Here's what you need to know when driving in New Jersey
Auto insurance in New Jersey costs approximately $133 per month — 3% more than the national average. Learn more about average insurance rates in New Jersey for a variety of driving profiles.
Affordable Insurance Premiums in New Jersey
What's the cheapest car insurance in New Jersey?
| Rank | Company Name | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Travelers | $1,168 |
| 2 | Cal Casualty | $1,466 |
| 3 | New Jersey Manufacturers | $1,558 |
| 4 | State Farm | $1,759 |
| 5 | Penn National | $1,776 |
| 6 | MetLife | $1,971 |
| 7 | Progressive | $2,003 |
| 8 | Mercury | $2,332 |
| 9 | Allstate | $2,656 |
| 10 | Hanover | $5,194 |
Compare quotes from over 20 insurance companies that provide coverage throughout New Jersey. Enter your ZIP code below to get started.
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Cheap insurance for good drivers in New Jersey
Drivers with good driving records typically enjoy lower car insurance costs than drivers with histories of speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, or DUI citations. New Jersey drivers without a recent speeding ticket typically save 37% on their car insurance premiums — exceeding the 25% national average. In addition to earning a cheaper premium for driving incident-free, you may qualify for a safe-driving bonus through your car insurance company. The amount of these discounts may vary, but they typically run between 5 and 10%.
NEW JERSEY CAR INSURANCE AVERAGE SAVINGS FOR GOOD DRIVERS
| Rating Factor | $ Savings | % Savings |
|---|---|---|
| No Traffic Tickets | $591 | 37.12% |
| No Accidents | $776 | 48.74% |
| Good Credit | $1,324 | 60% |
Car insurance rates by age bracket in New Jersey
Young drivers (those between the ages of 16 and 25) pay extraordinarily high auto insurance rates, with those aged 16-19 paying the most expensive premiums of all. Because of the risk presented by inexperienced drivers, teens pay more than three times the national average for car insurance. In New Jersey, the typical teen driver pays $5,686 per year — 13% more than the national teen driver average, and more than three times as much as a typical driver in New Jersey.
NEW JERSEY CAR INSURANCE RATES BY AGE GROUP
| Age | Annual Average Premium |
|---|---|
| 16 | $6,873 |
| 20s | $2,133 |
| 30s | $1,596 |
| 40s | $1,556 |
| 50s | $1,468 |
| 60s | $1,505 |
| 70s | $1,662 |
Best Car Insurance Companies in New Jersey
Each auto insurance company highlights its cheap rates. But just like with any product, the cheapest choice isn't always the best idea. Considering the financial stakes, it's worth doing your homework to find the insurance policy that covers your vehicle completely after a collision. Find the best value, rather than settling for the most affordable car insurance you find.
Compare local and national insurance companies' financial stability and claims satisfaction levels to better understand the level of service you'll receive. Claims satisfaction — measured by J.D. Power — is ranked on a scale of 2 to 5, with 5 being "among the best" and 2 being "the rest." Financial strength — calculated by A.M. Best and ranging from "Superior" to "Poor" — measures an insurance company's financial stability and ability to meet its contractual and policy obligations.
| Insurance Company | Claims Satisfaction (J.D. Power) | Financial Strength (A.M. Best) |
| Allstate | 3 | Superior |
| Amica | 5 | Superior |
| Cal Casualty | Not Rated | Excellent |
| Esurance | 2 | Superior |
| GEICO | 3 | Superior |
| Hanover | 3 | Excellent |
| Liberty Mutual | 3 | Excellent |
| MetLife | 3 | Superior |
| Penn National | Not Rated | Excellent |
| Progressive | 3 | Superior |
| State Farm | 3 | Superior |
| The Hartford | 3 | Excellent |
| Travelers | 3 | Superior |
| USAA | 5 | Superior |
| 21st Century | 3 | Excellent |
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What is the Best Car Insurance Coverage in New Jersey?
The minimum insurance requirement in New Jersey is $15,000 Bodily Injury per person, $30,000 Bodily Injury per accident, and $5,000 Property Damage per accident.
If you elect for the legal minimum coverage level in New Jersey, you'll owe an average of $820 annually. This is more expensive than the nationwide average by 32%. If you want better coverage, you can purchase a policy with comprehensive and collision coverage, which will protect against damages caused by car-versus-car collisions, theft, or weather conditions. Better auto insurance coverage comes at a cost: in New Jersey, a comprehensive policy with a $1,000 deductible costs $1,481, 81% more than liability-only coverage. For comprehensive insurance coverage with a $500 deductible, you can expect to pay 94% more than you would for basic liability-only coverage.
Examine average premiums for basic and comprehensive car insurance options below.
| Location | Liability-Only | Comprehensive — $1,000 Deductible | Comprehensive — $500 Deductible |
| New Jersey | $820 | $1,481 | $1,592 |
| National Average | $621 | $1,373 | $1,868 |
New Jersey Auto Insurance Laws
State minimum insurance requirements in New Jersey
In New Jersey, the state minimum coverage requirements are as follows:
Liability
- Bodily Injury $15,000 per person
- Bodily Injury $30,000 per accident
- Property Damage $5,000 per accident
In New Jersey, you can select one of two common policy options:
- A standard policy, with typical Bodily Injury limits ($15,000/$30,000/$250,000/$500,000)
- A basic policy, with optional Bodily Injury coverage up to $10,000
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
- Bodily Injury $15,000 per person
- Bodily Injury $30,000 per accident
- Property Damage $5,000
Personal Injury Protection
- $15,000 PIP coverage per person (Primary or Secondary to health coverage)
Right to Sue
- Limited or Unlimited
Optional coverage in New Jersey (varies by carrier):
- Additional PIP
- Extended Medical Benefits
- Funeral Expense Coverage
- Death Benefit Coverage
- Comprehensive Coverage
- Collision Coverage
- Rental Car Reimbursement
- Roadside Assistance/Towing and Labor
Driving Laws in New Jersey
New Jersey Texting and Driving Laws
- Ban on hand-held cell phones
- Ban on all cell phones for school bus drivers and Permit or Provisional Licenses
- Ban on text messaging for all drivers
New Jersey DUI Laws
New Jersey has a 10-year lookback period for DUI. Multiple offenses within this time period result in harsher penalties and fines.
