In a Nutshell
Could you be saving money on your car insurance? We’ve crunched the data on the cost of basic car insurance for drivers of different ages, credit scores and driving histories to find the cheapest insurers and the average price of car insurance in the Empire State.Note from our editor: Maybe you’re searching for car insurance for the first time or want to do some insurance shopping to help lower your monthly premium? This article can serve as a starting point for your car insurance research. There are a lot of factors when it comes to the cost of car insurance, so while you may not see the exact premiums we’ve researched, they can give you an idea of some of the insurers offering the cheapest rates in your state.
Driving through New York City or taking a road trip through the Adirondack Mountain range upstate can be two very different experiences. Whatever the challenges, you know you need car insurance to protect yourself and stay legal — but do you know what the best values are for coverage in the Empire State?
We compared the rates for basic coverage from several insurers to find the average cost of car insurance in New York.
We used a relatively neutral driver profile to find the average cost of car insurance at minimum coverage. Unless otherwise noted, we looked for rates based a New York driver with a clean driving record, no tickets, accidents or claims (see our full methodology). That means the cost for you could vary depending on various factors affecting car insurance in your own profile like your age, driving history, the car you drive and the coverage you want.
We also found some of the lowest-cost insurers for basic coverage using several different driver profiles, such as young drivers and drivers with different credit scores and claims histories.
Read on to learn about New York’s average car insurance rates and our findings for the cheapest options.
- Cost of car insurance in New York
- 5 cheapest car insurance companies in New York
- Cheapest full coverage car insurance in New York
- Cheapest state-minimum car insurance in New York
- Cheapest car insurance for good credit in New York
- Cheapest car insurance for poor credit in New York
- Cheapest car insurance for drivers with multiple claims in New York
- Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in New York
- New York auto insurance requirements
- Is usage-based insurance available in New York?
- FAQs about the cheapest car insurance rates in New York
- Methodology
Cost of car insurance in New York
Average monthly premiums for car insurance in New York range from just over $195 up to over $400, depending on type of coverage and driver profile.
Average monthly auto insurance premiums in New York
| Driver or coverage | Avg. monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Full coverage car insurance in New York | $454.85 |
| State-minimum car insurance in New York | $196.34 |
| Drivers with poor credit in New York | $419.34 |
| Drivers with multiple claims in New York | $236.79 |
| Young drivers in New York | $307.99 |
5 cheapest car insurance companies in New York
Here are the five cheapest car insurance companies in New York based on minimum coverage. These rates are calculated based on a specific New York driver profile (see our full methodology for more information), so your rates could be different. Unless otherwise noted, our New York driver has a credit score between 680 and 719, no tickets or coverage gaps and a $20,000 to $30,000 car value.
1. National Grange Mutual
National Grange Mutual, or NGM, is the flagship insurance carrier for Main Street America Insurance. In addition to standard car insurance, customers can choose from additional coverage options, including new vehicle replacement, emergency roadside assistance, road trip interruption and gap coverage. NGM offers ways to save premiums, including discounts for good students and bundling your policies.
2. Sterling Insurance
Founded in 1895, Sterling Insurance provides all the basic coverages and a few extras, such as glass and rental expense coverages. It offers discounts for bundling multiple policies or vehicles, having certain safety features, being a safe driver and maintaining good grades.
3. Utica National Insurance Group
Founded in 1914, Utica National Insurance Group sells insurance through local agents and offers several discounts, including for mileage and anti-theft devices, as well as being an occasional operator, an educator or a good student.
4. USAA
USAA is available to military members and their families. USAA auto insurance is available nationwide with various discount opportunities, including unique savings for deployed military members. The USAA app allows members to manage their policy from their mobile devices. USAA offers standard and optional coverage options. Read reviews of USAA to learn more.
5. Geico
Geico offers a wide range of coverage options and many opportunities to save money for safe driving habits, safety equipment and customer loyalty. Its mobile app allows users to manage their policies, pay bills, request roadside assistance and more. Read reviews of Geico to learn more.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in New York
When shopping for car insurance, it’s essential to know what kind of coverage you want. Full coverage insurance isn’t technically a type of insurance, but it is defined here as including bodily injury, property damage, uninsured motorist, personal injury protection, collision and comprehensive coverages.
Here are the five cheapest options for our New York driver looking for full coverage car insurance.
5 cheapest full-coverage car insurance companies in New York
| 1 | National Grange Mutual | $145.42/month |
| 2 | Geico | $264.81/month |
| 3 | USAA | $273.92/month |
| 4 | State Farm | $277.50/month |
| 5 | Progressive | $309.96/month |
Cheapest state-minimum car insurance in New York
State-minimum car insurance is quite different than full coverage. State-minimum coverage is the basic minimum coverage you need to drive your car, as determined by your state, and may be a good option for people trying to save money on their car insurance.
