Fact CheckedKey takeaways
Travelers provides the best car insurance in New York, according to our analysis.
Plymouth Rock and State Farm are also great options for New York drivers.
USAA is the cheapest of our top picks in the state, with an average monthly rate of $158 for full coverage insurance. It’s significantly less expensive than the state average of $216.
The best car insurance companies are financially strong and offer a wide range of coverage options and discounts. NerdWallet's editorial team evaluated 24 insurers to find the highest-rated companies in New York.
Our October 2025 winners are:
Category winner | NerdWallet star rating |
|---|---|
Best overall: Travelers | |
Fewest complaints: Plymouth Rock | |
Best user experience: State Farm | |
Best for military families: USAA* | |
*USAA is available only to members of the military, veterans and their families. | |
- How we found the best car insurance companies
NerdWallet’s editorial team considered pricing, discounts, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more to determine the best car insurance companies in New York. Our “ease of use” category includes factors such as website transparency and how simple it is to file a claim.
As we continue to evaluate more insurance providers and receive fresh market data, our list of best car insurance companies will likely change. In our list of the best insurers in the state, we only include insurance companies that have achieved a minimum NerdWallet star rating of 4.5.
- Why you can trust NerdWallet
Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage.
Thorough rating guidelines for evaluating auto insurance companies.
More than 1.5 billion rates analyzed by our team of specialists.
More than 50 insurance companies analyzed in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which includes rates from every locale in the 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.
See what you could save on car insurance
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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: Travelers
Best Overall
Travelers
- Received fewer customer complaints than expected.
- Lots of coverage options for auto insurance.
- One of the largest insurance providers in the nation.
- Customer ratings for claim satisfaction are below average, according to J.D. Power.
- Rideshare insurance is not available in New York.
Why it’s one of the best: NerdWallet gave Travelers the highest overall score out of the 24 companies in New York we analyzed. The company stands out for its ease of use, robust mobile app and relatively few customer complaints. Travelers also holds a strong presence in New York, with over 2,000 insurance agencies available to field questions. It earned the top spot in our overall best car insurance companies of 2025.
As the overall winner, Travelers is a great choice for drivers seeking a well-rounded insurance company.
Average rates: Full coverage car insurance from Travelers costs an average of $1,801 a year, or $150 a month. The state average is $2,590 a year, or $216 a month, for the same coverage.
» Read the full review: Travelers auto insurance review
We don’t have data for every single car insurance company in New York, so be sure to compare car insurance quotes from several companies to find the cheapest policy.
Best for customer satisfaction: Plymouth Rock
Best for customer satisfaction
Plymouth Rock
- Offers a wide range of coverage types.
- Many discounts available.
- All auto policies include perks like up to $50 for a one-time cab ride and valet claim service.
- Does not offer rideshare insurance in New York.
Why it’s one of the best: Customers filed the fewest complaints to state regulators about Plymouth Rock relative to other insurers of its size. We see this is a good indication that most drivers are happy with Plymouth Rock compared to other options across the U.S.
Average rates: Rates data from Plymouth Rock wasn’t available in New York, according to NerdWallet’s October 2025 analysis.
» Read the full review: Plymouth Rock auto insurance review
Best for customer experience: State Farm
best for mobile app users
State Farm
- Numerous discounts offered, including two programs — one for safe driving and the other for young drivers.
- Generous rental car and travel expenses coverage.
- Above average customer satisfaction rating for buying auto insurance among large insurers, according to J.D. Power.
- Doesn't offer gap insurance.
Why it’s one of the best: Unlike some top insurers, State Farm lets drivers make payments, start claims and manage policies in its app. The State Farm app is rated highly on both Apple and Android devices. And although State Farm does not offer many optional coverage types, it scored as one of the top companies in J.D. Power’s 2025 study of car insurance shopping satisfaction.
Average rates: Full coverage car insurance from State Farm costs an average of $2,601 a year, or $217 a month. The state average is $2,590 a year, or $216 a month, for the same coverage.
» Read the full review: State Farm auto insurance review
Best for military members and veterans: USAA
Best for military drivers
USAA
- High customer satisfaction ratings.
- One-stop shop for insurance as well as banking and investing products.
- Policies available in all states and Washington, D.C.
- Available to active military, veterans and their families only.
Why it’s one of the best: If you’re on active duty or serve in the reserves of the military, are a veteran, work for specific federal agencies or have an immediate family member who fits into one of these categories, you may be eligible to get car insurance from USAA. This company offers great benefits, such as a discount for storing your car on a military base, and optional features like accident forgiveness and car replacement assistance.
USAA isn’t available to the general public, but it consistently scores among the top insurance companies in the nation, according to NerdWallet’s reviews.
Average rates: Full coverage car insurance from USAA costs an average of $1,893 a year, or $158 a month. The state average is $2,590 a year, or $216 a month, for the same coverage.
» Read the full review: USAA auto insurance review
Looking for the lowest auto insurance rates in your state? Check out NerdWallet’s list of the cheapest car insurance in New York.
Full list of the best car insurance companies in New York
Here are the insurers that earned a NerdWallet star rating of 4.5 or higher. Each of these companies could be a good choice, depending on your driving history and insurance needs.
Company | Star rating |
|---|---|
*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families. | |
- Read more auto reviews from NerdWallet
Here is the full list of car insurance companies reviewed by NerdWallet. Not all insurers offer policies in every state.
How to get the best car insurance in New York
Still not sure which company to go with? Try these tips:
Assess your needs. Everyone’s car insurance needs are unique. So it helps to think through your preferences before choosing a car insurance company. You may prioritize strong customer service and discounts, but your neighbor might only care about affordability and rideshare coverage.
Do additional research. The companies on this page are great choices, but they may not be right for you. If you want to see more options, you can check out our full list of auto insurance reviews. We recommend finding an insurer that’s financially stable and has few customer complaints. You should also look for the coverage you need at a competitive price.
Consider small companies. Small, regional insurers may provide better prices and customer service than the companies advertising on TV. You can work with an independent car insurance agent to find local insurers near you.
Shop around once a year. Make a practice of shopping for car insurance every year. Insurers adjust their rates regularly, so a company that gave you cheap rates last year might not be a bargain anymore. We recommend getting car insurance quotes from a few different companies. And for the most accurate comparison, use the same coverage options, deductibles and driver details while shopping around.
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.
Article sources
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. Insurance Shopping Study. Accessed Oct 3, 2025.
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 2021-2023. 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 2022 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.
