Personal Insurance for Long Island and New York City Residents
Carlstan Insurance Agency is a family-owned independent insurance agency in Melville, New York. We've been protecting Long Island homeowners, renters, condo owners, and drivers since 1948. Whether you own a home in Suffolk County, rent an apartment in Brooklyn, or drive in Nassau County, we build a personal insurance program around your actual situation — not a national template.
As a small agency, we move fast, stay accessible, and keep things simple. One call connects you directly to Adam or Ryan Erickson — the same people who built your policy, and the same people who pick up when you need them.
Looking for a personal insurance agent near you on Long Island or in New York City?
What Is Personal Insurance?
Personal insurance covers the people and things that matter most outside of work — your home, your car, your belongings, your family's financial security, and your personal liability. Most people need more than one policy, and the right combination depends on where you live, what you own, and what your financial exposure looks like.
As an independent agency, we shop multiple carriers at every renewal — Travelers, Progressive, Andover, and others — to find the right fit for your household, not just the most convenient option for us.
Personal Insurance Coverage We Offer in New York
Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners insurance covers your home's structure, your personal property inside it, additional living expenses if you're displaced after a covered event, and personal liability. On Long Island, where property values are high and coastal exposure is real, the right policy means more than a standard package — it means a policy built for your specific home and location.
Auto Insurance
New York is a no-fault state, which means your auto policy's personal injury protection (PIP) pays for medical expenses after an accident regardless of fault. Beyond no-fault, you need the right liability, comprehensive, collision, and uninsured motorist coverage for New York roads. We compare rates across carriers to find the right balance of coverage and cost for your vehicle and driving history.
Renters Insurance
Renters insurance covers your personal belongings inside your apartment, personal liability if a guest is injured, and additional living expenses if your unit becomes uninhabitable. In New York City, many landlords now require renters insurance as a lease condition. Coverage typically costs $10–$23/month — one of the best values in personal insurance.
Condo Insurance
A condo association's master policy covers the building and common areas — not the interior of your unit. An HO-6 condo policy covers your walls-in, your personal property, your personal liability, and loss assessment coverage if the building is hit with a claim that exceeds the master policy's limits.
Personal Umbrella Insurance
A personal umbrella policy extends your auto and homeowners liability limits beyond what those policies provide — typically from $300K to $1M or more. New York personal injury jury awards are among the highest in the country. Umbrella coverage typically costs $150–$400/year for $1M in additional protection.
Valuables & Jewelry Insurance
Standard homeowners and renters policies cap jewelry coverage at $1,000–$2,500 and fine art at roughly $2,000. A scheduled personal property rider or floater covers your specific high-value items — engagement rings, watches, fine art, instruments, and collectibles — at their full appraised or agreed value, with no depreciation applied.
Why Choose Carlstan Insurance Agency for Personal Insurance?
We've been here since 1948. Carlstan Insurance Agency was founded by Adam and Ryan Erickson's grandfather — and it has operated continuously in the New York market for over 75 years. The third generation is running it now. That kind of continuity is rare, and it matters when you're trusting an agency with your home, your car, and your family's financial security.
Small agency. Direct access. We're not a large firm where you're handed off to whoever answers. You'll work with Adam or Ryan directly — the same people who know your policies, your renewal dates, and your situation. No re-explaining. No hold music.
Fast, flexible, and accessible. Small agencies move faster than large ones. When you need a certificate, a policy change, or an answer to a coverage question, we can usually handle it the same day. Our email is monitored 24/7 and voicemail is checked regularly — because coverage questions don't only come up between 9 and 5.
We shop the market for you. As a Trusted Choice and Big I member agency, we have access to multiple top-rated carriers — Travelers, Progressive, Andover, Kemper, and more. At every renewal, we compare your options across the market so you're not locked into one company's rate.
Long Island and NYC. We serve both personal lines markets — Long Island homeowners and NYC renters and condo owners — from the same office in Melville. One agency for wherever you live.
The Independent Agent Advantage for Personal Insurance
When you buy homeowners or auto insurance directly from a single carrier, you're getting that carrier's rates — nothing else. When you work with an independent agency, you get a comparison across multiple top-rated insurers at every renewal.
For Long Island homeowners, that matters. Some standard carriers have reduced their appetite for coastal and near-coastal Nassau and Suffolk County properties. An independent agency accesses specialty markets that captive agents — State Farm, Allstate — cannot.
For drivers, we compare bundled home + auto rates across carriers rather than within a single company's offerings. The right bundle frequently saves 10–20% compared to purchasing separately.
And when you have a claim, we don't hand you a 1-800 number. We follow up with the carrier on your behalf. Same agent, same phone number, every time.
Looking for a personal insurance agent near you on Long Island or in New York City?
Coordinated Personal Insurance Programs — One Agent for Everything
Most households need home, auto, and at least one additional policy — umbrella, renters, condo, or valuables. When those policies are managed through a single independent agency, there are no gaps between them, the coverage limits work together, and you never have to explain your full situation from scratch to multiple companies.
We build coordinated personal insurance programs for Long Island and New York City residents. One call reaches the agent who knows every policy you carry.
