)
20+ years in insurance and personal finance content creation
Contributor to top brands like USA Today
John specializes in insurance, personal finance, real estate, and health and wellness. In 2022, he authored a guide on content marketing for beginners.
Featured in
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15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
Featured in
)
30+ years in financial services
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.
Updated
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.
Table of contents
Back in the early 1900s, Buffalo was a hub for auto manufacturing. Around that same time, the earliest car insurance policies were being sold in the U.S. — at a cost undoubtedly much lower than the overall average $322 per month modern-day Buffalo motorists face. Queen City drivers pay rates that are, on average, higher than New York state average auto insurance costs.
Buffalo had more than 8,000 traffic accidents in 2022, according to New York state data.[1] Nearly 30% of those occurred on roads that were wet, slushy, snow-covered, or icy. Due to its location near Lake Erie, Buffalo is among the snowiest cities in the U.S. Bad weather can lead to more accidents in an area, which in turn helps increase auto insurance costs.
Buffalo drivers can find the most affordable coverage for their needs by comparing car insurance quotes from multiple insurers.
Buffalo drivers are most likely to find cheap rates with CSAA, Liberty Mutual, and Progressive.
Buffalo's average car insurance rates are higher than the New York state averages of $455 for full coverage and $344
for liability.
The city received more than 133 inches of snow last winter, according to the National Weather Service.[2]
Best car insurance companies in Buffalo
The auto insurance company that best fits your needs depends on your situation. For instance, one insurer might offer better rates for someone with a bad driving record than another insurer does. Or you might find that a certain insurer provides attractive discounts that others don’t have.
Insurance Company | IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | Full Coverage | Liability Only | Best For |
---|---|---|---|---|
CSAA | 7.6 | $165 | $101 | Low rates |
Safeco | 8.3 | $184 | $162 | Policy customization |
Liberty Mutual | 7.7 | $294 | $124 | Discounts |
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 55,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Best insurer for low rates: CSAA
User Reviews | 4.5 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 7.6 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $85/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $138/mo |
Drivers appreciate the professional customer service and quick claim handling but dislike the consistent rate increases and expensive premiums. Some also found the communication lacking and felt neglected.
Drivers appreciate the professional customer service and quick claim handling but dislike the consistent rate increases and expensive premiums. Some also found the communication lacking and felt neglected.
Darryl
March 24, 2025
California Dreaming
Latisha
March 24, 2025
Withholding Information
Rene
March 23, 2025
No Comments
CSAA is a regional insurer, serving New York and 15 other states. The company offers auto, homeowners, and other types of insurance to members of AAA. With rates that are significantly lower than some competitors, CSAA may be a good, cheap option for AAA members or anyone willing to join AAA.
Lowest rates for Buffalo drivers
A+ financial strength rating from AM Best
Limited to AAA members
No ratings on Trustpilot
Best insurer for policy customization: Safeco
User Reviews | 4.5 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.3 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $190/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $151/mo |
Drivers appreciate the smooth claims process and periodic safe driving checks but dislike the frequent and significant rate increases without clear explanation.
Drivers appreciate the smooth claims process and periodic safe driving checks but dislike the frequent and significant rate increases without clear explanation.
Joseph
March 19, 2025
Average
John
March 18, 2025
Terrible
Jason
March 16, 2025
Great Insurance, But Not for Those on a Budget
While it’s owned by Liberty Mutual, Safeco is its own company. Founded in 1923, Safeco offers auto insurance as well as coverage for your home, motorcycle, identity, boat, and more. Safeco is well known for its customizable plan options that let you add new vehicles or rental car reimbursement, as well as roadside assistance, to your existing plan.
Diminishing deductible and accident forgiveness perks
Plenty of customization options
Online quotes aren’t available
Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction scores[3]
Best insurer for discounts: Liberty Mutual
User Reviews | 3.7 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 7.7 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $102/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $241/mo |
Drivers appreciate the ease of making payments and the company’s helpful customer service. But they dislike the frequent and unexplained rate increases, and some report difficulties in communication and claim handling.
Drivers appreciate the ease of making payments and the company’s helpful customer service. But they dislike the frequent and unexplained rate increases, and some report difficulties in communication and claim handling.
