New York Car Insurance Requirements in 2026

New York car insurance requirements at a glance

Coverage	Minimum Requirement in New York
Bodily injury liability per person	$25,000 ($50,000 for wrongful death)
Bodily injury liability per accident	$50,000 ($100,000 for wrongful death)
Property damage liability	$10,000 per accident
Personal injury protection (PIP)	$50,000
Uninsured motorist coverage per person	$25,000
Uninsured motorist coverage per accident	$50,000

New York car insurance requirements explained

New York requires drivers to carry more types of coverage than many other states. Beyond the standard bodily injury and property damage liability, drivers must have personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured motorist (UM) coverage.^[1] If you cause a fatal accident, higher liability limits automatically apply.

These current minimums have remained the same for years, but lawmakers may soon change them. Assembly Bill A5053, originally introduced in February 2025 and again in January 2026, proposes increasing the minimum limits as follows:^[2]

• Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident

• Property damage liability: $25,000

• Wrongful death: $100,000 per person/$200,000 per accident

To date, the existing 25/50/10 limits still apply.

While these are the minimum requirements, you can choose higher coverage amounts. If you cause a serious accident, you may be responsible for costs that exceed your policy limits.

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New York bodily injury liability insurance requirements

New York requires $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person and $50,000 per accident.

For example, if you cause a two-car crash that sends two people to the hospital, your insurance company will pay up to $25,000 per person for medical bills, up to $50,000 total for the accident. If the accident results in fatalities, your insurance will pay up to $50,000 per person for wrongful death and $100,000 per accident.

New York’s current 25/50 minimums are near the national midpoint. Some states require liability limits as low as 15/30, while others require limits as high as 50/100.^[3]

New York property damage liability insurance requirements

New York’s property damage liability minimum is $10,000 per accident. That’s on the lower end nationally, as many states require a minimum of $20,000 or $25,000 in property damage liability insurance.

If you have a state-minimum policy, rear-end a newer vehicle, and cause $18,000 in damage, your insurance company would cover the first $10,000. You’d be responsible for the remaining $8,000 out of pocket.

New York uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) insurance requirements

New York requires uninsured motorist coverage with minimum limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. While it doesn’t mandate underinsured motorist coverage, you can add this to your policy as part of supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorist (SUM) coverage.

Say an uninsured motorist runs a red light and hits you. Instead of pursuing that driver for payment you may never collect, your own uninsured motorist coverage will pay for your medical expenses up to your policy limits.

While New York’s uninsured motorist rate is 8.6%, it’s below the U.S. average of 12.3%, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I).^[4]

New York personal injury protection (PIP) requirements

In New York, drivers must have at least $50,000 in PIP coverage per person. That’s much higher than in many states, where minimum PIP requirements can be as low as $3,000.

Because New York is a no-fault state, your PIP coverage pays your medical bills and lost wages after an accident, regardless of fault. If you’re injured in a crash and miss work, PIP also helps replace a portion of your lost earnings, up to the policy limit.

Are New York’s car insurance requirements sufficient for most drivers?

New York’s minimum car insurance requirements aren’t enough for many New York drivers. The state’s 25/50/10 liability limits haven’t changed since 1995, even though accident costs have increased dramatically.

The average personal auto injury claim in New York is $46,726. That’s the third-highest average injury claim severity in the U.S., according to Triple-I.^[4]

With only minimum coverage, you could be responsible for paying the balance out of pocket after an accident you cause.

Coverage	State Minimum	Recommended for NY Drivers	Why
Bodily injury liability	$25,000/$50,000	$100,000/$300,000	Medical and legal costs in New York can easily exceed state-minimum coverage amounts
Property damage liability	$10,000	$100,000	Vehicle repair costs in NYC and surrounding areas routinely exceed $10,000
Personal injury protection	$50,000	$100,000	A hospitalization can easily surpass the $50,000 minimum
Uninsured motorist	$25,000/$50,000	$100,000/$300,000 (SUM coverage)	Mirrors recommended bodily injury limits
Collision	Not required	Recommended	Pays to repair your vehicle after an accident, regardless of fault
Comprehensive	Not required	Recommended	Covers theft, weather damage, and other non-collision events

Other car insurance requirements to be aware of in New York

Two additional coverage requirements might apply to you, depending on your situation.

