Best New York Car Insurance (2025)

New York is one of the most densely populated states in the U.S., with people flocking to live in New York City. The state is also home to central attractions of America — the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, Broadway, and more.

With so many people living in New York, there are millions of drivers on New York’s roads.

If you are one of these drivers, you need New York car insurance, but it can be hard to pick an insurer that meets your needs, and you probably have better things to do with your time than spending hours researching car insurance laws and providers in New York.

It’s important to learn about car insurance requirements and policy limits if you don’t want to be pushed into getting a car insurance policy that’s not right for you.

Well, look no further than our comprehensive guide.

We have put together a guide to everything you need to know about purchasing car insurance in New York. Keep reading to learn about everything from coverage rates to traffic congestion.

New York Auto Insurance Coverage and Rates

In a world of impulse buys, we want to keep as much money in our pockets. Shopping around for rates can help bring your expenses down, but it can be time-consuming to find the right provider. If you don’t, though, you could be stuck with poor car insurance coverages and high rates.

Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you by partnering with Quadrant to analyze New York’s rate changes. Quadrant’s data is based on the prices of actual purchased coverages in New York.

These prices include high-risk drivers, drivers who purchase more than the state minimum, and drivers who purchase additional coverage, which gives us an accurate and complete picture of rates in New York.

So stick with us as we go through everything from the minimum coverages you need in New York to the different companies’ rate changes. Let’s begin.

New York Minimum Coverage

Whether you have a sports car or a van, you’ll need vehicle insurance. Every state has different coverage requirements, though, which can make things confusing when you move to a new state.

If you don’t update your insurance to fulfill state laws, you’ll face multiple penalties (such as losing your license). To see what New York requires, we’ve taken a look at the Insurance Information Institute’s information on state coverage requirements.

In New York, you’ll need to have the following minimum coverage amounts:

• $25,000 for injuries to one person from an accident
• $50,000 for injuries to more than one person from an accident
• $10,000 for property damage from an accident
• $100,000 for wrongful death coverage

These are the minimum coverage amounts — you can certainly purchase more. In fact, purchasing more than the state minimum is a smart move, as you’ll be better protected in an accident.

New York also requires all drivers to have the following coverage types (these coverages apply to amounts shown above):

• Bodily Injury Liability Insurance
• Property Damage Liability Insurance
• Personal Injury Protection
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage
• Underinsured Motorist Coverage

To prove you have these coverages in the minimum amount, you’ll need to have proof of insurance on you at all times.

Forms of Financial Responsibility

A form of financial responsibility is simply proof of insurance. In New York, the following forms of financial responsibility are acceptable.

• New York State Insurance ID Card
• Electronic New York State Insurance ID Card

New York allows drivers to provide electronic proof of insurance. If you have your insurer’s app, you can download an electronic ID card and show it as proof of insurance.

It’s still wise to still have a paper copy in case of technical difficulties, but an electronic version means you don’t have to rifle through your glove compartment.

Since you have to provide proof of insurance when registering vehicles, at traffic stops, and after accidents, make sure you have your form of financial responsibility ready to go before driving.

Premiums as a Percentage of Income

Car insurance is an expensive budget item, eating up a major percentage of income each year. Every state has different premium and income averages, which can make car insurance prices vary drastically.

Below, you can see what percentage of income the average New York resident spends on car insurance each year.

In 2014, the percentage of income going to car insurance was 2.8 percent. While this is a drop from 2013, the percentage of income going to car insurance was 2.77 percent in 2012.

This is only a slight increase, but it’s still a difference of about a few hundred dollars. New York’s percentage of income going to car insurance is slightly higher than the countrywide average, as well.

In 2014, the countrywide percentage of income going to car insurance was 2.40 percent, which is 0.4 percent less than New York’s percentage.

Remember, even a slight difference means money saved. Still, New York’s percentage isn’t the highest in the U.S.

Monthly Average Cost of Car Insurance Rates in NY (Liability, Collision, Comprehensive)

We’ve covered the minimums that you need on your vehicle, so let’s take a look at how much cove coverages will cost you. The average costs below are from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) data on state minimums.

The minimum amount that car insurance costs in New York is around $1,300. This means the minimum amount you’ll pay each month is roughly $108.

Additional Liability

Since you’re already paying for core coverage, you may wonder why you should buy additional coverages. However, New York requires drivers to have little additional coverage such as Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

These coverages are important, as PIP will help pay your medical bills if you are injured in a crash. Uninsured and underinsured coverages will help pay bills if the driver who caused the accident has little or no insurance.

6.1 percent of New York drivers are uninsured, ranking the city as 50th for uninsured drivers in the U.S.

