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State minimums

New York Auto Insurance Minimums — What the Law Requires and Why It's Often Inadequate

New York combines no-fault PIP with mandatory BI liability and UM. Here is the layered minimum.

By PickRV·Cited primary sources·Updated May 18, 2026

TL;DR

New York's minimum auto liability is 25/50/10 plus a $50,000 PIP (no-fault) requirement and mandatory UM at 25/50. The PIP system is among the most generous in the US; the BI liability minimums are modest. UM is mandatory by statute, not optional. New York has well-developed bad-faith case law against insurers.

What this covers

New York mandatory minimum bodily injury liability per person.

New York mandatory minimum bodily injury liability per accident.

New York mandatory minimum property damage liability.

New York additional mandatory coverages (PIP, UM, MedPay where applicable).

New York penalty schedule for driving without insurance.

What it does NOT cover

Coverage adequate for serious accidents (state minimums are legal floors, not financial protection).

Damages above the per-person or per-accident limits.

Vehicles the policy does not extend to (motorhomes commonly excluded).

Optional coverages not mandated (collision, comprehensive, umbrella).

Real-world examples

Anonymized composite scenarios illustrating typical outcomes.

New York PIP + UM stack paid $135K injury claim

A New York renter rear-ended at a stoplight had $135,000 in injuries. The renter's PIP ($50K mandatory + $100K OBEL endorsement) and UM ($100K) stacked to pay $135,000 — covering the full damage without third-party litigation.

Outcome: Total recovery: $135K via PIP + UM. No litigation needed. NY's layered no-fault + UM system is one of the most consumer-protective in the US when limits are properly stacked.

Cost ranges

Industry-typical pricing from published carrier and industry sources. Actual quotes vary by state, vehicle, and driver history.

New York state-minimum premium$1,200-$3,000/year

Higher than US average; urban density and litigation environment.

PIP buy-up (OBEL)+$40-$200/year

Optional Basic Economic Loss buy-up common.

What insurance companies don't say

Industry insider knowledge surfaced for educational transparency.

New York No-Fault is PIP-based

Like Florida, New York is a no-fault state. PIP pays your medical and lost wages first; suing the at-fault party requires meeting the 'serious injury' threshold.

UM is mandatory in New York

Unlike most states, New York mandates UM coverage. The mandatory minimum is 25/50; buy-up to higher limits is common and strongly recommended.

New York has bad-faith protections

New York case law allows extra-contractual damages against carriers who deny, delay, or underpay claims unreasonably. Bad-faith damages can dramatically exceed the underlying claim amount.

State variations

NYNew York

New York minimum: 25/50/10 BI/PD + $50,000 PIP + 25/50 UM (mandatory). Source: New York Department of Financial Services.

FAQ

What are New York's minimums?

25/50/10 BI/PD + $50K PIP + 25/50 UM per NY DFS.

Is New York a no-fault state?

Yes — PIP-based no-fault system. Pain-and-suffering recovery requires meeting verbal threshold.

Is UM mandatory?

Yes — UM is mandatory in New York at 25/50 minimum.

What is PIP buy-up?

Optional Basic Economic Loss (OBEL) endorsement raises PIP from $50K to higher limits. Strongly recommended given urban accident costs.

Are bad-faith claims pursuable in New York?

Yes — New York has developed case law on bad-faith insurance practices.

When to consult a broker

Talk to a broker before any vehicle insurance purchase in New York. State minimums are the legal floor; meaningful financial protection typically requires 100/300/100 limits plus a personal umbrella. The increase is usually modest in premium relative to the protection delta.

Sources

[1]New York Department of Financial Services — New York state insurance regulator
[2]III — Auto Insurance Basics — Auto insurance basics
[3]NAIC — Auto Insurance Buyer's Guide — Auto insurance coverage explained
[4]NAIC — Consumer Insurance Search — Consumer regulator + complaint portal
[5]III — Facts + Statistics — RV / recreational vehicle industry stats

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