Wouldn’t it be great if we could instantly tell you the one best company that has the lowest rates for safe drivers? Unfortunately, it’s just not that easy, as there are a whole bunch of unknown elements like the number of miles you drive each year, if you want the added protection of full coverage, if you have ever had a coverage lapse, and if you are a homeowner or renter, that all factor into the price you pay. We will touch on some of these factors and will hopefully give you a good start in finding the cheapest insurance in New York.
The type of vehicle on the policy is a significant factor when consumers are trying to find the best insurance for safe drivers. Vehicles with higher performance, a lack of advanced safety features, or a history of substantial liability claims will cost more to insure than safer models.
The information below presents coverage prices for the most affordable automobiles to insure in New York.
| Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $2,096 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport Islander Package 4WD 2-Dr | $2,124 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan CV | $2,165 |
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $2,177 |
| Ford F-150 XL Regular Cab 2WD | $2,183 |
| Ford Escape Limited 2WD | $2,234 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 4-Dr Sedan | $2,290 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Regular Cab 2WD | $2,297 |
| Toyota Prius | $2,353 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $2,368 |
| Chevrolet Impala LTZ | $2,412 |
| Ford Edge Sport 2WD | $2,417 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LT Crew Cab 4WD | $2,456 |
| Volkswagen Jetta SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $2,464 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Regular Cab 4WD | $2,456 |
| Honda Odyssey EX W/Rear Entertainment | $2,519 |
| Ford Focus SES 2-Dr Coupe | $2,572 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 2WD | $2,575 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $2,580 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | $2,616 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Sport Package 4WD | $2,635 |
| Toyota Camry SE | $2,644 |
| Toyota Corolla XLE | $2,652 |
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Data variables include single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and New York minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Estimates do not factor in zip code location which can lower or raise auto insurance rates significantly.
By looking at the data, we can conclude that cars like the Honda Accord, Jeep Wrangler, and Dodge Grand Caravan are going to be a few of the cheaper vehicles to insure for good drivers.
Establishing which companies have the best auto insurance rates for safe drivers requires a little more sweat than just comparing a company or two. Each auto insurance company uses their own method for determining rates in each state, so let’s take a look at the most competitive auto insurance companies in Buffalo, NY.
It’s important to know that New York auto insurance rates are impacted by many things which can substantially change the cost of having a policy. Getting older, having a teenage driver, or getting a speeding ticket may cause policy rate changes resulting in some rates now being more affordable than others.
Best Car Insurance Prices for Safe Drivers
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,152 |
| 2 | Erie | $1,218 |
| 3 | Progressive | $1,496 |
| 4 | Utica National | $1,534 |
| 5 | Allstate | $1,541 |
| 6 | MetLife | $1,572 |
| 7 | Travelers | $1,575 |
| 8 | Amica | $1,644 |
| 9 | Preferred Mutual | $1,737 |
| 10 | New York Central Mutual | $1,818 |
| 11 | GEICO | $1,850 |
| 12 | State Farm | $1,904 |
| 13 | Safeco | $1,908 |
| 14 | Central Mutual | $1,948 |
| 15 | Liberty Mutual | $2,005 |
| 16 | Hanover | $2,299 |
| 17 | Encompass | $2,662 |
| 18 | Nationwide | $3,147 |
| 19 | Mercury | $3,848 |
| 20 | 21st Century | $4,324 |
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USAA may offer some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Buffalo at around $1,152 each year. Erie, Progressive, Utica National, and Allstate also make the cut as some of the most economical Buffalo, NY auto insurance companies.
As illustrated above, if you are currently insured with Allstate and switched to Erie, you might realize a yearly savings of in the neighborhood of $323. Customers with MetLife could save as much as $354 a year, and Travelers insureds might realize rate reductions of up to $357 a year.
Be aware that those rates are averages across all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and and are not figured with a vehicle location for safe drivers. So the insurer that has the cheapest rates for you may not even be in the top 20 companies in the list above. That emphasizes why you need to get rate quotes using your own personal information and vehicle type.
One of the many criteria that aid in calculating the cost of insurance is your zip code. More populated areas tend to have more expensive car insurance rates, whereas areas with less people or fewer weather incidents can boast about having cheaper rates.
The illustration below sorts the most expensive areas in New York for safe drivers to buy car insurance in. Buffalo ranks #13 having an annual price of $1,503 for the average policyholder, which is around $125 each month.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $2,654 |
| 2 | Hempstead | $2,301 |
| 3 | Freeport | $2,281 |
| 4 | Levittown | $2,001 |
| 5 | Yonkers | $1,958 |
| 6 | Mount Vernon | $1,938 |
| 7 | Hicksville | $1,862 |
| 8 | West Babylon | $1,856 |
| 9 | Brentwood | $1,853 |
| 10 | Coram | $1,784 |
| 11 | White Plains | $1,661 |
| 12 | New Rochelle | $1,659 |
| 13 | Buffalo | $1,503 |
| 14 | Cheektowaga | $1,240 |
| 15 | Tonawanda | $1,213 |
| 16 | West Seneca | $1,201 |
| 17 | Niagara Falls | $1,189 |
| 18 | Syracuse | $1,130 |
| 19 | Utica | $1,125 |
| 20 | Troy | $1,085 |
| 21 | Schenectady | $1,051 |
| 22 | Albany | $1,025 |
| 23 | Rochester | $1,025 |
| 24 | Irondequoit | $1,001 |
| 25 | Binghamton | $940 |
| Find the Best Rates Go | ||
Annual rates are estimated as the specific Buffalo residence address can affect price quotes significantly.