While New York has a low percentage of uninsured drivers compared to other states, the last thing you want is to have to pay for an accident you didn’t cause.

So let’s take a look at how additional liability insurance functions in New York by looking at loss ratios. Why the loss ratios?

A low loss ratio means a company isn’t paying out claims, while a high loss ratio (over 100 percent) means a company risks going bankrupt.

Below you can see New York’s additional liability coverages’ loss ratios.

All the loss ratios for additional coverages in New York are below 100 percent and above 50 percent, which is great. These loss ratios mean you have a good chance of your claim being paid.

As a reminder, New York doesn’t require you to have Medpay, but it’s still a great coverage to add — Medpay will cover both your medical bills and your passengers’ after an accident.

Add-Ons, Endorsements, & Riders

Now that we’ve covered core coverages, let’s take a look at add-on coverages. These coverages are great for when you want added protection that’s personalized to your needs.

• Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)
• Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP)
• Rental Reimbursement
• Emergency Roadside Assistance
• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
• Non-Owner Car Insurance
• Modified Car Insurance Coverage
• Classic Car Insurance
• Usage-Based Car Insurance

Some add-ons will save you money, such as classic car insurance. Since owners of classic cars drive them less than regular vehicles, classic car insurance is cheaper.

Add-ons are also useful for building custom plans. For example, if you want roadside assistance from your insurer (rather than through a third party like AAA), then adding a roadside assistance add-on to your plan is the perfect option.

Average Monthly Car Insurance Rates by Age & Gender in NY

How much is car insurance in NY monthly? Because cost is a concern when picking out car insurance, we want to start tackling the subject of rates in New York. Currently, New York is not one of the states who have banned insurers from basing rates on gender.

It may surprise you to learn that gender is even a rate factor.

But many insurers create gender and age profiles based on accident data, typically charging males more for car insurance. Consequently, young males have the highest rates.

So let’s take a look at gender and age rates in New York.

If you are nearing your 35th or 60th birthday, you’ll shortly have the cheapest rates in New York. Although the average cost of car insurance by age and provider has different rates, generally, the older you are, the less you’ll pay for car insurance.

This is why most parents with teen drivers take time to shop around for car insurance, as teens have significantly higher rates.

Cheapest Rates by Zip Code

Another factor impacting rates is where you live in New York. Area rates can change based on several factors, such as crime, natural disasters, or high crash numbers.

Consequently, moving around a state can result in your car insurance rates increasing significantly. Below are New York’s rates by zip code, with each company’s rates for the area.

Who has the best car insurance in NY? Shopping around for car insurance in your area can save you money. For example, at zip code 11212, GEICO has the cheapest rate, beating other competitors’ rates by around $3,000.

GEICO has the cheapest rates in most zip codes in New York, and USAA is the second cheapest.

Cheapest Rates by City

Let’s generalize zip codes into areas so that we can see what the cost of car insurance is by different cities. The first set of data we want to look at is which cities are the cheapest in New York.

Brooklyn is one of the most expensive cities to purchase car insurance, as it costs about $8,000 more than Corning. Because of these extreme price differences, make sure to check which insurer is the cheapest in your area.

Rates in New York’s 10 Largest Cities

Most people move to New York to live in one of the bustling metropolitan areas. So let’s take a look at insurance costs for the 10 most-populated in cities in New York.

As you can see, a higher population density isn’t necessarily a cause for higher insurance rates, as some of the most populated cities in New York have low rates. However, New York City (the most populated city in New York), does have the highest rates of the 10 largest cities.

Best Car Insurance Companies in New York

Finding the right insurance company for your needs (and that matches your budget) is hard. With a dizzying array of information available on the website, from reviews to coverage options, it can be hard to narrow down your search.

The good news is that we’ve already pared down the vast amount of information for you.

To help you find the right insurance company, we are going to go through the basics of everything from companies’ ratings to their reviews. Let’s jump in.

The Largest Companies’ Financial Ratings

One of the best financial rating companies is AM Best, which measures a company’s financial strength. Why is this important?

A company with poor financial strength risks going bankrupt or overcharging customers to make up financial losses.

Even large, well-known companies may have poor financial strength, which is why we want to take a look at AM Best’s ratings for the 10 largest car insurance companies in New York.

What do these AM Best Ratings mean?

• A++ and A+ mean a company has a “superior ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations.”
• A and A – mean a company has an “excellent ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations.”

As the grade drops, a company’s ability to fulfill its financial obligations also drops. So what are these financial obligations? A measurement of how well a company can fulfill claims and other company costs.

In other words, an AM Best rating measures a company’s creditworthiness.

