New York auto insurance, explained and compared

Every vehicle registered in New York must carry New York auto insurance with at least these limits:

These are minimums, not recommendations. A serious accident can easily exceed $25,000 in injuries or $10,000 in damage, and you're responsible for anything above your limits. Letting coverage lapse can lead the DMV to suspend your registration and license.

New York is a no-fault state. Your own policy's personal injury protection pays up to $50,000 per person for medical bills, lost wages and other basic economic losses after an accident, regardless of who caused it. You can only sue another driver for pain and suffering if the injury meets New York's "serious injury" threshold. Optional additional PIP raises your benefits above the basic $50,000.

Supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (SUM) protects you and your family when the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little. Your insurer must offer SUM, and you can choose limits up to your own bodily injury liability limits. If another driver carrying the $25,000 minimum seriously injures you, SUM helps cover the gap. It's one of the most valuable, and most overlooked, coverages in New York.

• Collision: repairs to your car after an accident with another vehicle or object.
• Comprehensive: theft, vandalism, fire, falling trees, hail and deer strikes, which are common on Hudson Valley roads.
• Supplementary spousal liability: covers you if your spouse is injured in your car and sues you. Insurers must offer it.
• Rental reimbursement and towing: keeps you moving while your car is repaired.

When you add comprehensive or collision to a new policy, some insurers require a photo inspection of the vehicle. Since May 2025, New York allows insurers to waive that inspection; we'll tell you whether your carrier needs one.

Rates for the same driver and car can vary widely between companies. We compare carriers on price, coverage and claims service, look for discounts (multi-car, bundling, safe driving, good student) and recommend limits that fit your assets, not just the state minimum.