Do I need insurance? 
Yes. To register a vehicle in New York State you must have New York State issued automobile liability insurance coverage. If you do not maintain the coverage , the DMV can suspend your vehicle registration and your driver license. 

What kind of insurance do I need? 
New York law requires that you have auto liability insurance coverage. The minimum amount of liability coverage is $ 10,000 for property damage for a single accident $ 25,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for death for a person involved in an accident $ 50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for death for two or more people in an accident Your liability insurance coverage must while the registration is valid, even if you don t use the vehicle there are exceptions for motorcycles 1 remain in effect be New York State insurance coverage , issued by a company licensed by the NY State Department of Financial Services and certified by NY State DMV - out - of - state insurance is never acceptable be issued in the name of the vehicle registrant, and remain in the name of the registrant at all times 2 The New York State Department of Financial Services website has more information about liability insurance and insurance companies licensed in New York: http://www.dfs.ny.gov [1]. 

More than 2 names on a vehicle registration 
There can only be 1 or 2 names on a registration registrants. Both the primary registrant first name listed on the registration and the co - registrant must sign the Vehicle Registration / Title Application PDF [2] MV-82 and provide their proofs of identity and date of birth. Both names must appear on the Insurance ID Card. 

Do I need insurance to register my vehicle? 
Yes. The DMV requires auto liability insurance to register a vehicle in New York. When you get insurance , your insurance company will issue proof of insurance in two ways. It will give you two original NY State Insurance ID Cards see a sample [3] or provide you with access to your digital electronic NY 

user: Hello, good morning. I recently moved here to New York and I want to get an Insurance for my new car. I was hoping you could help me with the requirements, and also telling me if my out of state insurance document would work?

assistant: For the requirements you just need your ID, your car, and the minimum wave coverage which is $10000, go to a DMV and you can begin your process. 
Regarding out of states documents: No. We will NEVER accept out of states insurance documents/coverages

user: But what can I do with my insurance from another state?

assistant: If your coverage time haven't lapse you can still use it there. Whenever you go to a different state, that you have an insurance in, DMV will cover you there. So, if you ever go back to that state your insurance will still work. 

user: If my vehicle is registered here in new york, would that be a problem when I visit another state I have a insurance in? 

assistant: If your vehicle is registered in New York, it MUST have a New York insurance. If you go to texas (where you have a Insurance coverage) you'll have to first register the vehicle there, in order to be able to use their insurance. 

user:  What if I don't use the vehicle?

assistant: As long as your registration is valid, your insurance will remain in effect.