Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Rochester, NY

Rochester drivers stand to save a little money on their car insurance compared to other New York drivers. Minimum-coverage car insurance in Rochester costs an average of $176 per month. This is 69% less per month than the New York average of $569. 

Living in a less-populated city, especially compared to large ones like New York City, potentially means less traffic, theft, and accidents — all of which can contribute to lower car insurance rates.^{[1] [2]}

Here’s why insurance costs what it does in Rochester, how to save more money on insurance, and what companies offer the best rates on car insurance in Rochester, New York.

How much does car insurance cost in Rochester?

The auto insurance rates you’re offered are unique to you as a driver and vary depending on how much coverage you want. It’s a good idea to shop around with multiple Rochester car insurance providers until you find a policy and rate that fits your needs.^[3]

To help you find the most affordable rates, Insurify data scientists analyzed the latest insurance rates in the city to identify the cheapest quotes in the area.

• Safeco: At $67 per month, Safeco offers the cheapest liability-only insurance coverage in Rochester. 

• Kemper: At $98 per month, Kemper offers the cheapest full-coverage insurance in Rochester.

• Safeco: At $141 per month, Safeco offers the cheapest insurance for new/young drivers in Rochester. 

Read More: Cheapest Car Insurance in New York

Cheapest car insurance in Rochester: Safeco and Kemper Preferred

The top two car insurance companies in Rochester for the cheapest average monthly rates include Safeco ($67 a month for a liability-only policy) and Kemper Preferred ($98 for full-coverage policies). But these numbers are just averages. Where you live, the car you drive, your age, your driving record, and a handful of other factors can all affect your potential rates.^[4]

Here are the other cheapest car insurance providers in Rochester. 

How much car insurance do you need in Rochester?

All drivers in New York state are legally required to have car insurance and Rochester drivers may be required to provide proof of insurance for a variety of reasons, such as when requested by law enforcement, their car is involved in an accident, and renewing their vehicle registration.

The minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in New York are:

• $10,000 for property damage for a single accident

• $25,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for death for a person involved in an accident

• $50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for death for two or more people in an accident^[5] 

New York DMV information

You can complete different services through the New York DMV website, which can save a time-consuming trip to a physical location. Services you can handle online include: 

• Renewing your driver’s license and car registration 

• Requesting a copy of your driving record 

• Paying for a ticket

However, if you’re moving to Rochester from out of state, you may need to visit one of the three physical offices in Rochester and surrounding neighborhoods.^[6] 

Tips for getting cheap car insurance in Rochester

Want to save money on your car insurance policy in Rochester? Consider some of these helpful tips that can lead to savings. 

• Consider pay-per-mile car insurance. People who don’t drive a lot (like telecommuters) can potentially save on insurance by buying a pay-per-mile policy that only charges them for the amount of miles they drive. 

• Buy a less-expensive car. The more expensive your car is, generally the more it costs to repair and replace — and insurance companies determine rates accordingly. A luxury car can make your insurance rates rise, so consider a cheaper car if you want to save on insurance.^[4]

• Investigate discounts. The types of discounts car insurance companies offer can vary, but they are fairly common. Ask insurers if you can qualify for a low annual mileage, good credit record, or good grade discount.^[7]

• Compare different insurance providers. Before you choose a policy, request quotes from a handful of different insurance companies to see who can offer you the lowest rates for the most coverage.^[3]

Read Now: Compare Home and Auto Insurance Bundles

How age affects car insurance rates in Rochester 

Teen and young adult drivers (drivers under the age of 25) often have much higher insurance rates than older drivers do due to their lack of driving experience and higher likelihood of getting in an accident.^[4]

Here’s how insurance rates can get lower as drivers get older. 

Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in Rochester

Travelers offers the cheapest full-coverage policy quotes for young drivers in Rochester at $145 per month, on average.

Cheapest car insurance for middle-aged drivers in Rochester

Safeco offers the cheapest full-coverage policy for middle-aged drivers at an average rate of $111 per month. This is only slightly lower than Travelers’ average monthly rate of $125, and Progressive’s $167 monthly rate.

Asking your insurance provider about potential discounts is a great way to save on your policy, and middle-aged drivers can inquire about bundling discounts — especially if they’re homeowners. Many insurance companies offer both auto and another type of policy, like rideshare, homeowners, condo, or flood insurance policies. If you buy both insurance policies through them, you can usually save some money.^[8]

Cheapest car insurance for senior drivers in Rochester

Safeco once again has the lowest average monthly full-coverage policy ($96) for senior Rochester drivers. Senior drivers who are enjoying their retirement years can possibly save money with senior discounts, bundling insurance policies, and driving less than the average annual miles.

How credit scores affect cheap car insurance in Rochester

In some states it’s legal to use credit scores to inform rates, and New York is one of them.^[9] Certain credit behaviors can indicate if someone is likely to file an insurance claim or not, and insurance companies use this information when setting monthly premiums.^[10]  

Credit score is a big factor when rates are determined, according to Garrett B. Guttenberg, J.D., executive vice president and CIO at Denis A. Miller Insurance Agency. 

“You can see a driver with the same driving history, but a lower credit score than another, pay double,” Gutenberg says. “Carriers value a client who is financially responsible, which has proven to be a safer driver and one who will pay his or her bills.”

The higher someone’s credit score is, the more they can potentially save on car insurance. While all credit score rankings can vary slightly depending the scoring model — FICO or VantageScore — FICO uses the following tiers:^[11]

• Poor: 300 to 579

• Fair: 580 to 669

• Good: 670 to 739

• Very good: 740 to 800

• Exceptional: 800 to 850 

If you want to get an idea of how credit scores can impact average monthly rates for full-coverage policies in Rochester, you can review the below table.

Learn More: Car Insurance Rates by Credit Tier

The effect of driving habits on car insurance in Rochester

Drivers who avoid speeding tickets and at-fault accidents tend to access lower car insurance rates than drivers with speeding tickets and accidents on their records. 

Please note that negative differences in a table don’t necessarily mean that a particular insurance company lowers their monthly rates for drivers with that type of infraction on their driving records. It may simply mean that our sample size was small or insurers may choose not to not offer policies to drivers with that infraction. Your actual rate can vary on multiple other factors than your driving record.

Cheapest car insurance with an accident in Rochester: Kemper

Having an at-fault accident on your record can cause your insurance rates to increase. While Kemper offers one of the lowest car insurance quotes for drivers with a clean record, it also offers the lowest quote for drivers with an accident, at $101 a month on average. Even with an accident on your driving record, you should shop around for the lowest quotes possible with multiple insurers to find the one with the right coverage and price for your needs.

Cheapest car insurance with a speeding ticket in Rochester: Midvale Home & Auto

Insurify data shows that after a speeding ticket on your record, rates can jump at least $50 a month for average monthly quotes. But Midvale Home & Auto offers the cheapest car insurance quotes in Rochester, New York, for drivers with speeding tickets, at $280 a month on average.

Car insurance in other New York cities

New York is a big state with numerous regions, cities and neighborhoods, so it’s no surprise that insurance rates can vary widely, depending on where you live in the Empire State. Take a look at car insurance rates in other New York cities:

• Cheapest Car Insurance in New York City, New York

• Cheapest Car Insurance in Brooklyn, New York

• Cheapest Car Insurance in Yonkers, New York

• Cheapest Car Insurance in Staten Island, New York

Find local Rochester agents

Rochester car insurance rates FAQs

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about car insurance in Rochester, New York.