Fact CheckedNerdWallet’s editorial team collected data on 17 auto insurers in New York and scored them for a variety of factors, including customer experience, online features and discounts. We chose Amica for the top spot in New York, but plenty of other car insurance companies in the state also earned high ratings.
Our March 2026 picks for the best car insurance companies in New York are:
Category winner | NerdWallet star rating |
|---|---|
Best overall car insurance company: Amica | |
Best for budgeting shoppers: NYCM | 4.8NerdWallet rating |
Best for bundling auto and home insurance: Erie | |
Best for coverage add ons: Travelers | |
Best for usage-based insurance: Plymouth Rock |
For our list of the best car insurance companies in New York, we considered only insurers that achieved a minimum NerdWallet star rating of 4.5. As we continue to evaluate more insurance providers and receive fresh market data, our list of best car insurance companies may change.
NerdWallet’s editorial team considers these factors when choosing the best auto insurance companies:
Financial strength. We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims.
Consumer experience. These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). We also look at survey data from J.D. Power’s yearly national and regional studies.
Digital ease of use. This category looks at how easily consumers can interact with an insurer through its mobile app and website. This includes the quality of information offered online, mobile app scores based on Apple and Google Play store ratings, and whether a user can start and track a claim, or get a quote online.
Ways to save. We look at the kinds of discounts a company offers and the total number of discounts available.
You can read our full auto insurance methodology to learn more.
Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage.
Thorough rating guidelines for evaluating auto insurance companies.
More than 120 million rates analyzed by our team of specialists.
More than 130 insurance companies analyzed in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
You can trust the prices we show because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which includes rates from every locale in a state where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing.
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Here’s our list of the best auto insurance companies in New York for different categories, plus what makes them the best.
Best car insurance company in New York: Amica
Low consumer complaints and a wide variety of policy perks and discounts make Amica a top-rated choice for good drivers.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.
Why Amica is the best for most New York drivers: Amica’s customer experience is a key strength. The insurer earns fewer complaints than expected for its size, and scores better than average in J.D. Power’s Claims Satisfaction Study.
As for its digital features, Amica gets high marks from us for having a convenient website that allows users to get quotes, file and track claims, and easily contact support with questions. The Amica app has most of the same capabilities, minus the ability to get quotes, and has been rated very highly by iOS users.
Amica also offers coverage options that allow customers some room for customization, like glass coverage and gap insurance, which you may need if you lease a car. Policies for cars that are less than one year old and have fewer than 15,000 miles may come with new car replacement.
Don’t pick Amica if: You haven’t shopped around for quotes from other insurance companies first. We rated Amica highly in New York, but we currently don’t have any rates data for it. Make sure to compare car insurance quotes to see if you can afford its prices.
» Read the full review: Amica auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $3,167 $1,089 One speeding ticket, good credit $4,114 $1,372 One at-fault crash, good credit $3,957 $1,505 One DUI, good credit $11,783 $3,661 Clean driving record, poor credit $9,541 $1,854
Best for budgeting shoppers: NYCM
Full coverage
$117 /month
Liability only
$35 /month
NYCM (New York Central Mutual) offers car insurance in New York, as well as home and umbrella insurance. Its consumer experience, coverage offerings and many discounts make it one of New York’s best regional insurers.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
Available in: NY.
Why budget-conscious drivers will like NYCM: According to our analysis of the cost of car insurance, NYCM has some of the best rates in New York, even for drivers who have an accident or violation on their record. NYCM also has a great set of discounts, which could help some drivers lower their rates even more.
Besides having cheap car insurance rates, NYCM is also our stand-out pick in New York its for customer experience. NYCM has the top spot in New York for overall customer satisfaction on J.D. Power’s Auto Insurance Survey, and it earns far fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
Don’t pick NYCM if: You’re uncomfortable speaking with someone to get coverage. Unlike other car insurance companies, with NYCM you’ll need to get car insurance through an agent instead by online quote.
How much does NYCM car insurance cost in New York? The average cost of car insurance from NYCM for someone with a clean driving record is $117 per month, or $1,400 per year in New York for full coverage. That’s compared to the statewide average of $2,619 per year.
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $1,400 $417 One speeding ticket, good credit $1,662 $506 One at-fault crash, good credit $1,708 $506 One DUI, good credit $2,003 $655 Clean driving record, poor credit $3,458 $1,041
Best for bundling home and auto insurance: Erie
The company is popular with consumers but operates in only 12 states and Washington, D.C.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Close to expected
Available in: DC, IL, IN, KY, MD, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WI, & WV.
Why bundling shoppers might want to consider Erie: One big reason we like Erie for bundling auto and home insurance is that guaranteed replacement cost coverage comes standard on Erie’s home insurance policies. If your home is destroyed, Erie would pay the full cost to rebuild your home, including costs that raised the rebuild price past expectations.
