The words “affordable” and “insurance” probably shouldn’t be used together, specifically when you are looking for the lowest insurance rates for uninsured drivers. To save some money, let’s teach you some of the things that have a considerable impact on car insurance premiums, and find some ways to slash the price of the next policy you buy.
One of the more important things that help determine the price you pay for insurance is the neighborhood you call home. Regions with more people or even just more weather-related claims will most likely pay more, whereas areas with less people or fewer weather incidents have the gratification of cheaper auto insurance rates.
The illustration below sorts the most costly cities in New York for uninsured drivers to buy car insurance in. Buffalo is ranked at #13 with an annual premium of $1,533 for the average policyholder, which is approximately $128 per month.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $2,654 |
| 2 | Freeport | $2,213 |
| 3 | Hempstead | $2,211 |
| 4 | Levittown | $2,001 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon | $1,997 |
| 6 | Yonkers | $1,958 |
| 7 | West Babylon | $1,932 |
| 8 | Hicksville | $1,919 |
| 9 | Brentwood | $1,853 |
| 10 | Coram | $1,766 |
| 11 | White Plains | $1,661 |
| 12 | New Rochelle | $1,610 |
| 13 | Buffalo | $1,533 |
| 14 | Niagara Falls | $1,237 |
| 15 | West Seneca | $1,225 |
| 16 | Cheektowaga | $1,203 |
| 17 | Tonawanda | $1,201 |
| 18 | Utica | $1,092 |
| 19 | Syracuse | $1,086 |
| 20 | Albany | $1,067 |
| 21 | Troy | $1,063 |
| 22 | Schenectady | $1,051 |
| 23 | Rochester | $1,036 |
| 24 | Irondequoit | $1,021 |
| 25 | Binghamton | $950 |
| Find the Best Rates Go | ||
Premium costs are approximated as the garaging address in Buffalo can affect coverage prices noticeably.
Figuring out which company quotes the cheapest auto insurance rates for uninsured drivers may require a bit more work than just getting one or two price quotes. Each insurer uses a different method for setting rates, so we will examine the lowest cost auto insurance companies in Buffalo.
It’s important to understand that Buffalo, NY auto insurance rates are based on many factors that will increase or decrease the price you have to pay. Improving your credit rating, buying a new vehicle, or getting a ticket for careless driving can trigger rate changes resulting in some rates now being more affordable than others.
Find Cheaper Auto Insurance in New York
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $1,187 |
| 2 | Erie | $1,218 |
| 3 | Utica National | $1,489 |
| 4 | Progressive | $1,512 |
| 5 | Allstate | $1,541 |
| 6 | Travelers | $1,575 |
| 7 | MetLife | $1,588 |
| 8 | Amica | $1,644 |
| 9 | Preferred Mutual | $1,703 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,850 |
| 11 | New York Central Mutual | $1,874 |
| 12 | Safeco | $1,908 |
| 13 | State Farm | $1,962 |
| 14 | Central Mutual | $2,028 |
| 15 | Liberty Mutual | $2,087 |
| 16 | Hanover | $2,323 |
| 17 | Encompass | $2,610 |
| 18 | Nationwide | $3,054 |
| 19 | Mercury | $3,809 |
| 20 | 21st Century | $4,455 |
| Quote Your Rates Go | ||
USAA has some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Buffalo at around $1,187 each year. Erie, Utica National, Progressive, and Allstate also make the cut as some of the lowest-priced Buffalo, NY car insurance companies.
As the example above demonstrates, if you currently have coverage with Utica National and switched to USAA, you could earn yearly savings of upwards of $302. New York drivers with Progressive may save as much as $325 a year, and Allstate customers might cut rates by $354 a year.
If you want to find out if you’re overpaying, click here to start a quote or visit any of the low-priced companies below.
Bear in mind that those premiums are averaged for all drivers and vehicles and do not factor in an exact zip code location for uninsured drivers. So the car insurance company that fits your needs best may not even be in the top 20 companies in the list above. That underscores the importance of why you need to get quotes using your own driver data and vehicle information.
Full coverage versus liability only rates
Buying cheaper auto insurance is probably important to most people, and one of the quickest ways to pay lower rates for insurance for uninsured drivers is to only pay for liability coverage. The information below shows the comparison of insurance premiums when comparing full coverage to liability only. Data assumes no claims, a clean driving record, $1,000 deductibles, single status, and no other discounts are factored in.
If we average the cost for ages 20 through 70, full coverage on your policy costs $1,508 per year more than just buying liability insurance. That is a large expense and it proposes the question if paying for full coverage is worth it. There isn’t a written rule to stop buying comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
Tickets and at-fault accidents raise rates
One of the best ways to maintain good auto insurance rates in Buffalo for drivers with no prior coverage is to drive safe and avoid getting tickets or having accidents. The diagram below shows how traffic citations and at-fault accidents raise insurance costs for different ages of insureds. The data assumes a single female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
In the previous example, the average cost of auto insurance in New York per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $1,445. Get written up for two speeding tickets and the average cost surges to $1,941, an increase of $496 each year. Now add two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the 12-month cost of auto insurance for uninsured drivers goes up to an average of $3,701. That’s an increase of $2,255, or $188 per month, just for not being a responsible driver!
Buffalo auto insurance companies
Picking a highly-rated car insurance provider can be difficult considering how many companies sell insurance in Buffalo. The rank data shown below may help you analyze which auto insurance companies to look at comparing prices from. The ratings below are only comprised of large nationwide companies, so companies with more of a regional focus will not be included in this list.
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+
Top 10 Major Car Insurance Companies in Buffalo Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- The Hartford – 93%
- The General – 91%
- Progressive – 90%
- 21st Century – 89%
- Erie Insurance – 88%
- USAA – 87%
- State Farm – 87%
- Travelers – 87%
- Mercury Insurance – 87%
- Safeco Insurance – 86%
How to find more affordable car insurance for uninsured drivers
Here are some money-saving suggestions that can help Buffalo drivers quote cheaper coverage.
- Do not get traffic tickets
- Raise deductibles
- Buy vehicles with good safety ratings
- Remain accident-free and save
- Improve your credit score
- Ensure you have the best deal by shopping around regularly
The last idea is particularly crucial, as we pointed out in this article. Auto insurance rates can be modified anytime, so drivers shouldn’t hesitate to buy a policy from a new company if you find a better deal.
Staying with the same company for years is fine, but we do not recommend it if that loyalty ends up costing a wad of cash every year. If you have a few minutes, shop around to find cheaper insurance for uninsured drivers in Buffalo.