Getting Cheap Auto Insurance in New York

Whether you’re in the Empire State for an extended visit to the Big Apple, upstate to enjoy the Finger Lakes for the summer, or live in a suburb like Glen Ridge or Katonah, life in New York can be fast-paced, and the bills can add up quickly. While New York is one of the most expensive states for auto insurance, you may be able to score on a deal or two if you know where to look for the lowest auto insurance in New York.

The average full coverage policy in the state costs about $2,340 annually, or about 30% more than the national average rate of $1,670 annually. However, with the right tools, you may be able to lower your premiums below the state average and perhaps even below the national average. Let’s take a look at how you can save on your New York car insurance policy without sacrificing your coverage. 

New York State auto insurance will rage in cost, as premiums are subjective based on the driver, policy, and deductible. The cheapest premiums are often only available to those who can dedicate a bit of time to research and quote comparison. Lucky for you, you’ve come to the experts! We’ll explain how you can get a full coverage policy with premiums below the state’s average of $2,340 annually. 

The cheapest auto insurance in the Empire State will almost always be a minimum coverage policy that meets the state’s minimum legal coverage requirements but doesn’t exceed them. Auto insurance laws in the state require all drivers to have at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 in bodily injury liability per accident, $10,000 in property damage liability per accident (25/50/10 liability coverage), $25,000 in uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI/UIMBI) per person, $50,000 in UMBI/UIMBI per accident (25/50 UMBI/UIMBI), and $50,000 in personal injury protection (PIP). Those who finance or lease their vehicles may be required to carry collision and comprehensive coverages on their policies as a part of their legally binding agreements. 

A policy that contains the above coverages but nothing extra is considered a minimum coverage policy. A minimum coverage policy typically costs about half as much as a full coverage policy, so New Yorkers may see premiums of about $1,170 annually for such a policy. A minimum coverage policy is an excellent option for cheap car insurance in New York for young drivers or for any other drivers who may have higher-than-average premiums. However, it’s important to note that premiums are subjective based on the driver, so the rates available to one driver may not be available to others. 

Insurers use several factors about each driver to determine their premiums. For example, insurers may use one’s driving record, insurance history, ZIP code, gender, or age to determine their rates. So, while every driver may certainly be able to lower their rates, it’s essential to remember that some drivers may not have access to lower-than-average rates because of a few inherent factors working to their detriment. 

Certain “non-driving” factors that go into one’s premiums may translate to higher premiums due to an inherent statistical likelihood of one filing a claim. For example, drivers in densely populated cities like Manhattan pay higher premiums because they’re statistically more likely to get into an accident and file a claim. So, if you have a New York City ZIP code, you may pay higher-than-average premiums even if you have a clean driving record and a consistent insurance history. 

While some of the unique factors about you may contribute to your higher-than-average premiums, all hope for savings isn’t lost just yet. There are plenty of ways to lower your premiums as long as you take your time and research. 

Whether you’re looking for cheap car insurance in New York for first time drivers, drivers with a clean record, or drivers with a few at-fault accidents on their records, a few companies to check out first might be State Farm, Allstate, or Progressive. These insurers offer base rates below the state average, a wide selection of additional coverage types, and several discounts policyholders may stack to further reduce their premiums. Each insurer also has a reputation for top-tier customer service. 

While there certainly are some cheap car insurance companies in New York, the top insurance companies in the state may not have a policy to bind with every driver. While some insurers may offer drivers a policy with base rates below the state average, others may quote some drivers at a rate higher than average, or they may even refuse to bind a policy at all. Above all, it’s essential to figure out what you value most in a policy before you select an insurer so you can perfectly tailor your policy to your values. 

Those who look to compare auto insurance in New York based on price will often find that a minimum, liability-only policy will be the cheapest policy offered by almost every company. Insurers like Progressive, Geico, and State Farm offer competitively low rates for all their policies. Since the average full coverage policy in the state costs about $2,340 annually, the average minimum coverage policy costs about $1,170 annually. However, the mentioned insurers offer rates far below the state average, sometimes nearly 50% lower. 

While paying half the cost of a full coverage policy sounds intriguing, it’s important to note that you’re only getting about half the coverage with a minimum coverage policy as you would with a full coverage one. In the Empire State, a minimum coverage policy offers some liability coverage, some UMBI/UIMBI coverage, and some PIP coverage. However, that may not be enough to ensure your safety behind the wheel. 

Here’s a scenario: you’re driving back to Westchester after seeing a show on Broadway, and you get a bit swept up singing along to the musical’s soundtrack. Before you know it, your fender is in the bumper of the car in front of you, and your minimum coverage policy doesn’t exactly cover showtune-related perils. 

Your liability coverage will only cover the victim’s medical expenses and vehicle repairs up to your policy’s 25/50/10 limit after you reach your deductible. If the other driver or their passengers are critically injured in the accident, you’ll probably reach your limit pretty quickly and remain on the hook for the rest of their expenses. That’s not to mention your own expenses, for which you’ll be liable once you reach your policy’s PIP limit. 

Since New York is a no-fault state, all drivers must carry a minimum limit of PIP to cover their own expenses in the event of an accident, regardless of who’s at fault. While PIP is an excellent coverage, it carries a high price. While it may be tempting to forgo coverage entirely to cash in on some short-term savings, driving without insurance in the Empire State is illegal. 

