Upstate New York Car Insurance

Upstate New York Auto Insurance—The Basics

If you're looking for Upstate New York auto insurance, you've come to the right place. GEICO has great rates and superior auto insurance in areas such as Albany and Utica to keep you safe while driving in the great state of New York.

Where Exactly is Upstate New York?

Although many people refer to anything outside of New York City and Long Island as "Upstate New York," New Yorkers know that's a misnomer. New York State contains several distinct regions, each with its own unique identity and culture.

The real "Upstate New York" is more accurately Northern New York, or the North Country, including places like the Adirondacks, Plattsburgh, and Thousand Islands. This region has close economic and cultural ties to its northern neighbors of Quebec and Eastern Ontario as well as western New England.

The Capital District, sometimes called the Tri-Cities Area, refers to Albany, Schenectady, and Troy and their surrounding areas. Centrally located just three hours from Boston, New York City, and Montreal, this lively and energetic region is considered the epicenter of New York's "Tech Valley," as it boasts one of the nation's fastest growing high–tech job markets. It is also home to many world-renowned academic and research institutions.

Central New York encompasses places west of the Capital District area, such as Syracuse, Cooperstown, Rome, Utica, Ithaca, Auburn and the surrounding areas. The self-described "Heart of New York," the Central New York Region is a virtual microcosm of New York State, including everything from big city attractions to small town appeal.

Western New York is a region rich in natural beauty and abundant resources, where you'll find areas like Buffalo, Niagara, Jamestown and Rochester. If St. Louis, Missouri, is considered the Gateway to the West, perhaps Western New York can be considered the Gateway to the Midwest, as it has cultural and industrial ties to both the Midwest and the Northeast.

Major Highways of New York State

The primary thoroughfare of New York State is the Governor Thomas E. Dewey (New York State) Thruway. Traveling from Exit 1 to Exit 61 on the NYS Thruway will take you 495.5 miles through the Empire State (and cost you more than $20 in tolls). The NYS Thruway runs north/south as Interstate 87 through Westchester and the Hudson Valley up to the state capital of Albany; there it turns westward and becomes Interstate 90, passing through (or near) Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo. At Buffalo Niagara International Airport, near Cheektowaga, the Thruway cuts southwest and runs parallel with the shoreline of Lake Erie to the New York-Pennsylvania border.

Other large highways in New York State include the Adirondack Northway, which is the continuation of Interstate 87 from Albany north beyond Plattsburgh.

Get a New York Car Insurance Quote

Wherever you live or drive in New York, it's important that you're covered by the right kind of car insurance. Check out our New York Car Insurance page for important information you should know about auto insurance in New York. Then get your NY auto insurance quote online with GEICO.