The cheapest car insurance company in New York is Kemper, which has an annual average cost of $79 per month for full coverage.
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Gianetta PalmerGianetta PalmerFreelance contributorGianetta Palmer is a freelance writer who lives in the Georgia mountains. Her writing on health and car insurance, has appeared on numerous sites.&Andrew HurstAndrew 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.
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We found that Kemper has the lowest average car insurance rates in New York. On average, car insurance from Kemper costs $79 per month ($951 per year), which is $1,097 cheaper per year than the state average.
Compare rates and shop affordable car insurance today
The company with the lowest average rates may not be the cheapest for you, but you can find your best prices by comparing rates before you buy. Other cheap companies in New York state include Progressive, Main Street America, NYCM, and GEICO.
Car insurance rates are determined by many factors, like your location, driving history, and the kind of vehicle you drive.
Since insurance is so expensive in New York, you’ll want to shop around for the best rates before you settle on a policy. The table below shows the five cheapest car insurance companies in New York.
Company
Average annual cost
Average annual cost
Kemper
$951
798
Progressive
$1,093
861
Main Street America
$1,122
--
New York Central Mutual
$1,125
--
GEICO
$1,303
874
Kemper
3.4
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Kemper is one of the overall cheapest car insurance companies in New York State. It’s also known for offering coverage to drivers who have a history of driving violations and who might have trouble getting insured elsewhere.
Pros
Rates tend to be near the national average
Offers perks like diminishing deductible and accident forgiveness
The cheapest car insurance in New York comes from Kemper. On average, a full-coverage auto policy from Kemper costs an average of $79 per month, or $951 per year. That makes it the only insurance company in New York with average annual rates lower than $1,000.
Kemper is also one of the cheapest companies in New York for drivers with a past violation on their driving record. If you’re a high-risk driver living in the Empire State, consider Kemper.
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Progressive usually offers rates that are around (or cheaper than) average. But drivers with a past driving violation may find that Progressive offers better rates than other companies. Its number of coverage add-ons also sets Progressive apart.
Pros
Rates tend to be around average compared to other companies
Lots of useful endorsements to upgrade a basic policy
Wide range of discounts to help save money
Affordable policies for high-risk and newly-licensed drivers
Progressive is the second cheapest car insurance company in New York, according to our analysis. On average, full-coverage from Progressive is only $91 per month ($1,093 per year). That’s $955 cheaper per year than the statewide average in New York.
Main Street America
Part of the American Family group of companies, Main Street America offers cheaper-than-average rates wherever it’s available. Drivers can also choose from lots of coverage add-ons for more protection.
Pros
Lower-than-average rates
Offers affordable coverage to high-risk drivers
Receives fewer complaints than average for its service
Plenty of available endorsements for more-than-basic coverage
The third-cheapest car insurance company in New York is Main Street America, at $94 per month for full coverage. Main Street is $926 cheaper per year than average in New York. Drivers who have a past accident or violation on their records can also usually get cheap insurance from Main Street America.
NYCM
Despite its relatively small size, NYCM often has some of the best rates. And it’s a regional company with a focus on New Yorkers, so it’s a good choice for drivers looking for a company with local expertise
Pros
Rates tend to be much lower than average
Offers a few levels of roadside assistance
Receives very few complaints from policyholders
Homeowners can bundle coverage and save
Cons
Very few options for adding coverage to a basic policy
New York Central Mutual, or NYCM, has some of the cheapest car insurance in New York. On average, NYCM offers car insurance for $94 per month, or $1,125 per year. We also found that NYCM is also the cheapest insurance company in New York for drivers under 21 who get their own policy.
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
GEICO is nationally available and often has some of the cheapest rates. GEICO gets fewer service complaints than average, even though claims satisfaction can be mixed. Drivers can also customize their car insurance from GEICO with a few useful add-ons.
Pros
Available in every state and the District of Columbia
Usually has some of the cheapest rates
Gets fewer complaints than expected for its service
Allows drivers to add different types of useful coverages to a basic policy
GEICO is one of the cheapest car insurance companies in New York. Full coverage from GEICO costs New Yorkers $109 per month, $745 cheaper per year than the statewide average. We also found that GEICO is the cheapest car insurance company in New York State for drivers with bad or poor credit.
Cheapest car insurance companies by age in New York
In New York, young drivers tend to pay higher car insurance rates than more experienced drivers. That’s because they’re more likely to be in an accident and make a claim. The good news is that as teen drivers get older and more experienced, costs tend to decrease.
We found that the cheapest car insurance in New York for newly licensed drivers is NYCM.
Age
Cheapest company
Average cost
16
New York Central Mutual
$2,463
18
New York Central Mutual
$2,023
21
New York Central Mutual
$1,552
25
Kemper
$1,137
30
Kemper
$1,003
35
Kemper
$949
45
Kemper
$903
55
Kemper
$839
60
Kemper
$815
65
Kemper
$844
70
Kemper
$876
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Choosing the right car insurance company in New York
With so many factors that determine the price of car insurance, it can be overwhelming to find a policy that works for you. Here’s what to look for when choosing a new car insurance company:
Customer Service: Does the company have a website? How easy is it to use? Are there offices nearby where you can speak directly with an agent? Do they return phone calls promptly?
