8 years in insurance and personal finance writing
Former data scientist for U.S. Geological Survey
Lindsay is a freelance personal finance writer currently pursuing her Series 65 license. She enjoys helping readers learn money management skills that improve their lives.
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3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
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Updated November 21, 2024
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Table of contents
Drivers in New York face the third-highest car insurance costs in the country, with an average monthly premium of $407 for full-coverage insurance. New York requires drivers to carry more insurance than most other states, and the state also deals with one in four personal injury protection claims involving a lawsuit, which can drive up the shared risk and car insurance costs.[1]
If you know what factors cause your car insurance rates to vary, you can have a better idea of whether you’re paying too much for car insurance or getting a good deal. Here are the average car insurance costs in New York and what you can expect to pay depending on your age, gender, marital status, and more.
New York’s state minimum requirements contribute to the state’s high insurance costs.
Brooklyn, The Bronx, and New York City have the highest car insurance rates in the state.
The cheapest insurers in New York are CSAA, Safeco, and Liberty Mutual.
What’s the average cost of car insurance in New York?
The average monthly cost of car insurance is $407 for full-coverage policies and $311 for minimum coverage in New York. While many states require just personal liability and property damage insurance, New York also requires personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured motorist coverage.[2]
“New York requires more auto insurance than most other states,” says Michael DeLong, Consumer Federation of America research and advisory associate. “In certain places, auto insurance premiums can be very expensive, sometimes even over $3,000 or $4,000 annually.”
Average New York car insurance rates by city
The city or even the ZIP code you live in can affect how much you pay for car insurance. That’s because insurance companies charge more if you live in an area where they’re likely to pay out higher claims, and more of them.
Some areas are simply riskier to live in. For example, you might be more likely to file a claim if you live in an urban area where auto theft and vandalism rates are high.[3] This is the case with many of New York’s big cities, unfortunately, and it’s reflected in your cost of car insurance, even if you never file a claim.
City ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Buffalo | $243 | $186 |
New York | $547 | $459 |
Rochester | $204 | $98 |
Staten Island | $449 | $343 |
Average New York car insurance rates by insurance company
Car insurance companies set their own rates, and these can be very different in New York state. It’s yet another reason why it’s important to shop around. If you purchased a policy from Bristol West, for example, you might pay four times more per year for insurance than if you shopped around and found that Travelers may be a cheaper option.
Keep in mind that these are averages across all people and situations in New York, and these averages may not hold up in your car insurance shopping experience. Sometimes, insurers offer better rates to different drivers, and that’s not always something you find out until you shop around.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
CSAA | $179 | $119 |
Safeco | $182 | $162 |
Liberty Mutual | $290 | $198 |
Progressive | $371 | $250 |
Erie | $500 | $337 |
USAA | $520 | $351 |
Bristol West | $558 | $483 |
Average New York car insurance rates by age
Car insurance rates change based on your age. Rates are generally higher for very young and very old drivers, with costs decreasing after drivers turn 25.[3]
Young drivers are charged more because they have less experience behind the wheel. As drivers age and gain experience, rates decrease.
Here’s how much New York drivers can expect to pay, on average, depending on how old they are.
Age ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
Teenagers | $925 |
Younger than 25 | $620 |
25–29 | $465 |
30s | $418 |
40s | $432 |
50s | $389 |
60s | $320 |
70s | $291 |
80+ | $348 |
Cheapest recent rates in New York
Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $119/mo for liability only and $179/mo for full coverage in New York.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on November 21, 2024
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on November 21, 2024
Average New York car insurance rates by gender
Men are often charged higher rates than women because they tend to get into more accidents. Women are less likely than men to be convicted of a DUI offense, for example.[3]
The table below shows the average rates for car insurance in New York by gender.
