AT SOMOS, CAR LAUNCHES SIX-FIGURE AD CAMPAIGN, DEMANDING ACTION TO LOWER NEW YORK'S SKYROCKETING CAR INSURANCE RATES
Targeted Effort Aims to Elevate Auto Insurance Affordability as a Key Issue for Governor Hochul and State Lawmakers Ahead of 2026 Session
SAN JUAN – Citizens for Affordable Rates (CAR), the consumer group calling attention to New York’s soaring car insurance costs, today announced a major ad campaign timed to coincide with the SOMOS conference in Puerto Rico. The effort is designed to raise awareness among New York policymakers, civic leaders, and advocates about the growing affordability crisis fueled by excessive auto insurance premiums.
As New York’s elected officials gather for SOMOS, CAR’s message is clear: auto insurance affordability must be a top priority when the Legislature reconvenes in 2026.
“SOMOS brings together the leaders who can make a real difference for New Yorkers struggling with the cost of living,” said James Freedland, spokesperson for Citizens for Affordable Rates. “Car insurance costs in our state are spiraling out of control – and they’re hitting working families hardest. As policymakers meet here to discuss affordability, we’re urging them to make lowering car insurance costs a top priority next session. It’s time for Albany to take action.”
CAR’s new campaign is running November 5–10, using a mix of digital, mobile, and out-of-home advertising to engage key New York audiences attending SOMOS. The group seeks to lay the groundwork for meaningful reform and keep auto insurance affordability at the center of the policy conversation heading into next year.
Campaign components include:
Digital Geofencing: Ads will reach SOMOS attendees in and around the conference venue (El Caribe), overflow hotels, and the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.
Digital Out-of-Home (OOH): Digital billboards and urban panels placed throughout Old San Juan and the Condado hotel district will reinforce CAR’s call for reform.
Social Media Activation: Ads on Twitter/X will directly target New York State elected officials and policy influencers engaging with SOMOS-related content.
Direct Placements:
Billboards: Large digital boards along PR-22 and PR-26 will highlight the burden of high insurance costs.
LED Video Truck: A mobile display truck will circulate daily from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., driving through key areas including Old San Juan and Condado.
This latest ad campaign builds on CAR’s recently launched “Twice as Much” ad placements, which spotlighted how New Yorkers pay nearly double the national average for car insurance. That multimillion-dollar statewide ad buy – featuring a widely seen television spot – called on Governor Hochul and the Legislature to take immediate action to curb fraud, abuse, and outdated regulations that drive up costs for working families.
Watch the “Twice as Much” ad here.
About Citizens for Affordable Rates (CAR)
Citizens for Affordable Rates (CAR) is a statewide coalition of citizens, advocates, and organizations dedicated to tackling the root causes of high insurance premiums in New York. Through advocacy, education, and policy reform, CAR is committed to building an affordable and dependable insurance system for all. Learn more at: www.citizensforaffordablerates.com