3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
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Rochester drivers pay an average of $144 per month for full-coverage car insurance, which is lower than the New York state average of $169 per month, and significantly less than the national average of $213.
On the southern shore of Lake Ontario, Rochester has an extensive network of highways that reduces traffic in the city. This lack of gridlock may contribute to the city’s reasonable auto insurance rates.
Learn more about the cheapest car insurance options in Rochester and how to find the best rate for your unique driving profile.
Quick Facts
CSAA, Safeco, and Liberty Mutual offer the lowest car insurance rates for Rochester drivers.
New York allows insurers to use your credit history to generate a credit-based insurance score to help them determine your rates.[1]
Because New York is a no-fault state, each driver involved in an auto accident needs to file a claim with their insurer.[2]
Best car insurance companies in Rochester
Before choosing a car insurance company, you should consider your budget and specific coverage needs. The right insurer for you might look different than the best insurer for another driver.
The three car insurance companies below offer Rochester drivers a unique combination of low prices and high customer satisfaction ratings.
Insurance Company
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
Full Coverage
Liability Only
Best For
CSAA
3.5
$201
$140
Cheap rates
Safeco
3.8
$195
$157
Classic car owners
Erie
4.4
$459
$324
Teen drivers
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Our editorial team spent 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. Criteria are weighted 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 5 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. We update ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
Third-party financial ratings: We use 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 20,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also considered 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 United States, 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 identified the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share to score availability and reach.
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
3.5
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
815
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.
$98/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.
$140/mo
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. AM Best gives CSAA a financial strength rating of A, which means the insurer is financially stable and should be able to pay claims. 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.
Pros
Lowest rates for Buffalo drivers
Discounts for automatic bill pay, claims-free, and more
Cons
Only sells to AAA members
Little information about coverage options on website
If I had to call my agent, who is great, I would no longer be a customer. The telephone answering system is poor. I had to go through three different agents before getting through to the Spring Hill office. After 30 years of being a customer, I am thinking about making a change. I do not recommend this company anymore.
Paul - April 22, 2024
Verified
Poor
Lower prices.
Johnny - April 22, 2024
Verified
Unreimbursed Tow Service
I had a tow service for which I was never reimbursed. I paid $220 for a tow and showed the receipt, but AAA wanted an itemized bill from the tow company.
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
3.8
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
825
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.
$108/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.
$149/mo
Owned by Liberty Mutual, Safeco offers several insurance products, including auto, homeowners, renters, and pet insurance. Safeco’s classic car insurance offers plenty of key coverages, including agreed-value coverage, limited-use coverage, and roadside assistance. You can even earn a multi-car discount if you insure your everyday car and a classic car with the company.
The Liberty Mutual brand ranked 13th in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, falling just below the industry average, and earned an AM Best financial strength rating of A (Excellent).
Pros
Pays cash back to customers who remain claims-free
Many options for customizing car insurance
Cons
Limited number of discounts
Customer reviews indicate room for improvement in customer service
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.4
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
870
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.
$229/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.
$336/mo
Even though Rochester has fairly reasonable car insurance rates, teens typically pay more. Luckily, Erie offers a number of discounts for young drivers. The youthful driver discount offers savings to unmarried drivers younger than 21 who live with their parents. Plus, the youthful driver longevity discount rewards drivers who stay on their parent or guardian’s policy for multiple years.
The company ranked third in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Pros
Excellent BBB, J.D. Power, and AM Best ratings
Competitive rates for teenagers and drivers with speeding tickets
Cons
Fewer additional coverage options than some other insurers
Policy purchasing and claim filing not available online
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Rochester
Rochester drivers pay 18% more than the national average for car insurance. You can find the best deal in the area for you by using these strategies:
Raise your deductible. Your deductible describes the amount you need to pay out of pocket on a claim before your insurance kicks in. Higher deductibles generally lead to lower monthly premiums.
Choose the right car. Choosing a car with a strong safety record and advanced safety features is a good idea if you’re looking for cheap auto insurance.