Mari
March 24, 2025
Not good
Stacie
March 23, 2025
I Like Liberty Mutual, I Just Can't Afford Them
Christopher
March 23, 2025
Rates Creep Up Dramatically
Liberty Mutual was founded in 1912 and today is the fifth-largest property and casualty insurer in the world. It also ranks 86th on the Fortune 100. Liberty Mutual offers both personal and commercial insurance lines as well as mutual investments. Its auto coverage is augmented by numerous discounts, including student away, good student, early shopper, military, and homeowner discounts.
Comprehensive suite of digital tools
A (Excellent) rating for financial stability from A.M. Best
Airbag and defensive driving discounts aren’t available
Low BBB customer reviews[4]
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Buffalo
The rate you pay for car insurance depends on several factors, including your:
Driving record: Bad drivers tend to pay more for coverage than good drivers.
Age: Drivers younger than 25 and in their 60s and beyond usually pay more than other drivers do.
Gender: Men generally pay more than women because they’re viewed as riskier drivers.
Type of car: If you drive a car that’s expensive to repair, is prone to theft, or has a poor safety record, it’ll probably cost more to insure.
Geographic location: Coverage for a motorist in a ZIP code known for car thefts, vehicle vandalism, and car accidents might cost more than coverage for someone in a safer area.
Here are four tips for finding cheap car insurance in Buffalo:
Compare online quotes from several car insurance companies in the area.
Consider raising your deductible. This will lower your premium because you’re taking on more of the up-front risk yourself. Just be sure you don’t set your deductible so high you can’t afford to pay it should you need to file a claim.
Bundle your car insurance with another coverage (such as homeowners insurance) from the same company.
Ask about discounts, including those for maintaining a good driving record or completing a defensive driving course.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Buffalo: CSAA
Liability-only car insurance covers injuries to another person and damage to another person’s car in an accident that you cause. This might include bodily injury, property damage, personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured/underinsured motorist, and medical payments coverage.
If you own a vehicle that's paid off, is older, and less expensive, a liability-only policy can help you save money on car insurance. But you won't be able to buy minimum coverage if your lease or finance your vehicle.
Below, you can see a list of the most affordable liability-only insurance company quotes in Buffalo.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote |
---|---|
CSAA | $85 |
Liberty Mutual | $102 |
Progressive | $202 |
Erie | $272 |
USAA | $283 |
Bristol West | $372 |
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Buffalo: CSAA
Full-coverage car insurance features liability, comprehensive, and collision coverages. In New York, and in most other states, motorists must carry some form of liability insurance. Comprehensive and collision are optional, but if you bought or leased your car, your lender might require both types of coverage.
Here’s a collection of the lowest average monthly quotes for full coverage in Buffalo.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote |
---|---|
CSAA | $138 |
Safeco | $151 |
Liberty Mutual | $241 |
Progressive | $302 |
Erie | $407 |
USAA | $424 |
Bristol West | $448 |
Cheapest recent rates near Buffalo, New York
Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $101/mo for liability only and $165/mo for full coverage in Buffalo and other New York cities.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Buffalo, New York within the last 10 days. Last updated on March 25, 2025. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Buffalo, New York within the last 10 days. Last updated on March 25, 2025. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
Car insurance requirements in New York
New York requires motorists to carry two types of auto liability coverage — bodily injury liability and property damage liability — along with PIP and uninsured motorist coverage to meet the state’s minimum requirements.[5]
Here’s a closer look at what those coverage levels include.
Coverage | Minimum Requirements |
---|---|
Bodily injury liability |
|
Property damage liability |
|
Personal injury protection (PIP) |
|
Uninsured motorist |
|
It’s also important to note that Loretta Worters, vice president of media relations for the Insurance Information Institute, says the state’s liability limits are “woefully inadequate” in today’s lawsuit-heavy environment. She says the institute recommends that motorists carry liability coverage with limits of $100,000 and $300,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for property damage.
From there, you may want to think about optional coverages. Types of optional coverage available in New York include:
Comprehensive coverage
No matter who’s at fault, this covers damage to your car from a crash with another vehicle/object or when your car overturns.
Collision coverage
Regardless of who’s at fault, this coverage pays for losses not caused by a crash, such as theft, fire damage, and flood damage.
