Cheap Auto Insurance in New York (2023)

New York drivers pay some of the highest premiums for auto insurance in the country, with an average rate of $569 per month. The good news is cheap car insurance in the Empire State still exists. As long as you shop around and compare quotes online, you can land a good deal on an auto policy. Simply provide your ZIP code, driving record details, vehicle information, and more.

Best cheap car insurance in New York: Travelers 

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Travelers

Best Cheap Car Insurance New York

Many car insurance companies in New York offer affordable premiums. Travelers and Nationwide, for example, offer average monthly rates as low as $192 and $327, respectively. American Family also has cheaper-than-average premiums at $428 per month. The table below shows the average monthly quotes from the leading auto insurers in the state.

Learn More: Best Car Insurance Companies

Minimum car insurance requirements in New York

New York requires all motor vehicles operated or parked on its roadways to be insured. You must carry proof of insurance in your car at all times and have it available when:

• Requested by law enforcement

• Renewing vehicle registration

• The vehicle is involved in a car accident

The minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in New York are:^[1]

• $25,000 per person for bodily injury

• $50,000 per accident for bodily injury

As a major part of your liability insurance, bodily injury coverage covers medical bills for people other than the policyholder who are injured during an accident. New York is a no-fault state, meaning both parties’ insurance providers will pay for expenses, regardless of which party caused the accident.

• $10,000 per accident for property damage

If it’s determined that an insured driver is at fault for an accident, this coverage pays for repairs to the property of the other involved parties. Additionally, property damage coverage can cover legal costs if the insured driver is involved in a lawsuit following the accident. 

• $50,000 per accident for PIP

Personal injury protection coverage, also referred to as PIP coverage, will cover the policyholder for medical payments they incur in the event of an accident. Depending on your plan, you may also receive non-medical benefits, compensating you for lost wages, household expenses, and even funeral costs.

• $25,000 per person for uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury

• $50,000 per accident for uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays for costs caused by a driver with little or no insurance after a car accident. In New York, this coverage is for bodily injury resulting from accidents with either type of driver. 

New York DMV information

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles oversees the DMVs in the state. Fortunately, you can complete many services online, such as renewing your registration, replacing your lost driver’s license, applying for your learner’s permit, and restoring your license after revocation. If you prefer in-person service, you can make a reservation at a local DMV office in your county.^[2]

Public transportation in New York

New York offers a comprehensive public transportation network that makes it easy to get around without a car. NYC’s rail and bus system is run by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and known as MTA New York City Transit. It operates around the clock and can get you to and from the five boroughs.^[3] 

Subways, public buses, and taxis also operate throughout the state. And don’t forget the NYC Ferry, Staten Island Ferry, and NY Waterway. Keep in mind that if you do choose to drive in New York, you’ll need car insurance.

Tips for getting cheap car insurance in New York 

When determining premiums in New York, auto insurance companies consider a lot of information, such as your age, credit score, and driving record. Since each insurance company has different views on these risk factors, it’s well worth it to shop around and compare quotes. This can help you can hone in on the cheapest policy for your unique situation. 

You may also qualify for certain discounts, such as:

• Bundling your home and auto insurance with the same company

• Good student discount

• Loyalty discount

• Safe driver discount

• Paying in full, rather than monthly

Liability-only vs. full-coverage insurance in New York

If you live in New York, you can opt to carry liability-only auto insurance, which pays for expenses related to injuries and damage to the other party’s car if you cause an accident. Each state sets its own minimums for how much liability insurance it requires drivers to carry. Liability-only insurance can make sense if:

• You have a low-value vehicle.

• You can afford to repair or replace your car out of your own pocket.

• Getting the cheapest insurance possible is your top priority.

For a higher level of protection, you can choose full-coverage insurance, which includes basic liability plus collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage pays for damages to your car, even if you’re at fault for an accident. Comprehensive coverage pays for damages caused by events out of your control, like vandalism, weather, and animals. Auto lenders and leasing companies typically require drivers to carry full coverage on a car they’ve financed.

You may also opt for full coverage if:

• You have a high-value vehicle.

• You wouldn’t be able to afford to repair or replace your car out of pocket.

• Your car’s actual cash value (the payout you’d likely get if your car is totaled) exceeds your annual premium to carry full coverage.

Here’s a look at the average monthly quotes for the cheapest auto insurance in New York by policy type.

How your driving history affects your New York car insurance rates

When insurance companies determine premiums for New York drivers, they typically consider driving and accident history. Those with infractions — like an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, or DUI — will likely pay more expensive auto insurance rates than drivers with clean records. Fortunately, drivers with mistakes can still lock in reasonable premiums. 

See More: High-Risk Car Insurance New York

SR-22 insurance in New York

SR-22 insurance is not required in New York, like it is in many other states, to reinstate your driver’s license after a serious traffic violation, like a DUI or reckless driving. But you’ll still need to meet the minimum auto insurance requirements in the state to drive legally. If you shop around, you can find a good deal on an auto policy, even with a mistake on your record.