Here are the five cheapest insurers for our New York driver shopping for state-minimum coverage only.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in New York for state-minimum coverage
| 1 | National Grange Mutual | $68.83/month |
| 2 | Sterling Insurance | $76.50/month |
| 3 | Utica National Insurance Group | $86.67/month |
| 4 | USAA | $113.44/month |
| 5 | Geico | $115.31/month |
Cheapest car insurance for good credit in New York
Among other factors, insurers look at your credit-based auto insurance score, similar to a credit score, to gauge how risky you are to insure. That’s why shoppers with better credit often see lower monthly premiums, all else being equal.
Assuming our New York driver profile has good credit, here are the five cheapest car insurers for basic auto insurance coverage.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in New York for those with good credit
| 1 | National Grange Mutual | $53.17/month |
| 2 | Sterling Insurance | $60.67/month |
| 3 | Utica National Ins Group | $86.67/month |
| 4 | USAA | $104.12/month |
| 5 | Geico | $108.27/month |
Cheapest car insurance for poor credit in New York
Have less-than-stellar credit? While you’re likely to pay more for car insurance, you can still qualify for cheap auto insurance, especially if you have a safe driving history.
The following companies have the cheapest estimated rates on minimum coverage for drivers considered to have poor credit.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in New York for those with poor credit
| 1 | Utica National Insurance Group | $86.67/month |
| 2 | Sterling Insurance | $104.42/month |
| 3 | Geico | $137.86/month |
| 4 | Chubb | $172.79/month |
| 5 | Preferred Mutual | $184.33/month |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with multiple claims in New York
Your claims history can also impact the price you pay for insurance. The more claims you have on your record, the higher your premium may be.
The following insurers offer the lowest estimated rates for basic coverage, for drivers who have multiple claims.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in New York for multiple claims
| 1 | National Grange Mutual | $92.17/month |
| 2 | Utica National Ins Group | $118.25/month |
| 3 | USAA | $124.96/month |
| 4 | Sterling Insurance | $138.67/month |
| 5 | Chubb | $153.00/month |
Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in New York
Just like a history of claims or accidents can increase your rates, so can a lack of driving history. That means younger drivers may pay more for car insurance until they can establish a driving history.
These are the cheapest estimated insurance rates for basic coverage for New York drivers between the ages of 18 and 21.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in New York for young drivers
| 1 | Utica National Ins Group | $86.67/month |
| 2 | Sterling Insurance | $107.58/month |
| 3 | National Grange Mutual | $107.92/month |
| 4 | USAA | $186.81/month |
| 5 | Geico | $190.64/month |
New York auto insurance requirements
Most states have a minimum required auto insurance that drivers must carry. In New York, drivers need to have at least $10,000 of coverage for property damage for a single accident, $25,000 for bodily injury, $50,000 for death for a person involved in an accident, $50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for death for two or more people in an accident. You might have additional coverage responsibilities if you lease your car or have a car loan.
Is usage-based insurance available in New York?
The state of New York allows drivers to take advantage of telematics, otherwise known as usage-based insurance. Usage-based insurance is vehicle insurance that allows customers to pay premiums based on their driving behavior.
FAQs about the cheapest car insurance rates in New York
Monthly premiums for car insurance in New York range from just over $50 per month for bare-bones state-minimum auto insurance to over $400 per month, depending on the coverage options and your driver profile. Your rates could vary.
We found National Grange Mutual offered the lowest-cost car insurance for several types of drivers in New York, including those with good credit, multiple claims and drivers looking for state minimum coverage.
The state of New York requires drivers to carry liability coverage of at least $10,000 for property damage for a single accident, $25,000 for bodily injury, $50,000 for death for a person involved in an accident, $50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for death for two or more people in an accident.
Methodology
This article’s estimated rates are the lowest based on the profile of a driver aged 36 to 45 living in New York. Unless otherwise noted, the rates displayed assume a single driver on the insurance policy with no tickets on their driving record and no claims or coverage lapses. The vehicle used in this estimate is valued between $20,000 and $30,000 and has annual mileage of 12,000 to 15,000.
Note that the rates are provided every six months by Quadrant Information Services. Quadrant Information Services doesn’t include all insurance companies in its rate data. These are estimated rates meant only to provide a frame of reference and comparison. Your rates may vary depending on a range of factors, such as your age, vehicle driving habits and history.
Average monthly premium for full coverage car insurance includes bodily injury, property damage, uninsured motorist, personal injury protection, collision and comprehensive coverages. Average monthly premium for state-minimum car insurance includes a New York-mandated 25/50/10 insurance policy.
Estimated rates for insurance for good credit apply to scores of 720 and above. Estimated rates for insurance for poor credit apply to scores from 350 to 579. Estimated rates for young drivers include those aged 18 to 21. Estimated rates for those with multiple claims are calculated based on two claims.