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Best Cheap Car Insurance in New Jersey (2023)

Drivers in New Jersey pay rates starting at $196/mo for full-coverage car insurance.

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Jess Ullrich
Written by
Jess Ullrich
Jess Ullrich
Written by
Jess Ullrich
Insurance Writer
Jess is a personal finance writer who's been creating financial and business content for over a decade. Her work is published on Investopedia, MoneyWise, NextAdvisor, The HuffPost, and more. Prior to freelancing full-time, Jess was an editor at Investopedia, The Balance, and FinanceBuzz. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Tanveen Vohra
Edited by
Tanveen Vohra
Photo of an Insurify author
Edited by
Tanveen Vohra
Editorial Manager
Tanveen Vohra is an editorial manager at Insurify specializing in writing about property and casualty insurance. Through her work, Tanveen helps consumers better understand the components of their insurance policies so they can make smarter purchase decisions.Tanveen's work has been cited by CNBC , Fox Business, Business Insider, Fortune, and Market Watch, among others.
Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed by
Konstantin Halachev
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Data reviewed by
Konstantin Halachev
VP of Engineering
Konstantin has led data science and engineering projects across multiple domains: biology, travel and insurance. He loves finding data nuggets that help people.

Updated December 21, 2022

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New Jersey packs more than 1,260 residents per square mile into its 8,722 square miles of space.[1] [2] The Garden State’s population density definitely plays a role in its position as the sixth most-expensive U.S. state for auto insurance.

New Jersey drivers pay an average of $354 per month for coverage. 

If you need new coverage, you can find the cheapest and best options available by comparing quotes from different insurers. To compare quotes online, you’ll only need to provide your ZIP code and some basic information about your driving history. 

Quick Facts

  • The average cost of car insurance in New Jersey is $354/mo.

  • GEICO is the cheapest provider in New Jersey, with average rates of $196/mo.

  • The easiest way to cut car insurance costs is to compare quotes online.

Best cheap car insurance in New Jersey: GEICO

1
GEICO logo

GEICO

Best Cheap Car Insurance New Jersey
Average Monthly Cost:
$196
Insurify Composite Score:
88

To help identify the best cheap car insurance in New Jersey, Insurify collects and analyzes data about insurers in the state to calculate an Insurify Composite Score (ICS). Each company’s score is a reflection of their reliability, quality, and financial stability. With an ICS of 88 and a relatively affordable average monthly quote of $196, GEICO is our top pick for cheap auto coverage in New Jersey.

Car Insurance CompanyInsurify Composite Score (ICS)Average Monthly Quote
GEICO88$196
Travelers80$203
USAA96$215
Nationwide89$230
American Family89$272
Plymouth RockN/A$198
Erie85$205
CSAAN/A$302
Mercury81$306
ProgressiveN/A$308
Liberty Mutual82$314
Midvale Home & AutoN/A$351
Foremost SignatureN/A$356
State Farm88$368
Farmers85$428
Bristol WestN/A$486
Allstate85$635
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • The Insurify Composite Score (ICS) is a proprietary rating calculated by a team of data scientists at Insurify, weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company.

    Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews.

Learn More: Best Car Insurance Companies

Minimum car insurance requirements in New Jersey

All motor vehicles operated or parked on New Jersey roadways are required to be insured. Proof of insurance must be carried in your car at all times and must be available when:

  • Requested by law enforcement

  • Renewing vehicle registration

  • The vehicle is involved in a car accident

Where the basic plan only requires $5,000 per accident of property damage liability insurance, the minimum liability insurance requirements for a standard plan in New Jersey are:1

  • $15,000 per person for bodily injury

  • $30,000 per accident for bodily injury

As a major part of your liability insurance, bodily injury coverage covers medical bills for people other than the policyholder who are injured during an accident. New Jersey is a no-fault state, meaning both parties’ insurance providers will pay for expenses, regardless of which party caused the accident.

  • $5,000 per accident for property damage

If it’s determined that an insured driver is at fault for an accident, this coverage pays for repairs to the property of the other involved parties. Additionally, property damage coverage can cover legal costs if the insured driver is involved in a lawsuit following the accident.

  • $15,000 per person for uninsured underinsured motorist bodily injury

  • $30,000 per accident for uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury

  • $5,000 per accident for uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays for damages caused by a driver with little or no insurance after a car accident. In New Jersey, drivers are required to purchase this coverage for bodily injuries.