How credit scores affect New York car insurance quotes

Your credit score can affect your car insurance premiums. In general, a good or excellent credit score leads to lower rates, and those with average or poor credit often face more expensive auto policies. In New York, drivers with excellent credit pay an average monthly premium of $463, while drivers with poor credit pay $628.

See More: Bad Credit Car Insurance New York

How your city affects New York insurance quotes

New York car insurance rates vary by city. This is because population, crime rates, and average commuting times are dependent on location. In most cases, drivers in urban areas like New York City pay more than those in smaller towns or rural areas, such as Albany or Rochester. Here’s a look at auto insurance quotes for the most populous cities in New York.

How your age affects your New York car insurance rates

Drivers with less experience on the road pose a higher risk and pay more for auto insurance. In New York, teen drivers face an average monthly premium of $889. Those in their 60s can secure the best rates, with an average monthly premium of $401. Find the average quote for your age group in the table below.

Read More: Compare Car Insurance by Age and Gender

Quotes for younger drivers

New York drivers under the age of 25 can expect to pay the highest auto insurance costs compared to any age group. This is due to insurers assigning drivers in this age bracket to higher-risk groups owing to their lack of experience on the road. Young drivers with infractions such as accidents and DUIs on their record can expect to pay even more, as the infractions signal risky driving behavior. 

The table below shows some of the cheapest car insurance rates for young drivers in New York. Rates shown include quotes for liability-only and full-coverage policies, along with the average rates for young drivers with an accident or DUI on their record. 

Quotes for middle-aged drivers

Middle-aged drivers in New York typically see cheaper rates than their younger counterparts. This is due to them accruing more experience on the road and generally having better credit scores. Take a look at the table below to see car insurance quotes for middle-aged drivers in New York.  

Quotes for senior drivers

Senior drivers pay some of the cheapest rates of all age groups. These lower rates are the result of their decades of experience on the road, as well as their tendency to drive fewer miles than other age groups. Take a look at the table below for car insurance quotes for senior drivers in New York.

New York car insurance FAQs

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about car insurance in the state of New York.

Insurify Insights

How New York Drivers Measure Up

While most drivers know that car insurance quotes are determined in part by your personal driving history, many may be unaware that rates are also impacted by the average risk of the drivers around you as well. Check out Insurify's latest analysis of driving records in New York below:

Methodology

Drawing from an internal database of over 4 million car insurance applications, the research team at Insurify analyzes patterns in car ownership and driver behavior - including how New York drivers measure up to their fellow motorists across the United States in areas including speeding, DUIs, and more.
Insurify Insights publishes data-driven articles, trend analyses, and national rankings each week on all factors related to cars and those who drive them.

Honda Accord

Most Popular Car in New York

#44

State with the Most Speeding Tickets Rank

#48

State with the Moving Violations Rank

#35

State with the Most DUIs Rank

#40

State with the most Suspended Licenses

• Accidents in New York

  While car accidents are a sadly unavoidable feature of time spent on the road, rates of accidents do vary from city to city and from state to state. New York is the #47 state in the country for drivers with an at-fault accident on their driving record.

  • Rank among states: #47
  • Percent of drivers in New York with an accident: 6.2%
• DUIs in New York

  While driving while intoxicated is never acceptable, it’s a more common offense than many assume. New York is the #35 state in the country for drivers with a prior drunk driving conviction.

  • Rank among states: #35
  • Percent of drivers in New York with a DUI: 1%
• Reckless Driving in New York

  Reckless driving refers to a specific traffic violation: when drivers willfully act dangerously in spite of the risks they’re imposing on both themselves and others. New York is the #33 state in the country for drivers with a reckless driving offense on record.

  • Rank among states: #33
  • Percent of drivers in New York with a reckless driving offense: 1.1%
• Rude Driving in New York

  The Insurify team classifies rude drivers as those who commit one or more of the following driving offenses: failure to yield or failure to stop, improper backing, passing where prohibited, tailgating, street racing, or hit-and-run. New York is the #34 state in the country for drivers with a rude driving violation on record.

  • Rank among states: #34
  • Percent of drivers in New York with a rude driving violation: 1.3%
• Speeding in New York

  Exceeding the speed limit can endanger others and have a serious impact on your insurance costs. New York is the #44 state in the country for drivers with a speeding ticket on record.

  • Rank among states: #44
  • Percent of drivers in New York with a speeding ticket: 6.4%
• Failure to Yield Rates in New York

  Failing to yield the right of way isn’t just frustrating for other drivers; it’s dangerous, too. New York is the #49 state in the country for drivers with a failure to yield violation on record.

  • Rank among states: #49
  • Percent of drivers in New York with a failure to yield violation: 0%

Insurify Insights

Insurify's team of data scientists and content specialists presents Insurify Insights, a series of automotive, home, and health studies focusing on the topics that impact us all. through expert analysis of over 4 million car insurance applications and an array of top data sources, the Insurify Insights team produces new data-driven articles, trend analyses, regional superlatives, and national rankings every week. See Insurify Insights as featured in Forbes, Fox News, USA Today, NPR, and more.