Car Insurance in Syracuse, New York
Estimated full coverage in Syracuse runs about $1,920 a year ($160/month) — ▼ −10% versus the New York average, ranking 8th most expensive of the 9 New York cities we cover.
Why car insurance in Syracuse costs less than the New York average
Insurers price by territory, and Syracuse's numbers explain most of the gap. With 146,097 residents on 25.1 square miles, the city's density (5,830 people per square mile) is 2.1 times the density where the typical New York resident lives (2,786). The average commute is 18.0 minutes (New York: 32.6), and 59% of workers drive alone. Together these put our location factor at 0.90× the state baseline for liability and collision, and 0.89× for comprehensive once FEMA weather risk for Onondaga County is included.
| Factor | Syracuse | New York ref. | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population density | 5,830 / sq mi | 2,786 / sq mi | More vehicles per mile of road means more fender-benders and claims. |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 32.6 min | Longer daily drives add exposure to crashes. |
| Commutes over 60 min | 3.9% | — | Long highway commutes raise mileage-based risk. |
| Drive alone to work | 58.5% | — | Share of workers commuting by car. |
| Public transit to work | 6.3% | — | Transit use lowers how much residents drive. |
| Work from home | 12.0% | — | Remote workers may qualify for low-mileage pricing. |
| Households without a car | 25.7% | — | Context for non-owner and occasional-driver policies. |
| Weather hazard score (FEMA) | 87.3 | 93.2 | Hail, wind, flood and hurricane exposure drive comprehensive claims. |
Car insurance cost by ZIP code in Syracuse
Rates can change from one ZIP code to the next. Across 10 Syracuse ZIP codes, our full-coverage estimate ranges from $1,825 in 13224 to $2,005 in 13203. Denser, longer-commute neighborhoods estimate higher. Click a column to sort.
| ZIP | Population | Density / sq mi | Commute | No car | Est. full / yr | vs. city |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13208 | 22,993 | 5,622 | 17.8 min | 26.0% | $1,915 | 0% |
| 13210 | 19,803 | 5,258 | 19.2 min | 29.6% | $1,930 | +1% |
| 13204 | 19,440 | 4,568 | 17.8 min | 26.7% | $1,895 | −1% |
| 13205 | 19,137 | 5,282 | 17.4 min | 28.2% | $1,905 | −1% |
| 13206 | 16,245 | 3,997 | 15.7 min | 13.3% | $1,850 | −4% |
| 13203 | 16,180 | 9,518 | 20.3 min | 28.7% | $2,005 | +4% |
| 13207 | 12,290 | 3,811 | 19.9 min | 15.0% | $1,910 | −1% |
| 13244 | 9,683 | 13,393 | 17.2 min | 46.2% | $1,990 | +4% |
| 13224 | 8,659 | 3,018 | 15.6 min | 13.4% | $1,825 | −5% |
| 13202 | 7,098 | 7,063 | 15.4 min | 42.3% | $1,900 | −1% |
Minimum car insurance in Syracuse
Syracuse drivers follow New York's rules: at least 25/50/10 liability coverage, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist coverage. New York is no-fault. We estimate state-minimum coverage in Syracuse at $840 a year, and $1,220 for 100/300/100 limits.
| 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.
Risk factors that shape Syracuse premiums
Accidents
New York recorded 1,101 traffic deaths, or 0.91 per 100 million vehicle miles (U.S.: 1.19), in the latest full year of federal crash data. Local crash frequency is folded into our density and commute factors.
Vehicle theft
New York's vehicle theft rate is 126 per 100,000 residents (U.S.: 197). The most-stolen vehicle in the state is the Honda CR-V (NICB). Theft losses are paid by comprehensive coverage.
Weather
FEMA rates Onondaga County as relatively moderate for hail, relatively high for inland flooding and very high for strong wind, and relatively low for hurricanes.