Where We Serve
Personal Insurance Near Me — Serving Suffolk County, Nassau County, and All Five NYC Boroughs
Our office is located at 145 Pinelawn Road, Suite 210S, Melville, NY 11747. We serve personal lines clients throughout:
Huntington, Smithtown, Commack, Hauppauge, Babylon, Bay Shore, Islip, Brentwood, Melville, Farmingdale, South Huntington
Hempstead, Garden City, Hicksville, Mineola, New Hyde Park, Great Neck, Oceanside, Valley Stream, Lynbrook, Floral Park, Elmont
Astoria, Jackson Heights, Flushing, Forest Hills, Jamaica, Bayside
Park Slope, Crown Heights, Flatbush, Bay Ridge, Bushwick, Williamsburg, Prospect Heights
Manhattan, The Bronx, and Staten Island
We are licensed in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Insurance in New York
What personal insurance do I need as a homeowner on Long Island?
Long Island homeowners typically need homeowners insurance, auto insurance, and depending on their assets and lifestyle, a personal umbrella policy. If you own jewelry, fine art, or collectibles, a scheduled personal property rider adds full replacement cost coverage for specific items that standard policies sub-limit. If you live near the water — South Shore Nassau or Suffolk County communities — a separate flood policy is also strongly recommended, since standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.
Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage on Long Island?
No. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage — this is one of the most common and costly misconceptions among Long Island homeowners. Flood insurance is purchased separately through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private flood carriers. South Shore communities in Nassau and Suffolk County — including Long Beach, Freeport, Oceanside, Bay Shore, and Babylon — face real flood risk. We can help you determine whether you need flood coverage and find the right policy.
How much does homeowners insurance cost in Nassau County or Suffolk County?
Long Island homeowners pay above-average rates due to high property values, coastal exposure, and local construction costs. Most Nassau and Suffolk County homeowners pay between $1,800 and $5,400 per year, depending on location, home size, construction type, and coverage limits. If your coverage hasn't been reviewed in three or more years, your dwelling coverage may not have kept pace with current reconstruction costs — we check this as part of every policy review.
Do I need renters insurance if I rent an apartment in Brooklyn or Queens?
Many landlords in Brooklyn and Queens now require renters insurance as a lease condition. Beyond the lease requirement, renters insurance covers your belongings if there's a fire, theft, or water damage from a neighbor's unit — and provides personal liability coverage if someone is injured in your apartment. Renters insurance in New York City typically costs $10–$23 per month, making it one of the most affordable policies available.
What does condo insurance cover that the building's insurance doesn't?
A condo association's master policy covers the building exterior and common areas — hallways, elevators, lobbies, and shared systems. It does not cover the interior of your individual unit. Your HO-6 condo policy covers your walls-in finishes and fixtures, your personal property, your personal liability, and loss assessment coverage in the event the building's master policy limits are exhausted by a major claim. Without an HO-6, everything inside your unit is your financial responsibility after a covered loss.
What is a personal umbrella policy and do I need one in New York?
A personal umbrella policy adds a layer of liability coverage above your homeowners and auto policies. If a claim exceeds your underlying limits — a serious car accident, a major injury on your property, or a liability lawsuit — the umbrella takes over. New York jury awards are among the highest in the country. Umbrella policies typically cost $150–$400 per year for $1M in additional protection. Homeowners with pools, dogs, teen drivers, or rental properties face elevated exposure and benefit most.
My jewelry and engagement ring are worth more than $2,500 — are they covered under homeowners?
Most homeowners and renters policies cap jewelry coverage at $1,000–$2,500, regardless of actual value. If your jewelry, engagement ring, watch, or fine art is worth more than those sublimits, you need a scheduled personal property rider or floater that covers the specific item at its full appraised or agreed value. This coverage is added to your existing homeowners or renters policy for a modest additional premium — and it covers mysterious disappearance, not just theft or fire.
Can I bundle my home and auto insurance to save money?
Yes. Bundling homeowners and auto insurance with the same carrier typically saves 10–20% on the combined premium. As an independent agency, we compare bundled rates across multiple carriers — we're not limited to one company's bundle discount. We find the best combined rate across the market, which is often better than what a single-carrier agent can offer.
How do I find a personal insurance agent near me in Suffolk County or Nassau County?
Carlstan Insurance Agency is located at 145 Pinelawn Road, Suite 210S, Melville, NY 11747. We serve homeowners, renters, condo owners, and drivers throughout Suffolk County, Nassau County, and all five New York City boroughs. Call (516) 437-6565, email us directly, or request a quote online. We respond within one business day. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm. Email is monitored 24/7 and voicemail is checked regularly.
Do you serve NYC residents for personal insurance, or only Long Island?
We serve personal lines clients throughout New York State, including all five boroughs of New York City. We work with renters in Brooklyn and Queens, condo owners in Manhattan, and homeowners in Staten Island. You do not need to visit our Melville office — everything can be handled by phone and email.
How fast can Carlstan turn around a personal insurance quote?
Most personal lines quotes — homeowners, auto, renters, and condo — can be turned around within one business day. Because we're a small, focused agency, there's no queue to get through. You call or fill out the form, and we get back to you directly.
Ready to Protect Your Long Island or New York City Business?
We're a family-owned independent agency that has been serving New York businesses since 1948. When you call, you reach Adam or Ryan directly — not a representative, not a call center.
Text: (516) 437-6565
Address:
145 Pinelawn Road, STE 210s, Melville, New York 11747, United States
Monday–Friday: 9:00am–5:00pm
Saturday: By appointment only
Sunday: Closed
Email monitored 24/7 | Voicemail checked regularly
Licensed in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.