The Best New York Auto Insurance Companies
The best New York car insurance companies are those that pair strong customer service with solid coverage options, while also keeping annual premiums at reasonable prices. With these criteria as our guide, we found New York Central Mutual and State Farm offer the best car insurance in New York.
We evaluated 17 of the most popular car insurance providers in New York. In addition to customer satisfaction, coverage options, and affordability, we also considered financial strength and available discounts.
The 4 Best Car Insurance Companies in New York
| New York Central Mutual | State Farm | GEICO | USAA | |
| Our Review | Our Review | Our Review | Our Review | |
| AM Best Financial Strength Rating | A | A | A++ | |
| J.D. Power 2019 Overall Customer Satisfaction Score | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | |
| Average Annual Premium | $1,231 | $1,794 | $1,153 |
New York Central Mutual
Pros
- Top-rated customer satisfaction
- Affordable rates
Cons
- Available only in New York
- No online claims filing
New York Central Mutual is often overlooked on lists of the best insurance providers because it’s a comparatively small, regional company. But for residents of New York state, New York Central Mutual provides top-rated customer satisfaction, earning a perfect 5/5 on back-to-back J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Surveys. And this exceptional service is provided at affordable rates.
But what if you move out of the state? Unfortunately, New York Central Mutual is only available in New York, so if you relocate, you’ll need to find another provider. Another potential downside is that while New York Central Mutual does offer 24/7 claims service, it doesn’t offer claims filing via an app or online. Instead, you have to call a toll-free number.
State Farm
New York Auto Insurance
Pros
- Highly rated mobile app
- Rideshare driver coverage
Cons
- Fewer discounts than competitors
- No accident forgiveness
While many of us still think of State Farm as a reliable insurance provider with local offices for personalized service, State Farm has adapted well to the tech era. The State Farm app allows you to make payments, monitor claims, and even handle basic banking on the go. With over 150,000 Apple Store reviews, the 4.8-star average is impressive. We also like that State Farm offers competitively priced rideshare coverage for all the Uber and Lyft drivers working in today’s gig economy.
While State Farm offers standard discounts for New York residents (such as safe driver discounts and multi-vehicle discounts), it doesn’t offer as many discounts as competitors like GEICO (which includes discounts for things like having a new vehicle and being a federal employee). You should also know that State Farm doesn’t offer accident forgiveness to keep your premiums from increasing following an accident.
GEICO
Pros
- Low annual premiums
- Fast and convenient auto repairs
Cons
- Below average customer service
- No discounts for hybrid/electric cars
GEICO is right at the top of our list for affordable car insurance premiums in New York. If you want to save on car insurance while keeping strong coverage, consider GEICO. You’ll also enjoy GEICO’s Auto Repair Xpress system. This service helps you get your car repaired as quickly and conveniently as possible following an accident.
But there are a few downsides to GEICO. First, its customer service fails to meet expectations. Despite the 4.5-star rating on the GEICO website, GEICO ranked just below average on the 2019 J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction Study (which reflects more experiences with claims and customer support). Another potential downside is that GEICO doesn’t offer a discount for hybrid and electric cars.
USAA
New York Auto Insurance
Pros
- 5-star customer care
- Affordable annual premiums
Cons
- Available only to military families
- Some discounts not available in New York
USAA is tops when it comes to customer care. USAA outscored every other New York car insurance provider ranked on the 2019 J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction Study. It earned a perfect 5 out of 5 rating with an index of 884 points out of a possible 1,000. This seems impressive when you consider the affordability of USAA coverage, which came in fourth place of the 17 New York providers we reviewed.
By all accounts, USAA is a near-perfect car insurance provider. But there’s one big catch. To qualify for USAA, you (or a family member) must be part of the military community. Eligible groups include active-duty military, Guard or Reserve personnel, veterans, cadets, and midshipmen. Another catch for New York residents is that certain discounts, like the Good Student discount and the New Vehicle discount, are not available in New York.
