A motor vehicle registered in NYS must have liability insurance. Insurance
coverage must be a minimum of $25,000/50,000 for injury, $50,000/100,000
for death, and $10,000 for property damage caused by any one accident.
New York State is a no-fault state. The liability coverage must
remain in effect while the registration is valid, even if the vehicle
is not used (except motorcycles).
- The liability coverage must be NYS insurance coverage,
issued by a company authorized to do business in NYS and licensed
by the NYS Insurance Department. Out-of-state insurance coverage
of any type is NEVER acceptable or valid. If your vehicle
is registered in NYS, the liability insurance coverage must
be NYS insurance coverage.
- Liability coverage must be issued in the name of
the registrant and must remain in the name of the
registrant at all times. A change on the insurance to a name different
from the registrant causes a lapse in insurance coverage, and the
driver license of the registrant and the registration is suspended.
- You must show a NYS Insurance Identification Card when you apply
for a vehicle registration. Your insurance company, agent or broker
must issue two original NYS Insurance Identification Cards
to you. The Insurance Identification Cards must
have the same name as the registration application and must have a
barcode.
- The insurance company must also file an electronic notice
of insurance coverage with the DMV to verify the liability coverage.
(The agent or broker cannot file this notice.) Your Insurance
Identification Card and the electronic notice of
insurance coverage together verify your insurance
coverage. An Insurance Identification Card only does not
prove liability coverage.
- An Insurance Identification Card must be presented within
45 days of the effective date of the insurance coverage.
Bring the cards to the DMV office when you apply for the registration.
The DMV office will keep one card. Keep the other card with
the vehicle. If a police officer requests your proof of insurance,
you must show your Insurance Identification Card.
- The DMV does not accept any out-of-state insurance documents.
I moved to another state, but my vehicle is registered in NYS. Do
I need to change to out-of-state insurance?
No. All vehicles registered in NYS must have NYS liability
coverage. There are no exceptions. If you replace your
NYS insurance coverage with out-of-state insurance, a lapse in valid
insurance coverage occurs. The NYSDMV suspends your registration, and
the NYSDMV can suspend your driver license. The NYSDMV must take actions
against your NYS registration and driver license even if you move outside
of NYS. This action can affect your ability to hold a valid driver license
in your new state. If you register your vehicle in another state, immediately
surrender
your NYS vehicle plates to the NYSDMV by mail.
What can occur if I cancel my liability insurance?
The insurance company must notify the DMV if you cancel your liability
insurance. Your insurance company is also required to notify DMV if
your insurance coverage is reinstated or you get new insurance coverage.
If the insurance company does not file an electronic notice about your
new or reinstated liability insurance, the DMV sends you a letter about
your insurance. Read the insert mailed with the letter, and follow the
instructions in the letter. You are given 10 days from the date of the
DMV letter to prove that you have insurance coverage, prove that you
sold the vehicle, or show other proof that insurance coverage was not
required in NYS. If you do have insurance coverage, also ask your insurance
company (do not ask your agent or broker) to file an electronic notice
of insurance coverage with the DMV.
If you do not have liability insurance, you must surrender
your vehicle plates to the NYSDMV immediately. Make sure you get
a receipt. You must respond to the letter you receive from the DMV or
surrender your license plates to prevent the suspension of your registration
and driver license. If your liability insurance is about to lapse and
you do not plan to replace it with other insurance, surrender your vehicle
plates to the DMV before your insurance coverage lapses.
What are some of the conditions that can create a lapse in insurance
coverage?
Any amount of time that your vehicle is registered but not insured
can cause a lapse in your insurance coverage and the suspension or revocation
of your registration. A lapse in insurance coverage can occur:
- between the date your insurance is cancelled and the effective date
of your new insurance;
- between the date your insurance is cancelled and the date you surrender
your license plates or the date your registration expires;
- between the date your insurance is cancelled and the effective date
of "other proof" (for example, a vehicle registered in another
state, or a vehicle repossessed or impounded);
- between the date you register your vehicle and the effective date
of your new insurance coverage;
- between the date the insurance is cancelled and the date the same
insurance company reinstates your insurance coverage.
If the lapse in the insurance coverage exceeds 90 days, your
driver license is also suspended.