Top 4 Auto Insurance Providers in New York (2021)

• New York requires drivers to carry certain levels of property damage liability and bodily injury liability car insurance.
• New York is a «no-fault» state, which means that insured drivers file claims with their insurance company after an accident, regardless of who is at fault.
• New York drivers spent an average of $1,349.72 on car insurance in 2017, higher than the national average of $1,004.68.

Drivers in the Empire State may pay more than the national average for insurance premiums, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to find inexpensive auto insurance in New York. In this article, we'll recommend the best providers in the state based on price, customer service, and local reputation. We'll also cover state insurance minimums, state penalties for driving without insurance, and other facts about driving in New York.

Our analysis team has taken a close look at many of the best car insurance companies in the country. While there are differences in average insurance premiums between states, there can be even greater differences in cost between individual drivers. If you're looking for the cheapest auto insurance in New York, start by comparing free, no obligation quotes using the tool below.

New York's leading car insurance companies

To determine the best auto insurance providers in New York, we took a close look at the top providers nationwide and evaluated local offerings in the Empire State. While many top insurers maintain their quality regardless of state, regional reputations and customer service can vary.

In addition to cost, coverage, reliability and customer service, our analysis team also looked at the results of the US auto insurance satisfaction survey ^SM , J.D. Power 2020 in the United States. In the study, companies were scored on a 1,000-point scale, and each of our recommended suppliers performed better than the regional average (836 points).

* The overall ratings represent our team's assessment of auto insurance companies nationwide, and the order of providers in the table reflects recommendations specifically for New York. For this reason, you may see some providers listed above others with higher overall ratings.

# 1 Geico: best overall

Geico offers standard car insurance options as well as mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI). The insurance company is an industry leader and has a strong reputation across the country, including in New York. Geico currently has an impressive A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and an A++ rating for financial strength from AM Best. This means that it works well with clients and has an excellent ability to pay claims.

Geico scored 851 out of 1,000 in the J.D. Power Satisfaction Study, placing second in the state. This ranking is in line with high feedback from Geico customers in other parts of the country.

Geico is often one of the cheapest auto insurance options for many drivers. The insurer sets low premiums to begin with, and customers can save even more on New York auto insurance by taking advantage of discounts such as:

• Discount on the hovercraft
• Military discount
• Multi-policy discount
• New car discount
• Discount for a good driver
• Multiple vehicle discount
• Discount for good students
• Discount on anti-lock brakes
• Discount for a federal employee
• Emergency deployment discount

Geico's claims processing app makes it easy to register claims, and finding a repair shop is easy with Auto Repair Xpress ^® . You can find out more about this insurer by reading our full Geico review.

# 2 Sovkhoz: best for student drivers

We named State Farm the best for student drivers because of the many discounts the company offers to teens and college students.

State Farm has received an A++ rating from AM Best, which means it has the financial capacity to handle and pay customer claims. In addition to standard insurance policies, State Farm customers can purchase specialised insurance such as classic car insurance and sports car insurance. Local customer satisfaction scores show that State Farm is a particularly good choice for car insurance in New York. In the JD Power Satisfaction Study for New York, State Farm ranked first with an overall score of 851 out of 1,000.

The cost of State Farm may be a little higher than the competition, but there are many opportunities for discounts such as:

• Discount for a good driver
• Accident discount
• Discount for good students
• Vehicle safety discount
• Discount on driver training
• Discount on multiple policies
• Multi-car discount
• Discount on anti-theft system
• Pupil's tuition discount
• Discount on safe driving course

Find out more about the provider by reading our full review of State Farm Insurance.

# 3 USAA: Best for Military Families

USAA scored the highest in the JD Power Satisfaction Study for New York State with a score of 884 out of 1,000. The insurer typically has the highest score for most regions in this study, but it is not suitable for ranking because it is not available to all drivers.

To be eligible for USAA insurance, customers must be members of the military or have a spouse or parent who is a member of USAA. If you are eligible for USAA insurance, it is one of the best auto insurance options in any state, including New York.

USAA offers some of the lowest premium rates in the country and sells all standard types of auto insurance and even coverage for commuter drivers. USAA is rated A ++ by AM Best and is one of the most affluent insurance companies in the country. Learn more by reading our full USAA insurance review.

# 4 New York Central Mutual: Best Local Agents

As the name suggests, New York Central Mutual (NYCM) is an insurer specifically in the state of New York. As such, it specialises in the needs of New York drivers, offering people the best local policies available.

NYCM ranked third in the J.D. Power Satisfaction Study with a score of 837 out of 1,000. It has an A rating from AM Best and an accredited A+ rating from the BBB. Like many leading auto insurance providers, NYCM offers a number of discounts such as:

• Senior Citizens Discount
• New car discount
• Interest-free discount
• Multi-policy discount
• Homeowner's discount
• Discount for good students
• Discount on anti-lock braking system
• Safe driving discount
• Pupil's tuition discount
• Discount programme for injury prevention

If you're looking for a small provider that offers personalised customer service, New York Central Mutual is the place to go.

Car insurance requirements in New York

To apply for vehicle registration, New York drivers must have liability insurance coverage under the following minimum coverage limits:

• USD 10,000 per accident for property damage
• $25,000 per person for bodily injury ($50,000 for death)
• $50,000 per accident for bodily injury ($100,000 for death)

The penalties for driving without auto insurance in New York can be high. They include:

• Payment of a traffic police fine up to $1,500
• Suspension of licence and registration for a minimum of one year
• Payment of a $750 DMV civil penalty to reinstate your licence.

While the limits mentioned above are legal minimums, it is recommended that drivers purchase auto insurance with comprehensive coverage to make sure they are fully protected on the road. This means obtaining personal injury protection (PIP) policies, comprehensive coverage, collision coverage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in addition to liability coverage.

New York is a no-fault insurance state. This means that after an accident, drivers in New York typically file claims with their insurance companies, regardless of who was at fault.

The cost of auto insurance in New York

Car insurance in New York costs a little more than coverage in most other states. According to a report recently released by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), drivers in New York paid the following average car insurance costs in 2017:

• Responsibilities: $869.13.
• Collision: $437.13.
• Complex : $179.31.
• Total Average Costs: $1,349.72.

The national average for insurance premiums in 2017 was just $611.12, which is far lower than what drivers in New York pay. One of the reasons why auto insurance in New York can be so expensive is that New York is no-fault. No-fault states typically have higher auto insurance rates. Another explanation could be the high rate of insurance fraud in New York. Fraud increases the costs to auto insurers, which are then passed on to customers in the form of higher premiums.

Driving habits in New York City

According to the Federal Highway Administration, New York drivers drove a total of 123,510,000,000 miles in 2018. This averages out to 10,128 miles per licensed driver, which is relatively high compared to the rest of the country.

However, while drivers in New York get more mileage than drivers in other states, they tend to drive more safely. Crash-related hospitalisation rates have declined in New York over the past 20 years, and in 2018, New York had the second highest number of fatal traffic deaths per capita.

Conclusion: auto insurance in New York

New York can be a great state to drive in. The countryside is beautiful all year round, and driving in New York is pretty safe compared to other parts of the US. But before you hit the road in the Empire State, make sure you have the proper car insurance.

For low-cost protection and a high level of customer satisfaction, drivers in New York should turn to the following car insurance companies:

• # 1 Geico
• # 2 State farm
• # 3 USAA
• # 4 New York Central Mutual

Of course, the only way to find the lowest cost provider is to compare auto insurance rates for yourself, which you can easily do with the free tool below.