Fact CheckedThe cheapest car insurance companies in New York, at a glance
Coverage type
Full coverage | Progressive, $1,390 per year
Minimum coverage | NYCM, $417 per year
Driving record
Speeding ticket | Progressive, $1,655 per year
At-fault accident | NYCM, $1,689 per year
DUI | Progressive, $1,527 per year
Driver age
Young drivers | NYCM, $2,072 per year
Millennial drivers | Progressive, $1,472 per year
Gen X drivers | Progressive, $1,161 per year
Senior drivers | Progressive, $1,122 per year
Credit-based insurance score
Poor credit | Preferred Mutual, $2,277 per year
Good credit | Progressive, $1,390 per year
These are median rates from NerdWallet's August 2026 analysis, but your rate will vary based on your personal information, location and insurance provider.
NerdWallet analyzed rates for 17 car insurance companies in New York. We collected rates from every ZIP code in the Empire State for drivers ages 20 to 70 with different levels of coverage, driving records and credit histories.
For a more detailed explanation of how we found the cheapest car insurance companies in New York, view our full methodology at the bottom of this page.
You can trust the rates we show because our team of analysts rigorously eliminates outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data. We gather and analyze rates data from every ZIP code in a state where coverage is offered and data is available.
When we compare rates across driving profiles, we change only one variable at a time. This way, it’s easy to see how each factor affects the cost of auto insurance.
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
Cheapest car insurance in New York for full coverage
Progressive has the cheapest full coverage in New York, with an average cost of $1,390 per year or $116 per month.
Lenders usually require drivers to have full coverage while they’re paying off a car loan. A policy with full coverage includes all of the insurance New York requires, along with coverage for most types of damage to your car. Without full coverage, you would be left to cover damage from animals, the weather, thefts and accidents that were your fault.
| Company | NerdWallet rating | Median monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | 4.8/5 | $116 |
| NYCM | 4.8/5 | $117 |
| Travelers | 4.9/5 | $147 |
| Preferred Mutual | 4.7/5 | $152 |
| GEICO | 5.0/5 | $156 |
These are median rates for 35-year-old drivers, according to our August 2026 analysis.
What can you do about higher insurance rates in New York?
Your rates might have gotten higher for reasons outside of your control. As car parts have gotten more expensive, inflation and rising prices have seeped into repair shops. Higher repair costs mean insurers pay more for drivers’ claims. You, and other drivers, eventually see these higher costs reflected in your premium.
Though higher rates will likely stick around, a few reliable tricks can help you avoid paying more than you have to for car insurance. It’s a good idea to compare rates from a few insurers before buying or renewing a policy. You could also increase your deductibles — the amount you pay toward a future claim — and drop collision coverage if you drive an older car.
Cheapest car insurance in New York for minimum coverage
NYCM has the cheapest minimum coverage in New York, with an average cost of $417 per year or $35 per month.
A policy with the minimum amount of coverage that New York requires would help to pay for your injuries, the injuries and property damage you cause to others in a serious crash, as well as damage caused by uninsured drivers. While minimum coverage is relatively cheap, most drivers need more coverage.
| Company | NerdWallet rating | Median monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| NYCM | 4.8/5 | $35 |
| Progressive | 4.8/5 | $45 |
| GEICO | 5.0/5 | $48 |
| Preferred Mutual | 4.7/5 | $49 |
| Travelers | 4.9/5 | $53 |
These are median rates for 35-year-old drivers, according to our August 2026 analysis.
New York requires drivers to have:
Liability coverage. Helps to cover the cost of the injuries and property damage that you cause to other people, especially after a serious accident.
Personal injury protection. Helps to cover your medical bills, lost wages and other expenses that an accident may cause. You receive coverage regardless of who caused the accident.
Uninsured motorist coverage. Covers damage and injuries caused by someone without car insurance.
The minimum coverage limits (or amounts of coverage) that you need in New York are:
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person.
$50,000 bodily injury liability per accident.
