New York car insurance: minimum coverage, rules & quotes

Minimum liability: $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 property damage liability per accident.

Required coverages: BI & PD liability, PIP, Uninsured motorist.

No-fault state. In a no-fault state, your own personal injury protection (PIP) pays your medical bills and certain other losses after a crash regardless of who caused it, and the right to sue the other driver for pain and suffering is limited unless injuries pass a set threshold.

Credit-based insurance scores: Insurers here may generally use a credit-based insurance score as one rating factor, subject to state rules that limit how it can be used.

New York also requires 50/100 coverage for the death of a person involved in an accident.

Official help: find the New York insurance department (consumer help, agent license lookup) in the NAIC, State insurance departments directory ↗, and the New York DMV in the USA.gov, State motor vehicle services (DMV) directory ↗.

Body-type mix: SUVs 47% · Cars & Sedans 36% · Trucks 8% · Vans 8%. Most-listed models: Chevrolet Silverado (125), Genesis GV70 (109), Chevrolet Equinox (96), Ford Transit (81), Honda CR-V (76), Toyota Sienna (63).

Why it matters: a financed car at the $21,999 median price will normally need collision and comprehensive, and repair costs, theft rates and safety equipment differ by model — the VIN decode on the form shows the agent the exact vehicle.

• Brooklyn 1,509 cars
• Yonkers 605 cars
• Jamaica 372 cars
• Queens 198 cars
• Buffalo 161 cars
• Elmhurst 128 cars
• Woodside 108 cars
• Ridgewood 104 cars
• Spencerport 95 cars
• Webster 76 cars
• Rochester 70 cars
• Nanuet 63 cars
• Ozone Park 53 cars
• Alden 51 cars
• Tonawanda 47 cars
• North Tonawanda 46 cars
• Attica 39 cars
• Lockport 38 cars
• Ontario 32 cars
• Williamson 32 cars
• Corona 28 cars
• Macedon 26 cars

• Good / safe driver

  For drivers with no at-fault accidents or major violations for a set number of years (often three or more). California law requires insurers to offer qualifying good drivers a Good Driver Discount.

  Check this discount
• Multi-policy (bundling)

  Buying auto with homeowners, renters, condo or another policy from the same insurer.

  Check this discount
• Multi-car

  Insuring two or more vehicles on the same policy.

  Check this discount
• Good student

  For students with good grades, commonly a B average or better (insurers set their own rules).

  Check this discount
• Defensive-driving course

  Completing an approved course. Some states require insurers to offer a discount for approved courses, often for older drivers.

  Check this discount
• Telematics / usage-based

  An app or plug-in device that measures how, when and how much you drive. Safe habits can earn a discount; in some programs risky driving can raise the price.

  Check this discount
• Paid in full / autopay / paperless

  Paying the whole term up front, enrolling in automatic payments or going paperless.

  Check this discount
• Low mileage

  Driving fewer miles than average, for example working from home.

  Check this discount
• Safety & anti-theft features

  Airbags, anti-lock brakes, crash-avoidance technology, alarms and tracking devices. The VIN decode shows the factory safety equipment listed for your car.

  Check this discount
• Affinity / military / employer

  Membership in certain employers, alumni associations, professional groups or military service.

  Check this discount

• Bodily injury liability (BI)

  Pays for injuries you cause to other people — their medical bills, lost wages and legal claims — up to your per-person and per-accident limits. Required in almost every state.

• Property damage liability (PD)

  Pays for damage you cause to someone else's car or property. Required in nearly every state. A crash with a newer vehicle can exceed a low PD limit quickly.

• Collision

  Pays to repair or replace your own car after a crash with another vehicle or object, regardless of fault, minus your deductible. Optional by law but required by lenders and lessors.

• Comprehensive

  Covers your car for theft, vandalism, fire, flood, hail, falling objects and animal strikes, minus your deductible. Also required on most financed and leased cars.

• Uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)

  Protects you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough. Required in many states; where it is optional, insurers usually must offer it.

• Personal injury protection (PIP) / Medical payments

  PIP pays your and your passengers' medical costs (and in many states lost wages) regardless of fault; it is required in no-fault states. MedPay is a smaller, medical-only version.

• Gap insurance

  If your financed or leased car is totaled or stolen, gap pays the difference between the car's actual cash value and what you still owe. Often available from your auto insurer, lender or dealer.

• Rental reimbursement & roadside assistance

  Low-cost add-ons: a rental car while yours is being repaired after a covered claim, and towing, jump-starts, lockouts and flat-tire help.

What is the minimum car insurance in New York?

New York requires at least $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 property damage liability per accident, plus PIP and Uninsured motorist — written 25/50/10.

Is New York a no-fault state?

Yes. New York is a no-fault state: your own personal injury protection (PIP) pays your medical bills after a crash regardless of fault, and lawsuits for pain and suffering are limited unless injuries meet the state's threshold.

Can car insurers use my credit score in New York?

Insurers here may generally use a credit-based insurance score as one rating factor, subject to state rules that limit how it can be used.

Is the New York minimum enough coverage?

It is the legal minimum, not a recommendation. Medical bills and newer-car repairs can exceed 25/50/10 limits, and you can be personally responsible for the difference. Many drivers choose higher limits, and financed or leased cars also need collision and comprehensive.

Do I need insurance before buying a car in New York?

You need proof of insurance to register and drive the car, and dealers usually ask for it before delivery. If you finance or lease, the lender will require collision and comprehensive. Request a quote on the exact VIN before you sign.

How do I get a car insurance quote in New York?

Use the AutosXchange quote form on this page: enter your VIN (we decode the vehicle), ZIP and a few details, and a licensed insurance professional will follow up. Or call or text (916) 476-7689.

How do I get a good driver discount in New York?

Most insurers offer a good- or safe-driver discount after several years without at-fault accidents or major violations. Eligibility and amounts vary by insurer; tick it on the form and the agent will check.

• Alabama 25/50/25
• Alaska 50/100/25
• Arizona 25/50/15
• Arkansas 25/50/25
• California 30/60/15
• Colorado 25/50/15
• Connecticut 25/50/25
• Delaware 25/50/10
• District of Columbia 25/50/10
• Florida PD 10 + PIP
• Georgia 25/50/25
• Hawaii 40/80/20
• Idaho 25/50/15
• Illinois 25/50/20
• Indiana 25/50/25
• Iowa 20/40/15
• Kansas 25/50/25
• Kentucky 25/50/25
• Louisiana 15/30/25
• Maine 50/100/25
• Maryland 30/60/15
• Massachusetts 25/50/30
• Michigan 50/100/10
• Minnesota 30/60/10
• Mississippi 25/50/25
• Missouri 25/50/25
• Montana 25/50/20
• Nebraska 25/50/25
• Nevada 25/50/20
• New Hampshire 25/50/25
• New Jersey 35/70/25
• New Mexico 25/50/10
• North Carolina 50/100/50
• North Dakota 25/50/25
• Ohio 25/50/25
• Oklahoma 25/50/25
• Oregon 25/50/20
• Pennsylvania 15/30/5
• Rhode Island 25/50/25
• South Carolina 25/50/25
• South Dakota 25/50/25
• Tennessee 25/50/25
• Texas 30/60/25
• Utah 30/65/25
• Vermont 25/50/10
• Virginia 50/100/25
• Washington 25/50/10
• West Virginia 25/50/25
• Wisconsin 25/50/10
• Wyoming 25/50/20