Car Insurance for Buffalo in 2023

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Drivers in Buffalo pay an average of $2,468 per year for car insurance, but you might find cheaper coverage if you shop around.

By Andrew Marder 

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If you’re looking for cheap car insurance in Buffalo, New York, you’ll want to shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies. Insurers use a variety of factors to determine the cost of auto insurance, including your age, address, the type of car you drive and your driving history, which means every driver will ultimately get a different rate. That’s why shopping around is your best bet to getting the cheapest car insurance in Buffalo — or anywhere.

To find the cheapest companies in Buffalo, NerdWallet looked at average full coverage rates calculated from public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed rates for male and female drivers for all ZIP codes in Buffalo driving a 2019 Toyota Camry L.

Read on to find out how auto insurance companies in Buffalo stack up. You can also check out our list of the cheapest car insurance companies nationwide.

Table of contents

Cheapest car insurance companies in Buffalo

The biggest variable in your insurance cost will be the company you choose, so you’ll want to shop around to be confident you’re getting the best rate. In Buffalo, these are the cheapest car insurance companies based on average rates for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis. It's important to remember that rates are determined individually, so these may not be the cheapest companies for you.

Company
Rate
NerdWallet Rating
NYCM$1,084Not yet rated
Main Street America$1,237Not yet rated
Progressive$1,344
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Erie$1,536
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Preferred Mutual$2,029Not yet rated
Sterling Insurance$2,208Not yet rated
Geico$2,275
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Chubb$2,378
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Central Insurance$2,406Not yet rated
Encompass$2,500
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5

Average car insurance cost in Buffalo and New York

Rates across New York differ from those in Buffalo for lots of reasons. The number of accidents, the type of roads and even the weather can affect the rates drivers are charged. According to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis, the average rate in New York is $2,600, while in Buffalo, it's $2,468.

Average city rate
Average state rate
$2,468$2,600

Average cost of car insurance in Buffalo’s largest ZIP codes

The cost of auto insurance varies based on where you live, even from one neighborhood to the next. Some parts of a city may have higher rates of accidents or thefts, which can lead to an increase in the price you pay. According to NerdWallet’s analysis, here are the most populated ZIP codes in Buffalo and the average annual cost of car insurance for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record.

ZIP Code
Average Rate
14221$2,061
14215$2,675
14224$2,099
14225$2,189
14226$2,112
14211$2,697
14207$2,553
14213$2,769
14220$2,480
14228$2,181

Cheap car insurance in Buffalo by age

Along with where you live, your age is another major factor in the price you pay for car insurance. For example, younger drivers usually pay more than older drivers with similar driving histories and credit scores due to having less experience on the road.

You could easily find that the cheapest company for you changes as you age. Here's a breakdown of prices in Buffalo for similar drivers at various ages, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

Cheapest for 20-year-olds

While teen drivers are the most likely to be in an accident, 20-year-old drivers are still relatively new to the road. A higher rate of accidents among younger drivers means they also pay more for car insurance. According to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis, here's what 20-year-olds in Buffalo pay, on average.

Company
Rate
NerdWallet Rating
NYCM$1,771Not yet rated
Main Street America$2,289Not yet rated
Progressive$2,432
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Erie$2,860
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Travelers$3,674
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Central Insurance$4,051Not yet rated
Geico$4,237
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Utica National$4,309Not yet rated
Sterling Insurance$4,375Not yet rated
Chubb$4,503
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5

Cheapest for 35-year-olds

By 35, your car insurance rates should plateau. This is a great age to compare rates, as the cheapest insurer you found in your 20s may no longer be the best deal.

Here’s what 35-year-old drivers might pay, on average, in Buffalo, according to NerdWallet’s analysis.

