Cheapest car insurance in New York 2023

Compare cheap car insurance in New York rates

Cheap New York car insurance companies

New York Central Mutual Fire (NYCM)

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Average price for good drivers

$2,986

Average price for high-risk drivers

$4,249

What you should know

New York Central Mutual Fire (NYCM) offers the cheapest car insurance in New York state for most drivers. Good drivers pay an average of $2,986 a year, but even drivers with accidents, DUIs and speeding tickets on their record may find the lowest rates in the state through NYCM.

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Cheapest average rates offered by NYCM

Driver profile	Annual	Monthly
Good driver	$2,986	$248
Adding a 16-year-old driver	$823	$69
After a gap in coverage	$2,986	$248
After an accident with property damage	$2,986	$248
After an accident with injuries	$3,386	$282
After a DUI	$3,811	$318
After a speeding ticket	$3,386	$282
High-risk driver	$4,249	$354

USAA

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Average price for good drivers

$3,556

Average price for high-risk drivers

$4,914

What you should know

USAA is only available to active and retired members of the military and their eligible family members, but if you meet the requirements, it’s worth consideration. USAA offers some of the cheapest car insurance in New York across nearly every driver profile. Its rates are less competitive for drivers with poor credit, but they are still lower than the New York average.

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Cheapest average rates offered by USAA

Driver profile	Annual	Monthly
Good driver	$3,556	$296
After a gap in coverage	$3,556	$296
After an accident with property damage	$3,878	$323
After an accident with injuries	$3,878	$323
After a DUI	$5,167	$431
After a speeding ticket	$4,039	$337
High-risk driver	$4,914	$410
Poor credit	$6,733	$561

Geico

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Average price for good drivers

$3,644

Average price for high-risk drivers

$5,035

What you should know

Geico is one of the best auto insurance companies in the U.S. and offers consistently low prices, even in the country’s most expensive state for car insurance. Geico has the best average rates for New York drivers with poor credit, according to our analysis — $4,157 a year on average.

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Cheapest average rates offered by Geico

Driver profile	Annual	Monthly
Good driver	$3,644	$304
Adding a 16-year-old	$1,188	$99
After a gap in coverage	$3,823	$319
After an accident with property damage	$3,886	$324
After an accident with injuries	$4,649	$387
After a speeding ticket	$4,875	$406
High-risk driver	$5,035	$420
Senior drivers	$2,285	$190
Poor credit	$4,157	$346

Erie

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Average price for good drivers

$3,789

Average price for high-risk drivers

$5,897

What you should know

Erie is an all-around good car insurance company for New Yorkers, offering low rates for good drivers, drivers with speeding tickets, and drivers who previously let their coverage lapse. However, drivers with poor credit may want to look for a policy elsewhere as Erie’s rates are higher than the other companies in our analysis.

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Cheapest average rates offered by Erie

Driver profile	Annual	Monthly
Good driver	$3,789	$316
Adding a 16-year-old driver	$1,751	$146
After a gap in coverage	$3,789	$316
After an accident with injuries	$4,827	$402
After an accident with property damage	$4,827	$402
After a DUI	$5,923	$494
After a speeding ticket	$4,181	$348
High-risk driver	$5,897	$491

Compare the cheapest car insurance companies in New York of 2023

Average annual and monthly rates are based on those for good drivers, or those with a clean driving record.

How much does car insurance cost in New York?

Car insurance in New York costs an average of $4,769 a year for a good driver. Drivers with at-fault accidents, tickets and DUIs on their record can expect to pay significantly more, as can drivers with poor credit scores or a gap in coverage.

Other factors that impact the cost of car insurance in New York include age (younger and senior drivers pay more), gender, vehicle and type of coverage.

Location also plays an important role in determining premiums. Insurers consider the level of claims in your specific ZIP code when setting rates. While this can vary, drivers who live in cities typically pay higher insurance premiums.

In other words, if you live in New York City and own a car, you’ll probably pay more for car insurance than drivers living in rural areas of the state.

Average cost of car insurance in New York by driver profile

Cheapest car insurance companies in New York

The cheapest car insurance company in New York is NYCM. Good drivers can expect to pay $2,986 a year, or about $249 a month, for coverage.

