New York insurance for new drivers

Coverage requirements

• Bodily injury liability: at least $25,000 for one injured person in one crash.

  Applies to: Ordinary registered passenger vehicles. Coverage must stay active while registration is valid, even when the car is unused.

  Source 1Source 2

• Bodily injury liability: at least $50,000 total for two or more injured people in one crash, subject to the one person limit.

  Applies to: Ordinary registered passenger vehicles. Coverage must stay active while registration is valid, even when the car is unused.

  Source 1Source 2

• Death liability: at least $50,000 for the death of one person in one crash.

  Applies to: Ordinary registered passenger vehicles. Coverage must stay active while registration is valid, even when the car is unused.

  Source 1Source 2

• Death liability: at least $100,000 total for the deaths of two or more people in one crash, subject to the one person limit.

  Applies to: Ordinary registered passenger vehicles. Coverage must stay active while registration is valid, even when the car is unused.

  Source 1Source 2

• Property damage liability: at least $10,000 for other people's property in one crash.

  Applies to: Ordinary registered passenger vehicles. Coverage must stay active while registration is valid, even when the car is unused.

  Source 1Source 2

• Basic no fault coverage, also called PIP, provides up to $50,000 per person for covered economic losses from injuries, regardless of fault. It does not repair your car.

  Applies to: Covered people and losses under New York no fault law; benefit categories and exclusions apply.

  Source 3Source 4Source 5

• Required uninsured motorist protection applies to covered injuries from uninsured vehicles and qualifying hit and run crashes in New York. Injury limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 total; death limits are $50,000 per person and $100,000 total.

  Applies to: Required in state protection under section 3420(f)(1). Additional supplementary protection has different terms.

  Source 6

• The law also recognizes a financial security bond, a financial security deposit or qualification as a self insurer. These require their own statutory procedures.

  Applies to: Alternatives in section 311(3), not an exemption from financial security. Confirm eligibility with DMV.

  Source 19

What can happen when you drive uninsured

• Driving your uninsured vehicle, allowing someone else to drive it, or evidence of an uninsured crash can lead to revocation for at least one year.

  Applies to: The uninsured driving and crash situations described by DMV.

  Source 7

• An uninsured operation conviction can carry a $150 to $1,500 fine, up to 15 days in jail, or both, plus a separate civil penalty.

  Applies to: Owners permitting uninsured operation and operators covered by section 319(1).

  Source 8

What to do after a crash

1. Stop and exchange your name, address, driver license number, registration and insurance information, including the policy number and effective date. Show your insurance card if requested.

   Applies to: All crashes, including property damage only.

   Source 9

2. If anyone is injured or killed, notify police immediately and make sure ambulance or rescue help has been called. If a parked vehicle or other property is damaged, try to find the owner or notify police.

   Applies to: If anyone is injured or killed.

   Source 9

3. File a report with DMV within 10 days when anyone is injured or killed, or damage to any one person's property exceeds $1,000.

   Applies to: Ordinary drivers under section 605. The statute says more than $1,000; this lesson follows that threshold.

   Source 10

Talk through the family policy

• Before supervised practice, tell the insurer that your teen has a permit. Ask who is covered, whether the teen must be listed, and whether any driver is excluded. Check again when the teen becomes licensed. Ask for the answer in writing.

  Applies to: Family planning checklist, not a universal enrollment deadline. Policy terms vary.

  Source 12

• Read the family policy together. Confirm the drivers, vehicles, uses, limits and exclusions. A permit and a driver license are different stages; do not assume the policy treats them the same.

  Applies to: Questions to ask your insurer about your own contract.

  Source 12

• DFS says most insurers consider a household member with a learner permit an insured operator when pricing a policy. Tell the insurer about the permit and check again at licensing.

  Applies to: New York household policy review; confirm the actual policy treatment.

  Source 18

Questions about cost factors

• Ask whether good student status or completed driver education affects your policy, what proof is needed and when eligibility ends. These are questions to check, not a promise of a discount or savings.

  Applies to: General planning questions. The cited New York consumer guide describes examples, not a benefit required in every state.

  Source 16

• Keep a clean driving record and ask how tickets and crashes affect your policy. A clean record does not promise a particular price.

  Applies to: General planning guidance; the insurer and policy determine the result.

  Source 17

Five terms to know

Premium

The amount you pay for an insurance policy. Source 13

Deductible

The part of a covered loss you must pay yourself when that coverage has a deductible. Source 13

Liability

Responsibility for harm to other people or their property. Liability coverage helps pay covered losses you cause. Source 14

At fault

Responsible for causing a crash. Responsibility can be shared. Source 15

Coverage

The protection a policy provides, subject to its limits and exclusions. Source 12

Check your understanding

Official sources

Each rule above links to its evidence below. Check the agency source for the full rule and exceptions.

1. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law: liability limits

   Section 311(4)(a). Reviewed 2026-11-03.

2. New York DMV: insurance requirements

   Liability Coverage. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

3. New York Insurance Law: basic economic loss

   Section 5102(a). Reviewed 2026-11-03.

4. New York Insurance Law: first party benefits

   Section 5103(a). Reviewed 2026-11-03.

5. New York DFS: required coverage

   No-Fault Benefits. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

6. New York Insurance Law: uninsured motorists

   Section 3420(f)(1). Reviewed 2026-11-03.

7. New York Driver Manual: uninsured driving

   Chapter 3, Resident and Non-Resident Responsibility. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

8. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law: penalties

   Section 319(1). Reviewed 2026-11-03.

9. New York Driver Manual: crash scene

   Chapter 12, At the Scene. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

10. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law: crash report

    Section 605(a)(1). Reviewed 2026-11-03.

11. New York Driver Manual: coverage limits

    Chapter 3, Resident and Non-Resident Responsibility. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

12. California Department of Insurance: policy basics

    Your Auto Policy and Compare Policies. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

13. California Department of Insurance: insurance terms

    Auto Insurance Costs. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

14. California Department of Insurance: liability

    Liability Coverage. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

15. California Department of Insurance: glossary

    Comparative negligence. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

16. New York Department of Financial Services: policy questions

    Discounts and driver training. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

17. New York Department of Financial Services: driving record

    Driving Record. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

18. New York DFS: household permit holders

    Age and policy classification. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

19. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law: financial security

    Section 311(3). Reviewed 2026-11-03.