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in New York
| Largest Companies by Market Share in New York | |
Main St Am Protection Ins Co. | $509 |
| GEICO | $895 |
| Allstate | $1,051 |
| USAA | $1,153 |
| NY Central Mutual Fire | $1,231 |
| Erie Insurance | $1,283 |
| State Farm | $1,794 |
| Progressive | $2,043 |
| Republic-Franklin Ins – Select | $2,111 |
| Chubb | $2,243 |
| Travelers | $2,330 |
| Esurance | $2,401 |
| Encompass | $2,424 |
| Preferred Mutual | $2,512 |
| Metropolitan Insurance | $2,647 |
| Unitrin Direct Ins | $2,743 |
| American Family Insurance | $3,956 |
Car Insurance by Credit Rating
| Credit Rating tier | Average Annual Premium |
| Poor | $3,160 |
| Below Fair | $2,373 |
| Fair | $1,870 |
| Average | $1,670 |
| Good | $1,500 |
| Excellent | $1,226 |
| Average Across Credit Rating Tiers | $1,967 |
Top 3 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in New York
- Main Street America Protection – $509
- GEICO – $895
- Allstate – $1,051
Top 3 Most Expensive Car Insurance Companies in New York
- American Family Insurance – $3,956
- Unitrin Direct- $2,743
- Metropolitan Insurance – $2,647
Main Street America Protection, GEICO, and Allstate are among the cheapest car insurance companies in New York. American Family Insurance, Unitrin Direct, and Metropolitan Insurance (known as MetLife) are among the most expensive in the state.
The New York Times reports that residents of New York state have been hit by substantial car insurance cost increases over the past several years and that technology may be partly to blame. While high-tech safety features like blind-spot monitors, rear cameras, and collision warning systems are making driving safer, they’re also making repairs following an accident far more costly.
The numbers used to calculate the cheapest and most expensive car insurance companies in New York are based on general profiles. Quotes may vary because of your location, driving history, age, credit score, and coverage chosen. For more accurate estimates that are specific to your circumstances, ask for personalized quotes from each company.
Guide to New York Car Insurance
New York Minimum Car Insurance Requirements
All drivers in the state of New York must have a specific amount of car insurance coverage. The state requires that these minimums cover property damage as well as bodily injury and death for people involved in an accident. The New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) states that the minimum required insurance coverage is:
- $10,000 for property damage for a single accident
- $25,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for the death of a person involved in an accident
- $50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for the death of two or more people in an accident
Additionally, your insurance coverage must remain in effect the whole time your registration is valid and your insurance provider must be licensed by the New York State Department of Financial Services (and certified by the DMV).
Don’t Settle for Minimum Coverage
The minimum required coverage keeps you on the right side of the law, but it may not be enough to protect you against financial losses in the event of a serious accident. Remember, any expenses over your coverage are going to come out of your pocket.
A piece of general advice is to purchase as much insurance coverage as you can reasonably afford. Spend a little time getting insurance quotes from multiple companies for more coverage than the New York minimum. It might surprise you how much more coverage you can get for a slightly higher annual premium.
How We Found the Best Car Insurance in New York
Our search for the best car insurance in New York started with the 17 most popular providers in the state. We compared these providers in areas like customer satisfaction, financial strength, coverage options, discounts available, and annual premiums to determine which insurance companies offered the best service and coverage options at reasonable prices.
We worked with Quadrant Information Services to provide data on auto insurance rates by company and credit score. Quadrant makes this information available using rate data that insurers are required to file with the state Department of Insurance. Rates are based on sample profiles created by Reviews.com for comparative purposes. Your payment is determined by factors such as your location, driving history, age and other factors, so you should get several personalized quotes to compare.
New York Car Insurance Companies FAQ
What is the average auto insurance rate in New York?
Based on pricing data made available through Quadrant Information Services, average auto insurance rates in New York range between $509 and $3,956. With car insurance premiums taking so many complex factors into account, it’s incredibly difficult to offer guidance on how much you should be paying. To make sure you’re getting a good rate on your car insurance, invest a little time in getting a personalized online quote from multiple insurance companies.
How much auto insurance do you need?
The New York DMV requires the following coverages:
- $10,000 for property damage for a single accident
- $25,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for the death of a person involved in an accident
- $50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for the death of two or more people in an accident
These are only minimum requirements. To truly protect yourself financially in the event of an accident, you want to purchase as much coverage as you can afford.
How can you lower the price of your car insurance in New York?
With so many factors involved in calculating car insurance rates, there are lots of things you can do to lower your car insurance cost in New York. Practice good driving habits to avoid accidents and prove that you’re a responsible driver. You may even get a discount for completing a safe driver training. Prove your reliability in other areas: boost your credit score to show you’re financially responsible, or if you’re a student, get good grades to show you are reliable.
About the Authors
Michelle Clardie has an MBA in management and strategy, and has worked in real estate. Her work has been featured on sites like Yahoo! News and Inman.
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