NYCM Insurance auto insurance

Overview

NYCM Insurance is the trade name of New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance Company, a policyholder-owned mutual based in the village of Edmeston in central New York. It ranked #45 among U.S. private passenger auto insurers by 2025 direct premiums written according to NAIC market share data, with $764.9 million in auto premiums and a 0.21% national share, all of it written in New York.

NYCM sells auto, homeowners, mobile home, umbrella and commercial coverage only in New York. It reports more than 670,000 policies in force, more than 900 employees, and branch offices in Sherburne, Canajoharie and Orchard Park. Policies are sold through more than 1,000 independent agents; NYCM's website sends quote requests to a local agent rather than selling policies online. The company is still managed by the founding Robinson family, now in its fifth generation, with Cheryl Robinson as president and chief executive officer. Its subsidiaries are A. Central Insurance Company and the adjusting firm Albert F. Stager, Inc.

History

VanNess DeMar Robinson founded New York Central Mutual in Edmeston in 1899 and chose a train as its symbol. The company moved its offices in 1916 and built a new headquarters at Central Plaza East in 1962, expanding it in stages between 1969 and 1991. It opened a claims branch in Amsterdam, New York, in 1989, and in 1990 opened a Sherburne office to handle underwriting and claims for assigned risk auto business, the state's assigned risk plan for drivers who cannot find coverage in the voluntary market.

In 1991 NYCM bought Albert F. Stager, Inc., an independent adjusting firm in Orchard Park near Buffalo. In 2001 it launched A. Central Insurance Company to serve customers who need alternative, mid-market options, and formed Central Services Group as an umbrella for its operations. The company later rebranded from New York Central Mutual to the shorter NYCM Insurance name it uses today. In March 2018 AM Best lowered its financial strength rating from A+ to A after re-rating it under an updated methodology, and AM Best has affirmed it at A every year from 2022 through 2026.

Auto insurance coverage

Every New York policy includes the state-required coverages: personal injury protection (New York is a no-fault state), bodily injury and property damage liability, and statutory uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage. NYCM's optional coverages include:

• Collision and comprehensive, with transportation expense (rental) and personal articles coverage
• New car replacement
• An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts endorsement
• Optional basic economic loss (OBEL), which adds to no-fault benefits
• Supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorist (SUM) coverage and medical payments

Emergency Roadside Assistance comes in three tiers. Basic, Choice and Choice Plus include towing of up to 25, 50 or 100 miles respectively, flat tire changes, jump-starts, fuel and fluid delivery, roadside winching, a tow to the nearest charging station when an electric vehicle's battery runs out, and locksmith service worth up to $50 or $100, depending on the tier.

Discounts and programs

NYCM publishes a long discount list:

• Multi-policy discount with an NYCM homeowners or umbrella policy, and a homeownership discount even if your home is insured elsewhere
• Senior discount for policyholders over 65 who also qualify for the claim-free discount
• Accident prevention course (defensive driving), driver training for drivers under 21, good student for students aged 16 to 24 with a B average, and student away at school
• Commercial driver license discount for CDL holders who have been claim-free and violation-free for five years
• At-fault accident forgiveness and Accident Forgiveness Plus, which adds a deductible discount
• Claim-free discount after five consecutive years without a claim, with any insurer
• Vehicle discounts for advanced safety features, airbags or automatic seatbelts, anti-theft systems, daytime running lights and new cars
• Auto-pay and paid-in-full discounts

NYCM's website does not list a telematics or usage-based insurance program.

Claims

NYCM steers most claims to its online Claims Dashboard in My Account or the NYCM mobile app, where you can report a loss, upload documents, track progress and request a rental car. If you cannot report digitally, you can call customer service or use live chat. NYCM sets up rentals through Hertz or Enterprise and can be billed directly, handles glass claims through Safelite, and pays claims electronically where possible. You can use any repair shop or choose one from its Advantage Repair Program network.

Ratings and reputation

AM Best affirmed NYCM's A (Excellent) financial strength rating with a stable outlook on July 21, 2026, according to AM Best's Credit Rating Center; AM Best has rated the company since 1925. The current rating level dates from a March 2018 downgrade from A+ (Superior), when AM Best cited the company's strongest-level capitalization and adequate operating performance.

In the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, NYCM Insurance scored 641 in the New York region, fifth of 10 ranked brands and above the 636 regional average. Travelers led the region with 657, followed by GEICO, Erie Insurance and State Farm. NYCM is not ranked in J.D. Power's national auto claims satisfaction study.

Who it suits

NYCM suits New York drivers who want an independent agent's advice, a company that writes only in their state, and a wide menu of discounts and endorsements such as OEM parts and new car replacement. Drivers who want to buy online or earn a telematics discount will need to look elsewhere.

• Strengths: Above-average 2026 J.D. Power score in New York; discounts for homeowners (wherever the home is insured), seniors, students and CDL holders; OEM parts, new car replacement and tiered roadside options; A (Excellent) rating affirmed in July 2026.
• Weaknesses: Sold only in New York; quotes go through independent agents rather than an online purchase; no telematics program listed; claims reporting is built around the online account and app, with phone reports going through the general customer service line.

How to contact NYCM Insurance