Car insurance in New York (25/50/10)
- Minimum car insuranceNew York requires $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage, plus $50,000 of mandatory no-fault (PIP) coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is also required at the same 25/50 bodily injury minimums. Source
- Fault systemYour own no-fault coverage pays medical bills and lost wages up to $50,000 regardless of who caused the crash, and you can sue for pain and suffering only if you have a serious injury as defined in the Insurance Law. Source
Business insurance rules in New York
- Workers’ compensationVirtually all employers in New York must carry workers' compensation for their employees, and most employers must also carry disability and Paid Family Leave benefits coverage. Coverage can be bought from a private insurer or the New York State Insurance Fund, or an employer can be approved to self-insure; New York is not monopolistic. Source
- Contractor licensingNew York has no statewide general contractor license; licensing is handled locally. In New York City, for example, home improvement contractors are licensed by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and must join its Trust Fund or post a $20,000 surety bond, and show workers' compensation coverage or an exemption. Source
Home insurance in New York
- Home insurer of last resortCoastal areas of New York face hurricane and windstorm losses, and homeowners policies there can carry separate hurricane or wind deductibles. Flood is not covered by a standard homeowners policy. Source
Disasters, floods, hail, tornadoes and earthquakes in New York
| Measure | New York | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 44 | #10 (tied) of 51 | Most often for severe storm (23), flood (6), hurricane (5). Delaware County has been in 18 of them. |
| National Flood Insurance Program claims, 2005–2025 | 109,287 | #5 of 51 | $5.4 billion paid; 31% of claims with a known flood zone were outside FEMA’s high-risk zones. |
| Hail reports, 2016–2025 | 775 | #31 of 51 | 29 of them 2 inches or larger. Largest stone 3 inches, Broome County, June 2022. |
| Tornadoes, 2016–2025 | 110 | #29 of 51 | 8 rated EF2 or stronger; 536 recorded since 1950. |
| Earthquakes of magnitude 4.0+, 2000–2025 | 1 | #28 of 51 | Largest: magnitude 5.3, 8 km NNW of Au Sable Forks, New York, April 20, 2002. |
From the public FEMA, NOAA, Storm Prediction Center, USGS and FMCSA records behind each linked report; ranks count all 50 states and Washington, DC unless noted.
Look up the storm history of any county in New York.
The property risks that matter in New York
Long Island and New York City coastal areas carry hurricane and surge risk, and many homeowners policies there use hurricane deductibles.
Hurricane exposure shapes nearly every New York homeowners policy near the coast. Look for a separate hurricane or named-storm deductible, often a percentage of the dwelling limit rather than a flat dollar amount, and confirm whether wind is excluded and must be insured elsewhere.
Nor'easters bring coastal flooding, wind and heavy snow to New York. Wind damage is generally covered; storm-surge flooding needs flood insurance.
Standard homeowners and renters policies exclude flood. In New York, flood coverage comes from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood insurer, and NFIP policies generally carry a 30-day waiting period, so buy before storm season. Check your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Winter storms drive many New York claims: frozen and burst pipes, ice dams and roof collapse from snow load. Sudden pipe bursts are usually covered, but losses from failing to maintain heat in a vacant home may not be. Water backup coverage is a separate endorsement.
Worth knowing in New York
New York pairs a $50,000 no-fault auto system with a serious-injury threshold for lawsuits, and its employers must carry state disability and Paid Family Leave coverage on top of workers' compensation.
Before your next New York renewal
- Compare your auto liability limits with the New York minimum of 25/50/10 and with your actual assets.
- Find your hurricane or named-storm deductible in dollars and set aside that amount.
- Clear gutters and check for storm-surge flood exposure before winter.
- Check your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center and price an NFIP or private flood policy before storm season (NFIP usually has a 30-day wait).
- Add water backup coverage and keep heat on when the home is empty.
- Keep a current home inventory stored off-site.
New York’s insurance regulator
Insurance in New York is regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services, which handles consumer complaints and licenses insurers and agents.
Sam Alishahi holds a New York nonresident insurance producer license (#2003104, NPN 21022298) and places New York policies directly.
Common questions
What is the minimum car insurance in New York?
New York requires $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage, plus $50,000 of mandatory no-fault (PIP) coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is also required at the same 25/50 bodily injury minimums.
Is New York a no-fault state?
Your own no-fault coverage pays medical bills and lost wages up to $50,000 regardless of who caused the crash, and you can sue for pain and suffering only if you have a serious injury as defined in the Insurance Law.
Do employers in New York need workers’ comp?
Virtually all employers in New York must carry workers' compensation for their employees, and most employers must also carry disability and Paid Family Leave benefits coverage. Coverage can be bought from a private insurer or the New York State Insurance Fund, or an employer can be approved to self-insure; New York is not monopolistic.
What can a New York homeowner do if no insurer will write the house?
Coastal areas of New York face hurricane and windstorm losses, and homeowners policies there can carry separate hurricane or wind deductibles. Flood is not covered by a standard homeowners policy.
Does New York homeowners insurance cover hurricanes?
Wind damage from hurricanes is generally covered, often subject to a separate hurricane deductible. Storm-surge flooding requires flood insurance.
Do I need flood insurance in New York?
If you're in a high-risk flood zone with a federally backed mortgage, your lender will require it. Elsewhere it's optional but worth pricing, because homeowners policies exclude flood.
More answers: New York homeowners insurance guide New York renters insurance and security deposit guide New York small business insurance requirements New York life insurance consumer guide New York flood risk and NFIP guide New York City home and auto insurance guide Buffalo home and auto insurance guide Rochester home and auto insurance guide Guía de seguro de inquilinos y depósito de garantía en Nueva York Requisitos de seguro para pequeñas empresas en Nueva York Guía de seguro de vida para consumidores en Nueva York Guía de riesgo de inundación y NFIP en Nueva York Guía de seguro de hogar y auto en Nueva York
Sources
- New York: Minimum car insurance
- New York: Fault system
- New York: Workers’ compensation
- New York: Home insurer of last resort
- New York: Contractor licensing
- New York: insurance regulator
- NAIC: directory of state insurance departments
General information as of October 2026, not legal advice; confirm current rules with the agency.