Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Population (city, 2025) | 8,584,629 |
| Households with no vehicle (city, 2020-2024) | 55.3% (US: 8.4%) |
| Workers who take public transportation to work (city) | 44.0% (US: 3.2%) |
| Mean travel time to work (city) | 40.3 minutes (US: 26.4 minutes) |
| Vehicle thefts, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area (2025) | 27,138 |
| Minimum liability (statewide) | 25/50/10, with higher limits when someone dies |
| Fault system (statewide) | No-fault, with $50,000 basic PIP per person |
| Average yearly spending per insured vehicle (statewide, 2023) | $1,752.55 |
| Estimated uninsured drivers (statewide, 2023) | 8.6% (US: 15.4%) |
| Insurance regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), 800-342-3736 |
What New York requires of every city driver
New York State, not the city, sets the rules; our New York car insurance guide covers them in full. A policy on a car registered in any of the five boroughs must include:
- Bodily injury liability of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, rising to $50,000 and $100,000 when someone is killed.
- Property damage liability of at least $10,000 per accident.
- No-fault coverage (personal injury protection) of at least $50,000 per person.
- Uninsured motorist coverage at the same $25,000/$50,000 level for crashes in New York. Supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (SUM) is added at your liability limits unless you decline or lower it in writing.
The insurer must be licensed in New York; the DMV does not accept out-of-state coverage. Moving here? See our guide for new residents. You have 30 days after becoming a resident to get a New York license.
How no-fault works after a crash in the city
Because New York is a no-fault state, your own policy pays the first layer of medical bills and lost pay for you and your passengers, whoever caused the crash. Basic no-fault pays 80% of lost earnings, up to $2,000 a month for up to 3 years, plus up to $25 a day for other reasonable expenses, all within the $50,000 limit.
No-fault does not pay for damage to cars: that falls to property damage liability or your own collision coverage. You can sue for pain and suffering only after a serious injury as defined in state law (the tort threshold).
Car-free households: when you still need coverage
More than half of city households, 55.3%, have no vehicle, against 8.4% nationally. Many car-free New Yorkers still drive now and then:
- Renting a car. New York caps the daily price of a rental collision damage waiver at up to $15, depending on the car's value.
- Borrowing a car. See does car insurance follow the car or the driver.
- Driving often without owning. A non-owner policy gives you liability coverage when you drive cars you do not own.
- Storing a car. Deal with the plates before you cancel (see below) and read insuring a stored car.
No insurance, no plates
New York ties a car's registration directly to its insurance. If your liability coverage ends, the DMV requires you to surrender the plates and registration right away. These statewide rules apply when you do not:
| Situation | What can happen |
|---|---|
| Coverage lapses and plates are kept | The registration is suspended and DMV civil penalties apply |
| Lapse of 91 days or more | Your driver license is also suspended, and reinstating it needs a $50 suspension termination fee |
| Driving uninsured, or letting someone drive your uninsured car | A traffic court fine of up to $1,500 |
| Crash involving your uninsured car | License revoked for at least a year, plus a $750 civil penalty to restore it |
The safe order is simple: turn in the plates first, then cancel. Our guide to a car insurance lapse explains what a gap can do to future prices.
Commutes, theft and crash data
City workers average 40.3 minutes to get to work, against 26.4 minutes nationally. That includes subway and bus riders, so time is not miles; if you drive to work, report your real mileage.
NICB counted 27,138 vehicle thefts in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area in 2025, ranking it number 2 among US metro areas by total thefts. Nationally, thefts fell 23.2% from 2024 to 2025.
Crash data are published statewide. IIHS counted 1,101 crash deaths in New York in 2024, or 5.5 per 100,000 people, compared with 11.5 per 100,000 people nationally.
Why your borough and ZIP code matter
Insurers price by the address where the car is kept overnight. They group ZIP codes into rating territories whose base rates reflect local claims, so dense streets, tight parking and theft can push a rate up. Our guide to ZIP codes and car insurance explains how. Theft and vandalism are paid by comprehensive coverage, the part of a quote most sensitive to local theft. If you move between boroughs, update your garaging address.
Ways to pay less in New York City
- Take a Point and Insurance Reduction Program course. Completing an approved course cuts the base rate of liability and collision premiums by at least 10% for 3 years. See defensive driving courses.
- Choose your deductible on purpose. A higher deductible lowers the collision and comprehensive premium but raises what you pay after a claim.
- Compare quotes at renewal. Prices for the same driver differ between insurers. See shopping at renewal.
- Ask about low-mileage and telematics programs if the car sits most of the week.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need car insurance in New York City if I only rent cars?
You do not need your own policy to rent, but check what covers you: rental companies sell damage waivers and liability add-ons. If you rent often, a non-owner policy is one way to carry steady liability coverage.
Can I keep my out-of-state insurance after moving to New York City?
No, not once the car is registered in New York. The DMV accepts only coverage from insurers licensed in New York, so line up a New York policy before you register.
What happens if I cancel my insurance but keep my plates?
The DMV learns of the lapse from your insurer. Your registration can be suspended and civil penalties apply. A lapse of 91 days or more also suspends your license. Surrender the plates before the policy ends.
Does no-fault mean nobody is blamed for a crash in New York?
No. Fault still decides who pays for damage to cars and serious injuries, and it can affect future premiums. No-fault only means your own policy pays the first layer of injury costs.
Why can quotes differ so much between boroughs?
Each area has its own claim history, so the same driver and car can be quoted differently at two addresses. The premium factors tool shows what else moves the price.
Sources
- New York State Department of Financial Services, Auto Insurance Information for Consumers minimum limits, no-fault benefits, SUM and rental waiver rules
- New York State DMV, Insurance requirements New York-licensed insurer rule
- New York State DMV, Insurance lapses plate surrender, suspensions, fines and penalties
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates city population
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year, Table S0801, New York city commuting
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year, Table DP04, New York city households with no vehicle
- NICB, U.S. Vehicle Thefts Experience Historic Decline metro theft totals for 2025
- NAIC, Auto Insurance Database Report statewide average expenditure
- IIHS, Fatality Facts: State by state statewide crash deaths
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, Table DP04 (Selected housing characteristics) as of October 28, 2026
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, Table S0801 (Commuting characteristics) as of October 28, 2026
- Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists as of October 28, 2026
- New York State Department of Financial Services, Contact as of October 28, 2026
- New York DMV, Moving to or from New York State as of October 28, 2026
- New York DMV, Point and Insurance Reduction Program as of October 28, 2026
- NICB, Partnerships in Theft Prevention Drive Continued Declines in U.S. Stolen Vehicles as of July 15, 2026
- Insurance Research Council, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023 (press release) as of February 20, 2025
Last reviewed by the StateCover Guide editorial team. See our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.