Choosing a high-quality insurance provider can be difficult considering how many different insurance companies sell coverage in Buffalo. The company rank data displayed below may help you choose which insurers you want to consider when trying to find cheaper insurance for safe drivers.
The ratings below are only comprised of companies with a national presence, so smaller companies that only insure vehicles in New York are not included in these rankings. To view rates from the insurers below and more, simply click here.
Top 10 Major Car Insurance Companies in Buffalo Ranked by Value
- The General
- Erie Insurance
- The Hartford
- Mercury Insurance
- Farmers Insurance
- 21st Century
- Safeco Insurance
- AAA Insurance
- State Farm
- Travelers
Top 10 Major Car Insurance Companies in Buffalo Ranked by A.M. Best Rating
- USAA – A++
- GEICO – A++
- Travelers – A++
- State Farm – A++
- Allstate – A+
- Nationwide – A+
- Esurance – A+
- Erie Insurance – A+
- Progressive – A+
- Mercury Insurance – A+
Get discounts on Buffalo car insurance
Auto insurance companies that offer coverage for safe drivers may also give you discounts that could potentially reduce rates by as much as 35% or more if you can meet the requirements. A few popular companies and their offered discounts are included below.
- Progressive has discounts for online quote discount, multi-vehicle, online signing, multi-policy, and continuous coverage.
- The Hartford may include discounts for good student, driver training, defensive driver, air bag, bundle, and vehicle fuel type.
- Mercury Insurance offers discounts including low natural disaster claims, good driver, multi-policy, good student, accident-free, age of vehicle, and ease of repair.
- GEICO discounts include defensive driver, driver training, air bags, anti-lock brakes, federal employee, five-year accident-free, and anti-theft.
- AAA policyholders can earn discounts including good driver, AAA membership discount, education and occupation, multi-policy, and pay-in-full.
- State Farm offers premium reductions for safe vehicle, multiple policy, student away at school, defensive driving training, and Drive Safe & Save.
The diagram below illustrates the difference between car insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. Data assumes a female driver, no tickets, no at-fault accidents, New York state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $100 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows the average rate with no discounts. The lower bar shows the rates with claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, passive restraint, accident-free, and marriage discounts applied. When drivers qualify for the discounts, theaverage yearly reduction on auto insurance for safe drivers is 28% or $398.
The importance of shopping around
Buffalo, NY auto insurance rates are based on many factors which can significantly increase or decrease the price you have to pay for coverage. Simply turning a year older, filing a claim, or getting a ticket for careless driving can produce rate changes resulting in some rates now being cheaper than others. In addition, insurance companies modify rates without warning to help ensure profitability. Heavy losses may result in more expensive premiums, while profitable underwriting can result in more affordable Buffalo car insurance rates.
The data below shows the company with the cheapest car insurance in Buffalo, NY for a 35-year-old female driver with a clear driving record, no claims, and a decent credit rating. If we estimate prices based on her current situation, USAA may offer the cheapest car insurance rates in Buffalo at $1,804 per year. This is $271 less than the average policy premium paid by New York drivers of $2,075. Erie, Utica National, Progressive, and Travelers are the remaining most affordable Buffalo, NY auto insurance companies.
Now we will pretend the driver in the first chart an accident surcharge, a little lower credit rating, and a traffic ticket or two. Due to the fact that every insurance company has a proprietary formula to determine rates, comparing quotes could now result in a slightly different list of the cheapest car insurance companies in Buffalo as shown below.
Amica now has the cheapest price in Buffalo, NY with Allstate, Erie, Preferred Mutual, and New York Central Mutual completing the list. This demonstrates why New York drivers need to perform an extensive rate comparison when trying to get the most economical insurance rates for safe drivers.
Car insurance prices are influenced by many risk factors and can increase or decrease at any time, so the best option six months ago may now not even be in the top five.
Tips to find low-cost insurance for safe drivers
The list below shows some of the recommended penny-pinching suggestions that can help Buffalo drivers find cheap coverage.
- The safer your car, the less it costs to insure
- Clean up your credit
- Keep your driving record clean
- Avoid accidents
- Raise deductibles to save money
- Compare rates and switch if you can find a better deal
The last item on the list is incredibly important, as we discussed in the prior article. Insurance rates adjust often, so don’t be afraid to change to a new company if you find a cheaper price.
Staying with the same company for years is fine, but is isn’t recommended if your bullheadedness ends up costing you a wad of cash every year. If you have a few minutes, compare prices to find cheaper insurance for safe drivers in Buffalo.