Best car insurance in Buffalo, NY (2024)

Headshot of Laura Gunn
Headshot of Andrew Hurst

By

Laura GunnFreelance contributorLaura Gunn is an insurance expert and writer. As a former English teacher, she made the transition to full-time writing and editing in 2016. Since that time she has written extensively about insurance topics, as well as topics pertaining to education and marketing.Her work has been published in The Millennial Source, News Hunt 360, Realty Today, HNGN, and other publications.&Andrew HurstSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertAndrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.

Edited by

Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
|

Reviewed by

Maria FilindrasMaria FilindrasFinancial AdvisorMaria Filindras is a financial advisor, a licensed Life & Health insurance agent in California, and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius.

Updated|3 min read

Expert reviewedExpert reviewedThis article has been reviewed by a member of ourFinancial Review Council to ensure all sources, statistics, and claims meet the highest standard for accurate and unbiased advice.Learn more about oureditorial review process.

Policygenius content follows strict guidelines for editorial accuracy and integrity. Learn about our editorial standards and how we make money.

The average cost for full coverage car insurance in Buffalo, New York is $2,061. That's only a few dollars less than the state's average, which comes in at $2,048.

Ready to shop car insurance?

The best way to find the most affordable coverage is to compare policy options from a number of insurance companies. The experts at Policygenius can help you find quotes from the top providers and choose the coverage that's right for you.

Key Takeaways

  • Kemper offers the lowest average rates in the Buffalo, NY area.

  • The Buffalo ZIP code of 14219 has the lowest average rate in the city.

  • New York state's minimum liability coverage requirements are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $10,000 in property damage liability.

  • New York also requires drivers to have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Methodology & why you can trust our rates

Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:

  • Bodily injury liability: 50/100

  • Property damage liability: $50,000

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist: 50/100

  • Comprehensive: $500 deductible

  • Collision: $500 deductible

In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.

Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.

Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Buffalo, NY

Car insurance rates are calculated based on a number of different factors, like age, make and model of vehicle, and ZIP code. With so much variation, it's important to get quotes from a number of different companies before selecting a provider.

Company

Average cost

JD Power Rating

Kemper

$900

798

New York Central Mutual

$1,038

--

Progressive

$1,085

861

GEICO

$1,301

874

Main Street America

$1,494

--

Cheapest car insurance rates by ZIP code in Buffalo, NY

Different areas of a city pose different potential risks. Some neighborhoods are more densely populated, which means more people are on the road, which translates into higher insurance rates. 

The same is true for areas that have higher crime rates and higher numbers of car accidents or traffic tickets. Insurance companies see these higher averages and determine individuals in those areas are more likely to file insurance claims. The table below shows average rates based on different ZIP codes in the Buffalo, NY area.

ZIP code

Average cost

14219

$1,743

14228

$1,803

14221

$1,809

14260

$1,948

14220

$2,018

14210

$2,039

14207

$2,041

14206

$2,044

14216

$2,063

14222

$2,104

Collapse table

Choosing the right car insurance company in Buffalo, NY

The trick to shopping for car insurance is finding the right coverage at a price that’s still in your budget. But there are factors to consider besides price when shopping for car insurance. Consider coverage options, as well as customer service ratings and whether the company offers online or paperless payment options. 

If you're ready to start shopping, then the experts at Policygenius can help you see quotes from top providers and choose the coverage that's right for you.

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Buffalo, NY

If you have driving violations of any kind on your record they could negatively affect your coverage and pricing options when you shop for car insurance. 

Accidents and other driving incidents accumulate on your Motor Vehicle Report (MVR). Insurance companies analyze your MVR while calculating insurance rates. In most cases, insurance companies look at the past three-to-five years of your driving history.

