Car insurance can be pretty pricey, but unfortunately, there’s no way to avoid it, especially if you live in New York. If you’re a driver in New York State, you’re required by law to have auto insurance coverage. The good news is, there are some things you can do to keep your insurance costs as low as possible. Some of them might surprise you! First, let’s see exactly how much insurance can cost you in New York, then look at some ways you can save some money.
What Is the Cost of Auto Insurance in New York?
New York is one of the priciest states for auto insurance, with drivers paying an average of $4,212 per year for their premiums.
At a minimum, your policy must provide you with:
$10,000 in property damage coverage per accident
$25,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for the death of a person involved in an accident
$50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for the death of two or more people involved in an accident
The Best Ways to Save on Auto Insurance in New York
1. Drive Responsibly
Out of all the things that impact the cost of car insurance, the way that you drive might just be one of the biggest. Safe and responsible drivers are less likely to get a traffic ticket, be involved in a car crash, or spend time in jail. They also have lower auto insurance rates! In fact, safe drivers can save anywhere from 10% to 30% on their car insurance premiums. Remember, this all depends on your insurance provider, so be sure to check what kind of good driver discounts they offer.
Here are some driving tips to keep your insurance spending in check:
Obey speed limits and traffic laws
Avoid using your phone while driving and other forms of distracted driving
Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Practice defensive driving
Often, just a small change in your driving habits can make a big difference.
2. Choose Your Vehicle Wisely
Driving a sports car, a luxury vehicle, or a large SUV certainly has its perks — but saving on your auto insurance isn’t one of them. Insurance companies set their prices based, in part, on the risk each covered person and vehicle presents.
Things like a car’s price, the cost to repair it, its overall safety record and the likelihood of theft are all just a few of the factors that affect your insurance premium cost. When sports cars and luxury vehicles are involved in a crash, they’re notoriously expensive to repair. They’re also more likely to be stolen and are expensive to replace. High-powered vehicles tend to encourage more aggressive driving, which can increase the chances of a crash. And large SUVs tend to cause more damage when they’re in a crash, which can also increase the insurance company’s liability.
According to insurance website Insuraviz.com, insuring a sports car on average costs $585 more per year than the average vehicle.
Bottom line, if you want to save money on your car insurance, choose a less-powerful and less-expensive vehicle.
3. Take a Defensive Driving Course
Did you know that completing a defensive driving course could also make you eligible for a pretty hefty car insurance discount? In New York, drivers who have taken an approved defensive driving course are eligible for a 10% discount on their car insurance for 3 years.
While taking a course like this used to mean taking time out of your busy schedule, driving to a classroom, and attending classes over a period of weeks, today, you can take IDriveSafely’s courses. The course is 100% online, which means you set the schedule. You decide when it’s time to study and when it’s time to take a break. Study from the convenience of your home, or if you’d like a change of pace, take your work to the library or coffee shop - we allow you to log back in and pick up right where you left off. Since IDriveSafely’s online courses can be done anywhere with a computer and internet access, you can get your 10% discount without the hassle.
How to Get Your Discount
If you’re ready to save money on your insurance premiums, start by checking with your insurance company to make sure you’re eligible. Then, sign up for our NY Defensive Driving Course and complete it within 30 days. Once you complete the course, you’ll receive a certificate of completion. Just submit it to your insurance company and you’ll automatically receive your 10% discount. It doesn’t get any easier than that!
Updated 11/2/22
