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Drivers in Albany pay an average of $165 per month for full coverage and $101 per month for state-minimum liability insurance. That’s cheaper than nearby New York City, where full coverage averages $258 per month and liability-only insurance costs around $173 per month.
But it’s pricier than in nearby Schenectady, where full coverage averages $141 per month and liability-only coverage costs about $86 per month.
Albany’s car insurance rates reflect a balance between its relatively low population density compared to other New York cities and its high motor vehicle theft rate. The city ranks No. 12 in the state for motor vehicle thefts, according to a 2024 report from the New York State Motor Vehicle Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Board.
Erie offers the cheapest liability-only rates in Albany, at $47 per month. That’s well below the city’s average liability-only rate and also much less than the statewide average for minimum liability coverage.
New York requires drivers to have the following minimum-coverage limits:[1]
$25,000 in bodily injury liability ($50,000 for death) per person
$50,000 in bodily injury liability ($100,000 for death) per accident
$10,000 in property damage liability
$25,000 per person in uninsured motorist (UM) coverage
$50,000 per accident in UM coverage
$50,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage
The table below shows the companies with the cheapest liability-only car insurance rates in Albany.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only |
|---|---|
| Erie | $47 |
| USAA | $49 |
| Travelers | $57 |
| State Farm | $67 |
| Allstate | $71 |
| GEICO | $73 |
| CSAA | $120 |
| Chubb | $131 |
| Progressive | $136 |
| Bristol West | $188 |
Let us do the work getting quotes from 120+ companies. You sit back and save!
Erie has the cheapest average full-coverage rates in Albany, averaging $74 per month. This is well below the statewide average.
Albany averages about 59 inches of snow per year, according to the National Weather Service. Driving on icy roads raises your odds of sliding into a guardrail or another vehicle.
A full-coverage policy, including comprehensive and collision insurance, helps pay for damage caused by weather-related accidents.
The following table lists the cheapest full-coverage car insurance rates in Albany.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Erie | $74 |
| USAA | $77 |
| Travelers | $89 |
| State Farm | $105 |
| Allstate | $110 |
| GEICO | $116 |
| Chubb | $204 |
| Progressive | $237 |
| Bristol West | $286 |
Across New York state, Jamaica has the highest average car insurance rates, while Schenectady’s are among the lowest. Albany’s average monthly full-coverage rate is $165 per month, while liability-only coverage averages $101.
These prices fall well below the statewide monthly averages of $236 and $152, respectively.
That’s somewhat surprising, since Albany ranks No. 12 in the state for motor vehicle theft. But Albany County’s population density of 609 people per square mile is far lower than that of dense metro counties like Nassau (4,871) and Westchester (2,314).[2]
A lower population generally reduces accident frequency, which can help keep insurance rates lower.
The table below breaks down the average monthly rates across several New York cities, including the neighboring city of Schenectady.
City | Average Monthly Quote |
|---|---|
| Troy | $103 |
| Binghamton | $106 |
| Schenectady | $114 |
| Rochester | $115 |
| Utica | $125 |
| Ithaca | $131 |
| Syracuse | $131 |
| Poughkeepsie | $135 |
| Niagara Falls | $136 |
| New Rochelle | $145 |
| White Plains | $152 |
| Middletown | $154 |
| Buffalo | $166 |
| Newburgh | $174 |
| Staten Island | $200 |
| Astoria | $210 |
| New York | $216 |
| Long Beach | $224 |
| Valley Stream | $227 |
| Yonkers | $238 |
| Long Island City | $254 |
| Freeport | $257 |
| Mount Vernon | $273 |
| Brooklyn | $274 |
| Jamaica | $325 |
| Bronx | $337 |
New York is a no-fault car insurance state. That means your own auto insurance covers your medical bills and lost wages after a car accident, regardless of who was at fault.[3]
The goal of a no-fault car insurance system is to lower car insurance costs by removing small claims from the courts. But in reality, New York is one of the most expensive states in the U.S. for car insurance, and Albany reflects the higher statewide rates.[4]
Albany also gets roughly 59 inches of snow per year, adding to weather-related accidents and claims.
Your driving record has a big influence on what you pay for car insurance in Albany. Below are the companies with the cheapest rates based on driving record.
Cheapest car insurance for Albany drivers with a clean driving record: Erie
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Albany: Erie
Cheapest car insurance for Albany drivers with an at-fault accident: Erie
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Albany: Erie
Alcohol played a role in 29% of driving deaths in Albany County from 2019 to 2023, according to Healthy Capital District, an Albany nonprofit organization focused on public health in the Albany area.