While some top 10 insurance companies in New York have lower grades, all the companies have A minuses or higher. As well, all the companies have decent loss ratios: above 50 percent but below 100 percent.

Companies with Best Ratings

Now that we’ve covered financial ratings, let’s switch gears and look at customer satisfaction ratings. J.D. Power’s 2019 study on car insurance surveyed thousands of customers and ended up with the following ratings.

New York Central Mutual earned the highest customer satisfaction rating in New York, with a total of 869 points out of 1,000. On the other side of the scale is Progressive, earning only 815 points.

USAA actually earned the highest rating, but since USAA is only for military personnel and their families, J.D. Power didn’t include USAA with the rest of the companies.

Companies with the Most Complaints in New York

We want to continue looking at customer satisfaction levels, but instead of looking at good ratings, we want to switch gears and look at complaints (data from the NAIC closed complaint ratio report).

A high number of complaints doesn’t mean a company will have a high complaint ratio. The complaint ratio is relevant to the number of customers a company has, which is why State Farm still has a low complaint ratio despite having over 1,000 complaints.

Cheapest New York Auto Insurance Companies

While we’ve taken a look at companies’ rates in our zip code section, we want to give you an easier chunk of data, so you can see at a glance what the cheapest insurance companies are in New York.

GEICO is the cheapest car insurance company in New York, as it costs 76 percent less than the New York average. On the other hand, Liberty Mutual costs over 34 percent more than the state average. Learn how to get cheap car insurance.

Commute Rates by Companies

We’ve only just begun to cover companies’ rate changes. There are multiple factors beyond gender, age, and area that change rates.

The first factor we want to cover is commute rates. How far you drive matters to insurers, because the longer you are on the road the more your chance of being in an accident increases.

Nationwide, Progressive, and Travelers do not charge based on distance. Out of the companies that do charge based on distance, Liberty Mutual charges the most ($372). In contrast, USAA only charges $76 for an increase in commute distance.

Based on how far you travel, it may be worth it to pick a company with little or no increase in price.

Coverage Level Rates by Companies

It can be frustrating to budget for car insurance, especially if you are paying a high premium for high coverage.

However, high coverage is invaluable in an accident because it provides the highest level of protection. If you have low or medium coverage, an accident could result in you having to pay out of pocket for damage repairs or hospital bills.

The good news is that not all insurers charge absurd amounts to upgrade to high coverage. Below, you can see which companies are economical in rate increases:

Most of the companies on this list have economical price increases. For example, at USAA it only costs $255 to upgrade from low to high coverage.

When you compare New York to other states (where upgrades from low to high coverage can cost around $1,000), New York has fantastic price increases that are on the lower side.

Credit History Rates by Companies

Another important factor is credit history. Your credit history is critical in determining rates, as prices can increase over $1,000 for poor credit.

The average credit score in New York is 688, which is higher than the national credit score of 675.

If your credit score matches the New York average or is higher, you should receive the lowest car insurance rates possible (as long as your driving record is also good).

GEICO and Nationwide have the cheapest rates for drivers with poor credit scores. On the other hand, Liberty Mutual has the worst rates for drivers with poor credit scores, costing roughly $7,000 more than GEICO’s rate.

So if you have a poor credit score, make sure to pick a company with lower rates — it could save you a significant amount each year.

Driving Record Rates by Companies

Another important part of your history that your insurance company looks at is your driving record. Below are the price increases for first offenses at New York companies.

At all the New York companies, a drunk driving offense will increase costs the most. As you can see, though, companies vary in how much they charge for a DUI.

While a DUI at Liberty Mutual will increase your rates to over $10,000, a DUI at GEICO won’t increase your rates above $4,000.

So if you have an offense on your record, consider switching to a new company if your current company significantly increases your rates.

Largest Car Insurance Companies in New York

Before we end this section on the best car insurance companies, we want to cover the largest car insurance companies in New York.

GEICO has the largest market share (31.93 percent) in New York. This is an enormous market share, seeing as the 10th-largest company (Amtrust NGH Group) only controls 2.20 percent of the New York market.

However, GEICO also has the largest loss ratio (over 80 percent), meaning it’s paying out many claims. Luckily, this loss ratio isn’t over 100 percent, which is when companies risk going bankrupt.

Number of Insurers in New York

While we’ve covered several insurers, there are still hundreds of more than the top 10 we’ve listed.

There are 173 domestics that originated from the Empire State and 709 foreign insurers, totaling 882 insurers.

A domestic insurer is simply an insurer who is in-state, such as New York Central Mutual. A foreign insurer is out-of-state, such as a company like GEICO that insures across multiple states.

New York Laws

Laws can be confusing and arbitrary (there’s a reason lawyers exist). Knowing New York’s state laws is extremely important, though, as knowledge of local laws could save you from an expensive ticket.