Additional PIP coverage
This raises the dollar limit for no-fault benefits, which cover claims you file with your car insurance company regardless of fault.
Supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
This covers liability for injuries suffered in an accident. It goes beyond mandatory coverage by expanding coverage for uninsured motorists and adding coverage for underinsured motorists.
Medical payments coverage
No matter who’s at fault, this coverage pays for medical expenses and funeral expenses for you and your passengers when you’re in a crash.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Incidents that might drive up the cost of car insurance include at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, driving under the influence, and other traffic violations. In some cases, a driver with one of these incidents on their record might pay hundreds of dollars more each month for car insurance.
Why do drivers with incidents on their record generally pay more? Because insurers view them as riskier drivers who may be more likely to file costly claims in the future. In the sections that follow, you’ll see how individual incident types can affect your insurance rates in Buffalo.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: CSAA
Being hit with a speeding ticket may cost you more than just the court fines and fees. Your car insurance company might bump up your premium as well. That’s because insurers believe a speeding ticket means you’re engaging in risky behavior, which could indicate you’re more likely to be in an accident and file a claim.
Buffalo drivers with speeding tickets see average car insurance rates of $370 per month for full coverage and $366 for liability only. Here, you can see how having a speeding ticket on your record affects the liability-only quotes you’ll receive from insurers.
Insurance Company | Clean Record | With Ticket |
---|---|---|
CSAA | $85 | $102 |
Liberty Mutual | $102 | $129 |
Progressive | $202 | $237 |
Erie | $272 | $333 |
USAA | $283 | $332 |
Bristol West | $372 | $443 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: CSAA
Your car insurance rates can rise by 10% following an at-fault accident, according to Insurify data. In this case, an insurer might hike your rates to offset the expenses associated with your accident claim. Fortunately, your rates shouldn’t spike as much if you’ve been involved in an accident that someone else caused.
In Buffalo, an at-fault accident can increase monthly car insurance rates to $378 on average for full coverage and $375 for liability-only policies. Here’s a breakdown of monthly quotes for drivers with an at-fault accident in Buffalo.
Insurance Company | Clean Record | With Accident |
---|---|---|
CSAA | $85 | $108 |
Liberty Mutual | $102 | $132 |
Progressive | $202 | $252 |
Erie | $272 | $346 |
USAA | $283 | $345 |
Bristol West | $372 | $455 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: CSAA
Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol can be dangerous and put a big dent in your budget. Aside from being stuck with potentially thousands of dollars in fines and legal expenses, a DUI conviction could double the amount you pay each month for car insurance. On top of that, a DUI in the state of New York stays on your driving record for 15 years after the date of your conviction.
Lastly, should you be convicted of a DUI, your insurance company may drop you, leaving you to look for a new insurer. Buffalo drivers convicted of driving under the influence can expect average car insurance rates of $380 per month for full coverage and $376 for liability-only coverage. Here’s a look at the quotes you can expect to see in Buffalo with a DUI on your record.
Insurance Company | Clean Record | With DUI |
---|---|---|
CSAA | $85 | $119 |
Liberty Mutual | $102 | $143 |
Progressive | $202 | $283 |
Erie | $272 | $381 |
USAA | $283 | $396 |
Bristol West | $372 | $521 |
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: CSAA
Middle-aged drivers generally pay less for car insurance than younger drivers because they’re more experienced and statistically less likely to engage in risky behavior. However, while rates typically go down from age 25 into the 60s, they may rise again once drivers reach their 70s or 80s. This is because drivers in this age group tend to get into more accidents on a per-mile basis, due in part to delayed reaction speed. They also might suffer more devastating injuries in a crash.
Car insurance for Buffalo seniors averages $351 per month for full coverage and $348 for liability. Below is a collection of the most affordable insurance quotes for seniors in the Buffalo area.
Insurance Company | Liability Only | Full Coverage |
---|---|---|
CSAA | $76 | $123 |
Liberty Mutual | $98 | $231 |
Progressive | $170 | $254 |
Erie | $246 | $369 |
USAA | $262 | $392 |
Bristol West | $346 | $417 |
Cheapest car insurance for teens: CSAA
Car insurance for teen drivers generally costs more than it does for drivers in other age groups. That’s because teen drivers are less experienced than other motorists, are inclined to be involved in more accidents, are easily distracted behind the wheel, and might be more reckless.
