Auto insurance in New York
Car insurance in New York is a no-fault state's product with its own vocabulary: PIP, SUM, photo inspections, the DMV's insurance codes. Underneath it the question is simple: how much liability you carry, what you pay to protect your own car, and which carrier prices your household best. I compare and explain.
New York requires every registered vehicle to carry liability of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injury, $10,000 for property damage, $50,000 of no-fault (PIP) and uninsured motorist coverage. Those minimums are too low for anyone with a house or savings. I compare carriers at $100,000/$300,000 or higher with matching SUM coverage, and show where each discount comes from.
What's in a New York auto policy
| Coverage | What it pays | NY minimum | What I usually suggest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Injuries you cause to others | $25,000 / $50,000 | $100,000 / $300,000 or more |
| Property damage liability | Damage you cause to others' property | $10,000 | $100,000 |
| Personal Injury Protection (no-fault) | Your own medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault | $50,000 | $50,000, more if your income is high |
| SUM (uninsured / underinsured motorist) | Your injuries when the other driver can't pay | $25,000 / $50,000 | Equal to your liability limits |
| Collision | Your car, in a crash | Optional | Yes on cars worth more than a few thousand dollars |
| Comprehensive | Your car: theft, deer, hail, glass, fire, flood | Optional | Yes; deer strikes are a frequent claim here every fall |
Why the minimums are a trap
A single serious injury crash exhausts $25,000 in a day of hospital care. Once your policy limit is spent, the injured person's lawyer looks at your house, your savings and your future wages. The gap between minimum limits and $100,000/$300,000 is usually a few dollars a month. For anyone with assets, an umbrella policy on top is the next step.
What moves the price in the Capital Region
- Where the car sleeps. Rates are territory-based; Clifton Park, Niskayuna and Saratoga Springs price differently from Albany, Schenectady and Troy addresses.
- Drivers. A teen driver can double a household premium; some carriers handle it far better than others, and good-student and driver-training discounts are worth chasing.
- Vehicle. Repair cost and theft rate, not sticker price. Some popular SUVs and pickups are expensive to insure for reasons that aren't obvious.
- Record and credit. Accidents and tickets follow you for three to five years; New York permits credit-based scoring with restrictions.
- Discounts. Multi-car, auto plus home bundling, telematics, paid-in-full, the state's defensive driving course (a mandatory 10% liability and collision discount for three years), and anti-theft devices.
Deer, winter and Northway commutes
Comprehensive covers deer strikes, which peak in October and November on Route 9, Route 146 and the rural roads of Saratoga and Rensselaer counties. Collision covers the January slide into the guardrail. Choose deductibles you could pay tomorrow; raising them from $250 to $1,000 saves real premium on both coverages.
Situations worth mentioning on the call
- Rideshare or delivery driving, even occasionally.
- A new driver in the house, or a licensed child away at college.
- Classic, antique or seasonal cars, which belong on specialty policies that are cheaper and pay agreed value.
- A leased or financed car, which the lender will require to carry collision and comprehensive, and which may benefit from gap coverage.
- Moving into New York: your out-of-state policy won't satisfy the DMV; you'll need a New York policy from a New York-licensed company.
What I need to quote
- Your current declarations page, if you have one.
- Drivers' licence numbers and dates of birth.
- Vehicle VINs, annual mileage and where each is garaged.
- Whether you'd like the home quoted alongside for the bundle.
Request an auto quote. I compare several carriers for identical coverage and tell you when what you have is already the right fit.
Common questions
Short answers to what people ask before they call.
What are New York's minimum car insurance requirements?
Bodily injury liability of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident ($50,000/$100,000 for death), property damage liability of $10,000, $50,000 of no-fault Personal Injury Protection, and uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000/$50,000. Coverage must be from a company licensed in New York and must be continuous while the vehicle is registered.
What is SUM coverage and should I have it?
Supplementary Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage pays for your injuries when the driver who hit you has no insurance or too little. Since 2018 New York policies include SUM at your own bodily-injury liability limits unless you decline it in writing. Keep it. It's the coverage that protects your family from other people's bad decisions, and it's inexpensive.
What is no-fault, and why do I need PIP if I have health insurance?
New York's no-fault law means your own auto policy pays your medical bills and part of lost wages after a crash, regardless of fault, up to $50,000 basic PIP. Health insurance is secondary to no-fault for car accidents, so PIP is mandatory. Optional additional PIP raises the limit, which matters for people whose income is higher than the basic wage benefit.
Do I still need a photo inspection for a new policy?
Sometimes. New York's Regulation 79 requires a photo inspection within 14 days for collision and comprehensive coverage, or that coverage is suspended. Since May 2024 insurers can waive the inspection for some or all vehicles, and many have. I'll tell you whether your carrier requires it and where to go.
I drive for Uber, DoorDash or Instacart on the side. Am I covered?
Not by a standard personal policy while you're logged in to the app. The platform's coverage has gaps, particularly between rides. Most carriers offer a rideshare or delivery endorsement for a modest premium. Tell me, because a claim discovered at the worst moment is the alternative.
Let's talk it through
A phone call or a message is all it takes. The first conversation is just a conversation.
Where I work
I'm based in Clifton Park and work across four Capital Region counties, in person or by phone.