Traffic & commuting
3.9% of Syracuse commuters spend an hour or more getting to work, and there are 1.11 vehicles per household. 12.0% work from home — worth mentioning to insurers that offer low-mileage pricing.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Score (0–100) | Insurance impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 78.4 | Comprehensive (car); roof claims (home) | |
| Tornado | 87.3 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Hurricane | 77.2 | Comprehensive; wind/hurricane deductibles (home) | |
| Inland (river) flooding | 95.2 | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Coastal flooding | — | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Strong wind | 98.3 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Winter weather | 97.6 | Collision (icy roads); frozen pipes (home) |
Scores are national percentiles of FEMA's county risk (higher means more expected loss than most other U.S. counties).
Estimated car insurance in Syracuse by driver profile
A clean-record driver in their 50s pays the least in our Syracuse model (about $1,770 for full coverage); an 18-year-old on their own policy pays about $5,285, and a DUI pushes a 30-something to $3,555.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $2,315 | $3,355 | $5,285 | $440 |
| Young adult (22) | $1,345 | $1,950 | $3,075 | $256 |
| Adult in their 30s | $840 | $1,220 | $1,920 | $160 |
| Adult in their 50s | $775 | $1,120 | $1,770 | $148 |
| Senior (72) | $940 | $1,365 | $2,155 | $180 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $1,220 | $1,770 | $2,785 | $232 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $1,555 | $2,255 | $3,555 | $296 |
Minimum vs. standard vs. full coverage in Syracuse
| 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. | $840 | $70 | $690–$995 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $1,220 | $102 | $1,000–$1,440 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $1,920 | $160 | $1,575–$2,270 |
Estimate your premium in Syracuse
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Cheap car insurance in Syracuse: how to lower your rate
The cheapest policy is the one that fits your situation. These levers are priced with Syracuse's own numbers:
| Change | Est. yearly savings | Good fit if… |
|---|---|---|
| Raise collision/comprehensive deductible from $500 to $1,000 | $95 | You have savings to cover a bigger out-of-pocket repair. |
| Low-mileage / usage-based pricing (under 7,500 mi) | $130 | You're among the 12.0% of Syracuse workers who work from home, or you rarely drive. |
| Drop collision & comprehensive on an older car | $385 | The car is paid off and worth little more than a year of premiums. |
| Standard (100/300/100) instead of full coverage | $700 | No loan or lease requires physical-damage coverage. |
| Avoid one speeding ticket | $425 | Everyone — violations typically affect rates for three to five years. |
Also ask about bundling, good-student, paid-in-full and defensive-driving discounts, and re-shop at every renewal — the same driver can be priced very differently by different insurers. We don't recommend specific companies. Common car insurance discounts.
Comparing car insurance quotes in Syracuse
- Use identical limits and deductibles on every quote — e.g. 100/300/100 liability with $1,000 deductibles — or prices aren't comparable.
- Get quotes from different channels: captive agents, independent agents who quote several insurers, and direct online insurers. There are 14 offices listed below.
- Check complaint records with the New York State Department of Financial Services (complaint information) before you buy.
- Mention your ZIP code accurately — within Syracuse, our estimates differ by up to $180 a year between neighborhoods.
Car insurance agents near Syracuse, NY
We found 14 insurance offices within about 4 miles of central Syracuse, from open map data. Hover over a listing to show it on the map, click it to open the address in Google Maps, or tap it on a phone to start navigation. We don't sell insurance, rate these offices or receive anything from them.
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Erie Insurance
201 E Jefferson Street, Suite 314, Syracuse, NY 13202 -
AutoInsure Direct
1301 Burnet Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13206 -
Freeway Insurance
814 S Geddes St, Syracuse, NY 13204 -
John L Spencer II - Allstate
1367 Burnet Ave, Syracuse, NY 13206 -
John Ivory - State Farm
323 Nottingham Road, Syracuse, NY 13210 -
Lori Myers - GEICO
2528 Erie Boulevard East, Syracuse, NY 13224 -
Approved Credit Services, Inc.
