State
New York car insurance requirements and laws
New York is a no-fault state requiring 25/50/10 liability (50/100 for death), $50,000 of PIP and 25/50 uninsured motorist coverage.
Minimum coverage
| Liability limits | 25/50/10 |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury, per person | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury, per accident | $50,000 |
| Property damage | $10,000 |
| Other required coverage | Bodily injury limits rise to $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injuries resulting in death; Personal injury protection (basic no-fault) $50,000 per person; Uninsured motorist 25/50 |
Rules
| Fault system | No-fault — PIP pays up to $50,000 per person in economic losses regardless of fault; you can sue for pain and suffering only after a "serious injury" as defined in the Insurance Law |
|---|---|
| PIP required | Yes — $50,000 basic no-fault per person, covering medical and rehabilitation costs, 80% of lost earnings up to $2,000 a month for up to three years, and up to $25 a day for other necessary expenses, plus a $2,000 death benefit |
| Uninsured motorist required | Yes — at the 25/50 minimum for accidents in New York; supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorist (SUM) coverage is optional |
| Negligence rule | Pure comparative negligence |
| Digital proof of insurance | Yes |
| Penalty for driving uninsured | Traffic court fine of up to $1,500; license and registration revoked (for at least one year if you crash while uninsured); $750 civil penalty to restore a revoked license; daily DMV civil penalties for a registration lapse |
| Time limit to sue | 3 years (personal injury and property damage); no-fault benefit claims have much shorter filing deadlines |
Costs and context
| Average cost | $1,753 average annual expenditure (NAIC, 2023 data) |
|---|---|
| Uninsured drivers | About 1 in 12 drivers (8.6%, Insurance Research Council, 2023) |
Regulator
| Insurance regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services |
|---|---|
| Consumer hotline | 800-342-3736 |
| Website | dfs.ny.gov |
| Address | One Commerce Plaza, Albany, NY 12257 (also One State Street, New York, NY 10004-1511) |
Minimum car insurance requirements
To register a vehicle in New York you need New York-issued liability insurance from a company licensed by the Department of Financial Services; the DMV does not accept out-of-state insurance (New York DMV). The minimum coverage includes three parts: no-fault (personal injury protection), liability and uninsured motorist coverage (DFS). Compare states with the state car insurance requirements lookup.
| Coverage | New York minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability, one person | $25,000 ($50,000 if the injury results in death) |
| Bodily injury liability, two or more people | $50,000 ($100,000 for deaths) |
| Property damage liability, per crash | $10,000 |
| Personal injury protection (basic no-fault) | $50,000 per person |
| Uninsured motorist (New York crashes) | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
The DFS describes basic no-fault as covering reasonable and necessary medical and rehabilitation expenses under fee schedules, 80% of lost earnings up to $2,000 a month for up to three years, up to $25 a day for up to a year for other necessary expenses such as household help, and a $2,000 death benefit on top of the $50,000.
What the minimums mean in practice. Suppose you cause a crash that leaves the other driver with $90,000 in medical bills and lost wages. Their no-fault coverage pays the first $50,000, and if the injury meets the serious-injury threshold they can sue you for the remaining economic losses plus pain and suffering. Your $25,000 per-person limit covers only part of that. The $10,000 property damage minimum, one of the lowest in the nation, will not cover most crashes involving a newer car. how much liability coverage do you need? and the How much car insurance do I need? can help.
Fault system and what it means after a crash
New York is a no-fault insurance state. After a crash, PIP pays the driver and passengers in your car, and pedestrians your car hits, for economic losses up to $50,000 each, regardless of fault. You can sue for economic losses above no-fault benefits, but you can sue for pain and suffering only if you suffered a serious injury as defined in the Insurance Law, such as death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement, a fracture, or a significant or permanent limitation of a body function (a verbal threshold). See no-fault vs at-fault states.
No-fault does not cover vehicle damage, which goes through the at-fault driver's property damage liability or your own collision coverage. When fault is shared, New York uses pure comparative negligence: your damages are reduced by your share of fault but not barred (comparative vs contributory negligence). Most injury and property damage lawsuits must be filed within three years, but no-fault claims have strict, much shorter notice and filing deadlines, so report injuries to the insurer promptly (statutes of limitations for car accident claims).
Optional coverage worth considering here
- Supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorist (SUM) coverage. Required UM covers only the 25/50 minimum and only for New York crashes. SUM raises those limits and adds underinsured protection. The Insurance Research Council estimates 8.6% of New York drivers were uninsured in 2023, below the national 15.4% (uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage explained).
- Optional basic economic loss and additional PIP, which add to the $50,000 of no-fault benefits (Personal injury protection (PIP) explained).
- Higher liability limits or an umbrella policy, especially in New York City and its suburbs, where medical costs and jury awards are high.
- Spousal liability coverage, which DFS notes is needed for your policy to cover a lawsuit by your spouse.
What drives rates in New York
The NAIC puts New York's average annual expenditure at $1,753 in 2023, among the highest in the country and well above the national $1,282 (What NAIC auto insurance data measures).
Dense traffic in and around New York City, high medical and repair costs, no-fault fraud and litigation all push premiums up, and rates in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens typically run far higher than upstate (What drives car insurance costs in New York, Why your ZIP code changes your car insurance price). DFS publishes an annual complaint ranking of auto insurers.
Penalties for driving uninsured
New York's DMV tracks coverage electronically. If your registration is suspended for a lapse of more than 90 days, the DMV also suspends your driver license for the same length of time. If you drive without insurance, you can be ticketed or arrested and your vehicle impounded, and the DMV will revoke your registration and license. If you are in a crash while uninsured, the revocation lasts at least one year. The traffic court fine can reach $1,500, and you must pay the DMV a $750 civil penalty to restore a revoked license (New York DMV). Shorter lapses can be settled with daily civil penalties. See penalties for driving without insurance and state insurance verification systems.
SR-22 and high-risk drivers
New York does not generally use SR-22 filings for its own drivers; insurers report coverage electronically to the DMV, which acts on lapses directly. Drivers who cannot find coverage in the voluntary market can apply through the New York Automobile Insurance Plan, the state's assigned risk plan. See high-risk car insurance: options when insurers say no and SR-22 insurance explained.
Insurers with a strong presence in New York
GEICO, Progressive, State Farm and Allstate write a large share of New York policies, and Liberty Mutual is also significant. NYCM Insurance, based in Edmeston, is a New York-only mutual, and Erie Insurance is strong in western and central New York (regional car insurers: when smaller carriers can beat the giants).
Where to get help
The New York State Department of Financial Services regulates insurers and handles complaints, including no-fault disputes, and also offers no-fault arbitration. Call the DFS hotline at 800-342-3736 (weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), file a complaint at dfs.ny.gov, or write to One Commerce Plaza, Albany, NY 12257. Registration and license suspensions are handled by the DMV. For a serious-injury claim, consult a licensed New York attorney.
Sources
- dmv.ny.gov/insurance/insurance-requirements
- dmv.ny.gov/insurance/insurance-lapses
- web.archive.org/web/20261002235059/https://dmv.ny.gov/insurance/insurance-lapses
- dfs.ny.gov/consumers/auto_insurance
- web.archive.org/web/20260913142002/https://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumers/auto_insurance
- dfs.ny.gov/contact
- iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists
- iii.org/table-archive/21247
Requirements were checked against these sources on the review date below. Laws change - confirm with the state insurance regulator or motor vehicle agency.
Profile last reviewed October 4, 2026