New York remains one of the costliest auto insurance markets, with recent 2025 studies placing average premiums around $3,100–$3,700 per year for full coverage and about $1,300–$1,700 for minimum coverage statewide, with New York City areas often substantially higher. Reviews.com analyzed current New York data — including pricing from Bankrate, ValuePenguin and Forbes Advisor, satisfaction from the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study, financial strength, and coverage features — to help you find the best car insurance company for your needs.
The 4 Best Car Insurance Companies in New York
Our research method to choose the best car insurance companies in New York included analyzing recent statewide averages (from Bankrate, ValuePenguin and Forbes Advisor), customer satisfaction scores from the J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study, financial strength ratings from AM Best, coverages, discounts and policy features. We found the following four companies to be among the best in New York:
- New York Central Mutual: Best for Discounts; ranked highest in the New York region in the latest J.D. Power study
- State Farm: Best for Customer Satisfaction with broad agent support
- Geico: Best for Affordable Policies; often competitively priced and New York’s largest writer by market share (DFS market share)
- USAA: Best for Military-Centric Options; consistently strong satisfaction but eligibility-restricted
Compare the Best Car Insurance Companies in New York
Insurance companies are unique; each offers its own set of coverages, discounts, average rates, and policy features. The carriers we chose to feature are based on our research method, but you might find that the best provider for you is not on this list. With prices having risen significantly since 2021 (the motor vehicle insurance index increased about 19% over the last year, per BLS CPI), getting quotes from a few different companies and comparing them can help you find the right fit for your needs.
| Average Annual Premium for Minimum Coverage* | Average Annual Premium for Full Coverage* | AM Best Financial Strength AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim. | J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction (New York region)** J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin New York Central Mutual | $1,129 | $2,669 | A | 827 | |
| Pin State Farm | $1,241 | $2,333 | A++ | 859 | |
| Pin Geico | $821 | $1,969 | A++ | 827 | |
| Pin USAA | $922 | $2,137 | A++ | 868 |
Information updated with 2025 sources cited throughout this article.
* Benchmarks reflect 2025 analyses from Bankrate, ValuePenguin and Forbes Advisor.
** J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating for the New York region. Based on a 1,000-point scale. USAA is not officially ranked by J.D. Power due to eligibility restrictions.
Best for Discounts
WHY WE CHOSE IT
Why we chose it
Pros
- Local agents available
- Wide array of discounts
- 24/7 claims service
Cons
- Lower financial strength than some competitors
- Fewer endorsements than some competitors
- Higher-than-average premiums
Other Policies Offered
- Homeowners
- Mobile home
- Business
- Umbrella
STANDOUT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
- New car
- Senior
- Injury protection program
- Claim free
Best for Customer Satisfaction
WHY WE CHOSE IT
Why we chose it
Pros
- Impressive financial strength
- High claims satisfaction ratings
- Local agents available
Cons
- Higher-than-average premiums
- Fewer endorsements than competitors
OTHER POLICIES OFFERED
- Homeowners
- Small business
- Life
- Pet medical
STANDOUT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
- Drive Safe & Save
- Steer Clear
- Multi-line
- Vehicle safety
Best for Affordable Policies
WHY WE CHOSE IT
Why we chose it
Pros
- Affordable policies
- Numerous discounts
- Strong financial ratings
Cons
- Below-average customer service
- No specialty discounts for hybrid or electric cars
- Few endorsements available
OTHER POLICIES OFFERED
- Homeowners
- Renters
- Motorcycle/RV
- Boat
STANDOUT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
- Emergency deployment
- Military
- Federal employee
- Good driver
Best for Military-Centric Options
WHY WE CHOSE IT
Why we chose it
Pros
- Military-focused discounts
- High J.D. Power scores
- Lower-than-average premiums
Cons
- Eligibility restrictions
- Very few branch locations
- Fewer endorsements than some competitors
OTHER POLICIES OFFERED
- Homeowners
- Farm
- Life
- Aviation
STANDOUT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
- SafePilot
- Military on-base
- Family
- Emergency deployment
* Benchmarks reflect 2025 market conditions; minimum coverage refers to New York’s statutory minimums and varies by driver profile.
** J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating for the New York region. Based on a 1,000-point scale. USAA is not officially ranked by J.D. Power due to eligibility restrictions.
The Average Cost of Car Insurance in New York
Car insurance in New York now commonly averages about $1,300–$1,700 per year for minimum coverage and roughly $3,100–$3,700 per year for full coverage for a typical good driver, based on 2025 analyses by Bankrate, ValuePenguin and Forbes Advisor. This is above national averages and reflects sharp post‑2021 increases noted in the Consumer Price Index for motor vehicle insurance. Remember that rates vary based on your individual wants, needs, and rating factors. To find the best auto insurance in New York for you, you might want to compare quotes from different providers to make sure that you have the right coverage for the right price.