$50,000 liability for death per person.
$100,000 liability for death per accident.
$10,000 property damage liability per accident.
$50,000 PIP.
$25,000 UMBI per person.
$50,000 UMBI per accident.
At first glance, this might seem like a lot of coverage. But, since after an accident you would be responsible for covering any costs that went beyond these limits, we recommend buying more than the minimum amount of coverage.
For example, a minimum policy in New York would pay for only $10,000 of property damage after a crash. If you totaled another person’s brand new sports car, that $10,000 wouldn’t cover the cost of replacing it.
Cheapest car insurance in large New York cities
You’re more likely to make a claim if you live in a city than you are in a small town or rural area. Cities have busier roads (and more accidents), and crime happens more frequently. For these reasons, car insurance is more expensive in cities than rural parts of New York. Location is so important that even moving across town can cause your rates to increase.
Before you move, estimate what your rates could be. This could help you avoid being surprised by a larger insurance bill.
Below are the cheapest insurers we found in Buffalo. To see the full list, read NerdWallet's analysis of car insurance in Buffalo.
Category Cheapest Company Median annual rate Clean driving history Progressive $1,486 After a DUI Progressive $1,665 After an accident Progressive $1,967 After a speeding ticket Progressive $1,811 Having poor credit Preferred Mutual $2,853 Category Cheapest Company Median annual rate Clean driving history NYCM $642 After a DUI Progressive $740 After an accident NYCM $791 After a speeding ticket Progressive $768 Having poor credit Utica National $948 These are median rates for 35-year-old drivers in Buffalo, according to our August 2026 analysis.
Below are the cheapest insurers we found in New York City. To see the full list, read NerdWallet's analysis of car insurance in New York City.
Category Cheapest Company Median annual rate Clean driving history Progressive $2,377 After a DUI Progressive $2,583 After an accident Progressive $3,045 After a speeding ticket Progressive $2,774 Having poor credit GEICO $4,172 Category Cheapest Company Median annual rate Clean driving history GEICO $987 After a DUI Progressive $1,615 After an accident Sterling Insurance $1,470 After a speeding ticket Sterling Insurance $1,193 Having poor credit Utica National $1,239 These are median rates for 35-year-old drivers in New York City, according to our August 2026 analysis.
Cheapest car insurance in New York by age
Your age can give insurers an idea of how likely you are to be in an accident. Rates are often highest for younger drivers, who have spent less time behind the wheel than older drivers.
As you get older, you could get cheaper rates by shopping around for car insurance at least once a year. The company that was cheapest when you were a young driver might quickly become one of the more expensive options when you’re older.
NYCM has the cheapest car insurance for young drivers in New York, with an average cost of $2,072 per year or $173 per month for full coverage.
Young drivers may have to get lots of quotes to find the best auto insurer for cheap coverage. Still, some companies often have more affordable rates for young drivers, so it's best to shop around to find them. The good news is that finding cheaper rates gets easier as you get older, as long as your driving record stays clean.
Company NerdWallet rating Median monthly rate NYCM 4.8/5$173 Progressive 4.8/5$192 GEICO 5.0/5$322 Travelers 4.9/5$341 The Hanover 4.4/5$395 Company NerdWallet rating Median monthly rate NYCM 4.8/5$50 Progressive 4.8/5$72 GEICO 5.0/5$109 Preferred Mutual 4.7/5$117 Central Insurance 4.6/5$130 These are median rates for 20-year-old drivers who have their own standalone policy, according to our August 2026 analysis. A driver who’s added to an existing policy may have cheaper rates.
Progressive is the cheapest car insurance company in New York for 20-year-olds who join their parents’ existing policy. Progressive has an average rate of $1,665 a year or $139 a month for a full coverage policy that covers the new driver and two parents, according to NerdWallet’s May 2026 analysis.
Your car insurance will likely get more expensive after you add a young driver to your policy. But it’s also likely to be cheaper than the cost of a standalone policy for a young driver. You may be able to lower your car insurance rates if they have good grades or complete a driving safety course.