2572 Erie Boulevard East, Syracuse, NY 13224 -
Marie Vertigan - State Farm
2819 James St., Syracuse, NY 13206 -
Gregory Ott Agency
4875 South Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13215 -
Stagnitta Insurance
3312 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13206 -
Erie Insurance
2700 Bellevue Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13219 -
Allstate
4863 West Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse, NY 13215 -
Salanger & Hayward Insurance Agency Inc.
3700 James Street, DeWitt, NY 13206 -
AAA Travel & Insurance - DeWitt
3460 Erie Boulevard East, DeWitt, NY 13214
Map © Google. Office list: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0) - https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright; All The Places (alltheplaces.xyz), data released under the CC-0 waiver; run 2026-09-19-13-32-18. OSM license. Listings are informational and may be out of date.
Insurance cost of popular cars in Syracuse
| Model | Segment | Est. full coverage / yr | vs. average car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $1,465 | −24% |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $1,435 | −25% |
| Tesla Model 3 | Midsize car | $2,000 | +4% |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $1,395 | −27% |
| Honda Civic | Compact car | $2,220 | +16% |
| Toyota Corolla | Compact car | $2,090 | +9% |
| Jeep Wrangler | Midsize SUV | $1,715 | −11% |
| Mazda CX-5 | Small SUV | $1,645 | −14% |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $1,470 | −23% |
| Tesla Model Y | Midsize SUV | $1,800 | −6% |
Car insurance in nearby New York cities
- Rochester $1,935/yr · 75 mi
- Albany $1,930/yr · 122 mi
- Buffalo $1,970/yr · 138 mi
- Plattsburgh $1,835/yr · 176 mi
- Yonkers $2,355/yr · 186 mi
- Mount Vernon $2,390/yr · 189 mi
- New Rochelle $2,250/yr · 190 mi
- New York City $2,585/yr · 200 mi
All New York cities and state rules · Homeowners insurance in Syracuse
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in Syracuse, NY?
We estimate full coverage in Syracuse at about $1,920 a year ($160 a month) for a driver in their 30s with a clean record, and about $840 for New York's minimum liability coverage. Real quotes vary by insurer, driver and vehicle.
Why is car insurance in Syracuse cheaper than the New York average?
Our Syracuse estimate is 10% lower than the statewide figure. The model reflects a population density of 5,830 people per square mile (the typical New York resident lives at about 2,786) and an average commute of 18.0 minutes versus 32.6 statewide. Denser traffic and longer drives mean more claims, which insurers price into local rates.
What car insurance is required in Syracuse?
Drivers in Syracuse follow New York law: at least 25/50/10 liability coverage plus PIP and uninsured motorist coverage.
Which ZIP code in Syracuse has the cheapest car insurance?
Among Syracuse's 10 ZIP codes, 13224 has the lowest estimate (about $1,825 a year for full coverage) and 13203 the highest (about $2,005), mainly because of differences in density and commute times.
How much is car insurance for a teenager in Syracuse?
An 18-year-old with their own full-coverage policy would pay around $5,285 a year in Syracuse by our estimate ($2,315 for minimum coverage). Adding a teen to a parent's policy is usually cheaper.
Does weather affect car insurance in Syracuse?
Yes. FEMA's National Risk Index rates Onondaga County for inland (river) flooding (relatively high) risk. Weather mainly affects the comprehensive part of a policy, which pays for hail, flood and wind damage.
Are there car insurance agents near me in Syracuse?
We list 14 insurance offices in and around Syracuse, with addresses, phone numbers where published, and directions. We don't sell insurance or rank these offices.
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, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (Syracuse and ZIP code tabulation areas)
- U.S. Census Bureau population estimates and Gazetteer files
- FEMA National Risk Index (county hazard ratings)
- Insurance office locations: OpenStreetMap contributors and All The Places