Jul
Driving in New York City is a unique challenge, and there is much to know about how to get the best automobile insurance in New York city. First of all, you need to know that New York is a no-fault state when it comes to vehicle liability.
One of most important things you have to know about getting automobile insurance in New York City is that you do in fact have to get it. Driving without proof of insurance is against the law in the entire state of New York. You cannot even register a car in New York if you cannot provide proof of automobile insurance.
Not just any insurance counts, either. As a New Yorker, to be legal you have to be insured by an insurance provider that is licensed by the state of New York’s own insurance department. If you move to New York from another state, you are going to have to transfer your insurance to a locally licensed provider before you can register your car in New York.
Before you got to the department of motor vehicles (DMV) in New York to get a license tag for your car, you are going to have to prove to the state that you have automobile insurance. The state of New York takes vehicle insurance seriously, and there is not way to register a vehicle without proof insurance.
You are going to have to have paper proof of insurance, in the form of an official, insurer-issued insurance card. In addition to requiring the person registering the vehicle to present his or her insurance card in order to register a car, the state also requires electronic proof of insurance. This electronic proof of insurance is filed directly with the department of motor vehicles by the insurance company that underwrites the policy.
New York licensed insurance providers automatically provide the department of motor vehicles with electronic notification every time a new policy is underwritten. As the person trying to register the vehicle, you don’t have to worry about providing electronic proof. It will already be on file with the DMV.
Additionally, insurers are required to electronically notify the DMV whenever a policy lapses. Therefore, even though you had to show proof of insurance when you register your vehicle, DMV will be notified if your insurance coverage lapses.
If you allow your insurance policy to lapse, your vehicle registration will be suspended. Those New Yorkers who let their policies lapse can be hit with stiff penalties and fines. Unresolved insurance issues can cause drivers to lose their driving privileges and car registration.
When shopping for automobile insurance in New York, it will be necessary to purchase a policy that complies with, at a minimum, the state’s minimum requirement for liability coverage.
New York requires drivers to carry bodily injury, property damage, uninsured motorist, and no-fault coverage. While there are minimum amounts required for each type of coverage, it is generally in the vehicle owner’s best interest to select higher liability coverage limits.
Getting automobile insurance in Manhattan can be quite expensive. The most basic coverage in the city that never sleeps generally costs about $1,600 per year. When searching for automobile insurance coverage in New York, it is important to compare prices from several different companies so that you can be sure you are getting the value in coverage.