Parents trying to save money on their teen driver’s insurance should:
Compare quotes from several insurance companies.
Look into discounts for earning good grades in school and help their teen work to qualify for them.
Complete an approved driver education course.
Bundle car insurance with other coverage from the same company, such as homeowners insurance.
Keep the teen driver on their existing policy rather than putting the teen on a separate policy.
Buffalo teens can expect average car insurance rates of $583 per month for full coverage and $578 for liability. Here’s a look at the most affordable insurance quotes for teens in Buffalo.
Insurance Company | Liability Only | Full Coverage |
---|---|---|
CSAA | $141 | $229 |
Liberty Mutual | $180 | $425 |
Progressive | $366 | $547 |
Erie | $482 | $721 |
USAA | $500 | $750 |
Bristol West | $652 | $785 |
Buffalo car insurance quotes by credit tier
New York allows car insurers to use credit-based insurance scores as part of their rate-setting process. Insurers say these scores help predict whether a driver will file a claim.
Because of their credit-based insurance score, someone with a poor credit score might pay more for car insurance than someone with an excellent or good credit score. Insurify data shows a Buffalo driver with poor credit pays about 100% more per month for car insurance than one with excellent credit does.
Rates by Credit Tier
Is car insurance more expensive in Buffalo?
Car insurance in Buffalo is more expensive than the average cost of car insurance for the state of New York, but still less than the national average. In Buffalo, the average monthly costs are $324 for full coverage and $321 for liability, which is higher than the New York averages of $455 and $344.
But Buffalo drivers still have lower average rates than costs at the national level. Nationally, full-coverage car insurance averages $197 per month and liability-only coverage averages $105.
More cities in New York
Location significantly affects the cost of car insurance among cities in the same state. Here are average monthly rates in some other New York cities.
City | Full Coverage | Liability Only |
---|---|---|
New York | $547 | $504 |
Rochester | $282 | $152 |
Staten Island | $422 | $345 |
Syracuse | $355 | $319 |
Yonkers | $494 | $429 |
Buffalo car insurance FAQs
If you still have questions about car insurance in Buffalo, the answers below can help.
How much is car insurance in Buffalo?
Car insurance in Buffalo averages $324 per month for full coverage and $321 for liability-only policies. Your actual rate may be higher or lower than average depending on your individual rating factors including your age, gender, and driving history.
Which companies have the cheapest car insurance rates in Buffalo?
CSAA is the cheapest insurer for Buffalo drivers, offering minimum coverage as low as $85 per month. Buffalo drivers can also find affordable coverage with the city's second- and third-cheapest insurers, Liberty Mutual and Progressive, which offer liability rates starting at $102 and $202 per month, respectively.
What are the best car insurance companies in Buffalo?
CSAA, Safeco, and Liberty Mutual are among the best insurers in Buffalo. All three offer competitive rates, solid financial strength and multiple ways for policyholders to save money.
Is car insurance cheaper in Buffalo?
Car insurance in Buffalo is a mixed bag. While insurance rates in the city are less expensive than the national average, they’re higher than the New York state averages. Buffalo's severe weather, heavy snowfall, and high accident rates likely contribute to its higher car insurance costs.
Do you need additional insurance if you drive to Canada?
No. Reciprocal laws govern car insurance in the United States and Canada. This means if you drive to Canada and are in an accident, your standard insurance policy will cover you just as it would if you were in the United States.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 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 50+ 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:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Sources
- New York State. "DATA.NY.GOV."
- National Weather Service. "Buffalo Monthly Snowfall."
- J.D. Power. "P&C Insurer Digital Investments Not Enough to Offset Rising Rates, J.D. Power Finds."
- Better Business Bureau. "Liberty Mutual Insurance Group."
- New York Department of Financial Services. "Shopping for Auto Insurance."
)
John Egan is a freelance writer and content marketing strategist in Austin, Texas. His specialties include personal finance, real estate, and health and wellness. John’s work has been published by outlets such as CreditCard.com, Bankrate, Forbes Advisor, Experian, Capital One, The Balance and U.S. News & World Report. He is the author of The Stripped-Down Guide to Content Marketing.
John has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
)
15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
Featured in
)
30+ years in financial services
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.