New York Car Insurance Requirements 2026
New York requires every registered vehicle to carry at least 25/50/10 liability insurance - $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 for property damage - plus $50,000 in no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP), $50,000/$100,000 wrongful-death coverage, and uninsured motorist protection. New York is a no-fault state, so your own PIP pays first regardless of fault.
New York minimum car insurance requirements at a glance
To register and legally drive a vehicle in New York, state law requires you to carry a New York-issued auto liability policy that meets these minimum limits:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person (and $50,000 if the injury results in death)
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident (and $100,000 if death results, for two or more people)
- $10,000 property damage liability per accident
- $50,000 Personal Injury Protection (PIP), also called basic no-fault coverage
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage at the same 25/50 minimums
This liability package is commonly written as 25/50/10. New York also layers on the mandatory 50/100 wrongful-death limits and the no-fault and uninsured motorist coverages, which makes New York one of the more coverage-heavy states in the country. Out-of-state insurance is not accepted for a New York registration - the policy must be issued by an insurer licensed in New York.
What no-fault (PIP) means for New York drivers
New York is a no-fault state. That means if you or your passengers are injured in a crash, your own insurer pays your economic losses through Personal Injury Protection (PIP) - regardless of who caused the accident and without waiting for a fault determination. Basic no-fault covers up to $50,000 per person for reasonable and necessary medical and health expenses, lost earnings (up to $2,000 per month for up to three years, subject to limits), and other covered costs. PIP extends to the driver, all passengers in your car, and any pedestrians your vehicle injures in New York.
No-fault does not eliminate liability lawsuits entirely. To sue an at-fault driver for pain and suffering (non-economic damages), your injury must meet New York's statutory serious injury threshold - for example, significant disfigurement, bone fracture, permanent limitation of a body organ or member, or a substantial disability lasting at least 90 days. For everything below that threshold, no-fault is the exclusive remedy, which is why the PIP coverage is mandatory.
Key data
| Factor | Filed value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum bodily injury & property damage liability | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident / $10,000 property damage (25/50/10) | New York Department of Financial Services · Jul 2026 |
| Mandatory no-fault (PIP) coverage | $50,000 per person | New York Department of Financial Services · Jul 2026 |
| Wrongful-death liability requirement | $50,000/$100,000 (in addition to 25/50 bodily injury) | Insurance Information Institute - Automobile Financial Responsibility Laws by State · Jul 2026 |
Required coverages beyond liability: PIP and uninsured motorist
New York mandates more than just bodily-injury and property-damage liability. Every private-passenger auto policy must also include:
- Personal Injury Protection (No-Fault) - $50,000 per person. Pays your own medical and wage-loss costs after a crash regardless of fault.
- Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage - 25/50 minimum. Protects you if you are hit by a driver who has no insurance, or in a hit-and-run. In New York, UM must at least match the minimum liability limits.
- Underinsured / Supplementary Uninsured Motorist (SUM). The Insurance Information Institute lists New York as requiring UIM/SUM as well; SUM covers the gap when an at-fault driver's limits are too low to cover your injuries. Many carriers include a baseline and let you buy higher SUM limits.
Because these coverages stack, a genuinely compliant New York policy always includes liability + PIP + UM, not just the 25/50/10 headline number.
How much coverage do you actually need?
The 25/50/10 minimum is exactly that - a legal floor, not a recommendation. It is easy to blow through in a real accident. A single hospital stay or a totaled late-model SUV can exceed $10,000 in property damage or $25,000 in bodily injury within hours, and anything above your limits comes out of your own pocket. New York drivers who own a home, have savings, or simply want to avoid being sued personally should consider substantially higher limits.
A widely used stronger baseline is 100/300/100 - $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 property damage - paired with matching Supplementary Uninsured Motorist (SUM) limits so you are protected against underinsured drivers too. The premium difference between state-minimum and 100/300 limits is often far smaller than most people expect, because the first dollars of liability coverage are the most expensive. If you finance or lease your vehicle, your lender will also require comprehensive and collision coverage, which the state minimum does not include.
Penalties for driving without insurance in New York
New York treats insurance lapses aggressively because coverage must remain continuously in force for as long as the registration is valid - even if the car is parked and unused. Consequences escalate quickly:
- Coverage lapse: The DMV can suspend both your vehicle registration and your driver license. For lapses, New York charges a civil penalty (commonly around $8 per day for the first 30 days, rising after that) or requires you to surrender the plates.
- Driving uninsured / uninsured crash: If you or someone driving your uninsured vehicle is in a crash, the DMV revokes your license and registration for at least one year.
