Car Insurance in New York
New York drivers spend an average of $1,753 a year on auto insurance according to the NAIC — ▲ +37% versus the national average of $1,282, ranking 3rd most expensive of 51. The state requires 25/50/10 liability coverage and follows a no-fault system.
Average car insurance cost in New York
The NAIC average expenditure is what insured drivers actually paid on average, including people who carry only liability. For those who buy each coverage, the average premium was $1,116 for liability, $541 for collision and $239 for comprehensive ($1,896 combined, versus $1,439 nationally). That average expenditure is 13% higher than the NAIC's previous data year ($1,548).
Minimum car insurance requirements in New York
New York's minimum is written as 25/50/10: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $10,000 in property damage liability. Those limits are low compared with the cost of a serious injury claim, so many drivers choose 100/300/100 — we estimate that "standard" level at about $1,350 a year here, $420 more than the minimum.
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Yes | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident | Injuries you cause to other people |
| Property damage liability | Yes | $10,000 | Damage you cause to other vehicles and property |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Yes | $50,000 Mandatory no-fault (personal injury protection) coverage of $50,000 is required. | Your own medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Yes | 25/50 Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is required at the same 25/50 minimums. | Your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | No | — Supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is optional. | The gap when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | No | — Medical expenses are covered through required no-fault coverage. | Medical bills for you and your passengers |
Liability coverage must also include at least $50,000 for the death of one person and $100,000 for the death of two or more people. Out-of-state insurance is not accepted for New York-registered vehicles.
Compare with another state
Is New York a no-fault state?
Yes. New York is a no-fault state: your own no-fault coverage pays first, and you can sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering only for a serious injury as defined by law (verbal threshold) or economic loss above no-fault limits.
In practice: keep your PIP limits in mind — they pay first for you and your passengers, while your liability coverage still pays for damage you cause to other vehicles and property.
Uninsured drivers in New York
The Insurance Research Council estimates 8.6% of New York drivers are uninsured — 44th highest in the country, compared with 15.4% nationally. That's roughly one uninsured driver in every 12 on the road. New York requires uninsured motorist coverage, which pays your injury costs when the at-fault driver has no insurance.
SR-22 requirements in New York
Drivers who must prove financial responsibility after a DUI, an uninsured crash or a serious violation file proof of insurance through their insurer. Confirm the exact form and how long it must be kept with the New York State Department of Financial Services or your state motor vehicle agency.
By our model, a driver in their 30s with a DUI would pay about $1,745 a year for minimum coverage in New York, versus $930 with a clean record. What is SR-22 insurance?
Estimate your premium in New York
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Car insurance by city in New York
We cover 9 New York cities. Estimates are for full coverage for a driver in their 30s with a clean record; hover a city to find it on the map. The lowest estimate is in Plattsburgh ($1,835) and the highest in New York City ($2,585).
- New York CityPop. 8,478,072 · Kings County$2,585+21% vs state
- BuffaloPop. 276,617 · Erie County$1,970−8% vs state
- YonkersPop. 211,040 · Westchester County$2,355+11% vs state
- RochesterPop. 207,282 · Monroe County$1,935−9% vs state
- SyracusePop. 146,097 · Onondaga County$1,920−10% vs state
- AlbanyPop. 101,317 · Albany County$1,930−9% vs state
- New RochellePop. 85,512 · Westchester County$2,250+6% vs state
- Mount VernonPop. 71,999 · Westchester County$2,390+12% vs state
- PlattsburghPop. 19,758 · Clinton County$1,835−14% vs state
Estimated cost by driver profile in New York
Age and driving record move premiums more than almost anything else. A teen on their own policy pays about 2.7× what a driver in their 30s pays for the same full coverage in New York.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $2,555 | $3,710 | $5,855 | $488 |
| Young adult (22) | $1,490 | $2,160 | $3,405 | $284 |
| Adult in their 30s | $930 | $1,350 | $2,130 | $178 |
| Adult in their 50s | $855 | $1,240 | $1,960 | $163 |
| Senior (72) | $1,040 | $1,510 | $2,385 | $199 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $1,350 | $1,955 | $3,085 | $257 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $1,720 | $2,495 | $3,940 | $328 |
By coverage level
| Coverage level | What it includes | Per year | Per month | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State minimum liability | Only the liability (and PIP/UM where required) limits your state mandates. No coverage for your own car. | $930 | $77 | $765–$1,095 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $1,350 | $112 | $1,105–$1,590 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $2,130 | $177 | $1,745–$2,510 |
Cheapest and most expensive cars to insure in New York
Full-coverage estimates for current models, using HLDI insurance-loss data where available. Vehicle choice alone can swing the premium by more than $3,995 a year here.