Since the last thing anyone wants is more bills, we are going to guide you through New York’s must-know laws. Stick with us as we cover everything from New York car insurance laws to important driving laws.

New York Car Insurance Laws

We’ve talked a little about how car insurance is required in New York, but now we want to dig deeper into the laws behind car insurance requirements.

This way, you can make sure you’re correctly following the law and avoid harsh penalties, such as losing your license and registration. But if that does happen to you, you’ll be prepared, as we are going to cover laws like high-risk insurance in New York.

We are also going to cover important laws about windshield coverage, fraud, and more. Let’s jump right in.

How State Laws for Insurance are Determined

According to the NAIC, the state insurance department must approve insurance companies’ rates before insurance companies can file them. However, there is a 5 percent flex rating (plus and minus) in New York.

This means companies can increase or decrease rates slightly without having to file new rates.

If your rates seem too high, you can double-check that your insurer followed the 5 percent flex rating protocol properly and filed rates with the state department.

Windshield Coverage

New York law doesn’t require insurers to replace or repair windshields, but insurers often include this perk with comprehensive insurance.

The New York State Government allows insurers to replace windshields with aftermarket parts, but these aftermarket parts have to “equal or exceed the comparable OEM crash part in terms of fit, form, finish quality, and performance.”

There also has to be a written notice that the repair shop used aftermarket parts on your warranty.

High-Risk Insurance

If you are a high-risk driver (due to a poor driving record, insurance lapses, or other factors), you’ll have to purchase high-risk insurance.

High-risk insurance comes with a higher price tag, and insurers also have the right to refuse to insure you. If this is the case, you will have to turn to the New York Automobile Insurance Plan (NYAIP).

When you apply to the NYAIP, you must provide proof that you’ve “tried and failed to obtain automobile insurance in New York State within the preceding 60 days and have been unable to obtain such insurance at rates not exceeding those applicable under the plan.”

Once you’re approved, the law requires insurers to provide insurance for drivers under the NYAIP.

Low-Cost Insurance

Unfortunately, New York does not have a program to help low-income families afford car insurance.

Only three states (California, Hawaii, and New Jersey) have government-funded car insurance programs for low-income families.

However, you can keep costs affordable by shopping around for rates and taking advantage of discounts.

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Automobile Insurance Fraud in New York

What is automobile insurance fraud? While faking an accident may come to mind, insurance fraud can also involve exaggerating injuries or adding false expenses onto a claim.

Insurers may also commit fraud, paying you only a small amount of the reported claim and keeping the rest.

The Insurance Information Institute’s (III) report on insurance fraud found that property and casualty fraud amounts to about $30 billion a year. Naturally, this has led to strict scrutiny of claims, and there is a fraud bureau dedicated to preventing fraud in New York.

Those that do commit fraud face serious charges under New York law (Article 176).

• 5th Degree Class A Misdemeanor (Article 176.10) — “Committing any fraudulent act to improperly obtain insurance payments.”
• 4th Degree Class E Felony (Article 176.15) — “Committing insurance fraud and wrongfully obtaining assets in excess of $1,000.”
• 3rd Degree Class D Felony (Article 176.20) — “Committing insurance fraud and wrongfully obtaining $3,000 of more in assets.”
• 2nd Degree Class C Felony (Article 176.25) — “Committing insurance fraud and obtaining $50,000 or more of assets.”
• 1st Degree Class B Felony (Article 176.30) — “Committing insurance fraud and obtaining $1 million or more in assets.”

Insurance fraud is classified as a felony after a Class A misdemeanor, which means the accused faces heavy fines and jail time. If you feel you’ve been an insurance fraud victim, make sure to file a report.

You can file a possible fraud report through the following methods with the New York State Government:

• Submit an online report form
• Call the Insurance Fraud Hotline at (888) 372-8369
• By mail (send completed report form to the New York State Department of Financial Services Insurance Frauds Bureau at
  One State Street, New York, NY 10004)
• By fax (send completed report form) to (212) 709-3555

These various methods make it easy to send in a report form to the Insurance Frauds Bureau.

Statute of Limitations

Now that we’ve covered fraud, let’s take a look at another aspect of claims. After you’re in an accident, you only have a certain amount of time to file a claim.

If you don’t file it within the statute of limitations, your right to a claim expires. This system is in place because it becomes harder to track down evidence and witnesses the longer you wait.

So let’s see how long you have to file in New York.

• Personal Injury: Three years
• Property Damage: Three years

Three years for both personal injury and property damage is higher than most states (a majority of the statute of limitations are two years), which means you’ll have plenty of time to file a claim.

