State guide
Car Insurance in New York
Updated August 2026
New York is a no-fault state, and its minimum policy is really three requirements stacked together: 25/50/10 liability ($25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $10,000 property damage — rising to $50,000/$100,000 when an accident causes death), $50,000 per person of basic no-fault coverage (PIP), and uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $25,000/$50,000. All three are mandatory on every policy under the Vehicle & Traffic Law and Insurance Law Article 51.
That coverage stack, plus dense traffic and high medical and repair costs, makes New York one of the most expensive places in America to insure a car: average annual expenditure was $1,549 in 2022 per the NAIC, third highest nationally. When the baseline is that high, the dollar gap between the highest and lowest quote for the same driver is bigger too — which is the argument for comparing carriers here rather than renewing on autopilot.
| Coverage | Required minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (per person) | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability (per accident) | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 |
| PIP / medical | $50,000 basic no-fault (PIP) per person |
| Additional requirements | Liability rises to $50,000/$100,000 for accidents causing death; uninsured motorist bodily injury of $25,000/$50,000 required on every policy |
| No-fault state | Yes |
| SR-22 used | No — this state doesn't use SR-22 filings |
Source: N.Y. Vehicle & Traffic Law §311; N.Y. Insurance Law Art. 51 (§5102); New York State Department of Financial Services
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in New York was $1,549 in 2022, per the NAIC — third highest in the nation, behind only Florida and Louisiana. (NAIC 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (June 2024))
How New York's no-fault system works
After a crash, your own policy's no-fault coverage pays your medical bills, a portion of lost earnings, and certain other expenses — up to $50,000 per person — regardless of who caused the accident. It covers you, your passengers, and pedestrians your car injures. What no-fault doesn't pay for is pain and suffering or vehicle damage: lawsuits against the at-fault driver are reserved for cases that cross the Insurance Law's serious-injury threshold.
New York also ties insurance tightly to registration. Coverage for a New York-registered vehicle must come from an insurer licensed in the state, insurers report electronically to the DMV, and a lapse — even a short one — triggers penalties and can cost you the registration if you don't surrender the plates first.
No SR-22s in New York
New York does not use SR-22 filings. After a suspension or serious violation, there's no certificate for your insurer to file — reinstatement runs through the DMV directly, and the state's electronic verification system does the ongoing monitoring that an SR-22 handles elsewhere. What a violation does change is your price: carriers weight the same conviction very differently, so drivers with a recent incident often see the widest quote spreads of anyone.
Beyond the minimums
The mandatory limits are a floor from 1995-era math: $50,000 of PIP can disappear quickly against a hospital stay, and $10,000 of property damage rarely covers a totaled newer car. New York drivers commonly look at higher liability limits, optional collision and comprehensive, and supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorist (SUM) coverage, which extends protection when an at-fault driver's limits are lower than yours.
Because every carrier prices this same menu differently, the useful comparison isn't minimum-versus-minimum — it's several quotes at the limits you actually want, side by side.
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Frequently asked questions
What car insurance is required in New York?+
Three coverages on every policy: liability of at least 25/50/10 (with $50,000/$100,000 limits for accidents causing death), $50,000 basic no-fault (PIP), and uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $25,000/$50,000 — per N.Y. Vehicle & Traffic Law §311 and Insurance Law Article 51.
Is New York a no-fault state?+
Yes. Your own policy's no-fault (PIP) coverage pays your medical bills and lost earnings up to $50,000 per person regardless of fault. Lawsuits for pain and suffering are limited to injuries that meet the state's serious-injury threshold.
Does New York use SR-22s?+
No. New York does not require SR-22 filings after violations or suspensions. Compliance is enforced through the DMV's electronic insurance verification and registration rules instead.
How much does car insurance cost in New York?+
Average annual expenditure was $1,549 in 2022 per the NAIC — third highest in the country. Individual prices vary widely by borough or county, driving record, and carrier, which is why comparing multiple quotes matters more here than in most states.
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