That figure exceeds both the New York state rate of 21.2% and the national average of 26.1%.
Albany County has had a STOP-DWI (driving while intoxicated) program since 1981. The program funds saturation patrols and education initiatives designed to reduce drug- and alcohol-related crashes in the county.
Driving under the influence (DUI) in Albany raises full-coverage car insurance rates by an average of 83%, according to Insurify data.
The table below shows average monthly quotes for Albany drivers by driving history.
Driving Record | Average Monthly Quote |
|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $133 |
| Speeding ticket | $159 |
| At-fault accident | $190 |
| DUI | $247 |
Albany’s downtown neighborhoods, like Center Square, rely heavily on street parking. This means residents and visitors deal with limited parking and specific rules during winter storms.
For example, when the city declares a snow emergency, you have to move your car to the even-numbered side of the street for the first 24 hours, then to the odd-numbered side for the next 24 hours. If you don’t, you risk getting a ticket and having your car towed, according to the city’s website.
Street parking can feel like a hassle, especially during winter weather. The City of Albany provides off-street parking at 15 lots scattered throughout the city during declared snow emergencies.
The South End neighborhood sits within the Hudson River’s 100-year floodplain. The city is at “extreme” risk of flooding over the next 30 years, according to First Street.
For this reason, drivers in this area may pay higher comprehensive premiums to account for the risk of flood damage.
As the state capital, Albany sees heavier traffic downtown during the legislative session each winter and spring, when lawmakers, staff, and lobbyists converge on the Capitol area.
The Interstate 87/I-90 interchange at the New York State Thruway Exit 24 is one of the Capital Region’s most congestion-prone points, according to CNY Central. Backups tend to happen in all four directions during rush hour, raising your odds of a fender-bender.
Having an accident on your record increases car insurance costs in Albany by an average of 43%, according to Insurify data.
Albany’s average commute time is around 20 minutes, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Drivers should be aware that school-zone speed cameras are in use through 2028.[5]
While an automated ticket won’t go on your record, you could get a citation (and a car insurance rate increase) if a police officer stops you for speeding in a school zone.
Monthly rates start at $62 for drivers with an incident
New York teens can get a learner’s permit at age 16. They can get a driver’s license at age 18, or at 17 if they complete a state-approved driver’s education course.[6]
Until they receive their license, teens are subject to a curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Teen drivers in Albany pay monthly averages of $144 for liability policies and $235 for full-coverage policies.
The table below shows auto insurance quotes from several insurers offering cheap car insurance for teen drivers in Albany. When you request a quote for your teen, be sure to ask about a good student discount, safe driver discount, discounts for bundling homeowners insurance or renters insurance, or raising your deductible to reduce your rate.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only |
|---|---|
| Erie | $77 |
| USAA | $80 |
| Travelers | $107 |
| State Farm | $116 |
| GEICO | $118 |
| Allstate | $125 |
| Progressive | $194 |
| Chubb | $243 |
| CSAA | $268 |
| Bristol West | $295 |
About 14% of Albany’s population is age 65 or older, according to U.S. Census data. Seniors are in only about 11% of fatal and personal injury (F&PI) crashes statewide, according to the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.
This could be why seniors have the lowest average rates of any age group. Erie has the cheapest rates for senior drivers in Albany, averaging $32 per month.
The following table lists the cheapest average rates for senior drivers in Albany.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only |
|---|---|
| Erie | $32 |
| USAA | $36 |
| Travelers | $41 |
| State Farm | $47 |
| Allstate | $52 |
| GEICO | $52 |
| CSAA | $79 |
| Chubb | $88 |
| Progressive | $95 |
| Bristol West | $141 |
For more information on finding the best car insurance in Albany, check out the answers to frequently asked questions below.
Drivers in Albany pay an average of $165 per month for full coverage and $101 for liability-only insurance, according to Insurify data. That’s well below the statewide average of $236 per month for full coverage and $152 for a liability-only policy.
In some areas, yes. Albany’s average car insurance rates are lower than the statewide average but higher than those in nearby Schenectady. Albany’s lower population density helps keep its rates down.
Erie has the cheapest average liability-only rates in New York, at $69 per month, according to Insurify data.
Yes. New York requires drivers to have 25/50/10 liability coverage limits, plus $50,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and 25/50 in UM coverage.
Your driving record has the biggest influence on your car insurance rates, and high-risk drivers typically pay higher rates. Other factors include your age, ZIP code, coverage level, and credit history. Albany’s vehicle theft rate, harsh winters, and New York’s no-fault car insurance laws also contribute to car insurance rates.
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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8+ years writing about insurance, taxes, and personal finance
Certified public accountant
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
