New York City, New York – the most famous city on planet earth. What is there to say about New York that hasn’t already been said? As the largest city in the country, and the financial capital of the world, New York City is seen as the epicenter for success and the American dream. If you’re lucky enough to call New York home, you know just how special this city is. While the subway provides some of the best public transport in the world, there are still plenty of car owners in New York City.

As a company, our primary goal is helping people obtain the cheapest auto insurance rates on the market. We partner our readers with some of the best places to get car insurance in the nation. If you want to find out more about driving in New York City, make sure to check out some of our content below. We can help you stay safe on the roads of America’s most famous metropolis! Give our car insurance calculator above a try and see how you too can save!

New York: Driving Conditions in the City

If you’ve lived in New York City before, you know how crazy the roads are. The city is known for being one of the most congested areas of the country. For this reason, many people use the subway system to get around New York City. If you’re someone who still prefers to use a car, you’ll need to avoid the major congestion zones – traffic can be horrible at all times of day, not just peak hours.

Weather can also be a major issue in the city of New York. While summers are hot, winters can be extremely brutal. If you want to avoid bad winter weather on the roads, make sure to check weather warnings before you head out in the colder months. Remember, blizzards and other large winter storms often cause serious problems in New York City. Try and avoid these issues if possible.

Driving Safely in New York, New York

If you want to drive safely in New York city, you also need to understand the law. While you can avoid bad weather and traffic by staying aware, you can still run into problems if you don’t understand the laws of the land. Each state in America sets their own road rules, so don’t get overconfident about what is legal in New York City. You will have to abide by both local and state regulations.

In this section of our article, we’re going to take a look at the most common road laws in New York City – make sure to check them out below!

Phone/Handheld Laws in New York

If you’re driving a vehicle in New York City, you are not allowed to use your phone while your drive. It doesn’t matter whether you’re texting, reading, or talking on the phone – you can’t be touching your phone while you drive. Distracted driving is a huge issue and the city is making considerable effort to combat it as much as possible.

Punishments for driving while on the phone in New York are significant. You may receive up to $200 in fines for a first offense – this can climb if you are a repeat offender.

Seatbelt and Car Seat Laws in New York

If you are in the front driver’s seat or passenger’s seat in a vehicle you are expected to wear a seat belt at all times – this is regardless of age. If you are in the back seat of a vehicle you are required to wear a seat belt if you are under the age of 16.

In terms of children, those under four must be secured in a child safety seat at all times. Those under the age of eight must be secured in a booster seat if they are over the age of four. Not following theses laws can cause serious problems for you – not only is it dangerous, you might receive large fines from local officials.

Helmet Laws in New York

As with distracted driving laws, Helmet laws in New York are quite strict as well. You are not allowed to ride a motorcycle without a helmet – it doesn’t matter how old you are or your experience level. Keep this in mind next time you go out for a ride on your motorcycle – you don’t want to end up with a large fine.

Alcohol and Drug Laws (Driving)

If you’re over the age of 21, the legal drinking limit is .08 – this is reduced to .02 for anyone under the age of 21. Make sure to avoid all alcohol consumption if you are underage and plan on driving a vehicle in New York City.

As with most states, impaired driving carries stiff penalties in the city of New York. If you’re a first-time offender, you can expect fines of up to $1,000, a license suspension for six months, and more. This will increase drastically if you are a repeat offender. Intoxicated driving is one of the most dangerous things you can do. We have written a separate article on finding the best insurance for DUI records. We can help you find cheap sr22 non owner insurance however it will still cost more than “normal” insurance.

New York Statistics

Depending on where you are located in New York City, crime can be quite high. New York City used to have a reputation as one of the most dangerous cities on earth, but that reputation has changed over the past few decades.

Regardless, auto theft rates are still a huge problem throughout the city, especially in the city of Brooklyn. If you want to ensure you don’t have issues with theft, make sure to secure your car as much as possible. While you can’t reduce the risk entirely, you can still obtain a comprehensive insurance plan.

Verdict

It’s time to understand how important your auto insurance policy is before you shop for cheap car insurance in NY. With so many risks on and off the roads, it’s vitally important to ensure that you have financial cover for any mistakes that occur. Purchasing the right insurance policy is the best way to ensure that you’re not overexposed. It can save you money when you need it most. Compare car insurance rates of the insurance providers we recommend on our site!