Best Car Insurance in New York
Last Updated on January 1, 2026
New York car insurance can be pricey—especially in and around New York City. Based on recent rate analysis from Bankrate, drivers in New York pay about $341 per month for full coverage and $148 per month for state-minimum coverage on average (your price will vary by ZIP code, driving history, vehicle, and insurer). For context, the national average is about $225 per month for full coverage.
The good news: New York is a state where shopping around really pays off. Rates can swing dramatically from one company to another—especially if you’re in New York City, on Long Island, or you have any recent tickets or claims.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- New York Rates Run High: Recent pricing data puts New York well above the national average, especially in the NYC metro area.
- Minimum Coverage Includes No-Fault: New York requires liability coverage, uninsured motorists protection, and $50,000 in PIP (no-fault) coverage.
- Compare Quotes With Matching Coverage: Prices vary widely by company—so compare multiple insurers using the same limits, deductibles, and coverages.
- Uninsured Driving Penalties Are Severe: Insurance lapses and uninsured driving can trigger major fines and license/registration consequences, so keep coverage continuous.
- Average Cost of Car Insurance in New York
- Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies in New York
- New York Minimum Car Insurance Requirements
- How New York No-Fault Insurance Works
- How To Find the Best Car Insurance in New York
- Cheapest Cars to Insure in New York
- Driving Without Insurance in New York
- Car Insurance in New York After a DUI
- Car Insurance in New York With At-Fault Accidents or Tickets
- Car Insurance in New York With Poor Credit
- SR-22 and FR-44 Insurance in New York
- Can’t Get Coverage? Consider NYAIP
- FAQs on Car Insurance in New York
- Conclusion: How To Get the Best Car Insurance in New York
Average Cost of Car Insurance in New York
New York’s average premium depends heavily on where you live. Dense traffic, higher repair costs, and higher medical costs can all push premiums up. Your price can also change a lot depending on whether you buy minimum coverage or a more protective full coverage policy.
- Full coverage: Often includes higher liability limits plus collision and comprehensive coverage (common for financed/leased vehicles).
- Minimum coverage: Meets the legal minimums but usually won’t pay to repair your own car after many types of claims. If you’re unsure what you’re buying, this guide explains liability vs. full coverage in plain English.
Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies in New York
There’s no single “best” car insurance company for every New Yorker. The best option depends on what you value most—lowest price, best claims experience, local agents, specialized coverage, or flexibility after an incident.
| Insurance Company | Why It’s Often a Good Fit in New York |
|---|---|
| USAA | Excellent value if you qualify (military families); often highly competitive pricing and strong service. |
| GEICO | Frequently competitive rates; strong online tools and quick quote comparisons. |
| State Farm | Large agent network and lots of bundling/discount options; strong for drivers who prefer an agent. |
| Allstate | Good bundling potential and a wide range of add-ons; strong local agent presence. |
| Travelers | Solid coverage options and endorsements; often a good fit for drivers who want customizable protection. |
| Progressive | Often competitive for drivers who want flexible pricing, online quoting, and usage-based options. |
| Liberty Mutual | Flexible coverage options and bundles; can be a good fit depending on discounts. |
| New York Central Mutual (NYCM) | New York-focused carrier sold via agents; can be strong value in many upstate/suburban areas. |
| Utica National | Regional carrier with a strong NY presence through agents; sometimes very competitive for “standard” drivers. |
| The Hartford | Known for strong service; often popular through affinity programs like AARP. |
Want to learn more about specific carriers? Here are deeper dives into a few popular options:
- USAA pricing details: average car insurance premiums
- GEICO pricing/marketing reality check: can you really save 15% by switching?
- Regional NY option: New York Central Mutual (NYCM) review
- Coverage-focused national carrier: Travelers auto insurance review
- Service-focused carrier: Is The Hartford good for auto insurance?
New York Minimum Car Insurance Requirements
New York requires drivers to carry specific coverages to legally drive and keep a vehicle registered. According to the New York Department of Financial Services, the minimum required coverages include liability, uninsured motorists protection, and personal injury protection (PIP/no-fault). You can see the state’s official summary at DFS.
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident (two or more people)
- $10,000 property damage liability per accident
- $25,000/$50,000 uninsured motorists bodily injury (same minimums as bodily injury liability)
- $50,000 personal injury protection (PIP / no-fault)
New York’s DMV also publishes insurance and registration rules here: New York State Insurance Requirements.
New update many drivers miss: New York has rules around supplemental spousal liability coverage (and how it can be declined). If you want the official DFS explanation, see DFS guidance on Supplemental Spousal Liability.
How New York No-Fault Insurance Works
New York is a no-fault state, which is one reason coverage can be more expensive than you’d expect. In no-fault states, certain injury-related claims are routed through your own policy first—regardless of who caused the crash. That’s why New York requires personal injury protection (PIP).
PIP generally helps pay for things like medical bills after an accident and lost wages (up to policy limits), and it may include benefits such as accidental death coverage depending on your policy structure.
If you’re curious how no-fault compares to other systems—and why it can impact pricing—this guide explains why insurance can be more expensive in no-fault states. If you just want the simple answer for New York specifically, start here: is New York a no-fault state?
How To Find the Best Car Insurance in New York
Because New York premiums are heavily influenced by ZIP code, insurer appetite, and your personal profile, the smartest way to find the “best” company is to compare quotes with the same coverages and then verify the details.