That makes NYCM the only insurer on our list of cheapest car insurance companies in New York with an average annual premium below $3,000 a year.

USAA, Geico and Erie are also worth considering if you are looking for affordable coverage in New York. All three offer annual premiums below $4,000 annually, and the first two — USAA and Geico — topped our national rating of the best car insurance companies.

Travelers and Sterling also offer average annual car insurance rates below the New York average, but their premiums are significantly higher, both above $4,500 a year.

Average car insurance rates in New York by company

Average annual and monthly rates are based on those for good drivers, or those with a clean driving record.

Cheapest car insurance in New York by driver profile

• After a speeding ticket.
• After an accident.
• After a DUI.
• With poor credit.
• After a gap in coverage.
• High-risk drivers.
• 16-year year old driver added to parent policy.
• Senior drivers.

Cheapest car insurance after a speeding ticket in New York

The cheapest car insurance companies in New York for drivers after a speeding ticket are NYCM, USAA and Erie.

NYCM is by far the most affordable, with an average monthly rate that’s lower than what a good driver might pay for full coverage in New York with insurers like State Farm and Kemper — or even USAA and Geico.

Cheapest car insurance in New York after a speeding ticket

Cheapest car insurance after an accident in New York

New York drivers with an accident on their record, whether it resulted in injuries or property damage, can expect the lowest rates with NYCM.

USAA and Geico also offer low car insurance rates to New York drivers with accidents on their record. Each offers rates that are more than $1,500 below the New York average. 

Cheapest car insurance in New York after an accident with injuries

Cheapest New York car insurance after an accident with property damage 

Cheapest car insurance after a DUI in New York

Insurers may have some patience for drivers with accidents on their record, but if you get a DUI in New York, expect exceptionally high car insurance rates. The New York average is $8,564 a year.

To keep insurance costs down after a DUI, consider getting quotes from NYCM, USAA, and Erie, all of which have the lowest annual rates across the providers we analyzed.

Cheapest new York car insurance after a DUI

Cheapest car insurance with poor credit in New York

If you’re struggling with a low credit score, Geico is your best bet for cheap car insurance in New York. While all insurance providers hike up rates for drivers with bad credit, Geico is the most forgiving, at an average rate of $4,157 a year.

While expensive, Utica National and Chubb are the only other two insurers with annual premiums below $6,000.

Cheapest car insurance in New York for poor credit

Cheapest car insurance in New York after a gap in coverage

Drivers who have a gap in car insurance coverage can expect a bump in their annual costs when they re-enroll in a policy. NYCM is the cheapest insurance company in New York for such drivers, with an average annual rate of $2,986. Geico and Erie also offer rates below the New York average, but they are at least $500 above NYCM’s average rates.

Cheapest car insurance after a gap in coverage

Cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers in New York

Various poor driving habits can make someone a high-risk driver. For example, insurance companies may label you high-risk if you have one or more at-fault accidents, DUIs and/or speeding and reckless driving tickets on your record. Drivers with poor credit are also considered high-risk, as are teen and senior drivers.

If you’re a high-risk driver in New York state, your best bet for cheap car insurance is NYCM, with an average annual rate of $4,249. USAA is the only other insurer with an average rate for high-risk drivers under $5,000.

Cheapest car insurance companies for high-risk drivers

Cheapest car insurance for adding a teen driver in New York

Teen drivers typically have some of the highest rates in the nation, and New York teens are no different. If you have a new driver in the household, consider adding them to your insurance policy instead of letting them get their own. Doing so can cut down their car insurance costs significantly.

As is the case for most driver profiles we analyzed, NYCM has the lowest rates for parents that want to add a 16-year-old to their policy. Geico and Erie have the second and third lowest rates, respectively, but USAA is only an option if you’re a member of the military community.

Cheapest car insurance for adding a 16-year-old driver to a parent policy

Cheapest car insurance for seniors in New York

Your car insurance rates level off in your late 20s and usually stay that way through your 30s, 40s, and 50s, provided you maintain a clean driving record. But senior drivers often see their rates increase starting in their 60s and continuing into their 70s and 80s. 