Bundle home and auto. Purchasing car insurance and home insurance from the same company may qualify you for a bundling discount. The same applies to other insurance products, like renters and life insurance.
Shop around and compare quotes. Companies offer different rates on auto insurance coverage. Receiving quotes from at least three companies and comparing them side by side is the best way to find the cheapest car insurance rates.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Rochester: CSAA
Liability insurance covers the other driver’s repair costs and medical bills if you have an accident. However, a liability-only policy won’t cover your medical expenses or vehicle damage.[3] This coverage can work well for drivers of inexpensive or older vehicles with lots of mileage. Otherwise, you may want to purchase additional coverage for more protection.
On average, liability-only policies cost $87 per monthly in Rochester. Here are the cheapest companies in Rochester for liability-only car insurance.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, April 17 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Rochester: CSAA
Full-coverage insurance policies provide more protection than liability-only policies by including collision coverage, which covers your vehicle repairs after an accident regardless of fault, and comprehensive coverage, which covers damage from non-collision events like fire, vandalism, or severe weather.
Because full-coverage insurance offers more robust vehicle and financial protection, it’s more expensive than a liability-only policy. Drivers of new or high-value cars should consider purchasing this coverage. If you finance or lease your vehicle, your auto lender may require you to have this coverage.
Rochester drivers see average full-coverage rates of $144 per month, according to Insurify data. Here are the cheapest car insurance options for full-coverage policies in Rochester.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, April 17 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Car insurance requirements in New York
New York drivers must carry a minimum amount of liability insurance to drive legally in the state. Because New York is a no-fault state, both drivers must file claims with their auto insurer after an accident, regardless of fault.[4] Drivers also need to purchase personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which kicks in to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
You could face license and registration suspension if you fail to maintain the required car insurance in New York.[5] Find the specific requirements for liability and no-fault coverage in New York below.
Beyond liability and PIP coverage, drivers in New York can also purchase the following optional coverages:
Collision coverage
Collision insurance covers damage to your car after an auto accident or a collision with an object, regardless of fault.
Comprehensive coverage
If you face damage to your car from a non-collision event, such as theft, vandalism, or severe weather, comprehensive coverage kicks in.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage pays for your repairs and medical bills if you have an accident with a driver who doesn’t have enough or any insurance.
Cheapest car insurance for Rochester drivers with an incident
Drivers with incidents on their driving record — such as a speeding ticket, driving under the influence charge, or at-fault accident — pay higher average rates for car insurance. Auto insurers see you as riskier to insure after an incident, so they charge higher premiums to offset that risk. How much a Rochester driver’s rate increases varies by the severity of the incident.[6]
Find Car Insurance in Rochester After an Accident
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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: CSAA
Receiving a speeding ticket will typically increase your car insurance rates. Drivers in Rochester with one or more tickets may have to search a bit harder to find affordable rates. However, a single speeding ticket shouldn’t increase your premium by a significant amount.
A speeding ticket pushes the average cost of car insurance in Rochester to $162 monthly for full coverage and $98 for minimum coverage. Here's how a speeding ticket affects liability car insurance rates from some top insurers for Rochester drivers.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, April 17 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: CSAA
Filing a claim after an at-fault accident will typically result in an increase in your insurance rates. The severity of the rate increase will vary by company, but you can expect to deal with higher premiums after an accident for about three years.[7]
Rochester drivers with at-fault accidents face average car insurance costs of $162 per month for full coverage and $98 for liability-only policies. Here are the Rochester auto insurers offering the cheapest liability rates to drivers with an at-fault accident.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, April 17 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: CSAA
A DUI is the most serious violation a driver can receive and will often result in the steepest increase in car insurance rates. A car insurance company may even choose not to renew your policy if you receive a DUI.