- Compare apples to apples. Match liability limits, deductibles, and optional coverages across quotes. If you’re not sure where to start, learn what minimum coverage really includes versus what most people mean by full coverage.
- Prioritize the coverages that matter in New York. PIP/no-fault and uninsured motorist protection matter a lot here. If you need a refresher on what UM does, read do you need uninsured motorist coverage?
- Ask about discounts the insurer actually applies. Good student, multi-policy bundling, telematics/usage-based programs, paid-in-full, and defensive driving can all move the needle—sometimes more than you’d expect.
- Keep your record clean when possible. Even one incident can cause a meaningful increase. If you want practical ways to protect your pricing long-term, start with a clean driving record strategy.
- Review your policy once a year. New York pricing shifts over time. If you’re trying to understand why your premium jumped, this breakdown on why insurance rates rise in New York can help you spot the most common causes.
Cheapest Cars to Insure in New York
Your vehicle can push your premium up or down—sometimes by a lot. Even within the same brand, the trim level and repair costs matter. If you want to understand what insurers look at when rating vehicles, here’s a quick explainer on the difference between car make and model.
Instead of chasing a “magic list” of cheapest cars (which changes constantly by ZIP code and driver profile), focus on vehicles that tend to be cheaper to insure because they’re common, reasonably priced to repair, and have strong safety features.
| Vehicle Type | Common Examples | Why It’s Often Cheaper To Insure |
|---|---|---|
| Small/compact sedans | Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra | Parts availability, repairability, and lower claim severity compared to luxury/performance models |
| Midsize sedans | Toyota Camry, Honda Accord | Strong safety ratings and broad parts networks |
| Mainstream small SUVs | Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 | Good safety tech and predictable repair patterns (varies by model year) |
| Minivans/family vehicles | Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna | Lower risk profile for many drivers and strong safety features |
| Older, paid-off vehicles (select cases) | Well-maintained vehicles with lower market value | You may be able to skip optional physical-damage coverage if it no longer makes financial sense |
Tip: In New York, theft rates and parking environment can matter. If you street-park in a high-theft area, comprehensive coverage (and your deductible choice) can have an outsized impact.
Driving Without Insurance in New York
New York does not treat uninsured driving lightly. Even a short lapse can cause major headaches, and if you’re driving uninsured you can face license and registration consequences—not just a ticket.
If you’re trying to avoid a gap (or you already had one), read this first: how long can you be without car insurance?
According to the New York DMV, operating a vehicle without insurance can lead to arrest or ticketing, impoundment, and revocation of your license and registration. If you’re in a crash while uninsured, the DMV says revocation can be for at least one year, and the court fine can be as high as $1,500—plus a $750 DMV civil penalty to restore a revoked license. See the DMV’s official page on insurance lapses and uninsured driving penalties.
Also keep in mind: being “insured” isn’t enough if you can’t prove it. Here’s what to expect if you’re pulled over without documentation: how much is a ticket for no proof of insurance?
Car Insurance in New York After a DUI
After a DUI/DWI in New York, you’ll usually see higher premiums, fewer insurer options, and stricter underwriting. The state also has serious criminal and administrative penalties for alcohol- or drug-related driving offenses. The New York DMV maintains an overview of consequences here: penalties for alcohol- or drug-related violations.
Insurers don’t rely on guesswork—most violations are discoverable through standard underwriting tools. If you’re wondering how carriers verify convictions, start here: how insurance companies find out about a DUI.
Best move after a DUI: Get multiple quotes, consider increasing deductibles if you can afford them, and be consistent about continuous coverage (lapses usually make rates worse).
Car Insurance in New York With At-Fault Accidents or Tickets
New York being no-fault does not mean accidents “don’t count.” If you’re responsible for a crash, your insurer can still surcharge your policy at renewal. Different companies penalize accidents differently, which is why shopping around matters even more after an incident.
If you’re trying to understand what happens next, this guide breaks it down: what happens with insurance if you are at fault in an accident.
Car Insurance in New York With Poor Credit
In states where it’s allowed, insurers often use credit-based insurance scoring as one of many pricing factors. If your premium seems out of line with your driving record, credit may be part of the reason. This explainer covers the basics: does credit score affect your car insurance rates?
If you’re working on lowering costs, focus on the factors you can control: compare quotes, adjust deductibles, verify discounts, and keep continuous coverage.
SR-22 and FR-44 Insurance in New York
New York is different from many states because it typically does not use SR-22 or FR-44 filings as part of the license reinstatement process. If you’ve heard those terms from friends in other states, here’s what they mean generally: SR-22 insurance and FR-44 policies.
Even without SR-22/FR-44, New York still enforces uninsured driving and insurance lapse penalties aggressively—so keeping your policy active (or properly surrendering plates if you cancel) is essential.
Can’t Get Coverage? Consider NYAIP
If you’ve been declined by multiple insurers, you may still have options. New York’s assigned risk mechanism can help drivers obtain legally required coverage through the New York Automobile Insurance Plan (NYAIP). You can also find official plan information at AIPSO’s NY plan site.
FAQs on Car Insurance in New York
Conclusion: How To Get the Best Car Insurance in New York
New York’s required coverages (especially no-fault/PIP) and location-based risk make pricing more expensive than many drivers expect—but you can still find good value. Compare quotes from multiple companies, keep coverage continuous, and make sure you’re comparing the same limits and deductibles every time.
