DRIVERS RALLY AT COLUMBUS CIRCLE TO DEMAND GOV. HOCHUL AND LAWMAKERS ACT ON NATION'S HIGHEST AUTO INSURANCE COSTS

PHOTOS / VIDEO

NEW YORK – Frustrated New York drivers converged on Columbus Circle in Manhattan today in a protest against exploding auto insurance premiums. With signs mounted on their vehicles and a unified voice, they called on Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature to take immediate and decisive action to halt what they described as an escalating affordability crisis.

The rally highlighted the growing financial strain on residents, with participants sharing personal stories of premiums rising by 30 to 50% in the last year alone. New York drivers currently shoulder some of the highest auto insurance costs in the nation, with average premiums hovering at nearly double the national average – a staggering burden that is hitting working-class and low-income families the hardest.

“This protest underscores how deeply this affordability crisis is affecting New Yorkers,” said José Bayona, spokesperson for Citizens for Affordable Rates (CAR). “Drivers are watching their insurance bills rise far faster than their wages, squeezing household budgets and forcing hard choices no family should have to make. Albany must prioritize real policy solutions to rein in these premiums – it’s essential to making life affordable again for working families across the state.”

The demonstration mobilized dozens of impacted drivers, along with community advocates and local leaders, all emphasizing the urgent need for meaningful legislative and regulatory action. They stressed that millions of New Yorkers rely on their vehicles for commuting, employment, and family responsibilities – and that controlling skyrocketing insurance costs is critical to protecting residents' economic stability.