A DUI in Rochester significantly affects monthly rates, pushing liability coverage to an average of $115 per month and full coverage to $190. The following insurance companies offer the lowest average liability-only rates for Rochester drivers with a DUI on their record.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, April 17 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for Rochester seniors: CSAA
Though young people tend to deal with high insurance costs, rates typically decrease steadily between your 30s and early 70s. But senior drivers may see their rates increase again after age 75 because insurers see drivers in that age group as higher risk. Senior drivers typically pay more than middle-aged drivers but much less than drivers younger than 30.
The average monthly cost of car insurance for Rochester seniors is $117 for full coverage and $71 for minimum coverage. Here are the cheapest insurance companies for older drivers in Rochester.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, April 17 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for Rochester teens: CSAA
Teen drivers have a much higher accident rate than drivers 20 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).[8] Insurance companies typically view teenagers as high-risk drivers and charge them higher rates to offset this risk. Teens can lower their rates by joining their parents’ insurance policy, driving a safe car, and earning a good student discount.
Teen drivers in Rochester will find average rates of $259 per month for full coverage and $71 for minimum coverage. Certain car insurance companies also offer more affordable rates to teen drivers. Here are the cheapest auto insurance companies in Rochester for teens.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, April 17 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Find Cheap Car Insurance in Rochester, NY
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Rochester car insurance quotes by credit tier
Consumer advocates in New York have recently pushed lawmakers to block insurers from using credit information to determine car insurance rates. But credit is still a factor when it comes to insurance coverage in the Empire State. As the chart below shows, drivers with excellent or good credit pay less than drivers with poor credit.
Rates by Credit Tier
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.
Is car insurance more expensive in Rochester?
Rochester drivers pay, on average, $144 per month for full-coverage car insurance, and $87 for minimum coverage. These rates are lower than both the New York state and national averages. Car insurance rates vary by city due to a variety of factors. Local property values, repair costs, weather patterns, and crime rates all influence a given ZIP code’s average rates. More expensive cities usually have higher car insurance rates.
More cities in New York
Car insurance rates in Rochester are lower than average premiums in New York City, Buffalo, Staten Island, and more. Drivers in Albany or Schenectady pay even lower rates.
The table below shows average monthly quotes in other New York cities.
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.
Rochester car insurance FAQs
Before you begin comparing quotes from various insurers, you should consider how much coverage you need. The following process should help you navigate the insurance-buying process in Rochester, New York.
How much is car insurance in Rochester, NY?
The average cost of car insurance in Rochester is $144 per month for full coverage and $87 for minimum coverage. Rochester's averages are lower than those at the New York state and national levels. But your actual rates may be more or less than average, depending on your individual rating factors, including your age, gender, and driving history.
What are the best car insurance companies in Rochester?
CSAA, Safeco, and Erie are the best insurers for Rochester drivers. All three have solid financial strength ratings from AM Best and offer a good balance of coverages and discounts. Erie's 4.4 Insurify Quality (IQ) Score puts it at the forefront of customer service among the three top options, but it may not be the cheapest choice for all drivers.
Which company has the cheapest car insurance in Rochester?
CSAA has the cheapest car insurance rates for Rochester drivers. Its liability-only policies start at $98 per month. The city's second- and third-cheapest insurers, Safeco and Liberty Mutual, also offer affordable rates. Safeco's minimum-coverage policies start at $108 monthly, while Liberty Mutual's begin around $144 per month.
Is New York a no-fault state?
Yes. New York is a no-fault state. This means, in the event of an accident, both drivers must file claims with their auto insurers. In addition to liability coverage, drivers in New York must purchase a minimum amount of personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. PIP coverage can pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, and more following an accident.
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.
A.M. is a Brooklyn-based writer, editor, and content marketing strategist who's worked with major brands in insurance, tech, finance, and healthcare. He also contributes to The Average Joe, a personal finance newsletter that reaches over 250,000 daily readers. Since 2019, he's written for Insurify, breaking down a diverse range of insurance topics into crisp, readable prose.
Edited byKatie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Katie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
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CSAA
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