As for its car insurance, Erie offers drivers many coverage options, including new or better car replacement, transportation expense coverage, and perks like Rate Lock, accident forgiveness, and diminishing deductibles might be included for some drivers.
Don’t pick Erie if: You haven’t shopped around for quotes from other insurance companies first. We don't have rates data for Erie in New York, but Erie often has relatively low rates compared to other insurers in the states where we do have data.
» Read the full review: Erie auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $1,812 $423 One speeding ticket, good credit $1,959 $445 One at-fault crash, good credit $2,524 $658 One DUI, good credit $3,205 $885 Clean driving record, poor credit $4,161 $828
Best for customizing a policy: Travelers
Full coverage
$147 /month
Liability only
$53 /month
Travelers offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help you customize your car insurance policy.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Available in: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, & WI.
Why we like the variety of coverage Travelers offers: Travelers' coverage offerings could appeal to different kinds of drivers in New York, each with their own car insurance needs. Travelers offers gap insurance, new car replacement, two tiers of accident forgiveness and rideshare coverage for drivers of Uber or Lyft.
Besides coverage options, Travelers also has a highly rated online experience, a long list of discounts and car insurance rates that could be cheaper than average for good drivers in New York. In other words, we think it could be an all-around solid choice for many drivers.
Don’t pick Travelers if: You value customer satisfaction over any other factor. Travelers scored below average in J.D. Power’s Claims Satisfaction Study. But it earns fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size, and scores well for overall satisfaction in New York, according to the Auto Insurance Study from J.D. Power.
How much does Travelers car insurance cost in New York? The average cost of car insurance from Travelers for someone with a clean driving record is $147 per month, or $1,759 per year in New York for full coverage. That’s compared to the statewide average of $2,619 per year.
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $1,759 $640 One speeding ticket, good credit $1,759 $917 One at-fault crash, good credit $3,135 $1,252 One DUI, good credit $3,149 $1,317 Clean driving record, poor credit $4,439 $1,725
Best for usage-based insurance: Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock offers a variety of car insurance types and discounts. Good drivers may also lower their rates via one of Plymouth Rock’s usage-based insurance programs.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
Available in: CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, & PA.
Why safe and infrequent drivers might like Plymouth Rock: Plymouth Rock offers two types of usage-based car insurance, programs where you share details about your driving in exchange for discounted rates and other perks.
YUBI: Agree to share data about your speed and braking, the time of day your drive, and the miles you drive for a chance at discounted rates.
Road Rewards: Share data about your driving to earn points, which you can redeem for gift cards to Starbucks, Amazon and others.
Plymouth Rock is one of the better car insurance companies in New York even if you don’t want to participate in a usage-based program. The insurer earns far fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size, and it offers a great set of discounts that could help drivers lower their rates.
Lastly, Plymouth Rock partners with the New York Yankees to offer fans ballpark tours, discounts on concessions and more. You can sign up for the cost of $20 per year.
Don’t pick Plymouth Rock if: You want the ability to add lots of types of coverage to your policy. Plymouth Rock offers drivers substitute transportation coverage for when you can’t use your regular car, but other insurers may offer far more add-ons.
» Read the full review:Plymouth Rock auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $4,434 $712 One speeding ticket, good credit $5,253 $899 One at-fault crash, good credit $5,489 $953 One DUI, good credit $5,242 $936 Clean driving record, poor credit $11,051 $712
Full list of the best car insurance companies in New York
There are more highly rated insurance companies in New York than those we’ve called out here, and the one that’s right for you won’t necessarily be the same as for another New Yorker. The best car insurance company is one with rates that fit into your budget, coverage you need and a reputation for quality customer service.
These are all of the car insurance companies in New York we think may be right for certain drivers:
Company | Star rating |
|---|---|
Best overall in New York: Amica | |
Best for budgeting shoppers: NYCM | 4.8NerdWallet rating |
Best for bundling auto and home: Erie | |
Best for coverage add ons: Travelers | |
Best usage-based insurance: Plymouth Rock | |
Best for high-risk drivers: Progressive | |
Best for military families: USAA* | |
*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families. | |
Here is the full list of car insurance companies reviewed by NerdWallet. Not all insurers offer policies in every state.
What to know about car insurance in New York
For the most part, car insurance in New York works similarly to other states. But one difference that’s important to understand is the no-fault insurance law, which affects the insurance you have to carry and who’s responsible for your injuries after an accident.
New York requires drivers to carry four types of car insurance. State laws require a minimum amount of each kind of insurance, but we recommend that drivers who can afford it increase their coverage.
Bodily injury liability insurance: Helps to pay for other people’s medical expenses after an accident you cause.
Property damage liability insurance: Aids in paying for damaged property that belongs to other people.
Uninsured motorist coverage: Helps pay for your medical expenses if you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver.
Personal injury protection: Covers your medical expenses and lost earnings after an accident, even if you were responsible for the crash.
