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The City That Never Sleeps
New York City is famous for many reasons; Broadway shows, the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center and the Metropolitan Opera are just a sampling of the world-class tourist attractions in the "city that never sleeps." New York also has something else that never sleeps: traffic. The city is packed with cars, trucks, buses, bicycles and pedestrian traffic. 10 AM? Jammed. 3 AM? Still jammed. It's a fact of life, just like the traffic accidents that are so common there.
Because navigating through New York City is so complicated and dangerous, many drivers who live there have a very difficult time obtaining adequate auto insurance. Even New Yorkers with spotless driving records often wind up selling their cars because it's prohibitively expensive to insure them; drivers with accidents on their records have even more difficulty with this. Finding the best auto insurance in New York City can seem like a daunting and frustrating task; however, understanding what to look for - and where to look for it - can remove a lot of the stress from this process.
First things first. New York State has many regulations that define the types of auto insurance that residents must carry. New York is a no-fault insurance state; this means that car and truck drivers must carry current auto insurance, even if they are not currently driving the insured vehicle. As long as that vehicle's registration is valid, there must also be an insurance policy in place. Motorcyclists, however, are exempt from this requirement. New York State's limits on automobile insurance are $25,000/$50,000 for injury, $50,000/$100,000 for death, and $10,000 for property damage caused in a single accident. Any policies that fall below these minimum guidelines are insufficient in New York State, and the bearer may be fined or have charges filed against them. Drivers who do not carry insurance, or whose insurance does not meet New York's guidelines, may also have their licenses suspended or revoked, particularly if they are in an accident while uninsured or underinsured. It is also important to note that all automobile liability coverage policies must be underwritten within New York State. Drivers who move to New York from out of state have 45 days to comply with this regulation before they risk fines and other penalties.
To begin, you'll need to know what auto insurance companies service New York City, and the types of coverage they provide. This is the easiest part of shopping for insurance, and can be done for free through a simple Internet search. It's also a good idea to ask neighbors, friends and family about their auto insurance carriers. Armed with a list of company names, it's time to do some background checks. The best place to begin is by visiting the website maintained by the New York State Department of Insurance. This site is not exclusive to New York City; however, it's a valuable clearinghouse of information that should not be ignored.
Perusing the information provided by the Department of Insurance reveals many valuable details about the insurance companies on your list. Look for poor performance reviews, allegations of illegal activity and other similar material. If any of the companies on your list have a poor standing with the Department of Insurance, eliminate them and move on.
Reviews and Finances
Next on the agenda are consumer reviews and financial disclosures. Consumer affairs websites are an asset here; read every review you can find, positive or negative. Does the company offer fair premiums and excellent, comprehensive coverage? How long do they take to respond to claims? Do they put their clients through unnecessary red tape after an accident? These are important questions; even the cheapest auto insurance policy isn't worthwhile if the underwriter refuses to honor its terms. It's also crucial to examine the financial status of each insurance company that's still on your list. Does the company have the cash to pay out all of its claims? Are they gaining customers or losing them and hemorrhaging money? Are they fiscally solvent, or likely to simply disappear into the night when their cash runs out?
Drivers without clean records usually find it more difficult to find a suitable insurance policy than those without many convictions, tickets or points on their licenses. If you have prior convictions that haven't yet been eliminated from your record, don't purchase any auto insurance policy until you've investigated the added fees and higher premiums that are often charged to drivers in your situation. No matter how solid an insurance firm appears, reserve your decision until you know how they treat drivers with less than perfect records.
Another crucial consideration for many auto insurance shoppers in New York City is the convenience of purchasing the policy, paying premiums and filing claims quickly and easily. Life in New York happens at breakneck speed, and few people can simply skip work to spend a day wrangling with insurance adjusters or salespeople. Thankfully, many reputable auto insurance companies allow clients to transact most of their business online. You'll be able to view your bill, any current claims, and the limits of your coverage right on your computer or smartphone. Most firms also allow their customers to increase or modify their coverage via the company website.