If you’re a senior driver in New York, shopping around for coverage can help you lower your rates. As is the case for other driver profiles in our analysis, NYCM has the lowest average rates for senior drivers in New York.  USAA and Erie policies are also competitively priced, though their rates are more than $1,300 more annually. 

Car insurance requirements in New York

Drivers in New York state must carry a minimum level of car insurance, by law. To comply with state requirements, you must carry liability insurance with the following coverage amounts, at a minimum:

• $25,000 per person for bodily injuries and $50,000 per person in case of death.
• $50,000 for two or more people for bodily injury and $100,000 in case of death.
• $10,000 in property damage coverage per accident. 

New York auto insurance laws also mandate that drivers carry:

• $25,000 in uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person and $50,000 per accident. 
• $50,000 in personal injury protection (PIP), also known as “no-fault” coverage.

Even if you don’t intend to drive your vehicle for a certain period of time, you must maintain car insurance if the vehicle is registered in your name. There are some exceptions for motorcycles. 

How to find cheap car insurance in New York

Looking to save money on car insurance in New York? Check out these tips.

Shop around

It’s easy to stick with the same insurance company you’ve had for years, but you could be paying more than you need. Review your coverage and premium and then get and compare quotes from multiple insurers to see if there are cheap car insurance options available to you.

When you compare car insurance quotes, make sure you keep coverage options and limits consistent to get a true picture of how much you can save.

But remember: You might qualify for a loyalty discount or vanishing deductible at your current provider, which will go away if you switch to a new insurance company. So before you leave, speak with your current insurer to see if there are any saving opportunities available. 

Ask about discounts

Insurance companies offer a wide range of discounts. Talk to your agent or visit your insurer’s website to see what discounts you might qualify for. These are some of the most common:

• Multi-policy: If you don’t already have your home and auto insurance through the same provider, ask about multi-policy, or home and auto bundling discounts. Doing so may save you on both policies. This discount isn’t limited to homeowners, however. Many insurance companies will offer bundling discounts when you purchase auto and other types of coverage, such as renters insurance. 

• Usage-based insurance: Many car insurance companies now offer usage-based insurance programs, wherein they’ll monitor your driving habits (usually through a smartphone app) and adjust your rate based on how you drive. Just bear in mind that your rates may go up if you regularly engage in risky driving habits, such as accelerating fast, braking hard, and driving at night.

• Paying in full: If you pay your entire premium upfront, instead of in monthly increments, your insurance provider may offer you a lower rate.

• Defensive driving: Insurers frequently offer a discount if you take an approved driving course. This is particularly true for senior drivers who take defensive driving courses, with some states even requiring insurers to extend discounts to those who complete the course. Taking a course in defensive driving might lower your rate for several years.

Rethink your coverages

The amount and type of coverage you have will directly impact your car insurance rates, as will the deductible you choose. Adjusting your policy can reduce your rates. 

• Drop unnecessary coverages. Your coverage needs will change over time. For instance, if you purchased gap insurance after purchasing financing a vehicle but you’ve since paid off your loan, you can drop that coverage. Similarly, if you’re a two-car family, you may not need rental car reimbursement, even if one of your cars is out of commission during repairs. And if you have roadside assistance through AAA or another program, you can decline that coverage on your insurance. 

• Decrease limits. You must purchase a minimum amount of coverage to meet state car insurance requirements, but after you meet those obligations, you can choose how much coverage you need. But tread lightly: If you reduce your limits too much, you might find yourself in a scenario where insurance won’t fully foot the bill following an accident.

• Increase your deductible. Rather than reduce the limits of your coverage, think about raising your deductible to reduce your car insurance premium. If you can afford to pay more out of pocket for a covered incident — say, $1,000 instead of $250 — you’ll enjoy significantly lower insurance payments.

Practice safe driving

Many insurance providers reward good driving. Some may lower your rates if you continue to have claims-free policy periods. Others might reward you for proactively taking a defensive driving class. And still, others may reduce your rates if you demonstrate safe driving as part of their usage-based insurance program.