- New York is the fifth-most expensive state in the US for car insurance.
- Within New York, State Farm is the highest-ranked company for customer satisfaction.
- By shopping around, you can find the best deal for your own cheap auto insurance.
- Check out our partner Savvy — a free tool that lets you compare car insurance quotes in minutes »
When you're shopping for the best cheap car insurance in New York, there are a few factors you'll want to consider. While the Insurance Information Institute estimates the typical New Yorker will spend $1,349 each year on car insurance premiums (the amount you pay yearly for insurance), there are ways to get better rates.
Car insurance companies consider your location, age, gender, and driving record to calculate rates. Other factors like credit score, marital status, vehicle type, previous coverage, and miles driven can all play a role in the amount you'll pay for coverage.
By shopping around, you can price compare and see what company has the best cheap auto insurance quotes for you. There's no "one size fits all" approach to car insurance — everyone's information and life situation is different, meaning that every insurance company will assess their risk, and price their premiums, differently.
Here are the best cheap auto insurance companies in New York.
The most popular car insurance companies in New York based on market share
The following are the most popular car insurance companies in New York, based on the percentage of insured New York drivers who use them:
| Company | Market share (%) |
| GEICO | 32.34 |
| Allstate | 13.76 |
| State Farm | 12.09 |
| Progressive | 11.20 |
| Liberty Mutual | 5.74 |
| Travelers | 3.88 |
| USAA* | 3.07 |
| NYCM Insurance | 2.73 |
| National General | 2.03 |
| Nationwide | 1.89 |
| MetLife | 1.42 |
| The Heartford | 1.01 |
| Farmers Insurance | 0.96 |
| Erie Insurance | 0.87 |
| Chubb | 0.77 |
| American Family Insurance | 0.75 |
*USAA is only for active military, veterans, and their families.
Above data obtained from S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Best car insurance in New York based on customer satisfaction
Customer satisfaction with car insurance providers may factor into your decision. According to J.D. Power, a consumer research company that surveys customers, these are the top eight in New York, based on customer rankings:
The best cheap car insurance in New York based on credit score
Consumer Reports compiled information on which companies generally provide the most affordable car insurance in each state, calculated based on each company's pricing formulas for each state. There are four that generally came up as the best cheap car insurance companies in New York, although the top pick varies by credit score:
| Excellent Credit (FICO 800+) | Good Credit (FICO 670-739) | Poor Credit (FICO 300-579) |
|
|
|
Best car insurance for clean driver record
For a driver in New York state age 25 or older with no accidents and one vehicle, the following companies provide the best average rates:
| Company | Average monthly car insurance premium |
| USAA* | $173 |
| Allstate | $182 |
| Nationwide | $190 |
| GEICO | $191 |
| State Farm | $193 |
| Travelers | $203 |
| Safeco | $216 |
| Esurance | $216 |
| Progressive | $227 |
| Liberty Mutual | $263 |
| Farmers | $278 |
| MetLife | $470 |
*USAA is only for active military, veterans, and their families.
Above data obtained from Savvy, based on 5,248 policyholders in the state of New York
Best car insurance for one or more accidents on record
For a driver in New York state, age 25 or older, with one or more accidents and one vehicle, the following companies provide the best average rates:
| Company | Average monthly car insurance premium |
| State Farm | $134 |
| GEICO | $202 |
| Allstate | $209 |
| Progressive | $222 |
| Esurance | $246 |
| Farmers | $329 |
Above data obtained from Savvy, based on 5,248 policyholders in the state of New York
New York car insurance rates by city
Below is the estimated average annual premium of auto insurance policies per household in New York's most populous cities.
| City | Average annual car insurance premium |
| New York | $1,454 |
| Buffalo | $1,299 |
| Rochester | $1,267 |
| Yonkers | $1,466 |
| Syracuse | $1,296 |
| Albany | $1,370 |
| New Rochelle | $1,568 |
| Cheektowaga | $1,410 |
| Mount Vernon | $1,438 |
| Schenectady | $1,318 |
| Brentwood | $1,596 |
| Utica | $1,317 |
| White Plains | $1,589 |
| Hempstead | $1,470 |
| Tonawanda | $1,457 |
| Levittown | $1,724 |
| Troy | $1,363 |
| Irondequoit | $1,456 |
| Niagara Falls | $1,308 |
| West Seneca | $1,487 |
| Binghamton | $1,287 |
| Freeport Village | $1,543 |
| West Babylon | $1,646 |
| Hicksville | $1,699 |
| Coram | $1,601 |
| East Meadow | $1,657 |
| Valley Stream | $1,686 |
| Brighton | $1,529 |
| Commack | $1,787 |
| Central Islip | $1,533 |
| Spring Valley | $1,402 |
| Elmont | $1,655 |
| Long Beach | $1,581 |
| New City | $1,766 |
| Huntington Station | $1,624 |
| Rome | $1,420 |
| Oceanside | $1,698 |
| Poughkeepsie | $1,355 |
| Centerreach | $1,704 |
| Ithaca | $1,295 |
The above data was obtained from S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Who gets the best car insurance rates in New York?
As you probably noticed above, people with the best credit get the lowest car insurance premiums. Generally, drivers in more rural areas will also get better rates — someone living in upstate New York will generally pay less than someone in New York City.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to calculating insurance premiums. Insurance companies will also look at factors like your age, gender, and the type of car you're insuring. Your driving history will also play a part in your insurance costs.
Every insurance company looks at these factors differently. That's why it's so important to get quotes from several different insurance companies, and compare them to make sure that you're getting the best deal.
When you're comparing, don't just look at the premium. Look for the limits that are listed with each liability, or type of coverage. The greater the coverage amount, the better the policy. Look for the one with the most coverage that fits your budget.
Ronda Lee is an associate editor for insurance at Personal Finance Insider covering life, auto, homeowners, and renters insurance for consumers. She is also a licensed attorney who practiced litigation and insurance defense.