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: Hey, do I need an insurance to register a vehicle? If so, what are the New York State Insurance requirements.

assistant: Yes, the DMV requires auto liability insurance to register a vehicle in New York .


user: Okey, I have a bit of a problem: I have a different name on both my vehicle registration application and my Insurance Identification Card, do they have to be the same or that woudn't be a problem?

assistant: Yes, that's a problem. Your insurance cards and vehicles must have the same name.

user: I'll sort that out then. I want to know what sort of proof will I receive after getting the insurance?

assistant: Your insurance company will issue a proof of insurance in two ways: 
1) They will either give you to original NY state Insurance Cards or provide you with acces to your digital electronic NY State Insurance.
2) They will send  an electronic notice of insurance coverage  to the DMV.

user: Great! I accidentally lost my Insurance Identification Card but I have a copy, would DMV accept a copy or a fax of my IIC?

assistant: Yes, they accept faxes or copies. Don't worry about that. However, if the barcode is not readable DMV won't accept it. 

user: Thanks! One more question, I was living in a different State a few months ago, so I have an Insurance coverage from another state, If I want to register my vehicle here in new york can that out-of-state insurance be accepted? 

assistant: No, those documents are not accepted. If you want to register a car in New York, it MUST have a New York State insurance coverage.