Lost Something in NYC? Subway, Bus, Taxi and Lost Property Guide
The fastest way to recover a lost item in New York depends on where you lost it. Subway and bus items go through MTA Lost & Found. Yellow and green taxi items are handled through the taxi owner/company, TLC and NYC311. If you need a formal record of lost property, NYPD also has a verification process. Start with the system that actually controlled the place or vehicle where the item disappeared.
File an official lost-and-found claim and follow MTA instructions for recently lost items.
Contact the vehicle owner or app/company first, then use NYC311/TLC if needed.
A verification report can document a previously reported lost-property incident.
Where to report a lost item in NYC
| Where it was lost | First official route | Best information to have |
|---|---|---|
| Subway / bus / Staten Island Railway | MTA Lost & Found | Route, station, direction, time and detailed item description |
| Yellow or green taxi | Taxi owner/company, then TLC or NYC311 | Medallion/license number, receipt, pickup/drop-off and trip time |
| App-based car service | The ride company or app | Trip record, driver/vehicle details and item description |
| Station, hotel, museum or venue | The location’s own security or lost-and-found office | Exact location, time and a specific description |
| Formal proof of a reported loss | NYPD verification process | Information from the original lost-property report |
If the item was stolen rather than misplaced, use the appropriate police reporting route. Immediate danger or a crime in progress belongs with 911.
If you lost the item on the subway, bus or Staten Island Railway
Use New York City Transit Lost & Found. MTA accepts lost-and-found claims online 24 hours a day and also provides phone support through 511.
MTA notes that recently lost items do not reach the central Lost & Found immediately, so follow its step-by-step guidance before assuming the item has already arrived at the office.
Include route, direction, station, vehicle or bus details, approximate time and a very specific description. The more precise the trip details, the easier it is to match an item.
If you left something in a yellow or green taxi
TLC says the quickest route is often contacting the vehicle owner or company directly. A taxi receipt can provide the medallion or license number needed to identify the vehicle.
If you do not know the taxi number or cannot reach the owner, NYC311 and TLC provide a lost-property inquiry process using details such as pickup and drop-off locations, trip time, driver information, payment method and the item description.
If the ride was booked through an app or car-service company
TLC recommends contacting the company that provided the ride when you booked through a smartphone app or car-service base. The trip record in the app is often the fastest way to identify the exact vehicle and driver.
Keep the trip receipt, app record and any vehicle or driver details until the item is recovered.
If you lost something in a station, hotel, venue or other building
Contact the location directly first. Major transportation hubs, hotels, museums, arenas and other large facilities commonly operate their own lost-and-found or security process.
If you cannot identify the correct office, NYC311 can help route non-emergency City questions, but privately operated venues may require contacting the operator itself.
When a police lost-property record may matter
NYPD provides a Verification of Crime/Lost Property process for incidents that have already been reported. This verification is not the same thing as a full complaint report, but it can document the reported incident.
If the property was stolen rather than simply misplaced, use the appropriate police reporting route. If a theft is happening now or anyone is in immediate danger, call 911.
What information to collect immediately
- Exact or approximate time you last had the item
- Subway line, bus route, station, taxi medallion or app trip record
- Pickup and drop-off locations if a vehicle was involved
- A detailed description including brand, color, case and unique marks
- Serial numbers or device identifiers when available
- Receipt, fare record or payment information that can identify the trip