Cheapest Liability Car Insurance in New York (2026)
Drivers in New York state can find the cheapest liability-only car insurance from Erie, with rates averaging $70 per month.
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Written byLindsay Frankel
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Lindsay FrankelInsurance Writer
5+ years in auto insurance and personal finance writing
Featured in top personal finance publications
Lindsay is a widely published creator of auto insurance content. She also specializes in real estate, banking, credit cards, and other personal finance topics.
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Edited byJohn Leach
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John LeachLicensed P&C Agent, Chief Copy Editor
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
John is Insurify’s Chief Copy Editor, helping ensure the accuracy and readability of Insurify’s content. He’s a licensed agent specializing in home and car insurance topics.
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Reviewed byMacKenzie Korris
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MacKenzie KorrisLicensed P&C Agent, Insurance Copy Editor
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Missouri.
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Table of contents
What is liability car insurance?
Liability insurance helps pay for medical expenses and repair costs if you cause a car accident that injures others or damages their property.[1]
New York also requires no-fault insurance, which pays for medical expenses regardless of fault, and uninsured motorist coverage, which covers your injuries if an uninsured driver hits you.
Liability insurance doesn’t protect your car against theft, vandalism, or natural disasters. It also won’t pay to repair your car if you cause an accident.
To protect your vehicle, you need full-coverage insurance, including comprehensive coverage and collision coverage.
Cheapest liability car insurance in New York
The average cost of car insurance in New York is $153 per month for liability-only coverage and $252 per month for full coverage. Liability coverage is typically cheaper than full coverage, but your cost depends on factors like your driving history, age and gender, credit history, and ZIP code.[2]
The companies in the following table have some of the cheapest rates for liability car insurance in New York.
The below national rates are estimated rates current as of: Monday, May 11 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company  | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only |
|---|---|
| Erie | $70 |
| USAA | $73 |
| Travelers | $85 |
| State Farm | $99 |
| Allstate | $105 |
| Nationwide | $106 |
| GEICO | $109 |
| Chubb | $194 |
| Progressive | $200 |
| Bristol West | $277 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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Minimum liability car insurance requirements in New York
New York has more minimum-coverage insurance requirements than most states. To meet New York state minimum requirements, car insurance policies must include:
Liability coverage: If you cause an auto accident, your liability insurance helps pay for the other person’s property damage and medical bills (up to your policy limits).
No-fault insurance (personal injury protection): After an accident, your PIP insurance covers medical bills (including your passengers’) and lost wages, regardless of fault.
Uninsured motorist coverage: UM coverage helps pay for your medical expenses (and your passengers’) if an uninsured driver hits you or you’re involved in a hit-and-run.
The table below shows the New York auto insurance requirements and minimum limits for each coverage type.
Type of Coverage | State Minimum Coverage Limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability coverage | $25,000 for bodily injury / $50,000 per accident ($50,000 for death of a person involved in a crash) $50,000 for bodily injury / $100,000 per accident ($100,000 for death of two or more people in a crash) |
| Property damage liability coverage | $10,000 per accident |
| Personal injury protection | $50,000 per person plus a $2,000 death benefit |
| Uninsured motorists coverage | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
Disclaimer: Table data is based on real-time quotes from Insurify’s network of 500+ insurance partners. Actual rates may vary depending on the policyholder’s individual profile and coverage needs.
New York liability insurance doesn’t cover damage to your own car. If you caused an accident, hit a deer in the road, or sustained windshield damage from a hailstorm, you’d need a full-coverage policy to pay for those losses.
Is minimum liability coverage enough in New York?
For many New York residents, state-minimum liability insurance isn’t enough. It doesn’t cover your vehicle, and it may not provide enough financial protection if you damage a new car or cause an accident with serious injuries.
For example, if you’re the at-fault driver and total a brand-new BMW, a policy with only $10,000 in property damage liability coverage won’t be enough. The owner could sue you for damages exceeding your policy limits. You’d have to pay for the remaining damages out of pocket.
You may need full-coverage insurance and/or higher liability coverage limits if:
You have an auto loan or lease.
You drive a new or expensive vehicle.
You rely on your car and can’t afford to replace it out of pocket.
You have significant assets or a high net worth.