If you finance or lease your vehicle, your lender or leasing company will likely require comprehensive and collision coverage. Full coverage protects the lender’s financial interest in the car.

Additionally, all auto insurance policies issued in New York must include supplemental spousal liability (SSL) coverage unless you decline it in writing. SSL coverage allows your injured spouse to file a claim against your policy if you caused the accident.

How New York’s car insurance requirements influence rates

New York drivers pay an average of $153 per month for minimum coverage. That’s roughly 56% higher than the national average for minimum coverage, according to Insurify data.

While several factors influence average car insurance rates in New York, the state’s high minimum coverage limits result in higher premiums.

New York’s no-fault car insurance system also affects premiums. In no-fault states, your own insurance pays for your medical bills and lost wages after an accident, regardless of who’s at fault.

For example, if you cause an accident with injuries on the Long Island Expressway, your policy’s bodily injury and property damage liability coverage pays for the other driver’s damages. Your PIP coverage also pays for your own medical expenses.

Cheapest state-minimum required car insurance in New York

The below rates in New York are estimated rates current as of: Sunday, June 7 at 5:00 PM PDT. 

Insurance Company	Average Monthly Quote
Erie	$71
USAA	$74
Travelers	$87
State Farm	$101
Allstate	$107
Nationwide	$108
GEICO	$111
CSAA	$182
Chubb	$197
Progressive	$208
Bristol West	$282

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time New York car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in New York may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

New York car insurance laws and related programs

The New York Automobile Insurance Plan (NYAIP) is a state-backed program that provides auto liability and physical damage coverage to drivers who can’t find coverage through the standard insurance market.

All New York car insurance companies must participate in the program, and a licensed New York insurance agent or broker can help. You’re eligible for coverage through the program if you have tried and failed to buy insurance on the standard market within the last 60 days.

New York state law also mandates certain car insurance discounts.^[5] All companies selling car insurance in the state must offer discounts for:

• Taking an accident prevention course (defensive driving)

• Installing an electronic tracking device

• Factory-installed anti-lock braking system (ABS)

• Passive restraints (automatic seat belts or airbags)

• Factory-installed daytime running lamps (DRL)

• Window glass etching

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Penalties for driving without insurance in New York

New York has a series of escalating penalties if the police catch you without insurance. Here’s what you could face:

• Civil penalties: The state DMV may fine you $8 per day for insurance lapses of 30 days or less, $10 per day for lapses between 31 and 60 days, and $12 per day for lapses of up to 90 days.

• Legal consequences: The police could arrest you and ticket you for driving without insurance, and a law enforcement officer may impound your vehicle.

• Registration suspension: The state may suspend your vehicle registration and require you to turn in your license plates.

• License suspension: The state can suspend your driver’s license if the registration suspension period lasts more than 90 days. To reinstate your license, you’ll have to pay a $50 fee.

• License and registration revocation: If you’re in an accident without insurance, the state will revoke your license and registration for at least one year. You’ll have to pay a traffic court fine of at least $1,500 and an additional civil penalty fine of $750 to get your license back from the DMV.

A coverage lapse can also make it harder to find affordable car insurance.

Other car insurance coverages worth considering in New York

While state law doesn’t require them, the following coverages address risks of owning and driving a vehicle in the Empire State:

• Comprehensive coverage: New York ranks No. 6 in the nation for vehicle thefts, with 28,272 reported in 2024, according to a report from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.^[6] Comprehensive coverage pays to repair or replace a stolen vehicle and covers other non-collision losses, such as vandalism, flooding, and damage from hail and other falling objects.

• Collision coverage: New York roads, especially in and around New York City, experience some of the worst traffic congestion in the country, and heavy traffic increases the likelihood of car accidents. Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident, regardless of fault.

• Additional PIP: You may quickly exhaust New York’s minimum PIP limits after a serious accident. Additional PIP coverage extends those limits in increments of $50,000, giving you more financial protection for extended medical treatment or lost income.

• Rental reimbursement coverage: If you rely on your car to get to work, rental reimbursement covers the cost of a rental vehicle after a covered claim.

• Supplementary UM coverage: New York’s required uninsured motorist coverage doesn’t protect you after a hit-and-run or an accident with a driver who lacks sufficient coverage. Supplementary UM coverage extends coverage in these instances.

New York car insurance requirements FAQs