New York is a popular state, with bustling cities and sprawling countryside. Reviews.com analyzed the New York car insurance market to help you find the best car insurance company for you. The companies we chose to feature offer a mix of affordable rates, excellent customer satisfaction, strong financial strength, and robust coverage.
The 4 Best Car Insurance Companies in New York
Our research method to choose the best car insurance companies in New York included analyzing average premiums (provided by Bankrate.com), customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power, 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
- State Farm: Best for Customer Satisfaction
- Geico: Best for Affordable Policies
- USAA: Best for Military-Centric Options
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. 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 accurate as of January 2022
*Data provided by Bankrate.com
**J.D. Power 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction 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
* Data provided by Bankrate .com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
** J.D. Power 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction 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 its eligibility restrictions.
The Average Cost of Car Insurance in New York
Car insurance costs an average of $1,062 per year for minimum coverage and $2,321 per year for full coverage, according to 2021 data from Bankrate.com. This is quite a bit higher than the national average cost of car insurance, which is $565 per year for minimum coverage and $1,674 per year for full coverage. 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 |
* Data provided by Bankrate.com
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 |
* Data provided by Bankrate.com
Top 3 Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in New York
| City | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| Fairport | $1,417 |
| Webster | $1,417 |
| Penfield | $1,428 |
* Data provided by Bankrate.com
Top 3 Most Expensive Cities for Car Insurance in New York
| City | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| Saint Albans | $5,180 |
| Rosedale | $5,118 |
| Springfield Gardens | $5,113 |
* Data provided by Bankrate.com
Key Things to Know About Car Insurance in New York
New York car insurance can be expensive, as the state has frequent weather events like severe summer storms, winter storms, tropical storms, and floods. These criteria often prompt insurers to increase their rates, as policyholders’ vehicles are more at risk, and the likelihood of accidents could be higher during bad weather. Other factors for the higher-than-average rates in the state could include the high number of drivers, which means more risk for crashes, and the rise of property vandalism and theft. 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. 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 (which is available as the minimum limit or in higher limits), you’ll get coverage for uninsured motorist accidents outside of the state, as well as for underinsured motorist accidents.
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. 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, or hitting an animal, comprehensive could kick in. You’ll likely have a deductible for this coverage, although some companies offer a $0 deductible option.
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, our editorial team compared affordability, customer support, coverage options, customer satisfaction scores and online resources from each company to determine top providers.
As for average pricing, we used Bankrate.com’s data of car insurance in New York, based on the profiles of a 40-year male and female. For full coverage, the details used were 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
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2019 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week, and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
About the Authors
Cate Deventer is a writer and licensed insurance agent. She has a Bachelor’s degree in theatre and is currently pursuing a degree in English with a concentration in professional and technical writing from Indiana University East. Her work has been featured on Reviews.com and Bankrate.com, and she’s passionate about helping people take charge of their finances. In her free time, she likes to read thrillers and sci-fi novels, garden, and toss tennis balls for her dog.
