Insurance Requirements for Car Registration in New York

All registered vehicles in New York are required to carry minimum amounts of several types of automobile insurance, in order to legally operate a vehicle on the roads. The minimum amounts of coverage are as follows:

  • A minimum of $25,000 for injury, per person; this means that you’ll need to carry a total minimum of $50,000 for the lowest possible number of people involved in an accident (the two drivers).

  • A minimum of $50,000 for the death of one person, which means you’ll need to carry a total of $100,000 for the lowest possible number of people who could be killed in an accident (the two drivers).

  • A minimum $10,000 for property damage liability

  • A minimum of $50,000 for no-fault car insurance, which pays for your medical bills in the event of an accident, regardless of who was at fault.

  • A minimum of $25,000 per person in uninsured motorists’ coverage, which pays for injuries resulting from a car accident involving a driver who did not carry the proper insurance. This means that you’ll need a minimum of $50,000, to cover the lowest possible number of people affected by a car accident (the two drivers).

This means that the total minimum amount of financial responsibility you will need is $260,000 to cover injury, death, no-fault insurance, uninsured motorists’ coverage, and property damage liability.

  • New York law also allows for the purchase of Supplementary Uninsured or Underinsured Motorists’ Coverage, up to $250,000 per person, and $500,000 per accident.

Proof of insurance

When you register your vehicle with the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, you will need to present proof of insurance. The insurance card given to you by your insurance provider is the acceptable proof of insurance, and is also necessary for traffic stops, or to present to authorities at the scene of an accident.

This card is not used as a verification document, but rather is used as proof of insurance. In order to verify your insurance, the New York DMV will use an electronic database that is up-to-date on the insurance status of all registered vehicles in the state.

Violation penalties

Your car’s registration and driver’s license can be suspended indefinitely in the following situations:

  • If you do not have car insurance, and are caught driving on New York roadways

  • If your lapse in car insurance is more than 91 days and you did not surrender your plates during this time

A fee of $100 will have to paid in order to reinstate your driver’s license

Additional fines can be issued in the event that your car’s insurance has lapsed. These include:

  • $8 for the first 30 days

  • $10 per day for days 31 through 60

  • $12 per day for days 61 through 90

For more information, or to apply for vehicle registration online, contact the New York Department of Motor Vehicles through their website.


The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Need Help With Your Car?

Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair.

GET A QUOTE

Related articles

The Guide to Right-of-Way Laws in New York
Traffic Traffic signals and signs are not always sufficient to resolve conflicts in traffic. Just as an example, a green light does not mean you can turn left if another vehicle is traveling forward through an intersection. And in unmarked...
The Most and Least Expensive Cars to Insure
Car insurance quotes depend on the car make and model. The Honda Odyssey is the least expensive and the Dodge Viper is the most expensive to insure.
10 Things That Change Your Car Insurance Rates
Car insurance rates are determined by the type of car you own, your age, driving record, credit score, claims history, and even marital status.

Related questions

Advice on buying a car with hail damage
Realize that hail damage is just pieces of ice falling down on the car and denting the heck out of everything. It may look horrible but the actual hail itself doesn't damage the car. So as long as it runs...
What is "diminished value" as it refers to a totaled car?
Hi, thanks for writing in. The insurance company can use "diminished value" for a number of reasons. The overall condition of the vehicle not including the wreck, above average mileage, etc. I would ask them what criteria they are using...
My park 2003 Cadillac Escalade was hit on the front driver side knock a foot from where it was parked and back up on the center is.
Due to the collusion on the vehicle, the exhaust system was damaged and causing excessive air to get into the exhaust before the oxygen sensors. If the engine light was not on before the accident and now it is on,...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com