Q: I just moved to Long Island from New Hampshire and am thinking about buying a car.
Is Long Island automobile insurance required? If so what is the minimum amount of coverage I need to buy.
Thank you.
A: The short answer is yes you do need to insure any car you are planning on driving in New York.
There are no specific regulations regarding Long Island automobile insurance.
The type of coverage that is required in NY is often referred to as No Fault.
No fault insurance means that: *Regardless of who caused the accident the insurance company will be required to pay medical bills of up to $50,000 dollars.
*This coverage extends to any passengers you may have had in the car at the time of the accident.
*The no fault coverage also protects any pedestrian that may have been injured in an accident.
New Your also requires $10,000 dollars in collision damage and $25,000 dollars in property damage.
For more information please visit the NY Department of Insurance website.
Included on the web site is a tool that will allow you to purchase Long Island automobile insurance.
Be sure to purchase this coverage before driving in NY as driving without insurance can result in heavy fines and possible loss of license.
Lastly, we highly recommend shopping for auto insurance coverage online.
Comparing quotes from several different providers will ensure that you receive the best possible coverage at the lowest price.
While it may sound like common sense to compare multiple rates from different providers, you would be surprised at how many drivers fail to do so.
Good luck with your car insurance search!