New Jersey Auto Insurance
All vehicles registered in New Jersey are required to have auto insurance which conforms to minimum standards put in place by the state. However, New Jersey differs slightly from most other states in that it gives its drivers two (2) options as to which minimum policies they would like to meet. As expected, one set of minimums is higher and one set is lower. The lower minimum choice, however, is only available to those drivers who are single and/or who do not have a lot of assets that they care to protect in the event of an accident. In general, though, most people are allowed to choose which policy minimums they wish to meet.
The majority of New Jersey drivers opt to meet the “standard policy” requirements. In this case, they will have to possess an auto insurance policy with at least $15,000 in bodily injury coverage for accidents in which one person is injured, $30,000 in bodily injury coverage for accidents in which more than one person is injured and a minimum of $5,000 in general property damage coverage. In addition to general liability insurance, New Jersey drivers are also required to obtain at least $15,000 in personal injury protection and $15,000/$30,000 in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Some drivers however will opt for what is known as the “basic policy.” This very low coverage policy, which is not recommended because of the limited amount of protection it provides, requires only $5,000 in general property damage coverage and at least $15,000 in personal injury protection.
Whenever it is financially possible, all drivers are encouraged to opt for coverage in amounts above even the standard policy and consider some form of comprehensive and/or collision coverage. The basic policy option for New Jersey drivers provides absolutely no real protection in the event of an accident and is basically useless. While the standard policy is somewhat better, it still will not truly protect a driver if an accident occurs.
How much is New Jersey auto insurance per month?
New Jersey drivers pay an average of approximately $1,081 annually or $90 a month for car insurance. This amount, while lower than the national average, can still be reduced by choosing the right auto insurance company. Of course, finding a good car insurance company is something that requires a bit of work on the driver’s part. As a driver, you should do your best to research all providers in your area and compare auto insurance quotes from many different providers in order to find the best possible deal to meet your insurance needs.
Stolen and Vandalized Vehicles
One thing that can cause your automobile insurance rate to go up significantly is owning a sports car, a luxury vehicle, or any other vehicle that has a high value. This can affect you no matter which policy you opt for since New Jersey has a serious problem with stolen vehicles. In fact, the problem is so serious that the state’s insurance bureau recently came out with a list of the top ten most stolen vehicles in the state. If you own one of these vehicles, then you can expect your car insurance rates to be much more than those of the average driver. These vehicles include the Honda Civic, the Honda Accord, the Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee, the Dodge Caravan, the Toyota Camry, the Nissan Maxima, the Plymouth Voyager, the Acura Integra, the Dodge Intrepid, and the Nissan Altima.
If you own one of these vehicles, or any other vehicle with a high value or that is prone to being stolen or vandalized, then you may experience higher auto insurance rates but there are still things you can do to save money on the cost of car insurance. Look around and learn about discounts. Many car insurance companies offer a number of auto insurance discounts to offset minor high risk factors such as a vehicle with a great risk of car theft. One of the biggest discounts that can help you to save money as a luxury or expensive car owner is to make sure your car has factory installed anti-theft features as typically the more anti-theft features you have, the higher your car insurance discount.
Who is the best New Jersey Car Insurance Company?
Allstate, GEICO, Progressive, State Farm and many other national and regional car insurance companies offer coverage in New Jersey. No matter what your risk profile you certainly won’t have a hard time finding an auto insurance company in New Jersey but finding the best car insurance company for your risk profile will take a little more work. Much like shopping for anything you need to spend time learning about the product you are buying (auto insurance) and compare providers (auto insurance companies). Most New Jersey drivers opt to start an auto insurance comparison online as it relieves the pressure of speaking with a local agent and you can compare auto insurance quotes from the comfort of your home. Get started and compare New Jersey auto insurance quotes today by entering your ZIP code above.
