To legally register and drive a vehicle in New York State, you must maintain continuous New York State-issued automobile liability insurance coverage. Failure to uphold this mandatory insurance can lead to serious repercussions, including the suspension of your vehicle registration and driver’s license by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
It’s important to note that the DMV does not offer specific details regarding insurance rates or premiums. For information on these aspects, it is recommended to directly contact insurance agents, brokers, or insurance companies operating in New York State. For comprehensive information concerning insurance premiums and the regulatory framework of the insurance industry in New York, you can refer to the New York State Department of Financial Services.
Minimum Liability Coverage Requirements
For most vehicle types in New York, the minimum required liability insurance coverage is defined as follows:
- Property Damage: At least $10,000 coverage for property damage resulting from a single accident.
- Bodily Injury/Death (One Person): $25,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for death for a single person involved in an accident.
- Bodily Injury/Death (Two or More People): $50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for death when two or more individuals are injured or deceased in an accident.
It is crucial to understand the stipulations of your New York State liability insurance coverage:
- Continuous Coverage: Your insurance coverage must remain active and in effect throughout the entire period of your vehicle registration’s validity. This requirement applies even if the vehicle is not in regular use.
- New York State Specific: The insurance policy must be a New York State insurance coverage, specifically issued by an insurance company that is licensed by the New York State Department of Financial Services and officially certified by the New York State DMV. The NYS DMV explicitly does not recognize or accept out-of-state insurance policies for vehicle registration purposes.
- Registrant’s Name: The insurance policy must be issued under the exact name of the vehicle registrant and must consistently remain in that name. The name displayed on your vehicle’s insurance documentation and registration must always be identical. Discrepancies between the names on your insurance and registration can result in the DMV suspending both your driver’s license and vehicle registration.
- Proof of Insurance: When operating your vehicle, you are required to carry your paper New York State Insurance ID Card as proof of coverage, or have the capability to produce your electronic Insurance ID card upon request.
Motorcycle Insurance Requirements in New York
Motorcycles in New York State have specific insurance regulations. Insurance coverage is mandatory whenever a motorcycle is operated on any public road or highway within the state. Unlike registrations for most other vehicle types, motorcycle registrations in New York are valid for one year and uniformly expire on April 30th.
Notably, if you decide to terminate your motorcycle liability insurance, you are not obligated to surrender your license plate to the DMV. This provision is designed to simplify the process of reinstating your motorcycle for road use after periods of storage, such as during winter. However, it is absolutely imperative to remember that operating a motorcycle on public highways without active liability insurance coverage at all times is strictly prohibited under all circumstances.
