Experienced personal finance writer
Background working with banks and insurance companies
Sarah enjoys helping people find smarter ways to spend their money. She covers auto financing, banking, credit cards, credit health, insurance, and personal loans.
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7+ years in content creation and management
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
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Updated October 30, 2024
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Table of contents
Home to trademark white-sand beaches and world-famous wineries, Long Island attracts plenty of tourists, along with its millions of full-time residents. The thriving tourist industry leads to busy roads and may contribute to the above-average rates. Drivers on Long Island pay an average of $195 per month for car insurance, which is on par with the New York state average of $236 per month.
Safeco, CSAA, and Midvale Home & Auto offer some of the lowest average rates on Long Island. Here’s how to find the best coverage for you.
CSAA offers the cheapest liability-only insurance rates on average, at $136 per month, while Safeco offers the lowest full-coverage insurance rates, at $196 per month.
Car accidents have increased on Long Island over the years, from roughly 65,000 per year for 2015–2017 to 75,000 in 2022.[1]
The mean commute time on Long Island is 37.2 minutes.[2]
Best car insurance companies in Long Island
The best car insurance company for you depends on your budget and specific needs. Several factors affect your rates, including your age, gender, marital status, vehicle choice, and driving record.
The table below highlights three of the best and most affordable car insurance companies on Long Island and which type of driver each insurer suits best. You can also see their average full-coverage and liability quotes for all New Yorkers here.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Best For ▲▼ |
---|---|---|---|---|
CSAA | 7.6 | $197 | $136 | Liability-only coverage |
Safeco | 8.3 | $187 | $162 | Teen drivers |
Liberty Mutual | 7.7 | $282 | $193 | Drivers with a DUI |
Our editorial team spent more than 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. The team weighted criteria 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 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses 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 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider 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 U.S., 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 scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Best insurer for liability-only coverage: CSAA
User Reviews | 4.5 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 7.6 /10 |
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. | $121/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. | $183/mo |
Drivers appreciate the competitive rates and helpful customer service but dislike the lack of communication and the recent price increases.
Drivers appreciate the competitive rates and helpful customer service but dislike the lack of communication and the recent price increases.
Rebecca
October 29, 2024
Poor Internal Control - No Use in Talking with Any Insurance Agent
Ramiro
October 28, 2024
Expensive
Patricia
October 28, 2024
I believe we are paying too much. Twelve years ago, we paid for a 30-year roof. However, after a hail storm last month, we still have to pay $4000 for a new one. Additionally, our policy increased by 30%.
Liability-only insurance is a good idea for drivers seeking to keep their premiums low and people who own older or used cars. Long Island is home to 143 used car dealerships, creating a viable liability-only coverage marketplace.
CSAA offers the lowest-cost liability-only insurance on Long Island. You can save even more by taking advantage of CSAA’s many discounts, including multi-vehicle, driver training course, and good student discounts.
Cheapest liability-only insurance in the region
Offers plenty of popular discounts, including bundling
Above-average rate of customer complaints, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
Must be a member of AAA
Best insurer for teen drivers: Safeco
User Reviews | 4.5 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.3 /10 |
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. | $162/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. | $187/mo |
Drivers appreciate the polite and helpful customer service and fair pricing but dislike the significant rate increases and difficulty reaching agents.
Drivers appreciate the polite and helpful customer service and fair pricing but dislike the significant rate increases and difficulty reaching agents.
Barbara
October 28, 2024
Insurance Keeps Going Up
Carlotta
October 24, 2024
Excellent
Shirley
October 22, 2024
My insurance has become so expensive that I can't afford it. I'm on Social Security. Both my car and house insurance have about doubled. I'm just trying to find something I can afford.
Teen drivers pay higher car insurance rates on average due to their higher rate of serious accidents.[3] Teens can save with Safeco, which offers the second-lowest average liability-only insurance rate and the lowest average full-coverage insurance rate on Long Island.
Safeco also offers discounts suited for Long Island teens trying to develop safe driving habits, including discounts for avoiding accidents and taking a driver safety course.
Offers lowest average full-coverage auto insurance price on Long Island
Mobile app has high customer ratings
Fewer discounts available than through some insurers
Specific product offerings vary by state
Best insurer for drivers with a DUI: Liberty Mutual
User Reviews | 3.7 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 7.7 /10 |
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. | $193/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. | $282/mo |
Drivers appreciate the initial low prices, quick claims handling, and easy account access but dislike the significant price increases over time.
Drivers appreciate the initial low prices, quick claims handling, and easy account access but dislike the significant price increases over time.
Frank
October 29, 2024
Been with them for 27 years, but I'm unsure
Gary
October 29, 2024
Price Gouging!
Donald
October 29, 2024
Don't use them, they will increase your rate within the six-month period of your term! And that's with no claims!
Tens of thousands of New Yorkers get arrested for impaired driving annually.[4] And, not surprisingly, New York drivers with a DUI on their record pay some of the highest car insurance rates in the country.
