Photo: DanielPenfield, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Every car registered in New York must carry liability insurance of at least $25,000 / $50,000 for injury, $50,000 / $100,000 for death and $10,000 for property damage, plus no-fault and uninsured motorist coverage. After a crash, you must stop, and you must file a crash report (MV-104) with the DMV within 10 days if anyone is hurt or property damage reaches $1,000. This guide covers both duties for junior license holders, new drivers and parents, with the penalties for getting them wrong.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- Minimum liability: $25,000 injury to one person, $50,000 injury to two or more, $50,000 death of one person, $100,000 death of two or more, $10,000 property damage.
- No-fault (personal injury protection) pays up to $50,000 per person, whoever caused the crash. Uninsured motorist coverage is also required.
- The car must stay insured as long as it is registered, even if nobody drives it.
- Driving uninsured, or a crash without insurance, means license revocation for at least 1 year and a $750 civil penalty before you can relicense.
- Crash report to the DMV within 10 days for any injury or death, or $1,000 or more damage to one person’s property. Failing to report is a misdemeanor.
New York minimum car insurance
| Required coverage | Minimum | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 one person / $50,000 two or more | Injuries you cause to others |
| Death liability | $50,000 one person / $100,000 two or more | Deaths you cause |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 | Damage you cause to other people’s property |
| No-fault (personal injury protection) | Up to $50,000 per person | Medical costs and lost earnings after a crash, whoever was at fault |
| Uninsured motorist | Required | Your injuries when an uninsured or hit-and-run driver causes the crash |
The limits apply per incident. Collision and comprehensive cover for damage to your own car are not part of the legal minimum. Other states compared: minimum car insurance by state.
Proof of insurance and keeping it in force
- Two ID cards. Your insurer gives you two insurance identification cards. The names and vehicle identification number must match the registration. One goes with the registration application; keep the other in the car.
- Show it on request. After a crash, you must show your insurance card if asked.
- Don’t let it lapse while registered. Before canceling insurance, turn in the plates at a DMV office and keep the receipt (FS-6T).
- Answer DMV insurance letters. If the DMV writes to ask about your insurance, respond as the letter directs.
What an insurance lapse costs
| Length of lapse | Civil penalty per day |
|---|---|
| 1 to 30 days | $8 |
| 31 to 60 days | $10 |
| 61 to 90 days | $12 |
| More than 90 days | Driver license suspension, unless you turned in the plates |
A full 90-day lapse costs $900 in civil penalties. You cannot pay a civil penalty instead of a registration suspension if you already paid one in the last 36 months. Check the current amounts with the DMV.
At the crash scene: what New York law requires
- Stop. The level of damage does not matter. Leaving the scene of a property-damage crash is a traffic violation. Leaving the scene of a crash with injury or death is a crime.
- Call police immediately if anyone is injured or killed, and make sure an ambulance or rescue crew has been called.
- Swap information with the other drivers, even for property damage only: name, address, driver license number, vehicle registration, and insurance policy number and effective date. Give it to the police too.
- Parked car or other property? If you hit a parked vehicle, other property or a domestic animal, try to find the owner or notify the police.
- Make the scene safe. If you can, move the car off the road and use reflectors or flares, watching for leaking fuel.
The MV-104 crash report: when you must file
| The crash involved | Report to DMV? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| A death or personal injury | Yes | Within 10 days |
| $1,000 or more damage to the property of any one person | Yes | Within 10 days |
| Under $1,000 damage to each person’s property, no injuries | Not required | None |
- Use the Report of Motor Vehicle Crash (MV-104), from a DMV office, most insurance agents or the DMV website. You can also file online.
- Telling your insurance company does not count. You must report to the DMV as well.
- If the driver is too injured to file, a passenger or the vehicle owner may do it.
- Failing to report is a misdemeanor. It can lead to suspension or revocation of the license and registration, and the DMV suspends your license indefinitely until you file.
The general steps for any US crash are in what to do after a car crash.
New drivers and teen drivers: what to know
- The car must be insured. Whoever drives it, a registered car needs liability insurance at all times. Tell the insurer when a teen starts driving. See adding a teen driver to your car insurance.
- Tickets and crashes cost more when you are new. Insurers may raise premiums, and the DMV’s probation period rules apply to new licenses. See New York probation period and point system.
- Cut the premium legally. A DMV-approved Point and Insurance Reduction Program course gives at least a 10% reduction in the base rate of liability and collision premiums for three years. It can also take up to 4 points off your record.
- Insurer points are different. Insurance companies can have their own point systems, separate from the DMV’s.
Common questions
Is New York a no-fault state?
Yes. Your own policy’s no-fault coverage pays up to $50,000 per person for medical costs and lost earnings after a crash, whoever caused it.
Do I have to report a minor crash in New York?
Only if someone is hurt or killed, or damage to any one person’s property is $1,000 or more. Repairs often pass $1,000, so get an estimate before deciding not to file.
Does the police report replace the MV-104?
No. The manual says you must file your own report with the DMV within 10 days. Reporting to your insurer does not cover it either.
What if I let my insurance lapse but don’t drive the car?
You still face civil penalties or registration suspension unless you turned in the plates first. After 90 uninsured days, the DMV also suspends your license.
Can I drive in New York with out-of-state insurance?
Anyone driving in New York, including non-residents, must be able to prove acceptable liability insurance. See the minimums above.
What happens if I am caught driving without insurance?
Your license is revoked for at least 1 year, and you must pay a $750 civil penalty before applying again. The same applies if the DMV learns you had a crash while uninsured.
Back to the complete New York learner guide.
Sources
- New York State DMV, “Driver’s Manual”, chapters on driver licenses, keeping your license, registration and insurance, and if you are in a traffic crash (dmv.ny.gov)
- New York State DMV, “Insurance Lapses” and “Pay an Insurance Lapse Civil Penalty” (dmv.ny.gov)
- New York State DMV, “Insurance requirements” (dmv.ny.gov)
- New York State Department of Financial Services, “No-Fault Insurance” (dfs.ny.gov)