New York Car Insurance: Required Coverage, Average Cost and Comparing Quotes by ZIP Code
Enter the ZIP code where your car is parked overnight to compare New York auto insurance quotes with the same limits and deductibles.
By the AutoQuotesByZip editorial team. Last reviewed: October 4, 2026. Data: NAIC, IRC, IIHS, NICB and official state sources listed below.
New York drivers paid an average of $1,981 per insured vehicle in 2024, the 2nd-highest in the country after Florida, according to NAIC. A big reason is that the state requires more coverage than most: on top of 25/50/10 liability, every policy must include $50,000 of no-fault personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage.
The risk numbers tell a less obvious story. New York has one of the lowest shares of uninsured drivers (8.6%) and one of the lowest traffic death rates in the U.S. (5.5 per 100,000 people). The premium is less about how often New Yorkers crash and more about what each claim costs, and costs differ sharply between New York City ZIP codes and upstate.
Enter the ZIP code where your car is parked overnight to compare New York auto insurance quotes with the same limits and deductibles.
New York car insurance at a glance
| Fact | New York | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum liability limits | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for injuries ($50,000/$100,000 for death); $10,000 property damage | New York DFS |
| No-fault (PIP) | $50,000 of personal injury protection is required | New York DFS |
| Uninsured motorist | Required at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident | New York DMV |
| Average annual spending on auto insurance (2024) | $1,980.93 — 2nd highest of 51 (US: $1,431.63) | NAIC |
| Change in average spending | +13.1% vs 2023; +38.9% vs 2020 (US: +11.7% and +36.6%) | NAIC |
| Average liability / collision / comprehensive premium | $1,243 / $622 / $284 | NAIC |
| Estimated uninsured drivers (2023) | 8.6% — 44th highest (US: 15.4%) | IRC via III |
| Traffic deaths (2024) | 1,101 — 5.5 per 100,000 people; 0.91 per 100 million miles (US: 11.5 and 1.19) | IIHS |
| Vehicle thefts (2025) | 24,206 statewide (5th-most); the New York–Newark–Jersey City metro recorded 27,138, 2nd among U.S. metros | NICB |
| Coverage lapse | A lapse of 91 days or more leads to suspension of your driver license; registration is suspended for a lapse | New York DMV |
Compare New York quotes for your ZIP code with the same liability, no-fault and SUM limits on every quote.
New York’s required coverages explained
New York requires a fuller package than most states. According to the Department of Financial Services, the minimum policy includes bodily injury liability of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident (rising to $50,000 and $100,000 when a crash causes death), $10,000 of property damage liability, $50,000 of personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist coverage at 25/50.
The New York DMV adds an important practical rule: the policy must be issued by an insurer licensed in New York. Out-of-state insurance is not accepted to register a vehicle here, so drivers moving in need a New York policy before registering.
How New York’s no-fault system affects your premium
New York is one of 12 no-fault states, and its $50,000 PIP requirement is among the highest. Your own insurer pays medical bills and lost wages up to that limit regardless of fault, and lawsuits for pain and suffering are limited to serious injuries. The trade-off appears in NAIC’s numbers: New York’s average liability premium of $1,243 ranks 2nd in the country. See how other states handle PIP in our no-fault states guide.
| 2024 NAIC measure | New York | United States | Rank (1 = most expensive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average expenditure (all coverages actually bought) | $1,980.93 | $1,431.63 | 2nd of 51 |
| Liability premium | $1,243.46 | $813.27 | 2nd |
| Collision premium | $621.93 | $516.39 | 5th |
| Comprehensive premium | $284.48 | $283.15 | 22nd |
| Liability + collision + comprehensive combined | $2,149.87 | $1,612.81 | 3rd |
Why New York City and upstate quotes differ
Insurers price New York policies by garaging location, and claim costs in the five boroughs and nearby suburbs differ from those in Buffalo, Rochester or the North Country. Theft is one measurable piece: NICB counted 27,138 vehicle thefts in the New York–Newark–Jersey City metro area in 2025, the second-highest metro total in the U.S. Congestion, repair prices and injury-claim costs vary by area too.
If you split time between an apartment in the city and a house upstate, the correct rating address is where the car is principally garaged; quoting the wrong one can lead to problems at claim time. Our ZIP comparison guide explains how to keep quotes consistent.
Lapses and penalties
New York tracks insurance electronically, and the DMV suspends a vehicle registration when coverage lapses. If the lapse lasts 91 days or more, your driver license is suspended as well, and a $50 suspension termination fee applies. Driving without insurance can bring a court fine of up to $1,500 and a $750 civil penalty, and an uninsured crash can lead to license revocation for at least one year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum car insurance in New York?
New York requires 25/50/10 liability (50/100 for death), $50,000 of no-fault personal injury protection and 25/50 uninsured motorist coverage, issued by an insurer licensed in New York.
Why is car insurance so expensive in New York?
NAIC ranks New York 2nd for average spending ($1,980.93 in 2024). Required no-fault coverage, high injury-claim costs and the cost of claims in dense metro areas push premiums up, even though crash death rates are low.
Can I keep my out-of-state insurance after moving to New York?
No. The New York DMV requires that a vehicle registered in New York be insured by a company licensed in New York; out-of-state coverage is not accepted.
What happens if my New York insurance lapses?
Your registration is suspended. If the lapse lasts 91 days or more your driver license is suspended too, and you may face a $50 suspension termination fee and other penalties.
Sources
- New York DFS — Minimum auto insurance requirements
- New York DMV — Insurance requirements
- New York DMV — Insurance lapses
- NAIC, 2024 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement
- Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists (Insurance Research Council estimates for 2023)
- NICB, U.S. vehicle thefts experience historic decline (2025 data)
- IIHS-HLDI, Fatality facts 2024: State by state
- Insurance Information Institute, Background on: No-fault auto insurance
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