Company
Monthly rate
Monthly increase from two-adult policy
$139
$50
NYCM
$221
$49
Sterling Insurance
$263
$84
$294
$92
Chubb
$391
$91
For comparison, the average cost to insure only two adults in New York is $324 per month, according to our analysis of full coverage rates for a 50-year-old male driver and 45-year-old female driver sharing one policy.
Progressive has the cheapest car insurance for millennial drivers in New York, with an average cost of $1,472 per year or $123 per month for full coverage.
Once you’re in your 30s and 40s, car insurance will be much cheaper than it was when you just started driving. That said, your rates may be higher if you don’t have a clean driving record or you have a gap in your insurance history.
Keep an eye out for discounts that fit your lifestyle. As an example, insurers may offer a discount on your coverage if you bundle your auto insurance with a homeowners policy, or if you don’t drive much.
These are median rates for 30-year-old drivers, according to our August 2026 analysis.
Progressive has the cheapest car insurance for Gen X drivers in New York, with an average cost of $1,161 per year or $97 per month for full coverage.
Once you’re in your late 40s and 50s, you’ll probably have more than a couple of insurers offering cheap car insurance to choose from. At this age, it might make sense to reconsider the amount of car insurance you need, and drop some coverage on a car you’ve paid off. Doing this can cause your rates to go down, but it’s not the best option if you couldn’t afford to replace a vehicle on your own.
Company NerdWallet rating Median monthly rate Progressive 4.8/5$97 NYCM 4.8/5$104 Preferred Mutual 4.7/5$122 GEICO 5.0/5$125 Travelers 4.9/5$131 Company NerdWallet rating Median monthly rate NYCM 4.8/5$35 GEICO 5.0/5$39 Preferred Mutual 4.7/5$40 Progressive 4.8/5$41 Sterling Insurance 3.7/5$45 These are median rates for 50-year-old drivers, according to our August 2026 analysis.
Progressive has the cheapest car insurance for senior-age drivers in New York, with an average cost of $1,122 per year or $93 per month for full coverage.
We found that older drivers with good credit and a clean driving history might enjoy some of the cheapest auto insurance rates of any group. While car insurance for senior-age drivers is relatively cheap, rates usually start to get a little more expensive each year once you’re in your 70s.
Company NerdWallet rating Median monthly rate Progressive 4.8/5$93 NYCM 4.8/5$129 GEICO 5.0/5$130 Preferred Mutual 4.7/5$136 Travelers 4.9/5$140 Company NerdWallet rating Median monthly rate GEICO 5.0/5$42 Progressive 4.8/5$42 NYCM 4.8/5$45 Preferred Mutual 4.7/5$46 Sterling Insurance 3.7/5$47 These are median rates for 70-year-old drivers, according to our August 2026 analysis.
More Nerdy Perspective
Raising your deductible can help lower your car insurance premiums – a valuable option in New York, where rates are often high. I saved more than 10% in policy premiums by choosing a deductible of $1,000 instead of $500.
Raising your deductible can help lower your car insurance premiums – a valuable option in New York, where rates are often high. I saved more than 10% in policy premiums by choosing a deductible of $1,000 instead of $500.
Lisa Green
Raising your deductible can help lower your car insurance premiums – a valuable option in New York, where rates are often high. I saved more than 10% in policy premiums by choosing a deductible of $1,000 instead of $500.
Cheapest car insurance in New York by driving record
While you’ll likely see a rate increase after an accident or ticket, how much more you’ll pay depends on the type of violation, how serious it was and your insurer.
It’s not impossible to find cheap car insurance after an accident or speeding ticket. Consider starting with some of the best high-risk car insurance companies. These insurers are known for offering lower rates to people even if they don’t have spotless driving records.
Progressive has the cheapest car insurance after a speeding ticket in New York, with an average cost of $1,655 per year or $138 per month for full coverage.