The best practice is to file right away, though, so you get the needed help and funds to recover from your accident.

New York Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP)

If you find that points are racking up on your driver’s license, you’ll be happy to note that New York offers a program that can help reduce both your points and your insurance rates.

The Point and Insurance Reduction Program is a driver safety course various providers offer throughout New York.

Drivers who complete the course can lose four points off their record and reduce car insurance premiums by 10 percent. If you are at risk of losing your license or simply want to become a better driver, then the PIRP is for you.

Vehicle Licensing Laws

We’ve covered quite a few laws dealing with claims and fraud, so now we want to switch topics slightly and look at vehicle licensing laws. These laws are important to know, as every state has different vehicle and driver licensing laws.

While you may have renewed your license every six years in one state, another state may require you to renew your license every two years. If you don’t keep up with license renewals, you’ll face penalties for driving with an expired license.

Let’s dive into vehicle and driver licensing laws so you can feel comfortable with New York’s renewal processes.

REAL ID

Frequent flyers may have noticed the REAL ID signs cropping up around airports. Beginning October 1, 2020, you’ll need a REAL ID driver’s license (or identification card if you don’t drive) to fly domestically or enter federal buildings.

A valid U.S. Passport counts as a REAL ID, but if you don’t have a passport you will need to get a form of REAL ID.

If you want to apply for a REAL ID, you will have to visit the Department of Motor Vehicles in-person and bring the documents listed below.

• Proof of Identity: valid license, birth certificate, or passport
• Proof of Social Security Number (or proof of ineligibility for SSN): original SSN card or W-2 with SNN
• Proof of Date of Birth
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent/Temporary Residency in the U.S.
• Two Proofs of New York State Residence: “utility bill, bank statement, or mortgage statement (P.O. Box not acceptable)”

The law doesn’t require you to have a REAL ID, but you won’t be able to fly or enter federal buildings without one. So if you have any flights planned for after October 1, 2020, make sure to get down to the DMV soon.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance

Since New York law requires all drivers to have insurance, law enforcement will check your insurance anytime you are pulled over in a traffic stop, are in an accident, or register a car.

Because of this, you must have proof of insurance on you at all times (if you forget to carry it and are pulled over or are in an accident, you’ll have a short period to provide proof of insurance).

As a reminder, below are the acceptable forms of proof of insurance.

• New York State Insurance ID Card
• Electronic New York State Insurance ID Card

If you don’t have insurance, you’ll face the following penalties:

• Fine: up to $15,000 (if involved in an accident) plus a $750 civil penalty fee
• License and Registration Suspension: revoked for one year if you’re without insurance after 90 days and can’t pay the below fees

There are daily fees for the time drivers were without insurance.

• One – 30 days: $8 per day
• 31 – 60 days: $10 per day
• 61 – 90 days: $12 per day

In the end, driving without insurance will end up costing drivers just as much or more than insurance would have cost them.

Drivers will also be without a license and registration for a while (the DMV will send drivers an intent to suspend registration, which drivers must comply with or face further penalties).

Bottom line? Driving without insurance may seem like a low-cost option, but ultimately, it ends up costing drivers a large amount of money.

Teen Driver Laws

Young drivers have to follow graduated licensing laws in New York, as these laws ensure teens learn how to drive in a safe and semi-controlled environment.

Teen drivers in New York have to be at least 16 to receive a learner’s license (when teens must drive under adult supervision). Before teens can apply for an intermediate license, they have to meet the following requirements:

Once teen drivers have their intermediate licenses, they have to follow passenger and nighttime restrictions until they meet the age requirement to have a regular license.

These restrictions must be in place until age 17 (with driver education) or until age 18 (without driver education). Once the intermediate license stage is over, teen drivers may drive without restrictions.

Older Driver License Renewal Procedures

Older drivers in New York must follow the license renewal cycle procedures below.

• License Renewal Cycle: Every eight years
• Proof of Adequate Vision: Required at every renewal cycle
• Mail or Online Renewal: Allowed at every renewal

New York’s relaxed renewal process means older drivers can go decades without making an in-person visit to the DMV. As long as drivers provide proof of adequate vision, they can renew online or by mail with no restrictions.

New Residents

If you are new to New York, you’ll need to apply for a New York Driver’s License. Your old state license needs to meet the following criteria.

• Must have your photograph
• Must be valid (or expired less than 24 months)
• Your old state must have issued your license at least six months before you apply for a New York license

If your old state license has been suspended, revoked, lost/stolen, marked as “employment only,” or marked as “non-renewable,” then you can’t exchange it for a New York license.

You’ll also have to notify your current provider of your change of address so they can adjust your policy to meet New York’s insurance coverage laws.

