Public pressure is mounting across New York State to bring down the high cost of car insurance, as drivers and advocacy groups push for reforms to make premiums more affordable.
A coalition known as Citizens for Affordable Rates (CAR) said that in just the past month, more than 112,000 messages have been sent to state lawmakers demanding lower insurance premiums and relief for drivers.
According to the group, since launching its campaign in February, New Yorkers have sent 102,466 emails and made 10,080 phone calls to legislators—bringing the total number of contacts to 112,546. Organizers say that number is expected to rise further in the coming weeks as momentum continues to build.
Currently, drivers in New York pay an average of nearly $4,000 per year for car insurance—almost double the cost in many other U.S. states. Experts point to widespread insurance fraud, including staged accidents and abuse of the legal system, as major factors driving up premiums.
Jose Bayona, a spokesperson for the coalition, said hardworking residents are being unfairly burdened. “New Yorkers work hard to earn a living, yet they are forced to pay hundreds of extra dollars each year to sustain a broken system. That is unacceptable,” he said. “More than 112,000 messages to lawmakers send a clear signal—stop fraud and abuse, cut costs, and return those savings directly to drivers and small
businesses.”
The growing public support is also strengthening backing for a proposal put forward by Kathy Hochul. The plan aims to reduce premiums by cracking down on insurance fraud and legal system abuses, while ensuring that savings are passed directly on to consumers and small businesses.
A recent survey found that 86 percent of New Yorkers support the proposal, reflecting widespread concern over rising insurance costs and a strong demand for reform.
Citizens for Affordable Rates says it is a coalition of residents, organizations, and advocacy groups working together to identify the root causes of high insurance costs and build a more transparent, reliable, and affordable system for drivers across the state.