New Jersey MVC information

Drivers in New Jersey who want to access driving-related services can start online through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. The state’s MVC website provides step-by-step information about how to get a learners permit and license, and new drivers can also get information on road tests. For existing drivers, the MVC lets you renew your license, register a new vehicle or renew a registration, restore a suspended license, and more.

Public transportation in New Jersey

Like many states, New Jersey has both urban and rural areas. In general, its larger cities have more options for public transit, providing both rail and bus service. Many New Jersey residents also commute to New York City for work, and NJ Transit trains provide regular round-trip service to The Big Apple. Ferry and water taxi services are also available in select locations, like Hoboken.

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Tips for getting cheap car insurance in New Jersey

Insurers look at several factors when determining insurance rates in New Jersey. They typically consider your location, age, driving record, and more. The best way to get cheap auto coverage is to maintain a clean record and shop around for car insurance when buying a policy. Comparing quotes from different insurance companies will help you understand what’s available and get the best price on coverage

Liability-only vs. full-coverage insurance in New Jersey

If you live in New Jersey, you can opt to carry liability-only auto insurance, which pays for expenses related to injuries and damage to the other party’s car if you cause an accident. Each state sets its own minimums for how much liability insurance it requires drivers to carry. Liability-only insurance can make sense if:

  • You have a low-value vehicle.

  • You can afford to repair or replace your car out of your own pocket.

  • Getting the cheapest insurance possible is your top priority.

For a higher level of protection, you can choose full-coverage insurance, which includes basic liability plus collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage pays for damages to your car, even if you’re at fault for an accident. Comprehensive coverage pays for damages caused by events out of your control, like vandalism, theft, weather, and damage caused by animals. Auto lenders and leasing companies typically require drivers to carry full coverage on a car they’ve financed.

You may also opt for full coverage if:

  • You have a high-value vehicle.

  • You wouldn’t be able to afford to repair or replace your car out of pocket.

  • Your car’s actual cash value (the payout you’d likely get if your car is totaled) exceeds your annual premium to carry full coverage.

Here’s a look at the average monthly quotes for the cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey by policy type.

Car Insurance CompanyLiability OnlyFull Coverage
USAA$140$215
Travelers$165$203
American Family$177$272
Progressive$201$308
Erie$134$205
Foremost Signature$140$356
Plymouth Rock$185$198
Nationwide$220$230
AAA$227$302
State Farm$240$368
Liberty Mutual$246$314
Midvale Home & Auto$272$351
Farmers$279$428
Mercury$294$306
Bristol West$337$486
Allstate$414$635
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

How your driving history affects New Jersey car insurance rates

Driving violations like speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents can increase the cost of car insurance for New Jersey drivers. The safest drivers tend to pay the lowest rates, while drivers with infractions like a speeding ticket, at-fault accident, or DUI on their records pay much higher rates. Check out how car insurance quotes in New Jersey vary based on drivers’ driving records in the table below, sourced from Insurify’s proprietary database of more than 70 million quotes.

See More: High-Risk Car Insurance New Jersey

Car Insurance CompanyClean RecordSpeeding TicketWith a DUIAt-Fault Accident
Nationwide$194$261$386$284
State Farm$195$262$388$285
Travelers$198$266$394$290
Farmers$204$274$406$299
American Family$271$364$539$397
Plymouth Rock$193$259$384$283
Mercury$277$372$551$406
Foremost Signature$283$380$563$414
AAA$290$389$577$425
Midvale Home & Auto$304$408$605$445
Liberty Mutual$306$411$609$448
Progressive$307$412$611$449
USAA$367$493$730$537
GEICO$426$572$848$624
Bristol West$442$594$880$647
Allstate$633$850$1,260$927
Erie$674$905$1,341$987
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

See More: SR-22 Car Insurance New Jersey

SR-22 insurance in New Jersey

In the majority of states, drivers who are convicted of a DUI need to file an SR-22 form before they can get back on the road. This form serves as proof of minimum coverage. However, New Jersey doesn’t require an SR-22 after an in-state DUI conviction. If you have a DUI conviction in New Jersey, talk with your insurance company about your coverage options.

How credit scores affect New Jersey car insurance quotes

In general, insurance companies consider drivers with excellent credit to be a lower financial risk to insure. These drivers tend to get lower car insurance rates than drivers with average or poor credit. In New Jersey, drivers with excellent credit pay $301 per month for auto insurance coverage on average, while those with poor credit pay $603 per month on average. 