Make sure to visit the DMV for a new license and notify your insurer.

License Renewal Procedures

The general population of drivers (neither senior nor teen drivers) must follow the following license renewal procedures:

• License Renewal Cycle: Every eight years
• Proof of Adequate Vision: Required at every renewal cycle
• Mail or Online Renewal: Allowed at every renewal

New York’s licensing renewal procedure is flexible, as drivers don’t have to visit in person to renew their licenses.

Negligent Operator Treatment System

In New York, negligent operators that drive recklessly can be charged with a misdemeanor. Reckless driving endangers both the driver and others on the road, which is why New York has the following penalties in place to discourage reckless driving:

Drivers who are convicted of reckless driving can face fines and/or jail time, depending on the court’s decision. However, fines and jail time are not to exceed the amounts shown above.

We also want to note that drivers convicted of reckless driving will also face increased rates from their insurers.

Rules of the Road

Knowing the rules of the road is important in being a responsible driver. Since the rules of the road can change slightly from state to state, you could end up with a ticket if you don’t familiarize yourself with New York’s rules.

To help you navigate New York’s driving laws and avoid a ticket, we are going to go through must-know driving laws, so keep reading to learn about seat belt laws, move over laws, ridesharing laws, and more.

Fault vs. No-Fault

New York is a no-fault state. No-fault means insurers reimburse the insured driver for injury and damage costs, regardless of who caused the accident.

New York also requires drivers to have liability car insurance, which means that some semblance of an at-fault state exists in New York. For instance, if a driver was clearly responsible for an accident, they may receive less reimbursement than the other party.

All in all, though, your insurer will help you out even if you didn’t cause the accident.

Seat Belt & Car Seat Laws

In New York, all front-seat passengers must wear seatbelts. Below are more details about New York’s seat belt law:

Additional fees for violating the seat belt law may also apply (in addition to the $50 fine). Primary enforcement also means that law enforcement can pull drivers over if an officer sees passengers without seat belts.

Since seat belts give you a better chance of surviving an accident, make sure to buckle up. New York may also pass a law soon that requires all backseat passengers to buckle up, too.

We also want to look closely at New York’s car seat laws, which are extremely important in keeping little ones safe.

Always follow the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements so children are safely restrained in the appropriate car seats.

One last law on restraints that we want to look at is restrictions on riding in cargo areas. New York prohibits passengers from riding in cargo areas unless the trip or passenger meets the following criteria:

• The trip is less than five miles.
• Trips of more than five miles are acceptable if fewer than one-third of the passengers are standing and the remainder are seated in suitable seats. There must also be side rails and a tailgate.
• Trips of more than five miles are acceptable if less than five of the passengers are age 17 or younger (or if at least one passenger is 18 or older).

These safety regulations are important to follow, as vehicles can easily toss passengers out during sharp turns or sudden stops.

Keep Right & Move Over Laws

The keep right law in New York is easy; drivers must keep right if they are traveling slower than the average speed of traffic around them.

New York’s move over law is also simple, but it is vital in saving lives.

If you are traveling in the same direction as one of the following vehicles that are parked, stopped, or on the shoulder, you must move over a lane or reduce your speed.

• Authorized emergency response vehicle
• Tow truck
• Maintenance vehicle with flashing lights

By moving over or slowing down, you reduce the risk of hitting someone walking around the vehicle. It’s also good practice to move over for any car parked on the side of the road if it has flashing lights.

Otherwise, you risk hitting another driver.

Speed Limits

Speed limits help keep drivers in check so roads don’t turn into racetracks. Below are the maximum speed limits in New York.

Maximum speed limits mean the highest speed limit that officials can post, not the maximum speed limit that you can drive on any road.

Ridesharing

In New York, rideshare drivers (such as Uber or Lyft) must have rideshare insurance. Rideshare drivers must also have a current driver’s license from New York and be at least 19 years old.

Each rideshare company will have different requirements for driver applications, but you can expect to have to meet at least New York’s rideshare regulations.

Automation on the Road

With technology advancing, states are beginning to pass laws regulating automated vehicles. Currently, New York is in the testing stage of regulating automated vehicles.

Right now, New York requires operators to have licenses, be in the vehicle during operation, and have $5,000,000 in liability insurance.

So as yet, New York (and the U.S.) are still a ways away from self-driving cars.

Safety Laws

Every state has laws that enforce safe driving practices, such as not driving while drunk or high. To see what New York’s laws on safe driving are, we are going to go through the laws and penalties.

Stick with us to learn about New York’s safety laws, from drunk driving to distracted driving.