Company
Rate
NerdWallet Rating
NYCM$1,084Not yet rated
Main Street America$1,237Not yet rated
Progressive$1,344
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Erie$1,536
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Preferred Mutual$2,029Not yet rated
Sterling Insurance$2,208Not yet rated
Geico$2,275
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Chubb$2,378
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Central Insurance$2,406Not yet rated
Encompass$2,500
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5

Cheapest for 60-year-olds

At age 60, your car insurance rates are about as low as they're going to get if your history is clean. Most drivers in this age group have lots of experience on the road and established driving records, so insurers know what they're getting into and charge less accordingly. That doesn't mean you won't be able to save money by bundling or tapping into other discounts, so keep shopping around. Below are the cheapest companies, on average, in Buffalo, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

Company
Rate
NerdWallet Rating
NYCM$987Not yet rated
Progressive$1,173
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Main Street America$1,254Not yet rated
Erie$1,412
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Preferred Mutual$1,624Not yet rated
Sterling Insurance$1,792Not yet rated
Central Insurance$2,002Not yet rated
Chubb$2,034
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Geico$2,076
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Encompass$2,216
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5

Buffalo’s cheapest companies and rates by driving record

Your driving history also plays a large role in your auto insurance rate. Drivers who have clean records will usually pay less than those with accidents, speeding tickets or other violations. Again, comparing insurance companies is your best bet to getting the lowest rate.

According to NerdWallet’s analysis, these are the average rates in Buffalo by company for good drivers and those with violations on their record.

Good drivers

Drivers without any marks on their records are almost always going to pay the lowest prices for auto insurance when compared to drivers with an accident or driving violation. Insurers set rates based on the potential risk of you filing a claim, and good drivers are considered among the least risky. Here are the average rates for good drivers in Buffalo according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

Company
Rate
NerdWallet Rating
NYCM$1,084Not yet rated
Main Street America$1,237Not yet rated
Progressive$1,344
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Erie$1,536
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Preferred Mutual$2,029Not yet rated
Sterling Insurance$2,208Not yet rated
Geico$2,275
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Chubb$2,378
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Central Insurance$2,406Not yet rated
Encompass$2,500
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5

Drivers with a DUI

Drivers with a DUI can struggle to find affordable insurance and may need to turn to a high-risk car insurance company. A DUI on your record means you should expect to pay substantially more than a driver without one.

Here are the average rates for drivers with a DUI in Buffalo according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

Company
Rate
NerdWallet Rating
Progressive$1,384
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Main Street America$1,528Not yet rated
NYCM$1,700Not yet rated
Erie$2,482
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Travelers$3,033
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Hanover$3,575
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Allstate$3,648
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Encompass$3,828
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Sterling Insurance$4,239Not yet rated
Kemper$4,408Not yet rated

Drivers with an at-fault accident

If you've got an at-fault accident on your record, you'll pay more than a driver with a clean record, but likely less than someone with a DUI. Your insurance company may ask for details about the accident to determine your rate — a fender bender will likely be treated differently from an accident caused by running a red light. Here are the cheapest average rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record in Buffalo, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

Company
Rate
NerdWallet Rating
NYCM$1,393Not yet rated
Main Street America$1,590Not yet rated
Progressive$1,802
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Erie$2,385
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
Sterling Insurance$2,748Not yet rated
Travelers$3,026
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Utica National$3,533Not yet rated
Chubb$3,600
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
State Farm$3,621
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Encompass$3,662
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5

Shop around to get cheap insurance

No matter what company you're currently getting auto insurance from, remember that it's important to shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies. Prices and offers change over time, and you may be able to save by switching to another insurer.

Be sure to take advantage of potential discounts. Many insurers offer car insurance discounts for things like bundling other types of insurance with your auto policy or going years without filing a claim.

Methodology

For our “good driver” profile, NerdWallet averaged insurance estimates in the city for single male and female drivers with good credit and no tickets or violations. The analysis included the largest insurance companies in each state; smaller insurers were also included when rates were available. Liberty Mutual and its subsidiaries were excluded from our analysis as rates were not made available.

We used a 35-year-old driver (unless a different age is stated) and a 2019 Toyota Camry L and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven.

For full coverage policies, we used the following coverage limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person.

  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.

  • $50,000 property damage liability per accident.

  • $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.

  • $300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.

  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

Where required by law, minimum additional coverages were added. Some policies include additional coverages at the insurer’s discretion.

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 the minimum required coverage by law in the state.

  • For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash that happened six months ago, resulting in $10,000 in property damage and no bodily injury claim.

  • For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken driving violation that happened six months ago.

These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.