In most cases, a speeding ticket affects the cost of car insurance, but not always. Insurers use different equations to calculate prices, so, if your rates went up after a recent ticket, you may still be able to get cheaper coverage by shopping around.
Company NerdWallet rating Median monthly rate Progressive 4.8/5$138 NYCM 4.8/5$143 Travelers 4.9/5$147 Sterling Insurance 3.7/5$224 Preferred Mutual 4.7/5$239 Company NerdWallet rating Median monthly rate NYCM 4.8/5$42 Preferred Mutual 4.7/5$49 Progressive 4.8/5$50 Sterling Insurance 3.7/5$60 Travelers 4.9/5$77 These are median rates for 35-year-old drivers with a speeding ticket, according to our August 2026 analysis.
NYCM has the cheapest car insurance after an at-fault accident in New York, with an average cost of $1,689 per year or $141 per month for full coverage.
An accident can cause your rates to be higher for three or more years. While it’s hard to predict how much insurance will increase after an accident, shopping around can usually help you find cheaper options.
Company NerdWallet rating Median monthly rate NYCM 4.8/5$141 Progressive 4.8/5$146 Sterling Insurance 3.7/5$254 Travelers 4.9/5$264 Utica National Not rated $267 Company NerdWallet rating Median monthly rate NYCM 4.8/5$42 Progressive 4.8/5$51 Preferred Mutual 4.7/5$66 Sterling Insurance 3.7/5$74 Utica National Not rated $80 These are median rates for 35-year-old drivers with an at-fault accident on their record, according to our August 2026 analysis.
Progressive has the cheapest car insurance after a DUI in New York, with an average cost of $1,527 per year or $127 per month for full coverage.
A DUI can increase what you pay for car insurance by a significant amount. We found that someone in New York with a clean driving history could get full coverage insurance for $1,390 per year, on average. But that driver could pay $1,527 for the same coverage after a DUI. Not shopping for car insurance after a DUI could mean overpaying hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars each year.
Company NerdWallet rating Median monthly rate Progressive 4.8/5$127 NYCM 4.8/5$167 Travelers 4.9/5$265 Allstate 4.3/5$339 The Hanover 4.4/5$348 Company NerdWallet rating Median monthly rate Progressive 4.8/5$48 NYCM 4.8/5$55 Preferred Mutual 4.7/5$111 Nationwide 4.8/5$120 Travelers 4.9/5$124 These are median rates for 35-year-old drivers after a DUI, according to our August 2026 analysis.
If car insurance companies won't offer you coverage because of your driving record, you could qualify for a policy through the New York Automobile Insurance Plan (NYAIP). This program was started by the state to match drivers with insurers in New York.
Cheapest car insurance in New York by credit history
Your credit history can affect your auto insurance rates in New York. Insurers use a credit-based insurance score, which is different from your regular credit score, to determine the likelihood you’ll file a claim.
Car insurance costs an average of $2,676 per year for someone with good credit in New York, but an average of $4,876 for a driver who has poor credit.
Preferred Mutual has the cheapest car insurance in New York for someone who has poor credit, with an average cost of $2,277 per year or $190 per month for full coverage.
These are median rates for 35-year-old drivers who have a poor credit-based insurance score, according to our August 2026 analysis.
Progressive has the cheapest car insurance in New York for someone who has good credit, with an average cost of $1,390 per year or $116 per month for full coverage.
These are median rates for 35-year-old drivers who have a good credit-based insurance score, according to our August 2026 analysis.
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
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.
Young drivers methodology
In May 2026 we found the cost of adding a newly licensed driver to an existing full coverage policy. Our base profile assumes two existing policyholders — a 50-year-old male driver and 45-year-old female driver — sharing one policy.
We showed the cost effect of adding a 20-year-old driver to this policy, to stay consistent with our 20-year-old young driver profile that is covered by a standalone policy. The 20-year-old shares a 2023 Toyota Camry with the family, and the new driver uses the vehicle 20% of the time.
