Minimum car insurance in New York.
What New York requires, in plain words, and why the minimum may not be enough.
The minimum limits
In New York, the minimum liability limits are written 25/50/10 (in thousands): $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injury to everyone in one accident, and $10,000 for property damage.
How the system works
New York uses a no-fault style system, so your own policy pays part of your medical costs after a crash whoever caused it. The exact rules differ from the at-fault system used in most states.
No-fault. PIP $50,000 and UM required. BI limits are 50/100 when the injury results in death.
What the minimum means in practice
Say a crash you cause injures three people. The New York minimum pays at most $25,000 to any one of them and $50,000 in total, shared between all three. Any medical bills above that could become your responsibility. Property damage stops at $10,000.
If you drive without insurance in New York
The traffic fine can be as much as $1,500 for driving without insurance or letting someone drive an uninsured vehicle you own, and a $750 civil penalty is required to get a license back after revocation. Registration is suspended for as many days as the vehicle was uninsured, and the license is also suspended if that exceeds 90 days, with a $50 termination fee to reinstate.
Proof of insurance
The insurer must file coverage electronically with the DMV, and an insurance ID card alone does not prove coverage; paper or electronic ID cards are accepted and should be kept in the vehicle.
Also worth knowing in New York
For lapses of 90 days or less, owners can pay a civil penalty of $8 per day (days 1 to 30), $10 per day (31 to 60) or $12 per day (61 to 90), unless one was paid in the previous 36 months.
Your state regulator
New York State Department of Financial Services is the official place for consumer questions and complaints about insurers.
Sources we checked (October 2026)
Requirements change. We checked the pages below. Confirm with your state insurance department or an agent.
Questions
Is New York a no-fault state?
New York uses a no-fault style system for medical costs, with its own rules.