New York, being a no-fault state, is serious about car insurance. All vehicle owners, before they can register their vehicle, must purchase liability car insurance for New York. If you do not have car insurance for your vehicle, they will not issue you a license plate. The New York state minimum car insurance coverage is: $25,000 for bodily injury liability per person and $50,000 per accident; and $50,000 per person and for per accident for death, $100,000. For the uninsured motorist coverage the minimum requirement is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injury and $50,000 per person and $10,000 per accident for death. The minimum required coverage for property damage is $10,000 while the basic no-fault is $50,000.

All motorists should have their proof of car insurance at all times. In New York, you are required to have both the paper and electronic proof of insurance. These are your car insurance identification card and the electronic verification issued to you by your New York insurance provider. Also, you are required to purchase your car insurance from an insurance company which is licensed in the state of New York. In other words, you cannot use an out of state car insurance provider.

Once you have purchased your car insurance from a licensed New York insurance provider, the company will then notify the New York DMV the details about your insurance, such as when the policy will end. If your policy has lapsed, the DMV will notify you immediately. You will then be given enough time to respond to their notice and resolve the issue. In New York, if you cannot renew your car insurance or purchase a new policy, you need to surrender your license plate. If you fail to respond in time to the notice, the registration of your vehicle may be revoked and you may also lose your drivers license.

It is also illegal to drive an uninsured vehicle in New York. If you are caught driving without proof of financial responsibility, you will be ticketed and have to pay a stiff fine. Your car or the car you were driving in may also be impounded.