Luckily, Liberty Mutual offers RightTrack, a highly rated telematics program that rewards drivers with up to 30% in discounts for safe driving. This program can help New Yorkers with a DUI on their record lower their rates.
Offers RightTrack, a popular telematics program
Earned an A financial strength rating from AM Best
Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in New York
Rates on Long Island are slightly above the state average
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Long Island
You can use the following strategies to find cheap car insurance on Long Island:
Choose a safe vehicle. A car with a strong safety record and advanced safety features is often cheaper to insure.
Raise your deductible. A higher deductible comes with lower monthly premiums, though you’ll have more out-of-pocket expenses in the event of an accident.
Take advantage of discounts. Most car insurance companies offer discounts for insuring multiple vehicles or bundling car insurance with home or renters insurance from the same company. Ask your agent about any discounts you may be eligible for.
Shop around and compare. The best way to find the cheapest rate on car insurance is to compare quotes from multiple companies to find the policy that best matches your needs.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Long Island: CSAA
Your liability insurance covers the other driver’s repairs and medical expenses in the event of an accident you cause. Liability-only insurance doesn’t cover your vehicle damage or medical expenses. This can make it an affordable option for people who drive used or lower-value vehicles.
The average rate for liability-only coverage in New York is $155 per month, and the chart below shows what Long Island drivers pay with different insurers.
Liability-Only Rates by Insurance Company
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Long Island: Safeco
Full-coverage car insurance includes liability insurance, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage can pay for your own vehicle’s repairs in the event of a collision with another vehicle or object, like a guardrail. Comprehensive coverage can pay for repairs to your vehicle after a non-collision event, like a fire or severe weather.
The average monthly rate for full-coverage insurance in New York is $185, and you can see quotes that leading insurers on Long Island offer below.
Full-Coverage Rates by Insurance Company
Cheapest recent rates near Long Island City, New York
Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $121/mo for liability only and $183/mo for full coverage in Long Island City and other New York cities.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Long Island City, New York within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 30, 2024
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Long Island City, New York within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 30, 2024
Car insurance requirements in New York
New York drivers must carry a minimum amount of liability insurance to drive legally in the state. New York is also a no-fault state, which means both drivers must file claims for bodily injuries with their own insurance companies after an accident, regardless of who was at fault. Drivers must also carry personal injury protection (PIP), which covers medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
If you’re caught driving without the minimum-coverage requirements, you could suffer the suspension of your license and registration. The table below outlines the minimum insurance requirements necessary to drive legally in New York.
Coverage ▲▼ | Minimum Requirements ▲▼ |
---|---|
Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person ($50,000 for a death) / $50,000 per accident ($100,000 for death of two or more people) |
Property damage liability | $10,000 per accident |
Personal injury protection (PIP) | $50,000 per accident |
Optional coverages to add
While the table above illustrates the necessary minimum-coverage requirements, you can always expand beyond the minimum with additional coverage options like the following:
Collision coverage
Collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle after a car accident or collision with an object, regardless of fault.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle from a non-collision event, such as fire, severe weather, or vandalism.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage pays for your medical bills in the event of an accident with a driver who doesn’t have enough coverage or any insurance at all.
Glass coverage
Glass coverage pays for damage to your windshield, side windows, rear windows, and glass sunroofs — often without a deductible.
Gap insurance
Gap coverage pays the difference between your insurance coverage and what you owe on your vehicle if you total your car or someone steals it.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Speeding tickets, driving under the influence, and at-fault accidents will raise your car insurance costs. Auto insurers see drivers with such incidents on their records as being more likely to file future claims, and they charge higher monthly premiums to offset this risk.
Nearly 87% of New York drivers have a clean driving record, one of the highest rates in the country. But if you’re not among this group, the following sections will show you how different incident types can affect your insurance rates.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Safeco and CSAA
About 30% of all fatal auto accidents in New York list speed as a contributing factor.[5] Auto insurers consider a driver with speeding tickets on their record as a higher risk for future claims. How much your rate increases after a speeding ticket will vary based on your insurer, the severity of the ticket, and the number of total tickets. Progressive, for example, says drivers see a 15% increase on average after speeding.
New Yorkers pay a monthly average of $306 for full-coverage insurance with a ticket on their record. Here, you can see how a ticket affects your quotes from Long Island insurers.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With Speeding Ticket ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Safeco | $140 | $188 |
CSAA | $140 | $188 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $205 | $275 |
Liberty Mutual | $230 | $308 |
Progressive | $248 | $332 |
Bristol West | $405 | $543 |
Erie | $333 | $446 |
USAA | $347 | $465 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Safeco and CSAA
The Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research tallied 78,047 crashes on Long Island in 2022. In New York, an at-fault accident will stay on your record until three years after the end of the year in which the crash occurred.[6] How much your rate increases depends on the company you work with.
