New York Car Insurance Laws and Requirements (2023)

Maria Sanchez
Written byMaria Sanchez
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Maria SanchezInsurance Writer

Maria Sanchez is a personal finance writer specializing in auto, home, and renters insurance. With a special interest in educational content, Maria distills complex financial information to be more accessible to the greater public. She holds degrees from the University of Massachusetts and the London School of Economics.

Jackie Cohen
Edited byJackie Cohen
Photo of an Insurify author
Jackie CohenEditorial Manager

Jackie Cohen is an editorial manager at Insurify specializing in property & casualty insurance educational content. She has years of experience analyzing insurance trends and helping consumers better understand their insurance coverage to make informed decisions about their finances.

Jackie's work has been cited in USA Today, The Balance, and The Washington Times.

Updated June 17, 2022

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New York law dictates the minimum requirements for insurance coverage that all drivers must carry. All drivers in New York State must hold 25/50/10 in liability insurance, as well as additional personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage. Plus, drivers can pick from a long list of additional coverages for added protection.

Quick Facts
  • Car insurance is required by law in New York.

  • Drivers in New York must carry 25/50/10 in liability, PIP, and uninsured motorist coverages.

  • If caught driving without insurance, drivers face up to $1,500 in fines and potential license suspension.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in New York

The minimum car insurance requirements in New York[1] are:

  • $25,000 for bodily injury liability and $50,000 for death per person

  • $50,000 for bodily injury liability and $100,000 for death per accident

  • $10,000 for property damage liability per accident

  • Personal injury protection

  • Uninsured motorist coverage

Each state has its own set of laws that govern the minimum amount of car insurance drivers need. New York requires a bit more than others, but this is to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. More importantly, it is a no-fault state, meaning that when you get into an accident, your insurer pays for the cost of damages (up to the limit), no matter who’s at fault for causing it.

Why is car insurance required in New York?

Auto insurance protects drivers from financial liability in the event of an accident. Depending on a policy’s specific coverage limitations, car insurance may cover everything from vehicle damage to medical bills.

Bodily Injury Liability

Bodily injury liability is part of your liability car insurance coverage. If you cause an accident, this coverage will help cover the other party’s medical expenses. This type of coverage will not cover your own medical expenses for injuries sustained in a car accident you caused. Bodily injury liability coverage is required in New York.

Property Damage Liability

Property damage liability is the other half of your liability car insurance. It covers repair costs and damage expenses to the other cars involved in an accident you caused. This coverage does not cover damage to your own car in an accident you were at fault for. Property damage liability coverage is required in New York.

Personal Injury Protection

Personal injury protection, also known as PIP, covers medical bills, lost wages, and replacement services for you and other members of your household if you’re injured in a car accident. PIP coverage provides support regardless of who is at fault for an accident. Personal injury protection is required in New York, as it is a no-fault state[2].

Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage

New York state insurance law also mandates that all drivers carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UI). This is to help support you and the passengers in your car if you get into an accident with an uninsured driver and they’re unable to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, or other costs if you sustain a mild to serious injury. Hit-and-runs are also covered.

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Is state minimum car insurance enough in New York?

The minimum required car insurance coverage in New York provides drivers with a solid foundation of auto insurance coverage, but it may not be enough for everyone. While New York mandates no-fault insurance that provides bodily injury coverage via PIP for you, your family, and any other passengers, you might want to consider topping up if you want more protection.

In addition, the minimum insurance coverage only requires $10,000 for property damage per accident. This relatively small amount might not cover more serious accidents that have significant repair costs for property and vehicles. If you don’t want to get stuck paying for repairs out of pocket, you can add more coverage to your auto insurance policy and extend the limit.

Optional Car Insurance Coverage for New York

New York drivers who want to be protected in any situation should consider bolstering the minimum car insurance coverage with the following supplemental car insurance coverages:

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage covers damages to your car after a collision with another vehicle or object. If your vehicle is a total loss, collision coverage will reimburse you for the actual cash value of your vehicle. This is a great addition to the required property damage liability coverage in New York, which applies only to the damages to the other driver’s vehicle.

Comprehensive Coverage

Complementing your collision coverage, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle that occurs during an event that is not a collision with another vehicle or object. This may apply in situations of vandalism, theft, weather damage, or a run-in with an animal. Adding comprehensive and collision coverage together creates a full-coverage car insurance policy.

Other Supplemental Coverage

You can customize your policy based on your unique needs and patterns indicated by your driving record. For example, if you find that you are more likely to get into a collision, you might want to consider topping up your PIP with additional medical payments coverage (MedPay) to make sure you’re covered if you have to pay hefty medical bills.

Also, New York is a large state with routes to New England, Canada, and the East Coast. If you find yourself driving long stretches on road trips, it might be helpful to get roadside assistance. Services can include an on-call tow truck, changing a flat tire, jump-starting a dead battery, helping if you lock yourself out of your car, and delivering gasoline to your car if you run out.