Violation

Kemper

New York Central Mutual

Progressive

GEICO

Main Street America

At-fault accident

$1,355

$1,394

$1,792

$2,086

$2,047

DUI

$1,328

$1,726

$1,189

$3,919

$1,978

Suspended license

$1,328

$1,726

$1,626

$2,760

$1,978

Open container

$1,213

$1,079

$1,171

$1,411

$1,978

Expired registration

$1,213

$1,079

$1,171

$1,279

$1,650

Driving without lights

$1,213

$1,079

$1,171

$1,411

$1,650

Running a red light

$1,213

$1,079

$1,171

$1,411

$1,650

Following too closely

$1,213

$1,079

$1,171

$1,411

$1,650

Hit and run

$1,328

$1,726

$1,626

$3,919

$1,978

Not-at-fault accident

$949

$1,079

$1,138

$1,344

$1,579

Passing a school bus

$1,213

$1,079

$1,171

$1,411

$1,978

Reckless driving

$1,328

$1,571

$1,626

$2,760

$1,978

Speeding

$1,328

$1,394

$1,350

$2,086

$1,978

Collapse table

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Buffalo, NY

Company

Rates for drivers with DUIs

Progressive

$1,189

Kemper

$1,328

New York Central Mutual

$1,726

Main Street America

$1,978

GEICO

$3,919

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Buffalo, NY

Company

Rates for drivers with speeding tickets

Kemper

$1,328

Progressive

$1,350

New York Central Mutual

$1,394

Main Street America

$1,978

GEICO

$2,086

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Buffalo, NY

New York, like most states, can and does use credit score as a determining factor for car insurance rates. Drivers can expect to see lower scores negatively impact their insurance rates, but some companies offer cheaper rates for drivers with bad credit than others.

Company

Rates for drivers with bad credit

GEICO

$1,638

Kemper

$2,412

New York Central Mutual

$2,509

Chubb

$2,853

Utica National

$2,926

Ready to shop car insurance?

Buying car insurance in Buffalo, NY

Minimum insurance requirements are determined at the state level. This means the city of Buffalo requires the same minimum coverages as the state as a whole. To drive in Buffalo, NY a driver is required to have:

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person

  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident

  • $10,000 property damage liability per accident

These requirements are similar to most state requirements, but New York requires two additional types of coverage:

  • Uninsured Motorist Coverage ($25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident)

  • Personal Injury Protection ($50,000 per person)

Uninsured motorist coverage covers the costs if you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have car insurance, or who doesn’t have enough car insurance to cover the cost of the accident.

Personal injury protection (PIP) covers medical costs for you, as the driver, or passengers when you’re in an accident, regardless of fault. This coverage is required by the state because New York is a no-fault state.

In a no-fault state, the individuals involved in an accident seek compensation for their injuries from their own car insurance companies, regardless of fault. That’s why drivers are required to have PIP.

How to get cheap car insurance in Buffalo, NY

Insurance in Buffalo can be expensive, even though rates are lower than in other parts of New York. Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can lower your personal car insurance rates.

  • Practice safe driving habits: Driving safely lowers your risk for tickets, accidents, or violations. Keeping a clean driving record will help lower your rates.

  • Check for discounts: Insurance companies offer many discounts that can help lower your overall rates, including for safe driving or getting good grades

  • Improve your credit score: Try improving your credit score with on-time payments and low credit usage

  • Increase your deductible: A higher deductible can dramatically decrease your car insurance rates, but you may actually have to pay if you file a claim

Frequently asked questions

Who has the cheapest car insurance in Buffalo, NY?

Kemper offers the cheapest rate in Buffalo, NY. Specific rates are determined based on personal information, however, so the carrier that’s cheapest for you might be different from the carrier that’s cheapest for your neighbor.

How much is car insurance per month in Buffalo, New York?

In Buffalo, car insurance costs an average of $172 per month for full coverage. Compared to the rest of New York, the average cost of coverage in Buffalo is cheaper.

Is car insurance cheaper in upstate New York?

Compared to the cost of car insurance in New York City, drivers pay far less for coverage upstate than in the five boroughs. This is because the number of drivers is far less in northern parts of New York.

How can you lower your car insurance premiums in Buffalo, New York?

In order to get cheaper car insurance in Buffalo, you should compare the cost of coverage from multiple companies near you. You should also look for insurers in Buffalo that offer discounts to drivers with your background, car, and age.

Authors

Laura Gunn is an insurance expert and writer. As a former English teacher, she made the transition to full-time writing and editing in 2016. Since that time she has written extensively about insurance topics, as well as topics pertaining to education and marketing.

Her work has been published in The Millennial Source, News Hunt 360, Realty Today, HNGN, and other publications.

Andrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.

Editor

Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.

Questions about this page? Email us at .