Those who don’t have sufficient coverage may face fines, fees, license and registration suspension, or even jail time. Plus, those who break the compulsory insurance law sometimes require SR-22 insurance or high-risk insurance, which can raise one’s rates to double or triple the average cost for years.

By and large, a minimum coverage policy will typically be the cheapest insurance in New York. Still, it will carry the most significant risk. In many scenarios, drivers invest in their safety by opting for a full coverage policy with higher premiums rather than risking financial ruin with a minimum coverage policy in a worst-case accident scenario. 

Cheap car insurance in New York can certainly be tricky to find, especially considering it’s one of the most expensive states for policies, but finding a deal isn’t impossible. While the cheapest policy will almost always be a minimum coverage policy from an insurer offering lower-than-average base rates like Progressive or State Farm, there are plenty of other deals out there if you know where to look. The easiest way to find the best policy for your needs and to cash in on savings is to narrow your search based on what you value more in a policy: cost or coverage. 

If you value cost over coverage, the best policy for you will likely be a minimum coverage policy from an insurer that offers lower-than-average base rates. If you value coverage over cost, the best policy for you will likely be a full coverage policy from an insurer that offers a wide range of optional, additional coverages. Suppose you value both cost and coverage equally, meaning you want an expansive policy but also wouldn’t mind saving a few dollars along the way. In that case, the best policy for you will likely be a full coverage policy from an insurer that offers lower-than-average base rates and plenty of stackable discounts. 

It’s important to note that the cheapest policy, a minimum coverage one, may not offer enough coverage to keep you and your passengers safe behind the wheel. It’s crucial to have a policy with coverages and coverage limits that help you feel comfortable on the road without risking your savings or safety. A full coverage policy offers a broad range of protection for you and your passengers, as policyholders can add coverages like collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, uninsured or underinsured property damage coverage (UMPD/UIMPD), or gap coverage, among others. 

While a full coverage policy may cost about $2,340 annually in the Empire State, many of the top insurers in the state offer discounts policyholders can stack to reduce their premiums below the average rate. Opting for a full coverage policy with discounts applied is the best way to get a deal on your auto insurance without sacrificing your coverage or safety.

Insurers typically offer two types of discounts: criteria-based and enrollment-based. Criteria-based discounts require the policyholder to meet a set of standards inherently. In contrast, enrollment-based discounts require the policyholder to participate in their savings actively. 

Some commonly offered criteria-based discounts are a bundling discount, a multi-car discount, or a good student discount. Some insurers may even offer occupational discounts, military discounts, or discounts for those with specific safety or anti-theft features on their vehicles. 

Insurers may also offer enrollment-based discounts that require the policyholder to participate in their savings to some degree. For example, some insurers provide pay-as-you-go car insurance in New York, otherwise known as a pay-per-mile program. Other insurers may offer a usage-based discount or telematics program where drivers who make good choices behind the wheel can save as much as 25% on their premiums. 

While a full coverage policy may be more expensive than a minimum coverage policy, stacking your discounts is a great way to save as much as possible while maintaining excellent coverage. 

It’s essential to remember, too, that cheap car insurance in New York for bad drivers, or those with a poor driving record, a history of driving without insurance, or otherwise recklessly, may be harder to find than cheap insurance for someone with a clean record. After one’s license or registration is suspended, drivers may require an SR-22 form, which can double or triple the cost of insurance for several years. 

Whether you’re searching for low-income car insurance in New York or are just looking to save on your policy so you can maintain your savings for some adventures in the Big Apple, the cheapest insurers in the Empire State may be Progressive, State Farm, or Allstate. Each of these insurers offers base rates below the average cost of a full coverage premium in the state for drivers with a clean driving record and a good insurance history. However, it’s important to note that high-risk drivers may not be eligible for the cheapest rates because of their risk of filing a claim. 

Affordable car insurance in New York can be tough to find, as the average full coverage policy in the state is about 30% more than the national average. There are typically a few forces at play when a state has higher-than-average premiums, like population, population density, and the population of uninsured drivers.

New York is one of the most expensive states for car insurance for a few reasons. The population density in New York City is the key factor contributing to the higher-than-average premiums in the state. New York City is the most populated city in the United States; thus, quite a few drivers are on the road. With more drivers on the road, there’s a higher statistical likelihood of drivers getting into accidents and filing claims. Plus, with more drivers on the road, there are more uninsured drivers on the road. More uninsured drivers means more claims, which, again, raises the rate of an average premium.  

Even outside the city, drivers see higher premiums because of New York’s population. Since New York State is the fourth most populous state in the nation, all New Yorkers see premiums higher than the national average. 

Whether you’re searching for the cheapest car insurance in New York for new drivers, young drivers, bad drivers, or good drivers, the search may be a bit overwhelming and yield costly results. The best way to find the right policy for your lifestyle and budget is to get and compare quotes online. By getting and comparing quotes, you can compare policies offered by several insurers to ensure you get the most bang for your buck. 

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place for quotes. Here at Clovered, we have a free quoting tool to access and analyze your unique quotes in minutes. If you have any questions about your quotes or prefer to chat with a professional, one of our licensed agents will happily assist you at 833-255-4117 or [email protected].