Across Every Community, New Yorkers Agree: Auto Insurance Costs Are a Crushing Burden While 86 Percent Back Governor Hochul’s Reform Plan and Support Spans Every Borough, Background, and Party.
Our Bureau
New York, NY
A new statewide survey of New York voters conducted by Beacon Research finds broad, cross-community agreement that auto insurance rates have become unaffordable—and that Governor Kathy Hochul has the right plan to bring them down.
The polling memo, based on a survey of 1,004 New York voters, shows that 86 percent support the Governor’s proposed reforms to the state’s auto insurance system. The results reflect a shared frustration felt by working families, immigrants, small business owners, and drivers from every corner of the state.
Key Findings:
• 86 percent of voters support the Governor’s proposed reforms to the auto insurance system.
• Three-quarters of voters (77 percent) believe auto insurance rates in New York are higher than in other states.
• 75 percent say auto insurance costs are a serious financial burden on their household—money that many families cannot spare.
• 60 percent believe auto insurance fraud is common, including staged crashes and fraudulent claims that raise costs for everyone.
• 57 percent of voters approve of Governor Hochul’s job performance.
Support for reform is broad and bipartisan. More than 80 percent of Democrats, Republicans, and independent voters back the Governor’s plan, with similarly strong support across every region of the state—from New York City’s diverse neighborhoods to Long Island and upstate communities.
“For so many families in our communities—whether they’re driving to work in Queens, picking up a shift in the Bronx, or running a small business in Brooklyn—car insurance is one of the biggest bills they face every month. This poll makes it clear that New Yorkers across all boroughs and parties have had enough. They know that fraud in the system raises costs for honest drivers, and they are ready for change. It is time for lawmakers to act and deliver real relief to the working families who need it most,” said José Bayona, spokesperson for Citizens for Affordable Rates.
The survey underscores that tackling auto insurance costs is not a partisan issue, but an affordability issue that unites New Yorkers across political, geographic, and community lines.
Methodology
The survey of 1,004 New York voters was conducted online from January 29 to February 3, 2026. Respondents were randomly selected from an online panel and matched to an up-to-date voter file. Slight weighting was applied to reflect known and estimated demographics of the electorate. The survey has a credibility interval of ±3% at the 95% confidence level.
About Citizens for Affordable Rates (CAR)
Citizens for Affordable Rates (CAR) is a coalition of citizens, advocates, and organizations dedicated to tackling the root causes of high auto insurance costs in New York. Through advocacy, education, and policy reform, CAR is committed to building an affordable and dependable system for all New Yorkers. For more information, visit: www.citizensforaffordablerates.com