Average Cost of Car Insurance in New York

Average Cost of Car Insurance in New York

Penalties for Driving Uninsured in New York

It is illegal to drive in New York without the minimum car insurance coverage. Failure to show your proof of insurance to a law enforcement officer can result in some serious fines and penalties. Uninsured drivers who get into an accident risk not only having no coverage but also losing their driver’s license and registration for a minimum of one year—even if they’re the victim.

  • A fine of up to $1,500

  • A fee of $750 to reinstate your license

  • Loss of driving privileges for at least one year and returning your plates to the DMV

New York has no grace period. Even a one-day lapse in your coverage can lead to fines and penalties. However, drivers who fail to show their insurance card have the option to reinstate their coverage within 90 days of the violation and pay a civil penalty of $8–$12 per day of lapsed coverage. This saves drivers from having their driver’s license and vehicle registration revoked.

High-Risk Car Insurance in New York

High-Risk Car Insurance in New York

Minimum Requirements for High-Risk Drivers in New York

Driving under the influence (DUI) is illegal everywhere. Risking operating a vehicle with drugs or alcohol in your system can lead to your license being revoked, on top of a number of other fees and penalties. To reinstate your license, you must request and receive approval from the Department of Motor Vehicles’ Driver Improvement Unit (DIU) to apply for a new license.

It’s up to the DIU to examine your driving history and see if you pass New York laws and requirements. While you don’t need an SR-22 to reinstate your license, know that insurance providers will jack up the cost of your insurance premium. If you move from a state with SR-22 insurance requirements to New York, then you will still need an SR-22.

More Information for High-Risk Drivers in New York

DUI Insurance in New York

Cheapest Minimum Car Insurance in New York

Car insurance companies weigh different factors to determine what to quote drivers on their car insurance policies. Minimum coverage generally means lower car insurance rates. It also means low coverage limits, which may cost you if you’re ever involved in an accident. Here are the cheapest car insurance quotes for minimum coverage in New York.

Insurance CompanyMonthly Quote for Minimum Coverage
Travelers$179
Safeco$233
Progressive$289
Liberty Mutual$398
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

How to Find Cheap Car Insurance in New York

Whether you’re looking for the minimum amount of insurance or want to tailor your policy to include additional coverage that fits your needs, you shouldn’t have to worry about breaking the bank. A great way to save is to shop around first. Insurify makes it easy to get a high-quality policy at a rate you can afford by helping you compare car insurance quotes in just minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is car insurance mandatory in New York?

    Yes, anyone who operates a vehicle in the state of New York needs to carry 25/50/10 in liability coverage, which protects anyone they cause bodily injury or property damage to. On top of that, drivers also need to carry personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage to make sure they’re protected as well in the case of an accident.

  • Is New York a no-fault state?

    Yes, the good news is that New York is a no-fault state. This means that when you get into an accident, your insurer pays for the cost of damages (up to your limit), no matter who’s at fault for causing it.

  • Does New York require uninsured motorist protection?

    Yes, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UI) will help cover medical expenses if the at-fault driver surpasses the limits of their bodily injury liability coverage limits. This includes any medical-related bills, lost wages, or other costs if you sustain an injury, as well as any hit-and-run accidents.

  • Do you need car insurance to register a car in New York?

    Yes, you need to show your liability insurance coverage registered by New York State at the time of registration. Failure to do so can result in the DMV suspending your license and registration.

  • How can I find cheap car insurance in New York?

    It’s easy to get cheap car insurance if you shop around first. Use Insurify to compare car insurance quotes in a matter of minutes, all for free and without the hassle of speaking with an insurance agent. Different insurance companies charge different rates for the same amount of coverage, whether you’re going for the minimum requirements or more, so do your research.

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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
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
  • 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

  1. Department of Motor Vehicles. "State Minimum Car Insurance Requirements." Accessed June 14, 2022
  2. Department of Financial Services. "No-Fault Benefits-Personal Injury Protection." Accessed June 15, 2022
Maria Sanchez
Maria SanchezInsurance Writer

Maria Sanchez is a personal finance writer specializing in auto, home, and renters insurance. With a special interest in educational content, Maria distills complex financial information to be more accessible to the greater public. She holds degrees from the University of Massachusetts and the London School of Economics.

Jackie Cohen
Edited byJackie CohenEditorial Manager
Photo of an Insurify author
Jackie CohenEditorial Manager

Jackie Cohen is an editorial manager at Insurify specializing in property & casualty insurance educational content. She has years of experience analyzing insurance trends and helping consumers better understand their insurance coverage to make informed decisions about their finances.

Jackie's work has been cited in USA Today, The Balance, and The Washington Times.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes Instantly

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualTravelers