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Is It Right for Your Situation?
A guy from Commack called us last month asking about liability only coverage for his 2008 Honda Civic with 180,000 miles on it. The car was paid off, ran fine, but wasn’t worth much anymore. He was paying $1,800 a year for full coverage and wanted to know if he could drop to just liability and save some money. After looking at his situation, we switched him to liability only and cut his premium to about $650 a year. Same legal protection, way lower cost, and it made sense for a car that old.
Liability only car insurance covers damage you cause to other people and their property, but it doesn’t cover your own vehicle. For some drivers, this is the smartest financial move. For others, it’s a risky gamble that could cost them thousands if something goes wrong.
First Heritage Insurance has helped New York drivers figure out the right coverage since 2003. We’ll look at your vehicle, your financial situation, and your driving habits to help you decide if liability only makes sense or if you should keep comprehensive and collision coverage.
Understanding Liability Only Coverage from Your Car and Motor Insurance Agency
When you work with a Car and Motor Insurance Agency that knows New York roads and New York drivers, you get honest advice about what coverage fits your situation. We’re not trying to sell you more insurance than you need, but we’re also not going to let you drop coverage that could financially destroy you if you have an accident.
Liability only insurance includes two main parts:
Bodily injury liability covers medical bills, lost wages, and legal costs if you hurt someone in an accident you caused. New York requires minimum limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, but those limits are usually too low. We typically recommend at least $100,000/$300,000 because medical bills and lawsuits can add up fast.
Property damage liability pays for damage you cause to other people’s vehicles, buildings, fences, or property. New York requires a minimum of $10,000, but again, that’s often not enough. One accident hitting a newer car can easily exceed $10,000 in damage. We usually recommend $50,000 to $100,000 in property damage coverage.
What liability only doesn’t cover is your own car. If you cause an accident, liability pays for the other person’s damages but nothing for your vehicle repairs. If someone hits you and doesn’t have insurance, you’re stuck paying to fix your car yourself. If your car gets stolen or damaged by hail, fire, or vandalism, you get nothing.
When Liability Only Car Insurance Makes Sense
Here’s the honest truth from our Insurance Agency: liability only works great for some drivers and terrible for others. We’ve helped thousands of New York drivers make this choice, and here’s what we’ve learned.
Liability only usually makes sense if:
Your car is older and not worth much anymore. A good rule of thumb is if your car is worth less than $3,000 to $4,000, you’re probably better off with liability only. Full coverage premiums on older cars can cost more than the car’s value over just a few years.
You could afford to replace your car out of pocket if it got totaled. If losing your vehicle wouldn’t create a financial emergency, liability only saves you money every month. But if you’d be stuck without transportation and couldn’t afford another car, you need full coverage.
Your car is paid off completely. If you have a loan or lease, your lender requires comprehensive and collision coverage. Once you own the car free and clear, you can choose liability only if it makes sense.
You’re driving an older vehicle as a second car. If you’ve got a newer primary vehicle with full coverage and an old beater for local errands, liability only on the older car usually works fine.
You have savings to cover a car replacement if needed. Some of our clients intentionally drop to liability only and set aside the premium savings in case they need to buy another car. This can work if you’re disciplined about saving that money.
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Jamira Minton
Home Insurance
I was referred by my best friend , and once I called in I received good customer service. I was assigned to Brandon as my agent and he was really great . He was well informative and served me with great service. I will always have him by my side and I am happy I called and switch my insurance with them .
Anthony Wofford
Auto Insurance
Kyle was my guy. Made my experience absolutely great and I’m happy to have him as my contact going forward. I was looking into new insurance quotes that saves me hundreds per month. It was an absolute no-brainer. He was quick, thorough, didn’t waste my time, made the process smooth and very friendly. Highly recommend!!
Christian raphael
Business Insurance
My guy Brandon Blood is not only professional but he a very real honest person looking out for the best for his clients I been in communication with him for years for any of my insurance needs and he always has the same attitude and is always down to help. Thank you sir!
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We partner with some of the most respected insurance carriers in the industry to bring you reliable coverage and peace of mind.
Working with an Insurance Company That Explains Your Options Clearly
The right Insurance Company doesn’t just sell you a policy and disappear. They explain what you’re getting, what you’re giving up, and what could happen in different scenarios. We’ve had clients come to us confused about their coverage because their previous agent never explained the difference between liability only and full coverage.
Here’s what happens in different situations with liability only:
If you cause an accident, your liability coverage pays for the other driver’s vehicle damage and injuries, plus your legal defense if they sue you. But your own car repairs come out of your pocket. If you total a car worth $8,000, you’re buying a new car on your own.
If someone else causes an accident and they have insurance, their liability coverage should pay for your damages. But if they don’t have insurance or don’t have enough coverage, you’re stuck unless you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Many liability only drivers skip this coverage to save money, which can be a mistake.
If your car gets stolen, catches fire, gets hit by a falling tree, or damaged in a parking lot by an unknown driver, you get nothing with liability only. Comprehensive coverage would handle these situations, but liability only doesn’t include it.
Most New York drivers who switch to liability only are trying to save money, and that’s fine if you understand the trade-offs. We’ve had clients save $1,000 or more per year by dropping to liability only on older vehicles. That money can go toward other bills, savings, or eventually replacing the car.
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Making the Switch to Liability Only
If you’ve decided liability only is right for you, switching is simple. Call us at 631-659-0189 and we’ll adjust your policy. Most carriers can make the change immediately, and you’ll see the savings on your next bill.
We’ll make sure you still have adequate liability limits – not just the New York minimums that leave you exposed. We’ll discuss whether uninsured motorist coverage makes sense to add. And we’ll explain exactly what you’re giving up so there’s no confusion if you ever need to file a claim.
First Heritage Insurance serves drivers throughout New York, Connecticut, and beyond. We work with carriers like GEICO, Travelers, and Progressive to find you the best rates on liability only coverage. Whether you’re insuring one vehicle or multiple cars, we’ll help you balance cost savings with smart protection.
Get your liability only car insurance quote today and see how much you could save while still meeting New York’s legal requirements.
FAQs
How much cheaper is liability only insurance?
Most drivers save 40-60% by switching from full coverage to liability only. On an older vehicle, you might pay $600-$900 per year for liability only versus $1,500-$2,500 for full coverage. The exact savings depends on your car, your driving record, and your location. We can show you the difference with a quick quote comparison.
What is the minimum liability coverage in New York?
New York requires 25/50/10 coverage – that’s $25,000 per person for injuries, $50,000 per accident for injuries, and $10,000 for property damage. These minimums are usually too low. One serious accident can easily exceed these limits, leaving you personally liable for the rest. We recommend at least 100/300/50 for better protection.
Can I get liability only insurance with tickets or accidents?
Yes, but your rates will be higher than drivers with clean records. Having violations doesn’t prevent you from getting liability only coverage – it just affects the price. We work with multiple carriers to find you acceptable rates even with a less-than-perfect driving history. Some carriers specialize in higher-risk drivers.
Should I keep comprehensive without collision?
Sometimes this makes sense, especially if you’re worried about theft, vandalism, or weather damage but not collision. Comprehensive without collision costs less than full coverage but still protects against non-accident damage. We have clients in high-theft areas who keep comprehensive even after dropping collision. It depends on your specific concerns and your car’s value.
What happens if someone without insurance hits me?
If you only have liability coverage and an uninsured driver hits you, you’ll need to sue them personally to recover damages – and most uninsured drivers don’t have assets to go after. This is why we strongly recommend adding uninsured motorist coverage even with liability only policies. It costs extra but protects you when other drivers break the law.
Do I need liability only if my car is financed?
No – if you have a car loan or lease, your lender requires comprehensive and collision coverage. You can only switch to liability only once the vehicle is completely paid off and you own it free and clear. The lender’s interest in the vehicle means they won’t let you drop coverage that protects their collateral.
Can I switch back to full coverage later?
Yes, you can add comprehensive and collision back to your policy anytime. If your financial situation improves or you’re worried about going without coverage, just call us and we’ll add it back. There’s no penalty for switching back and forth as your needs change. Most clients switch to liability only and stay there unless they buy a newer vehicle.