Top 3 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in New York
| Company | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| Main Street America | $761 |
| Progressive | $1,139 |
| Erie | $1,629 |
* Figures fluctuate by driver, ZIP code and coverage. Verify current rates using multiple 2025 sources such as Bankrate, ValuePenguin and Forbes Advisor.
Top 3 Most Expensive Car Insurance Companies in New York
| Company | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| Utica National | $5,075 |
| American Family | $4,764 |
| Kemper | $3,150 |
* Company-level averages vary by source and profile; consult recent 2025 datasets (Bankrate, ValuePenguin, Forbes Advisor) for up-to-date comparisons.
Top 3 Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in New York
| City | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| Ithaca | ≈$1,200–$1,700 |
| Utica | ≈$1,200–$1,600 |
| Watertown | ≈$1,200–$1,700 |
* Recent ranges aggregated from multiple 2024–2025 sources, including Insurify, MoneyGeek and ValuePenguin; actual premiums vary by driver and ZIP.
Top 3 Most Expensive Cities for Car Insurance in New York
| City | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| Bronx (NYC) | $4,000–$5,200+ |
| Brooklyn (NYC) | $3,800–$5,000 |
| Manhattan (NYC) | $3,300–$4,300+ |
* Borough/city ranges synthesized from recent 2024–2025 analyses (e.g., The Zebra, Insurify); high-risk profiles can exceed these figures.
Key Things to Know About Car Insurance in New York
New York car insurance remains expensive due to dense urban exposure, rising claim severity (parts, labor and medical costs), and weather-related losses. The motor vehicle insurance CPI shows double‑digit increases over the past year, while the U.S. has experienced another year of $100B+ insured catastrophe losses, per Aon and the NOAA Billion‑Dollar Disasters dataset. Elevated reinsurance costs also flow through to premiums, as noted in 2025 market updates. Drivers should be aware of the risks of owning a car in this state, and for that reason, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) created an article on driving tips.
New York Car Insurance Requirements
New York requires all drivers to have at least a minimum amount of car insurance coverage. Coverage must be continuous for any NY-registered vehicle and issued by an insurer authorized in NY; out-of-state policies are not acceptable (see the New York DMV). Drivers must have the following coverage types and limits to drive legally:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person and $50,000 death per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident and $100,000 death per accident
- $10,000 property damage liability per accident
- $50,000 personal injury protection (PIP)
- $25,000 statutory uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $50,000 statutory uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
There are two types of uninsured motorist coverage in New York: statutory and supplemental. The mandatory statutory coverage only provides coverage for uninsured motorist accidents in New York State. If you buy supplemental coverage (SUM), which insurers provide by default up to your liability limits unless you elect lower limits or reject it, you’ll get coverage for uninsured motorist accidents outside of the state, as well as for underinsured motorist accidents (DFS SUM guidance).
Most insurance professionals recommend purchasing higher limits than the state minimum coverage for added financial protection.
Car Insurance Coverage Options
To have more protection than the New York minimum, you may want to purchase higher limits than just the state minimum. You could even purchase full coverage or add-on options. In addition to the options below, many drivers consider gap/loan-lease payoff, rental reimbursement, roadside assistance, rideshare endorsements and telematics-based programs (III overview). Here is a list of additional coverage based on common risks in the Empire State.
- Optional basic economic loss (OBEL): This coverage enhances the basic no-fault coverage, providing an extra $25,000 coverage on top of the mandatory $50,000 PIP limit.
- Additional PIP: Similar to OBEL coverage, New York insurance policies also include an option for additional PIP in increments of $50,000 beyond the mandatory PIP requirements in the state.
- Collision: If there are any damages to your vehicle that result from impacting another car or object, this coverage is designed to pay for the costs, minus your deductible.
- Comprehensive: If the damages on your car are caused by something other than a crash, such as hail, vandalism, theft or flooding, comprehensive could kick in. Many late‑model vehicles require ADAS calibration after windshield replacement, which can increase glass claim costs; consider appropriate deductibles or glass options (NOAA severe weather context).
Frequently Asked Questions
Methodology
Reviews.com reviews products, services and companies based on five criteria to help readers understand how companies compare based on similar metrics. For the best car insurance companies in New York (2025 update), our editorial team compared affordability (using statewide benchmarks from Bankrate, ValuePenguin and Forbes Advisor), customer support and satisfaction (from the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study), coverage options, financial strength and online resources.
As for average pricing, we referenced multiple 2025 rate studies of car insurance in New York rather than a single dataset. Where studies modeled “full coverage,” details often included the following:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
When sources referenced minimum coverage, we aligned with New York’s statutory minimums. Driver, vehicle and mileage assumptions vary by source and year, so your results may differ.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