In addition to penalties corresponding to the number of previous DUI convictions, any DUI offense in New Jersey includes the following surcharges:
- $100 to the Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund
- $100 Motor Vehicle Commission restoration fee
- $100 Intoxicated Driving Program fee
- $50 Violent Crimes Compensation Fund fee
- $75 Safe and Secure Community Program fee
- $1,000 per year automobile insurance surcharge ($1,500 for a third DUI offense)
Ticket Impact on Auto Insurance Rates in New Jersey
If you receive a ticket or citation, your auto insurance rates will probably rise. By how much depends on the violation, your insurance company's pricing strategy, and differing local insurance risks and regulations. That's why tickets may have a different impact on insurance in your state compared to the national average.
Below is a look at the average car insurance rates in New Jersey after some common violations.
| Violation | Avg. Annual Auto Insurance Rate | % Insurance Rate Increase | $ Insurance Rate Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hit and Run | $2,491 | 56% | $899 |
| Refused Breathalyzer/Chemical Test | $2,772 | 74% | $1,180 |
| DUI | $2,772 | 74% | $1,180 |
| Racing | $2,448 | 54% | $856 |
| Reckless Driving | $2,506 | 57% | $914 |
| Driving with a Suspended License | $2,797 | 76% | $1,205 |
| At-Fault Accident | $2,368 | 49% | $776 |
| Driving with an Open Container | $2,135 | 34% | $543 |
| Operating a Vehicle Without Permission | $2,274 | 43% | $682 |
| Passing a School Bus | $2,311 | 45% | $719 |
| Improper Passing | $2,206 | 39% | $614 |
| Following Too Closely | $2,304 | 45% | $712 |
| Speeding | $2,183 | 37% | $591 |
| Failure to Stop at a Red Light | $2,156 | 35% | $564 |
| Illegal Turn | $2,159 | 36% | $567 |
| Driving Wrong Way/Wrong Lane | $2,142 | 35% | $550 |
| Failure to Yield | $2,156 | 35% | $564 |
| Speeding in a School Zone | $1,958 | 23% | $366 |
| Driving Too Slowly | $1,958 | 23% | $366 |
| Distracted Driving | $2,142 | 35% | $550 |
| Driving with Expired Registration | $1,917 | 20% | $325 |
| Failure to Show Documents | $1,917 | 20% | $325 |
| Not-at-Fault Accident | $1,674 | 5% | $82 |
| Failure to Use Child Safety Restraint | $1,699 | 7% | $107 |
| Failure to Wear a Seat Belt | $1,699 | 7% | $107 |
| Driving Without Lights | $1,699 | 7% | $107 |
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New Jersey Car Insurance FAQs
Who has the cheapest car insurance in New Jersey?
For our average user profile, Travelers ($584) and Cal Casualty ($723) offer the cheapest car insurance in New Jersey.
How much is car insurance per month in NJ?
Your monthly auto insurance premium may vary for many reasons. For a 30-year-old male driver in New Jersey, the average premium is $132 per month. Find your own monthly rate with us.
Is car insurance more expensive in New Jersey?
Car insurance is a bit more expensive in New Jersey than it is in the rest of the U.S. On average, drivers in New Jersey pay $195 more per year than the national average — a difference of about $16 per month.
How much does car insurance cost in New Jersey cities?
Car insurance companies calculate your rate based on many factors, location of the vehicle being an important one. The cheapest car insurance is found in Toms River, New Jersey, and the most expensive in Newark, New Jersey.
| Rank | City | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark | $2,409 |
| 2 | East Orange | $2,356 |
| 3 | Paterson | $2,337 |
| 4 | Passaic | $2,337 |
| 5 | Elizabeth | $2,283 |
| 6 | Union City | $2,210 |
| 7 | Camden | $2,160 |
| 8 | Atlantic City | $2,148 |
| 9 | Perth Amboy | $2,083 |
| 10 | Linden | $2,074 |
| 11 | Fort Lee | $2,051 |
| 12 | Kearny | $2,039 |
| 13 | Clifton | $2,017 |
| 14 | Jersey City | $2,006 |
| 15 | Hoboken | $1,995 |
| 16 | Hackensack | $1,957 |
| 17 | Bayonne | $1,860 |
| 18 | Trenton | $1,847 |
| 19 | New Brunswick | $1,716 |
| 20 | Lakewood | $1,711 |
| 21 | Sayreville | $1,630 |
| 22 | Vineland | $1,620 |
| 23 | Toms River | $1,476 |
Recent New Jersey Car Insurance Questions and Answers
Why am I considered at fault for a rear end accident?
Can I drive a truck I'm buying across state lines, without plates, to get it home?
Will a non-owners cover damage to my mother's vehicle?
What insurance do I need for driving for doordash?
