What you can actually collect after a crash or other loss may turn on this one policy clause. When more than one insurance policy could apply, an anti-stacking provision can keep the injured person from adding those coverage limits together, which can sharply reduce the money available for medical bills, lost wages, or a settlement.

Technically, anti-stacking is policy language that bars or limits "stacking," meaning combining coverage from multiple vehicles, policies, or insured persons for a single claim. It often comes up with uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage, no-fault benefits, and other first-party insurance. For example, if a household has two cars insured under separate policies, stacking would mean trying to access both limits for one injury. An anti-stacking clause says the claimant may be limited to one policy's coverage, or to the highest single limit, instead of the total of both.

Practically, this can change the value of an injury claim overnight. A carrier may cite anti-stacking in a denial letter or offer less than expected, especially after a serious transit, pedestrian, or multi-vehicle injury where damages exceed one policy limit. Whether the clause applies depends on the exact policy wording and New York insurance law, so the fight often becomes a coverage dispute separate from the underlying personal injury claim.

In New York, anti-stacking issues can affect recovery even when liability is clear, making prompt review of all available policies critical.