Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Rochester, NY (2024)

In Rochester, New York, Kemper offers the cheapest minimum and full coverage auto insurance, while State Farm is best for families with teens. Chubb shines for stellar customer service and is the best overall, blending both price and service. Your ideal choice may vary based on coverage needs and preferences.

Kemper offers the cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Rochester. With the right coverage, residents can save significantly on their yearly expenses.

• Kemper: $352 per year
• Progressive: $400 per year

Hanover has the most expensive minimum coverage policy in Rochester, with an annual premium of $1,446. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive highlights why it is important for consumers to compare car insurance rates before purchasing a policy.

State Minimum Liability Requirements

In New York, every city, from Buffalo to Rochester, adheres to state laws stipulating the basic required car insurance coverage amounts. Here's what your minimum coverage will look like:

• Bodily Injury per person: $25,000
  
• Bodily Injury per accident: $50,000
  
• Property Damage Liability per accident: $10,000
  
• Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury per person: $25,000
  
• Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury per accident: $50,000
  
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) per person: $50,000
  
• Death Liability per person: $50,000
  
• Death Liability per accident: $100,000
  

For example, with a minimum policy, if you're liable for an injury to another person in an accident, your insurer will cover up to $25,000 for that individual. However, if their medical bills exceed this amount, the balance will have to be paid out of your pocket. Similarly, if multiple people are injured, your insurer would cover up to $50,000 for all injuries per accident, with any excess being your responsibility.

Kemper offers the most affordable option for cheapest full coverage car insurance in Rochester.

• Kemper: $610 per year
• Progressive: $656 per year

Hanover has the most expensive policy at $2,463 annually; the difference shows the importance of shopping around. Full coverage car insurance can be more costly than minimum coverage due to its comprehensive and collision protection.

Do You Need Full Coverage in New York?

A full coverage policy includes coverage for damage to your own vehicle in the form of comprehensive and collision coverages. It usually also includes increased liability limits.

• Collision Insurance: This provides coverage for your vehicle in the event of a collision, whether with another vehicle or a stationary object like a tree or light pole. It also covers rollover accidents and pothole damage.

• Comprehensive Insurance: This coverage insures your vehicle against various types of damage not caused by collisions, including theft, vandalism, fires, natural disasters and being struck by an animal like a deer.

If you have a new vehicle, it's wise to opt for full coverage insurance for more robust financial protection. If you're leasing or have a car loan, you are typically required to carry full coverage insurance.

On the other hand, owners of older vehicles may find that the extra cost — which can amount to several hundred dollars more per year — is not justified by the value of the vehicle. When deciding how much car insurance coverage you need, consider your ideal balance: more extensive coverage comes with higher premiums, but getting less coverage means you may pay more out of pocket if you need to file a claim.

MoneyGeek found that Progressive is the most affordable option in Rochester for drivers with a poor driving record looking for full coverage policy, although the specific rates can vary based on the infraction:

• Speeding Ticket: Progressive ($830 per year)
• At-fault accident: Progressive ($656 per year)
• DUI: Progressive ($686 per year)

The disparity in rates between the most economical and the priciest after a speeding ticket compared with a DUI can be substantial, underlining how the nature and gravity of the offense can significantly alter car insurance premiums.

In cities like Rochester, your car insurance rates can significantly increase with more severe driving offenses due to the higher risk insurers associate with your driving behavior. This difference underscores the necessity for drivers with offenses to diligently compare insurance rates because doing so could lead to substantial savings.

Kemper is the cheapest option in Rochester for providing full coverage car insurance for both male and female teens.

• Kemper: $810 per year for female teens and $838 per year for male teens
• GEICO: $1,089 per year for female teens and $1,447 per year for male teens

These rates indicate the cost to cover a combination of two parents and a teen driver, showcasing significant savings available from the most affordable providers. The most expensive teen family policy in Rochester comes from State Farm, with an annual premium of $3,791 for female teens. This substantial variance highlights the importance of comparing rates, especially for teen drivers who are often considered higher risk and can attract higher premiums.

In Rochester and comparable cities, the financial divide in car insurance premiums for teens is stark. On average, an individual teen policy costs $4,572 annually, almost double the $2,481 added to a family plan. Insurers charge more for individual teen policies due to the heightened risk associated with inexperienced drivers.

Additionally, teens often face hurdles getting approved for individual policies, as underwriters weigh the lack of driving history heavily. Consequently, joining a family policy not only eases approval but also significantly cuts costs.

Kemper offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance for military backgrounds in Rochester.

• Kemper: $610 per year
• Progressive: $656 per year

Although USAA is not the cheapest, with an annual premium of $1,007, it ranks fourth in cost-competitiveness and is known for its tailored services for active duty military members.

In Rochester, comparing car insurance rates is a key strategy for cost savings. However, the process is often cumbersome, potentially requiring over an hour to examine rates from three or more companies.

MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator can help you streamline this process. By inputting details like age, driving history, credit score and preferred coverage, you can instantly receive rate estimates.

Choosing the right auto insurance for you hinges on your priority for service quality, cost, coverage options and other factors. MoneyGeek's unique scoring system ranks providers in Rochester based on these preferences, reflecting a tailored approach to finding the best car insurance.

• Best overall: Chubb (MoneyGeek score 85 out of 100)
• Best for service: Chubb (MoneyGeek score 91 out of 100)
• Best cheap: Chubb (MoneyGeek score 85 out of 100)

Chubb emerges as the frontrunner in Rochester's insurance market, earning top scores across all categories. With such consistent results, Chubb stands out as the best in the city for overall value, service excellence, and budget-friendly options.

Chubb offers the best option in Rochester for those seeking high-quality car insurance. Here's how the top two providers stack up:

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100 ($1,606 per year)
• Erie: MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100 ($1,035 per year)

Chubb distinguishes itself with its exceptional MoneyGeek score, indicative of a well-rounded full coverage policy. The insurer's highest scoring factors are customer satisfaction and claims handling. These elements combine to solidify its position as the premier choice for car insurance in Rochester.

Chubb is the best option for customer service in car insurance in Rochester. This ranking is based on general satisfaction, claims handling and coverages, without taking into account rates.

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 91 out of 100 ($1,606 per year)
• Erie: MoneyGeek score of 79 out of 100 ($1,035 per year)

Chubb stands out in the Rochester car insurance market primarily because of its superior scores in general satisfaction and claims handling. Customers recognize Chubb for its dependable and efficient customer service.

Chubb provides the best cheap car insurance in Rochester. Not only is its score the highest in terms of affordability, but it also provides exceptional service, evidenced by its superior claims handling and customer satisfaction.

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100 ($795 per year)
• Erie: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100 ($583 per year)

Chubb distinguishes itself with a balance of a competitive annual premium and the highest MoneyGeek score among cheap car insurance options in Rochester for a minimum coverage policy. Factors contributing to Chubb's top position include its top-tier satisfaction and stability scores, underscoring its reliability and customer-first approach.

In Rochester, New York, the average cost of car insurance stands at $1,288 annually. This figure is significantly less than the statewide average car insurance cost in New York, which is $2,176. The New York state average car insurance cost is $394 higher than the national average of $1,781.

Location plays a crucial role in determining car insurance rates because factors such as traffic density, accident frequency, and theft rates vary by area. Cities with higher traffic congestion and greater risk of accidents tend to have higher insurance premiums.

New York City has the most expensive average premium at $3,013, while Rochester offers the state's cheapest average premium at $1,177. This substantial difference highlights how urban areas generally face higher premiums, but in less congested, non-city areas, rates may be even more favorable.