Cost: Don’t overpay for car insurance. Ask about discounts and other ways to save on your insurance, and compare quotes to find your best rates.
Coverage options: Does the company offer all the types of coverage you need? Can you bundle your home, renters, boat or motorcycle coverage with them too?
Policygenius can help you get car insurance quotes and choose the best coverage based on your needs.
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Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in New York
With car insurance rates already so pricey in New York, the last thing you need is a speeding ticket, accident, or other violation raising your rates. If you are involved in an accident or receive a citation, your rates will return to average after a few years of safe driving.
We found that the cheapest car insurance for New York drivers who have a past accident or driving violation is usually Progressive, Main Street America or Kemper.
Violation
Kemper
Progressive
Main Street America
New York Central Mutual
GEICO
USAA
At-fault accident
$1,429
$1,777
$1,524
$1,509
$2,039
$1,919
DUI
$1,402
$1,190
$1,476
$1,851
$3,775
$2,164
Suspended license
$1,402
$1,613
$1,476
$1,851
$2,671
$1,941
Open container
$1,280
$1,174
$1,476
$1,181
$1,410
$1,652
Expired registration
$1,280
$1,174
$1,249
$1,181
$1,279
$1,652
Driving without lights
$1,280
$1,174
$1,249
$1,181
$1,410
$1,652
Running a red light
$1,280
$1,174
$1,249
$1,181
$1,410
$1,652
Following too closely
$1,280
$1,174
$1,249
$1,181
$1,410
$1,652
Hit and run
$1,402
$1,613
$1,476
$1,851
$3,775
$2,164
Not-at-fault accident
$1,000
$1,140
$1,198
$1,181
$1,343
$1,652
Passing a school bus
$1,280
$1,174
$1,476
$1,181
$1,410
$1,652
Reckless driving
$1,402
$1,613
$1,476
$1,692
$2,671
$2,164
Speeding
$1,402
$1,348
$1,476
$1,509
$2,039
$1,716
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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in New York
Insurance companies use your credit score to determine insurance rates, and poor credit can lead to more expensive premiums.
The cheapest company for drivers in New York who have poor or bad credit is GEICO.
Company
Rates for drivers with bad credit
GEICO
$1,637
Utica National
$2,434
Kemper
$2,551
New York Central Mutual
$2,713
USAA
$2,877
Car insurance costs in New York cities
If you live in New York City, you’re going to pay some of the highest insurance rates in the country. But the cost of insurance is lower in other parts of New York State.
Here are the average car insurance rates for the ten largest cities in New York, based on population.
New York City: $4,534
Buffalo: $2,061
Rochester: $1,440
Yonkers: $2,739
Syracuse: $1,545
Albany: $1,503
New Rochelle: $2,230
Cheektowaga: $1,578
Mount Vernon: $2,876
Schenectady: $1,480
Compare rates and shop affordable car insurance today
If your vehicle is registered in New York, state law says drivers must meet the following minimum insurance requirements:
$10,000 for property damage for a single accident
$25,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for death for a person involved in an accident
$50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for death for two or more people in an accident
Have continuous coverage on a vehicle even if it is inoperable or not being driven.
The insurance must be issued by a company licensed by the New York State Department of Financial Services and certified by the NY State DMV.
New York is a no-fault state, which means that your car insurance company will pay your medical bills whether you caused the accident or not. No-fault insurance, also called PIP, only covers bodily injury and does not pay for auto body repair to your or another party’s damaged vehicle or personal property.
If you want to recoup the costs to repair a damaged or totaled vehicle, you should consider adding additional coverage like comprehensive or collision insurance to your policy. Working with our insurance experts can help you find the coverage you need at the best price.
Many insurance companies in New York offer ways to save on your car insurance. Here are some of the most common car insurance discounts and how to qualify:
Bundling discount: Combining your home and car insurance policy
Multi-car discount: Having more than one car and driver on your insurance policy
Safe-driver discount: For drivers without any accident claims during a given time frame or for those drivers who take a defensive driving course
Military discount: A discount for active-duty military and their family members
Good student discount: A discount for young drivers who earn good grades
These are just a few of the discounts offered by insurance companies, so be sure and ask about what others may apply to you.
According to our research, Kemper has the lowest rates in New York state, at $79 per month or $951 per year for full coverage.
What is the monthly cost of car insurance in New York?
The average monthly cost of car insurance in New York is $171, or $2,048 per year. But drivers can get cheaper rates from many companies in the state.
Does my driving history affect my car insurance rates?
Yes, having an accident or driving violation on your record will cause your rates to go up — sometimes significantly. We found that having an accident or a ticket can raise your rates by hundreds of dollars per year in New York.
What is the best company for young drivers in New York?
The best and cheapest car insurance company for young drivers in New York is NYCM. We found that it has the lowest average rates for drivers 21 years old and younger.
Methodology
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: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
Property damage liability: $50,000
Uninsured/underinsured motorist: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
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.
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.