DUI Laws

You may remember that a DUI is one of the worst driving offenses, raising insurers’ rates about $1,000. Before we dive into the repercussions of a DUI, though, let’s look at the specifics of New York’s DUI law.

New York has two levels of a DUI, Driving While Intoxicated (which is a lesser offense) or Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated. Let’s take a look now at the penalties for a DUI in New York.

The higher a driver’s BAC limit is, the worse the penalties are. Hopefully, these penalties will discourage drivers from driving while under the influence.

Marijuana-Impaired Driving Laws

New York does not currently have a specific law dealing with marijuana-impaired driving. This does not mean drivers can drive while high.

Law enforcement will charge drivers under the influence of marijuana with intoxicated driving. This charge carries many of the same penalties as drunk driving, such as fines, jail time, and license suspension.

So while some New York residents were probably happy with the decriminalization of weed in New York, this doesn’t mean drivers can light up before getting in a car.

Distracted Driving Laws

Distracted driving may seem less serious than driving drunk or high, but it can still be just as dangerous. New York has put the following cellphone use law in place to lessen the temptation to drive distracted.

All drivers are banned from using hand-held devices and texting. Enforcement of this law has been primary for almost a decade, so New York officers can pull over and ticket drivers on their phones.

Driving in New York

Driving in some areas can make even the most experienced driver a little nervous or frustrated. New York City is one of the most notorious places to drive in New York, which is why most residents depend on public transportation.

For those who don’t depend on public transportation in New York, we want to go through road hazards.

We hope that by covering this information, you’ll be better informed about what to watch out for when driving around New York. So keep reading to learn about everything from vehicle theft to EMS response times.

Let’s jump in.

Vehicle Theft in New York

The top vehicles stolen depends on what the most popular cars are in a state. Below are the top-10 stolen vehicles in New York.

Read more: Best Car Insurance Company for Jeeps

In New York, Honda Accords are the most popular stolen vehicle. Thieves stole 724 Honda Accords, with the model from 1997 being stolen the most out of the 724 Honda Accords.

Now that we know what vehicles are most at risk, let’s take a look at the FBI’s 2013 report on vehicle theft by city.

New York City is the worst place for vehicle theft, with 6,369 stolen vehicles in 2013. Buffalo is the second-worst city for theft, with 835 stolen vehicles.

If you live in one of these areas, make sure to have comprehensive coverage on your car. Comprehensive car insurance coverage will reimburse you for theft or vandalism.

Road Fatalities in New York

To see how dangerous it is to drive on New York’s streets, we want to take a look at crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Keep reading to learn about crash data covering everything from the most dangerous highway to crashes by counties in New York, so you’re aware of which areas are the safest to drive around.

Most Fatal Highway in New York

Before we get into NHTSA’s data, we want to take a look at Geotab’s information on which highway is the most fatal in New York.

Over the last decade, I-87 has had 156 crashes and 188 fatalities. This high number of fatal crashes has earned I-87 a fatal crash rate of 0.3.

If you frequently drive on I-87, drive carefully. While it’s impossible to control the surrounding drivers, staying alert could help you avoid an accident.

Fatal Crashes by Weather Condition & Light Condition

If you live in a snowy or rainy state, there is a higher chance of crashing because of poor weather conditions. Take a look at the table below to see how many crashes take place in New York due to inclement weather and light conditions.

A higher number of crashes occur during rain rather than in snow in New York. There are also a number of crashes that occur during dark and dusk lighting conditions.

If you don’t feel comfortable driving in inclement weather or poor light conditions, a defensive driving course will help teach valuable skills to prepare for many types of driving situations.

Fatalities (All Crashes) by County

Now that we’ve looked at when crashes occur, let’s take a more in-depth look at where crashes happen. Below is NHTSA’s data on crashes by New York counties.

Suffolk County has the highest number of fatal crashes in New York, with 168 fatalities in 2015. This is much higher than other counties, as Nassau County (the second-highest) had 95 fatalities in 2015.

Unfortunately, you’ll see few zeros on the list, although a few counties have had less than 10 fatalities each year.

Traffic Fatalities

Now that we know which counties have the highest fatalities, let’s take a look at what road types you should avoid.

In New York, urban roads tend to have more fatal crashes than rural roads. Since New York has highly populated areas, these statistics make sense.

The more crowded an area is, the more chance there is that drivers will collide with each other. However, there is also a high number of rural crashes in New York, as well.

So whatever road type you are on, stay alert for potential risks around you.

Fatalities by Person Type

Unfortunately, car passengers aren’t the only ones at risk during crashes. Anyone walking or riding near a roadway is at risk. Below is data on crash fatalities by person type.

