What Commercial Auto Insurance Requirements Apply in New York?

New York requires registered vehicles to keep financial security through the registration period; if insurance ends, the owner must maintain another accepted security form or surrender the plates and registration. Passenger-for-hire operators have separate per-vehicle filings, including a $1.5 million CSL for vehicles with eight or more seats, subject to a commuter-van exception.

What Is Commercial Auto Insurance?

Commercial auto suits businesses that use vehicles for work and need liability protection; damage to your own vehicles is a separate coverage choice. If employees drive personal or rented cars, check how those trips are handled. Read the national Commercial auto guide.

New York Commercial Auto Insurance Requirements

RequirementDetails
Passenger-for-hire vehicle (8+ seats)$1.5 million combined single limit; NYC commuter van exception: $500,000 2
Registered motor vehicle securityMaintain financial security continuously; insurance is one permitted method 1

What Should You Watch for With Commercial Auto Insurance in New York?

  • Do Not Cancel Before Plates or Replacement Security

    New York requires continuous financial security during registration. When auto insurance ends, maintain another accepted form or surrender the plates and registration; a parked registered unit is not exempt from the DMV insurance rule. Coordinate cancellation and surrender timing with the fleet administrator. 1,3

  • Seat Count Changes Passenger-for-Hire Limits

    VTL §370 requires $1.5 million CSL for passenger-for-hire vehicles with eight or more seats; NYC-code commuter vans have a $500,000 CSL exception. Units with seven or fewer seats use a different schedule. Confirm legal vehicle capacity and whether the vehicle meets the commuter-van definition before quoting. 2

  • File Each For-Hire Vehicle with DMV

    Passenger-for-hire operators must file approved insurance or bond evidence with the DMV for each vehicle. The statute also requires passenger UM coverage. Ask the insurer to confirm the correct per-vehicle filing and show the UM protection on the policy. 2

  • Keep the Insured and Registrant Names Aligned

    NY DMV says insurance and registration must be in exactly the same name and the insurer must electronically report coverage. Check entity names across the registration, policy schedule and insurer DMV transmission before renewing or transferring plates. 3

Which Commercial Auto Providers Have New York License Records?

These providers publish a national listing for Commercial auto; the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in New York. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

  • Corgi

    Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28

    Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.

    Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. 14

    Corgi links to trucking auto-liability coverage from its transportation menu.

  • TechInsurance

    Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28

    Specialty Program Group LLC

    TechInsurance’s current licensing page names Specialty Program Group LLC / SPG Insurance Solutions and lists state license numbers, but labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses” rather than identifying a license for the named agency. RI is omitted because this disclosure does not establish agency authority there; this is a search limitation, not an assertion that the company is unlicensed. The remaining state entries are company-reported and are not an insurance product availability map. 16

    TechInsurance arranges commercial auto insurance for small businesses.

Who Regulates Insurance in New York?

New York State Department of Financial Services

New York DFS supervises insurance companies and producers, administers insurance law and accepts consumer complaints about property and casualty policies, including commercial insurance. 4,5,6,7

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in New York

Reported tax rate. 3.6% of gross premium, less returned premium; ELANY stamping fee is 0.15% through 2026 and 0.17% for policies incepting on/after Jan. 1, 2027 8,9,10,11

When New York is the insured’s home state, excess-line tax is 3.6% of gross premium less returned premium. ELANY’s September 20, 2026 bulletin sets a 0.15% stamping fee through December 31, 2026 and 0.17% for policies incepting on or after January 1, 2027; statutory search requirements and guaranty-fund protection depend on the applicable New York excess-line rules.

Excess Line Association of New York

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Commercial Auto in New York

  1. Is this vehicle commercial-registered, passenger-for-hire, or both under New York’s filing rules?
  2. What is its rated seating capacity, and does the NYC commuter-van exception apply?
  3. Who will electronically report the coverage and file the per-vehicle for-hire proof before registration?

Commercial Auto Insurance in New York: Frequently Asked Questions

What insurance does New York require for a passenger-for-hire vehicle?

New York requires filed liability evidence for each vehicle. A vehicle with eight or more seats generally needs $1.5 million CSL; a qualifying New York City commuter van has a $500,000 exception. 2

Can I cancel insurance on a New York commercial vehicle while it is stored?

Not while it remains registered unless you maintain another accepted financial-security form. NY DMV says registered vehicles must remain insured even in storage; otherwise surrender the plates and registration first. 1,3

Commercial Auto Insurance Guides for Other States

Other coverage in New YorkEvery coverage guide for New York, plus the regulator and surplus-lines details.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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