Car Insurance Comparison: New York vs. New Jersey

Planning a move from New York to New Jersey? Remember to update your car insurance.

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By Kristine Lee
Updated May 23, 2022
Edited By Ross Martin


Comparing auto insurance in New York and New Jersey

If you are moving from New York to New Jersey, you may be focusing on the primary concerns and expenses: finding a trustworthy moving company, getting an apartment or house in your new locale, and setting your move-in schedule.

With so many moving parts, it can be easy to forget the details. Car insurance coverage is among these details, but it's an important one. To stay street legal and find cheap rates, you’ll need to update your insurance policy — or find a new insurer altogether — when you move between states.

Check out our guide to car insurance in New York and New Jersey and learn what your next steps should be. We'll cover the following topics:


  1. Insurance rate comparison
  2. Insurance rates by coverage level
  3. Cheap companies by state
  4. Rates in major cities
  5. Additional resources

New York vs. New Jersey car insurance — average prices

Expect to pay less for auto insurance in your new home. The average annual auto insurance rate in New Jersey is $338 cheaper than the typical cost of car insurance in New York. The precise cost will depend on your coverage choice, insurance history, and your choice of car insurance company.


AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUMS IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY
State Average Annual Price
New York $2,188
New Jersey $1,850

Average car insurance premiums by coverage level

The cost of auto insurance depends on your vehicle, your personal driving profile, and how much money you’re willing to spend each month to protect your car.

If you select state minimum liability auto insurance coverage, you will most likely carry bodily injury, property damage liability, and medical payment coverages, in addition to uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection in certain states.


CAR INSURANCE PREMIUMS — STATE MINIMUM COVERAGE IN NEW YORK vs. NEW JERSEY
State Period Premium
New York Annual $887
New Jersey Annual $881
New York 6-Month $443
New Jersey 6-Month $440
New York Monthly $74
New Jersey Monthly $73

Electing full-coverage auto insurance incurs additional costs, but you'll get the added protection of comprehensive and collision coverages, as well as perks like rental reimbursement and roadside assistance protection. The chief benefit of full coverage auto insurance is that it insures your vehicle and you better than does a lower level of coverage. If you're motivated to protect your investment in your vehicle, consider bumping up your policy to full coverage.


AUTO INSURANCE RATES FOR FULL COVERAGE IN NEW YORK vs. NEW JERSEY
Location Duration Cost
New York Annual $1,786
New Jersey Annual $1,679
New York 6-Month $893
New Jersey 6-Month $840
New York Monthly $149
New Jersey Monthly $140

Cheap auto insurance companies in New York and New Jersey

A primary determinant of your auto insurance costs is your choice of car insurance company. Car insurance companies set rates in a variety of ways, leading to substantial variations in pricing. Your location plays a role, too: some auto insurance companies have limited geographic range, while major insurers' rates change by state.

When swapping states, it’s important to find the best cheap insurance company offering policies in your new location. Start researching below by viewing the five most affordable car insurance companies in New York and New Jersey.


CHEAP CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES IN NEW YORK
Company Average Annual Rate
USAA $1,175
Erie $1,230
Utica National $1,519
Progressive $1,527
Travelers $1,544

See other affordable auto insurance companies in New York.


CHEAP AUTO INSURANCE COMPANIES IN NEW JERSEY
Company Average Annual Rate
21st Century $1,089
Travelers $1,168
New Jersey Manufacturers $1,284
Penn National $1,352
Palisades $1,368

View other inexpensive auto insurance companies in New Jersey.


Car insurance rates by city in New York and New Jersey

Though car insurance is legislated by states, insurers assign rates by ZIP code to adjust for local factors like density and frequency of car crashes. The specific location to which you relocate plays a major role in deciding your car insurance rates.

View the below tables to see auto insurance rates in major cities in New Jersey and New York.


CAR INSURANCE PRICES BY CITY IN NEW YORK
City Average Annual Rate
New York $2,681
Buffalo $1,518
Rochester $1,046
Yonkers $1,939
Syracuse $1,108

See a longer list of insurance rates in New York cities here.


AUTO INSURANCE RATES BY CITY IN NEW JERSEY
City Average Annual Premium
Newark $2,547
Jersey City $2,299
Paterson $2,424
Elizabeth $2,422
Toms River $1,708

Looking for another city's data? View more insurance rates for New Jersey cities here.


More resources:moving from New York to New Jersey

When you pack up and move from New York to New Jersey, you’ll encounter unfamiliar driving laws, different SR-22 or FR-44 requirements, and more. Make sure your interstate move goes smoothly with our data on your new home:

Related content

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Kristine LeeManager, Content and Data

Kristine is a licensed insurance agent who joined The Zebra in 2019 as an in-house content researcher and writer.

She is an authority on all things insurance and covers the ins and outs of auto, home, life and renters insurance. Her specialty is in providing data-backed insights and information to help insurance shoppers make informed decisions.

Kristine's insurance expertise and research have been cited by publications such as CNBC, Car and Driver, Business Insider, Yahoo!, The Balance, Nationwide and Elephant.

Learn more about Kristine Lee Right arrow icon

About The Zebra

The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.

  • The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.

  • The Zebra’s insurance content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.

  • The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.

  • The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.