Best cheap car insurance in Brooklyn for 2023

city street in Brooklyn, New York
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Drivers in Brooklyn pay some of the highest average premiums in the country. The average price of car insurance in Brooklyn for full coverage is $5,171 per year, or $431 monthly, while minimum coverage averages $2,332 per year. With these average costs, drivers in Brooklyn may be looking for as many ways to save on their premiums as possible. Bankrate reviewed several carriers to see which ones offer the most affordable rates for drivers in Brooklyn. We found Geico, USAA and State Farm stand out among the numerous carriers we analyzed.

Best car insurance companies in Brooklyn

Geico, USAA and State Farm offer some of the cheapest auto insurance rates in Brooklyn, according to the data Bankrate reviewed provided by Quadrant Information Services. Using these rates and additional factors like customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power, coverage options and available discounts, we assigned each carrier a Bankrate Score out of 5 points. This comprehensive Score may give you a broad overview of each carrier’s ability to meet your insurance needs.

Insurance company

Bankrate Score

J.D. Power score (New York region)

Average annual premium for full coverage

Average annual premium for minimum coverage

Geico

4.4

829/1,000

$2,273

$860

USAA

4.3

891/1,000*

$2,982

$1,281

State Farm

4.2

831/1,000

$3,070

$1,653

*Not eligible for official ranking with J.D. Power due to eligibility requirements.

Geico

Geico might appeal to drivers with a few marks on their record, as the carrier typically offers low average rates for high-risk drivers. Geico is one of our 2023 Bankrate Award winners for Best Auto Insurance Company Overall. Although Geico doesn’t have as many endorsement options as some of its competitors, its low average rates in Brooklyn and long list of potential discounts may appeal to drivers looking to save on their premiums.

Learn more: Geico Insurance review

Pros

Cons

High financial strength rating from AM Best

Limited policy add-on features

Numerous discounts available

Does not offer gap insurance

USAA

USAA offers policy options for current military members, veterans and their immediate family. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you will find USAA offers policy coverage options and discounts specifically geared towards military families, although the number of endorsements available may be more limited compared to other carriers. USAA consistently ranks highly with J.D. Power for customer satisfaction, including the highest score in the New York region of the 2022 J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study. However, it should be noted the company is not officially eligible for ranking with J.D. Power due to its eligibility requirements.

Learn more: USAA Insurance review

Pros

Cons

Consistently high customer service ratings from J.D. Power

Must meet membership requirements

Numerous discounts available

No local agents available for in-person policy management

State Farm

State Farm is the largest car insurance company by market share in the U.S. The carrier is our 2023 Bankrate Award winner for Best Auto Insurance Company for High-Risk Drivers, but its options for policy customization and local agent availability may appeal to a wide range of drivers. Potential endorsements include roadside assistance, rideshare coverage and rental car reimbursement. The carrier holds a financial strength rating of A++ (Superior) from AM Best, but coverage is not available in Massachusetts or Rhode Island, which may be an issue for East Coast drivers who move around frequently.

Learn more: State Farm Insurance Review

Pros

Cons

Local agents available for in-person service

Gap insurance not available

Robust website and mobile app for policy management

Average rates may not be as competitive as other carriers in Brooklyn

How to get and keep the cheapest car insurance in Brooklyn

Finding and keeping cheap car insurance may be especially difficult if you live in an area with high average rates, like Brooklyn. However, a few strategies may help you save. You might benefit most from evaluating your carrier and coverage needs when you experience a significant life change like moving, getting married, insuring a teen driver or buying a new vehicle.

  • Shop around. Comparing quotes from different carriers may help you quickly see which company could offer you the lowest rates for your circumstances and coverage needs. Ensuring that each quote you request is for the same coverage types and limits may help you most accurately compare rates.

  • Consider enrolling in a telematics program. Some insurance providers offer telematics or usage-based insurance (UBI) programs, which use a device or mobile app to track your driving behavior. Enrolling in a telematics program and demonstrating safe driving habits may help you save on your premium.

Frequently asked questions

    • What is the best car insurance company in Brooklyn?

There are several factors to consider when you are trying to find the best car insurance company in Brooklyn. Considerations such as customer service ratings, financial stability, digital tools, coverage options and discounts may all be important and may weigh differently for different people. Narrowing down your list of potential carriers based on your priorities and comparing quotes from companies that meet your criteria may be the fastest way to find the best car insurance company for you.

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  • What is the cheapest car insurance company in Brooklyn?

The cheapest car insurance company in Brooklyn may vary by driver since insurance providers look at individual factors when calculating your rate, such as your age, vehicle type, ZIP code, credit history and more. Bankrate’s insurance editorial team found that some of the cheapest companies in New York include American Family, Geico and Progressive, but requesting quotes may reveal the cheapest company for your circumstances.

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  • Why are car insurance rates in Brooklyn so high?

Car insurance rates in Brooklyn may be high for a number of reasons. Brooklyn has an extremely high population density, with around 3.6 million licensed drivers in New York City. With the higher population, there is an increased likelihood of accidents, crime and other risk factors that may impact the cost of car insurance. New York also has relatively high minimum car insurance requirements, which may bring up the cost of minimum coverage. Lastly, the cost of living is very high in New York, which may bring up labor costs for auto repairs. All these factors and more may contribute to Brooklyn’s high average rates.

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  • How much car insurance do I need in Brooklyn?

Drivers in Brooklyn must carry a minimum of 25/50/10 personal liability and statutory uninsured motorist liability coverage, plus $50,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) to legally drive. However, drivers may want to consider adding other coverage types, such as greater liability protection, for more robust financial protection. If you lease or finance a vehicle, the lender may require additional coverage as well, such as collision, comprehensive and gap insurance.

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    • Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2022 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person

  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident

  • $50,000 property damage liability per accident

  • $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person

  • $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident

  • $500 collision deductible

  • $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2020 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

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  • Bankrate Scores

Our 2023 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.

Like our previous Bankrate Scores, each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. This year, our 2023 scoring model provides a more comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and better highlighting where they fall short.

  • Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, 2023 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best and the NAIC, were analyzed.

  • Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.

  • Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

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