Gender ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Men | $425 | $325 |
Women | $382 | $292 |
Average New York car insurance rates by marital status
Married drivers in New York tend to pay less for car insurance than single drivers. Because married people may insure their cars under one policy, they may get a discount, contributing to lower rates. The following table illustrates liability rates from top carriers for both married and unmarried drivers in New York.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Married ▲▼ | Single ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
CSAA | $121 | $119 |
Safeco | $164 | $162 |
Liberty Mutual | $201 | $198 |
Progressive | $253 | $250 |
Erie | $342 | $337 |
USAA | $356 | $351 |
Bristol West | $490 | $483 |
Average New York car insurance rates by driving record
Car insurance companies can look up your driving record, and this greatly affects how much you pay for car insurance. New York drivers with marks on their driving record pay far higher rates because they’re more likely to file a claim.[3]
Some driving infractions are more severe than others. Here’s how much you can expect to pay in New York for liability insurance with different types of driving offenses compared to someone with a clean record.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Record ▲▼ | Speeding Ticket ▲▼ | At-Fault Accident ▲▼ | DUI ▲▼ |
---|---|---|---|---|
CSAA | $119 | $140 | $152 | $160 |
Safeco | $162 | $189 | $197 | $226 |
Liberty Mutual | $198 | $247 | $260 | $300 |
Progressive | $250 | $285 | $309 | $379 |
Erie | $337 | $399 | $424 | $510 |
USAA | $351 | $403 | $431 | $532 |
Bristol West | $483 | $560 | $591 | $731 |
Average New York car insurance rates by credit history
New York insurance companies often charge higher rates to people with lower credit scores on the assumption that they may be more likely to file a claim. This is a controversial factor in car insurance pricing policies, and some states have even outlawed it entirely.[4] But New York residents aren’t quite so lucky, as the state allows insurance companies to use credit scores as a factor in determining premiums.[5]
“Auto insurers use non-driving related factors, especially credit scores, to unfairly charge people higher premiums,” says DeLong. “People with poor credit can wind up paying 70%, 80%, even 100% or more for auto insurance even if they have a perfect driving record.”
The table below shows that, all else being equal, New York drivers with poor credit may pay twice as much on average as drivers with excellent credit.
Quote Price by Credit Score
New York minimum car insurance requirements
One of the reasons New York car insurance costs so much is because it requires drivers to purchase more minimum coverage than other states. Here are the types and amounts of coverage you need to legally drive in the Empire State:[2]
$25,000 per person for bodily injury liability
$50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability
$10,000 per accident for property damage liability
$50,000 per accident for personal injury protection
$50,000 per accident for uninsured motorist coverage
New York car insurance FAQs
Here are some answers to questions New York drivers often have about their car insurance.
What is the average cost of car insurance in New York?
The monthly average cost of car insurance for New York drivers is $407 for a full-coverage policy and $311 for liability-only insurance. By comparison, national average rate for full coverage is $204 and $104 for liability.
What factors affect car insurance costs in New York?
Car insurance is more expensive for New York drivers because the state requires drivers to carry more insurance coverage than most other places. New York is also plagued with claims lawsuits, which increases rates for drivers.[1]
Do car insurance rates vary by county in New York?
Yes. Car insurance companies generally take your ZIP code and residence into account when pricing your policy.[3]
What are the best auto insurance companies in New York?
Travelers is one of the best insurance companies in New York because of its lower-than-average rates and average J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings.[6] Safeco and Midvale Home & Auto round out Insurify’s top three picks for cheapest rates in New York. However, the best car insurance company for you will depend on your personal situation and budget, so it’s important to shop around and compare quotes.
Is car insurance required in New York?
Yes, you’re required to carry car insurance in New York. Drivers in New York must carry personal injury protection, uninsured motorist coverage, and liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage.[2]
Related articles
More cities in New York
Sources
- American Institute For Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters.. "High Cost of No-Fault Claims Puts New York Among the Least-Affordable States for Auto Insurance."
- New York State Department of Financial Services. "Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements."
- III. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
- NAIC. "Credit-Based Insurance Scores."
- Experian. "Which States Prohibit or Restrict the Use of Credit-Based Insurance Scores?."
- J.D. Power. "2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study."
Lindsay VanSomeren is a freelance personal finance writer living in Suquamish, WA. Her work has appeared with FICO, Credit Karma, The Balance, and more. She enjoys helping people learn how to manage their money better so they can live the life they want.
3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
Featured in