None of these types of coverage will help pay for damage to your car if you cause an accident. Other types of damage, such as from animals or weather, are also not covered. These types kind of damage (as well as most other types) are instead covered by comprehensive and collision insurance.
New York is a no-fault state. This means that no matter who’s at fault for a crash, your personal injury protection helps cover expenses related to your injuries, as well as other related costs including rehab. If you suffered serious injuries in a crash that wasn’t your fault, the other driver may be forced to help cover the costs.
Personal injury protection also covers lost wages, but it’s a little complicated. A basic policy covers 80% of lost earnings, with a cap of $2,000 per month for up to three years from the date of the accident. It also provides $25 per day for a year after the accident to help pay for necessary expenses, like transportation costs.
You must submit a claim to your insurance company within a certain number of days to receive this coverage. New York laws require you to submit notice of a claim within 30 days. Medical bills must be submitted within 45 days, while claims for lost wages have to be made within 90 days.
The average cost of car insurance in New York is $2,619 per year, but it depends on how much coverage you have and your driving record. Other details like your age, where you live, your car and your insurance company will also affect your rates. Here is the median cost of car insurance in the state for different drivers:
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $2,619 $929 One speeding ticket, good credit $3,309 $1,152 One at-fault crash, good credit $3,853 $1,279 One DUI, good credit $5,007 $1,785 Clean driving record, poor credit $4,302 $1,243 Your driving record can make it impossible for you to get car insurance on your own. Instead, you’d have to get coverage through the New York Automobile Insurance Plan (NYAIP), a program established by the state to ensure coverage. Usually it’s more expensive to get coverage through the NYAIP, but safer drivers may be able to get a discount even while in the program.
How to get the best car insurance in New York
If you’re still unsure which insurance company is right for you, or if you want to do more research on your own, these tips could help you decide whether a company is a fit.
Shop around or compare quotes before buying. You’ll want to get quotes from at least three insurance companies before you settle on a policy. Prices vary from insurer to insurer, and without shopping around you could end up paying more than you need.
Understand the coverage you need. The coverage that insurance companies offer is similar, though not the same. Having an idea of the insurance that your car, household and personal risk tolerance demand will help you narrow down your list of options.
Consult trusted sources for company info. NerdWallet’s library is a valuable resource where you can find dozens of reviews on insurance companies of all sizes. You might also want to check out a company’s financial strength and complaint history with AM Best and the NAIC, respectively.
Consider other factors that could affect your choice. One detail can change the insurer that's best for you. The companies that might be right for you could be affected if you work from home and almost never drive, want to bundle policies or need coverage for a new driver in your family.
Avoid gaps in coverage. A gap in your coverage occurs when you stop having insurance. Once you get another policy, your rates will be more expensive than average. Avoiding gaps is important for keeping your rates low and your options open, though it can be harder if you live somewhere like New York City where you may not need a car.
Don’t shy away from smaller insurers. It’s possible that the best insurance company for you is one you’ve never heard of. New York is full of regional insurance companies that may offer cheaper rates and a better customer experience than a large competitor.
We nerd out on car insurance
Our goal is to give you what you need to make smart decisions about your car insurance.
Here’s why you can trust NerdWallet:
We do our homework. We regularly evaluate and review many of the insurance companies we write about. And all of our content is fact-checked before publication. This means the star ratings you see on our reviews are accurate and up-to-date.
We analyze the data. We update our average car insurance rates every month. To do that, we analyze more than 500 million rates from across the country. These rates are provided by Quadrant Information Services.
We are unbiased. NerdWallet’s content is never influenced by our business partners and advertisers. Learn more about how we write in our editorial guidelines.
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. Accessed Mar 6, 2026.
- 2.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. Accessed Mar 6, 2026.
- 3.New York Department of Financial Services. Auto Insurance Information for Consumers. Accessed Mar 6, 2026.
- 4.New York Department of Financial Services. Consumer FAQs About No-Fault Insurance. Accessed Mar 5, 2026.
- 5.New York Department of Financial Services. Trouble Getting Coverage. Accessed .
Auto insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance.
Here’s how we evaluated each car insurance company and the weights we placed on each category:
Financial strength (30%).
Consumer complaints (30%).
Ease of use (20%).
Affordability (20%).
The best auto insurers excel at all of these categories. They provide the information people need to make a purchase without any surprises along the way. They offer insurance at a fair price and provide more than one way to buy and manage a policy. They're financially strong and able to keep their customers happy throughout the relationship.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Average rates methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for men and women for all ZIP codes in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.
In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.
These are median rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.
Sample drivers had the following coverage limits:
$100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.
$50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.
$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.
Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.
In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:
For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect only the minimum coverage required by law in the state.
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken-driving violation.
For drivers with a ticket, we added a single speeding violation for driving 16 mph over the speed limit.
We used a 2023 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven. We analyzed rates for 35-year-old drivers.
These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.