| Model | Segment | Est. / year |
|---|---|---|
| GMC Acadia | Midsize SUV | $1,340 |
| Chevrolet Traverse | Midsize SUV | $1,425 |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $1,545 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | Small SUV | $1,580 |
| Honda Pilot | Midsize SUV | $1,580 |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $1,585 |
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $1,625 |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $1,630 |
| Toyota Land Cruiser | Large SUV | $1,655 |
| Acura RDX | Luxury SUV | $1,670 |
| Model | Segment | Est. / year |
|---|---|---|
| BMW M4 | Luxury sports car | $5,335 |
| BMW M3 | Luxury car | $5,185 |
| Lamborghini Urus | Luxury SUV | $4,805 |
| BMW 7 Series | Luxury car | $4,630 |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class | Luxury car | $3,755 |
| Lucid Air | Luxury car | $3,585 |
| Audi RS 7 | Luxury car | $3,145 |
| Mercedes-Benz G-Class | Luxury SUV | $3,110 |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia | Luxury car | $3,030 |
| Lexus LS | Luxury car | $2,975 |
Cheap car insurance in New York: how to lower your rate
- Raise your deductible. Going from $500 to $1,000 on collision and comprehensive saves about $110 a year on a typical New York full-coverage policy.
- Match coverage to your car's value. On a 10-year-old car, dropping collision and comprehensive could cut the bill from about $1,775 to $1,350.
- Drive less, pay less. Low-mileage and usage-based programs can save around $150 a year if you drive under 7,500 miles.
- Protect your record. A single speeding ticket adds roughly $465 a year in our model; an at-fault accident adds much more.
- Shop at renewal. Rates for the same driver differ widely between insurers. Compare identical limits and deductibles.
- Ask about discounts — bundling home and auto, good student, safe-driver, paid-in-full and defensive-driving course discounts. See common discounts.
Complaints and help: New York State Department of Financial Services
The New York State Department of Financial Services licenses insurers and agents, reviews rates and handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and billing — free of charge.
- Website
- www.dfs.ny.gov
- File a complaint
- Consumer complaint page
- Consumer helpline
- 1-800-342-3736
New York vs. neighboring states
| State | NAIC avg. | Minimums | System | Uninsured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $1,753 | 25/50/10 | No-fault | 8.6% |
| Connecticut | $1,394 | 25/50/25 | At-fault (tort) | 11.8% |
| Massachusetts | $1,326 | 25/50/30 | No-fault | 7.9% |
| New Jersey | $1,573 | 35/70/25 | Choice no-fault | 14.1% |
| Pennsylvania | $1,155 | 15/30/5 | Choice no-fault | 11.0% |
| Vermont | $893 | 25/50/10 | At-fault (tort) | 11.8% |
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in New York?
NAIC data puts the average New York auto insurance expenditure at $1,753 a year, 37% more than the national average of $1,282 (rank 3 of 51, where 1 is the most expensive). Our estimate for full coverage for a driver in their 30s with a clean record is about $2,130 a year ($177 a month); state-minimum liability is about $930.
What is the minimum car insurance required in New York?
New York requires at least 25/50/10 liability coverage: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage, plus personal injury protection (PIP) of 50,000 and uninsured motorist coverage.
Is New York a no-fault state?
Yes. New York is a no-fault state: your own no-fault coverage pays first, and you can sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering only for a serious injury as defined by law (verbal threshold) or economic loss above no-fault limits.
How many drivers in New York are uninsured?
The Insurance Research Council estimates that about 8.6% of New York drivers are uninsured, ranking 44th in the nation (national estimate: 15.4%).
Which New York city has the cheapest car insurance?
Among the 9 cities we cover, Plattsburgh has the lowest full-coverage estimate at about $1,835 a year, while New York City is the highest at about $2,585. Differences come from population density, commute length and local weather risk.
How much does car insurance cost for a teen driver in New York?
An 18-year-old on their own full-coverage policy would pay roughly $5,855 a year in New York by our estimate, or about $2,555 for minimum coverage. Joining a parent's policy usually costs less.
How do I file a complaint against a car insurance company in New York?
Contact the New York State Department of Financial Services (consumer line 1-800-342-3736). It handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and rates at no cost.
How we estimate this
We start from the state's average liability, collision and comprehensive premiums published by the NAIC, then apply a location factor (population density and commute time from the Census ACS, weather hazard scores from FEMA's National Risk Index), a vehicle factor (HLDI insurance-loss data where available, otherwise vehicle segment), and a driver-profile multiplier. Results are rounded ranges for comparison, not quotes. Read the full methodology.
- NY DMV: New York State Insurance Requirements
- NY DFS: Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements
- NY DFS: How much auto insurance must I carry?
- NY DFS: File a Complaint
- NAIC 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report
- NAIC Homeowners Insurance Report: Data for 2023
- Insurance Research Council uninsured motorist estimates (via Triple-I)
- IIHS Fatality Facts: state by state
- FBI Crime Data Explorer: Crime in the United States 2025 (Table 4)
- NICB 2022 Vehicle Theft Data: top 10 stolen vehicles by state
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table DL-1C (licensed drivers)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table MV-1 (registrations)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-2 (vehicle-miles traveled)
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau: population estimates and American Community Survey
- FEMA National Risk Index