You have inadequate or high-deductible health insurance.
You live in New York City or a high-crime area and park on the street.
Because New York allows injured parties to sue negligent drivers for serious injuries, the state’s Department of Financial Services recommends increasing your liability limits or buying an umbrella policy if you have assets to protect.
Optional coverages to consider adding to your New York car insurance policy include gap insurance and roadside assistance.
Penalties for driving without liability insurance in New York
Driving without auto insurance in New York has serious consequences. If you get pulled over by a law enforcement officer and can’t show proof of insurance, insurers could label you as a high-risk driver for insurance purposes. In addition:
Law enforcement could arrest you and imprison you for up to 15 days.
A traffic court may fine you between $150 and $1,500.
You could pay a civil penalty of $750.
The police could impound your vehicle.
The state could suspend or revoke your driver’s license and registration.
The state will charge a fee to reinstate your driver’s license.
If you don’t have auto insurance coverage in New York and someone driving your car gets into an accident, you’ll face more severe consequences:
If the accident seriously injures another person or damages their property, the law could hold you responsible for their expenses, and you could face a lawsuit.
You’ll lose your driver’s license and vehicle registration for at least one year.[3]
You’ll need to pay the DMV a $750 civil penalty to restore your license.
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How to find cheap liability car insurance in New York
Liability insurance coverage is usually cheaper than full-coverage auto insurance, which is good news for budget-conscious drivers. You can take the following steps to find the best car insurance in New York.
Complete the state-approved defensive driving course. If you have a violation on your driving record, consider taking the New York DMV-approved online defensive driving course. Completing the Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP) guarantees a 10% discount on your auto insurance premium for three years.
Improve your credit. Your credit influences your credit-based insurance score, which insurers can use to set your rates. New York requires insurers to inform you of the credit factors affecting your premium. You can request a review of your credit information once every three years. If your score improves, your insurer may lower your premium.
Ask about discounts. Most insurers offer multi-policy discounts. For example, you can bundle auto insurance and home insurance. You might also get a discount for being a good student or maintaining a clean record.
Compare rates. Auto insurance companies charge different rates for the same coverage, so getting quotes every six months can help you save money. Pick three insurers that seem like a good fit, and review quotes from each to find the best deal. This only takes a few minutes and is one of the easiest ways to lower your New York car insurance costs.
Liability car insurance in New York FAQs
New York law requires drivers to have liability car insurance coverage. The following frequently asked questions and answers provide more information about coverage in the Empire State.
How much does liability insurance cost in New York?
Liability insurance costs an average of $153 per month in New York. Erie has some of the cheapest coverage. Your cost depends on factors like your ZIP code, age, driving record, and gender.
Do you need liability insurance in New York?
Yes. You must have liability insurance to drive in New York legally. The state requires the following coverage types and amounts:
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability ($50,000 for death of a person involved in a crash)
$50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury ($100,000 for death of two or more people in a crash)
$10,000 per accident in property damage liability
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in uninsured motorists coverage
$50,000 per person in personal injury protection (PIP) + a $2,000 death benefit
Is New York a no-fault state?
Yes. New York is a no-fault state. After an accident, drivers must file an insurance claim with their own insurance company, regardless of fault. Because it’s a no-fault state, you must have PIP coverage to pay for your medical expenses, and it’s harder to sue drivers for damages.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 190 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:
- 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 Department of Financial Services. "What You Need to Know About...Purchasing Auto Insurance."
- Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. "Insurance Lapses."
)
Lindsay FrankelInsurance Writer
5+ years in auto insurance and personal finance writing
Featured in top personal finance publications
Lindsay is a widely published creator of auto insurance content. She also specializes in real estate, banking, credit cards, and other personal finance topics.
Featured in
Lindsay is a widely published creator of auto insurance content. She also specializes in real estate, banking, credit cards, and other personal finance topics.
John LeachLicensed P&C Agent, Chief Copy Editor
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
John is Insurify’s Chief Copy Editor, helping ensure the accuracy and readability of Insurify’s content. He’s a licensed agent specializing in home and car insurance topics.
Featured in
MacKenzie KorrisLicensed P&C Agent, Insurance Copy Editor
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Missouri.