- Court fine: Driving without insurance (or letting someone drive your uninsured car) can carry a traffic-court fine of up to $1,500.
- Restoration costs: To restore a revoked license you must pay a $750 civil penalty plus a $100 re-application fee, and clear the matter through the DMV Insurance Services Bureau.
A name mismatch between your insurance and your registration can also trigger suspension, so keep both documents in the same name.
Does New York use SR-22 filings?
Unlike most states, New York does not participate in the SR-22 program. There is no New York SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility to file after a violation. Instead, New York enforces financial responsibility internally: the DMV tracks coverage electronically through insurer reporting, suspends registrations for lapses, and revokes credentials after uninsured crashes. Reinstatement runs through the DMV rather than through an insurer filing.
The SR-22 issue usually surfaces in two situations. First, if you move to New York from a state where you had an SR-22, you generally will not need to maintain one here. Second, if you move from New York to a state that requires an SR-22 (or you need one for a license in another state), you must obtain that filing from an insurer licensed in the state that requires it - New York itself will not issue the form. Drivers who need proof of coverage should ask their carrier for a standard insurance ID card or a letter of coverage.
How to compare New York auto insurance quotes
Because New York mandates liability, PIP, and uninsured motorist coverage, every compliant quote you receive should already include all three - so compare like-for-like. When shopping:
- Match the limits. Get every quote at the same liability and SUM limits (for example 100/300/100) so price differences reflect the carrier, not the coverage.
- Check the deductibles. If you add comprehensive and collision, a higher deductible lowers premium but raises your out-of-pocket cost after a claim.
- Ask about optional add-ons. Optional Basic Economic Loss (OBEL) can add $25,000 on top of PIP; additional PIP and higher SUM limits are inexpensive ways to close coverage gaps.
- Verify the insurer is licensed in New York. Only a New York-issued policy satisfies registration requirements.
New York regulates auto rates through the Department of Financial Services, and premiums vary widely by ZIP code, driving record, and vehicle. Comparing several licensed carriers at identical limits is the single most effective way to lower your cost without dropping below the legal - and practical - level of protection.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum car insurance required in New York?
New York requires at least 25/50/10 liability coverage: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 property damage. You must also carry $50,000 in no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP), $50,000/$100,000 wrongful-death coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage at the 25/50 minimum. Coverage must be issued by an insurer licensed in New York.
Is New York a no-fault state?
Yes. New York is a no-fault state. Your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays your medical bills and lost wages up to $50,000 per person after a crash, regardless of who was at fault. You can only sue an at-fault driver for pain and suffering if your injury meets New York's serious-injury threshold, such as a bone fracture, significant disfigurement, or a disability lasting at least 90 days.
Does New York require an SR-22?
No. New York does not participate in the SR-22 program and does not issue SR-22 certificates. Instead, the DMV enforces financial responsibility directly by suspending registrations for coverage lapses and revoking licenses after uninsured crashes. If you move to a state that requires an SR-22, you must get that filing from an insurer licensed in that state - not from New York.
What happens if I drive without insurance in New York?
If your coverage lapses, the DMV can suspend your registration and license and charge a per-day civil penalty. If you are in a crash while uninsured, the DMV revokes your license and registration for at least one year, and the traffic-court fine can reach $1,500. To restore your license you must pay a $750 civil penalty plus a $100 re-application fee.
Is 25/50/10 enough coverage in New York?
It meets the legal minimum, but it is often not enough for a serious accident. Medical bills and vehicle damage can quickly exceed $25,000 in bodily injury or $10,000 in property damage, leaving you personally responsible for the rest. Many drivers choose 100/300/100 with matching Supplementary Uninsured Motorist limits for far stronger protection at a modest additional cost.
What is PIP coverage in New York?
PIP, or Personal Injury Protection, is New York's mandatory no-fault coverage. It pays up to $50,000 per person for medical expenses, lost earnings (up to $2,000 per month for up to three years), and certain other costs after a crash, regardless of fault. It covers you, your passengers, and pedestrians your vehicle injures in New York. Optional Basic Economic Loss can add another $25,000 on top.
Sources cited
- New York Department of Financial Services — captured Jul 2026
- Insurance Information Institute - Automobile Financial Responsibility Laws by State — captured Jul 2026
- New York State DMV - Insurance Requirements — captured Jul 2026
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners - auto insurance — captured Jul 2026
- New York Consolidated Laws, Insurance Law Section 3420 — captured Jul 2026