Full-coverage monthly rates in New York average $317 for drivers with an accident on their record, and the table below shows how such an incident affects your quotes on Long Island.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With Accident ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Safeco | $140 | $200 |
CSAA | $140 | $200 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $205 | $293 |
Liberty Mutual | $230 | $329 |
Progressive | $248 | $355 |
Bristol West | $405 | $579 |
Erie | $333 | $476 |
USAA | $347 | $496 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Safeco and CSAA
A DUI is the most severe traffic violation you can receive, and it will stay on your record for 15 years in New York.[6] Your insurer might not even renew your auto insurance policy after a DUI.
Not surprisingly, then, having a DUI on your record can cause a tremendous swing in your rates. The state monthly average is $370 for people with a DUI on their record.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With DUI ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Safeco | $140 | $217 |
CSAA | $140 | $217 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $205 | $318 |
Liberty Mutual | $230 | $357 |
Progressive | $248 | $384 |
Bristol West | $405 | $628 |
Erie | $333 | $516 |
USAA | $347 | $538 |
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Safeco
Roughly 18% of Long Island residents are older than 65, and while rates generally decrease for these drivers from age 35 and on, they could increase again around age 70. This is because reduced faculties make seniors more likely to be involved in an accident, and their advanced age increases the probability of medical costs if they’re in a crash.
The average monthly rate for New York seniors is $198, and this table shows how coverages break down on Long Island.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Safeco | $98 | $141 |
CSAA | $98 | $142 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $144 | $181 |
Liberty Mutual | $161 | $206 |
Progressive | $174 | $244 |
Travelers | N/A | $257 |
Bristol West | $284 | $328 |
Erie | $233 | $330 |
USAA | $243 | $343 |
Cheapest car insurance for teens: Safeco
Teen drivers pay the highest car insurance rates on average due to their higher rate of serious accidents and increased likelihood to engage in dangerous driving behaviors. Fortunately, young drivers can save on car insurance by staying on their parents’ insurance, purchasing a safe car, and qualifying for a good student discount.
The average monthly rate for New York teens is $425, and this table shows the liability-only and full-coverage quotes available on Long Island.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Safeco | $259 | $374 |
CSAA | $259 | $376 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $379 | $477 |
Liberty Mutual | $426 | $544 |
Progressive | $459 | $646 |
Travelers | N/A | $679 |
Bristol West | $749 | $866 |
Erie | $616 | $871 |
USAA | $642 | $907 |
Long Island car insurance quotes by credit tier
Insurers in the Empire State are allowed to take your credit history into account when determining your car insurance rates. Drivers with excellent or good credit pay lower average rates than drivers with poor credit.
The following chart shows how average rates vary by credit history.
Rates by Credit Tier
Is car insurance more expensive in Long Island?
With average rates of $195 per month, car insurance in Long Island is generally more than the national average of $104 per month. But the average cost of car insurance in New York state varies widely by ZIP code.
When compared to New York City, where liability rates average $339 per month, Long Island’s rates are significantly less. It’s also worth noting that cities with higher property values have higher rates, on average.
Long Island car insurance FAQs
Looking for more strategies to help you find the most affordable car insurance on Long Island? Check out the answers below.
How much is car insurance in Long Island?
The average rate for car insurance on Long Island is $195 per month. Full coverage averages $226 per month, and liability coverage averages $164 per month.
Which company has the cheapest car insurance in Long Island?
The most affordable insurers on Long Island are generally Safeco, CSAA, and Midvale Home & Auto. But the best way to find the most affordable rates for your needs is to compare auto insurance quotes from several insurers or insurance agents. In addition, look into bundling home insurance with your auto policy.
What are the best car insurance companies in Long Island?
Safeco, CSAA, and Liberty Mutual rank as three of the top insurers on Long Island. Safeco and CSAA are known for offering some of the best rates available on the island, while Liberty Mutual can be a viable option for drivers with a DUI on their record. Each of these insurers has also been recognized for its customer service, discounts offered, and financial stability.
What is the minimum car insurance required in New York?
To drive legally in New York, you must have insurance coverage that meets or exceeds the state’s minimum requirements. This means you must carry bodily injury liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person ($50,000 for a death) and $50,000 per accident ($100,000 for the death of two or more people).
You must also carry property damage liability of $10,000 per accident and personal injury protection of $50,000 per accident.
Is New York a no-fault state?
Yes. New York is a no-fault state. This means both parties involved in an accident are responsible for filing claims through their own insurers for bodily injury coverage.
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
- 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.
Related articles
More cities in New York
Sources
- Institute for Traffic Safety. "Traffic Safety Statistical Respository."
- United States Census Bureau. "Commuting Characteristics."
- CDC. "Teen Drivers and Passengers: Get the Facts."
- Stop DWI New York. "Stop DWI Information."
- Trafficsafety.NY. "Speeding."
- New York DMV. "Driving Records, Abstracts."
Sarah Archambault enjoys helping people figure out how to manage their finances and credit. She covers auto financing, banking, credit cards, credit health, insurance, and personal loans. Her work has been featured on Credit Karma, Experian, LendingClub, Sound Dollar and USA Today Blueprint. She also writes for national insurers, banks and financial institutions like Aetna, MassMutual, Stripe, and UnitedHealthcare.
7+ years in content creation and management
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
Featured in