New York Auto Insurance

In the state of New York, all drivers are required to purchase insurance and to carry proof of their coverage with them at all times in the vehicle. You will also need your insurance in order to register a vehicle.

Minimum New York auto insurance

New York requires that drivers carry a high amount of coverage  compared with other states. These amounts will protect you in case of an unfortunate and dangerous accident:

• Bodily Injury and Death: $25,000 to cover one person in any one accident, and $50,000 to cover all injuries
• Property Damages: $10,000 
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: $25,000 to cover one person in any one accident, and $50,000 to cover all injuries
• Personal Injury Protection: $50,000

With these amounts of required coverage in New York, it's unsurprising that the costs for NY auto insurance are higher, on average, than the rest of the nation.

Another consideration for drivers is that New York follows a no-fault system, meaning drivers in an accident are responsible for their own medical bills and damages to their vehicles. Even if the other driver causes the accident, you may still be required to cover your own costs. This is why – even if you're a perfect driver  – it's important that you have insurance to protect against less -careful drivers on the road.

Penalties without New York auto insurance

Heavy penalties apply for drivers who are caught without insurance in the state of New York; uninsured drivers can have their license suspended, lose their vehicle registration, and even have their car impounded. In addition, you'll receive a ticket and a fine starting at $8-12 for each day the vehicle was uninsured, which adds up to a large fine for any length of time.

Since insurance companies are required to notify the state when they issue a policy, and when a driver lets a policy lapse, the state will keep tabs on resident drivers and catch up to them if they try to let coverage drop.