get at least some crash reports. Reports written by a city police department or sheriff may have to be requested from that agency; our free request letter can help.
More facts for New Mexico
- The written crash report goes to the Department of Transportation, not the MVD (NMSA § 66-7-207).
Step by step after a crash in New Mexico
- Stop, help anyone who is hurt and call 911 if needed. Leaving the scene of a crash is a crime.
- Call the police when New Mexico law requires it. Call 911 if anyone is hurt.
- File your own report if the rule applies to you. If anyone is hurt or killed or total property damage looks like $500 or more, the driver must send a written crash report to the New Mexico Department of Transportation within 5 days.
- Exchange names, licenses, plates and insurance details, and take photos.
- Get a copy of the crash report. For crashes handled by New Mexico State Police, request the report from the Department of Public Safety Law Enforcement Records Bureau, by written or oral request or through the GovQA public records portal (no fee for records sent electronically through GovQA).
- Tell your insurer and keep the report or case number.
Free help in New Mexico
Questions about reporting a crash in New Mexico
When do you have to call the police after a car accident in New Mexico?
Call 911 if anyone is hurt.
How much damage has to be reported in New Mexico?
If anyone is hurt or killed or total property damage looks like $500 or more, the driver must send a written crash report to the New Mexico Department of Transportation within 5 days. (Bills to raise the threshold to $1,000 died in 2023 and 2024.)
Do I have to file my own accident report in New Mexico?
If anyone is hurt or killed or total property damage looks like $500 or more, the driver must send a written crash report to the New Mexico Department of Transportation within 5 days. (Bills to raise the threshold to $1,000 died in 2023 and 2024.)
How do I get a copy of a crash report in New Mexico?
For crashes handled by New Mexico State Police, request the report from the Department of Public Safety Law Enforcement Records Bureau, by written or oral request or through the GovQA public records portal (no fee for records sent electronically through GovQA). For crashes handled by city police or a sheriff, ask that agency. https://www.dps.nm.gov/law-enforcement-records-bureau/
What is the deadline for an accident report in New Mexico?
If anyone is hurt or killed or total property damage looks like $500 or more, the driver must send a written crash report to the New Mexico Department of Transportation within 5 days.
More for New Mexico drivers
- All car accident rules in New Mexico
- Comparative fault
- Uninsured driver
- Deadline to sue
- Accident reporting requirements in every state
- What to do after a car accident
- Fault and payout explainer
- Deadline calculator
- Insurance claim letter
- Police report request letter
Nearby states
- NMSA 1978, § 66-7-207 (text as quoted in 2024 HB 186, which died)
- NM Legislature: HB 186 (2024) status
- NM Legislature: SB 319 (2025) text of § 66-5-301
- NM Legislature: SB 319 (2025) status
- Scott v. Rizzo, 1981-NMSC-021
- NM MVD: Insurance
- NM DPS: Law Enforcement Records Bureau
- NM Legislature: 2025 SB 221 (text of § 59A-16-20)
- NM Legislature: 2012 SB 324 committee substitute (text of § 37-1-8)
- NM Legislative Council Service: 2026 Table of Changes to NMSA
- NM Legislative Council Service: 2025 Table of Changes to NMSA
- NM Legislative Council Service: 2024 Table of Changes to NMSA
Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.