The good news is that the number of fatalities dropped in 2017 to under 1,000. As you can see, though, there is a high number of pedestrian fatalities in New York.

Make sure to practice proper safety protocol when walking or cycling near roadways, such as using crosswalks and wearing brightly colored clothing.

Fatalities by Crash Type

A rollover accident is much more likely to be fatal than a fender bender. Let’s take a look at what the most fatal accidents are in New York.

Single-vehicle crashes have the highest number of fatalities over the years, followed by roadway departures. Speeding has the third-highest number of fatalities, which is why it’s important to follow posted speed limits to avoid losing control of your vehicle.

Five-Year Trend for the Top 10 Counties

While we’ve already taken a look at fatalities by county, we want to break down that data a bit more by looking at fatalities for the top 10 counties in New York.

Suffolk County has the highest number of fatalities, though the number did drop in 2017. Onondaga has the least number of fatalities out of the top 10 counties, with the number of fatalities averaging around 30 a year.

Fatalities Involving Speeding by County

When we looked at the top reasons for fatal crashes in New York, speeding was third on the list. Since speeding is a major cause of crashes, we want to take a look at which counties have the highest number of speeding fatalities.

Once again, Suffolk County has the highest number of fatalities, followed closely by Nassau County. If you are driving in one of these counties, keep an eye out for speeding drivers.

Fatalities in Crashes Involving an Alcohol-Impaired Driver (BAC = .08+) by County

Besides speeding, drunk driving is another major cause of fatalities. Since drunk people can’t even be trusted to not drunk-text an ex, it’s naturally a disaster when drunk people get behind a wheel.

Too often, drunk drivers end up crashing and killing themselves and others. So let’s see which counties have the biggest issues with drunk driving.

The number of drunk driving fatalities in Suffolk spiked in 2015, though thankfully, this number dropped in 2017.

Teen Drinking & Driving

It’s not just adults who struggle with drinking and driving. Teen drivers also get behind a wheel while inebriated.

In New York, the rate of underage drunk driving fatalities per 100,000 people is 0.6 deaths. This is lower than the national rate of 1.2 underage, drunk driving deaths per 100,000 people.

New York has a fairly low rate of underage drunk driving deaths. This could be because more New Yorkers depend on public transit, but we want to take a look at teen arrest records to see how law enforcement is keeping drunk teens off the streets.

New York ranks as the 46th state in the U.S. for its number of underage drunk driving arrests. Seeing as New York has a lower average of arrests and a lower number of fatalities, underage drunk driving doesn’t seem to be a rising issue (though it’s still a problem).

EMS Response Time

Since we’ve covered some grim statistics, we want to take a look at something more positive. Below are the EMS times in New York, so you’ll have a better idea of how long help takes to arrive if you’re in an accident.

In rural areas, it will take you about 20 minutes longer to reach a hospital. Still, you should be at a hospital in under an hour from the time of the crash.

In urban areas, it only takes about 30 minutes to reach the hospital from the time of the crash.

Transporation

Since transportation is such a vital part of our daily lives, we want to look at how transportation functions in New York. So stick with us as we go through Data USA’s information on everything from car ownership to commuter transportation.

We will also cover traffic congestion in New York, so you’ll be prepared for the commute time. Let’s begin.

Car Ownership

In New York, most residents own one or two cars.

New York has a much higher percentage (22.1 percent) of households who don’t own cars than the U.S. on average.

Commute Time

Next, let’s take a look at New Yorkers’ commute times next to the U.S. averages.

The average commute time in New York is 32.2 minutes (or 64.4 minutes a day). This is longer than the average U.S. commute time of 25.5 minutes (or 51 minutes a day).

As well, 5.8 percent of New York residents have a super commute of more than 90 minutes, which means they spend about three hours a day on the commute to and from work.

Commuter Transportation

We know that a significant amount of households (over 20 percent) don’t own cars in New York, so let’s see how most New York residents get to work every day.

A high percentage (28.1 percent) of New York residents use public transportation, which is higher than the U.S. average of 5 percent. As well, only 53.1 percent of New York residents drive alone to work.

If you live in New York, you may find yourself frequently using public transportation.

Traffic Congestion in New York

The last thing we want to look at before we end this guide is traffic congestion in New York. We know that New York has a longer commute time than the U.S. average, so let’s see if traffic is a factor.

Below is traffic information from Inrix‘s traffic scorecard on New York’s worst cities for traffic.

New York City is one of the worst areas for traffic, ranking 40th in the world. If you live in New York City or Buffalo, make sure to allow extra time for driving in traffic or taking public transportation.

We hope this guide proved useful to you. If we didn’t answer all of your questions, please let us know. Hopefully, you are now ready to drive around New York with your insured car.

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