New Jersey lawmakers are currently considering a bill calling to ban insurers from using credit scores while setting car insurance rates. If this bill becomes law, drivers’ credit scores will no longer affect their insurance rates.2

Credit TierAverage Monthly Quote
Excellent$301
Good$356
Average$389
Poor$603
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

See More: Car Insurance Quotes for Bad Credit

How your city affects New Jersey insurance quotes

Car insurance costs in New Jersey also vary based on where you live. Generally, it’s more expensive to get auto insurance coverage in large cities and high-crime areas. In New Jersey, drivers in East Orange pay the highest average rates for car insurance, at $502 per month, while drivers in Middletown pay the lowest on average, at $145 per month.

CityAverage Monthly Quote
Bayonne$333
Brick$308
Camden$401
Cherry Hill$192
Clifton$330
East Orange$502
Edison$287
Elizabeth$377
Irvington$487
Jersey City$320
Lakewood$244
Middletown$145
Newark$445
Old Bridge$236
Passaic$383
Paterson$418
Toms River$213
Trenton$286
Union City$393
Woodbridge$318
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

How your age affects your New Jersey car insurance rates

Auto insurers generally consider younger drivers to be a higher risk to insure due to their inexperience on the road. Higher risk often means higher rates, and this holds true in New Jersey, where teen drivers pay $784 per month on average for auto insurance coverage. Drivers in their 60s pay the lowest average monthly rates of $214. The table below shows the average car insurance quote associated with each age group, sourced from Insurify’s proprietary database.

Age GroupAverage Monthly Quote
Teenagers$784
Under 25$389
20s$339
30s$309
40s$283
50s$271
60s$214
70s$266
80+$206
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Quotes for younger drivers

In New Jersey, as in most states, drivers under the age of 25 are considered the highest risk to insure. Teen drivers pay the most, followed by drivers in their early 20s. This is due to their lack of a proven driving record. Young drivers with infractions on their record, like speeding tickets and DUIs, can expect to pay even higher rates. Check out the table below for a closer look at what young drivers in New Jersey pay for car insurance.

Car Insurance CompanyLiability OnlyFull CoverageWith an AccidentWith a DUI
Travelers$209$246$242$492
Progressive$279$398$355N/A
Liberty Mutual$349$416$420N/A
Plymouth Rock$259$257$256$509
AAA$331$390$401$782
Midvale Home & Auto$363$424$522$748
Mercury$407$376$428$708
Bristol West$442$604$685N/A
NationwideN/A$347$497$490
Foremost SignatureN/A$384N/AN/A
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Quotes for middle-aged drivers

Middle-aged drivers in New Jersey typically find much cheaper car insurance rates compared to younger drivers. This is because they have a proven driving record that makes them a lower risk to insure. However, middle-aged drivers with DUIs and accidents can still expect higher rates than their clean-record counterparts, given that the infractions make them a risk to insure in the eyes of insurance companies.

The table below gives an idea of how much middle-aged drivers in New Jersey can expect to pay, based on their driving record. The quotes shown below are from Insurify’s proprietary database.

Car Insurance CompanyLiability OnlyFull CoverageWith an AccidentWith a DUI
Travelers$152$194$203$378
Progressive$168$240N/AN/A
Liberty Mutual$202$260$271$509
Plymouth Rock$141$165$163$324
AAA$206$273N/A$521
Nationwide$215$204N/A$380
Midvale Home & Auto$232$321$419$551
Mercury$245$277$367$494
Bristol West$305$432$546$790
Foremost SignatureN/A$404N/AN/A
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Quotes for senior drivers

Senior drivers in the garden state can expect some of the cheapest rates compared to other age groups. This is due to the group’s safer driving behaviors as well as their tendency to have better credit scores, which makes them a lower risk to insure.3 The table below shows how much senior drivers in New Jersey can expect to pay, based on their driving record and policy preferences.

Car Insurance CompanyLiability OnlyFull CoverageWith an AccidentWith a DUI
Travelers$107$155$152$306
Progressive$116N/AN/AN/A
Nationwide$146$166N/A$324
Plymouth Rock$126$140$152$269
AAA$134$179N/A$346
Liberty Mutual$156$204$252$378
Mercury$159$190$256$348
Midvale Home & Auto$191$248$311$450
Bristol West$217$350$526$611
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

New Jersey car insurance FAQs

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about car insurance in New Jersey.

  • On average, GEICO and Plymouth Rock offer the cheapest car insurance in New Jersey, with average monthly quotes of $196 and $198, respectively. Travelers also provides fairly affordable policies, at an average of $203 per month.

    However, the cost of your insurance can change depending on the coverage level you select. Drivers who opt for minimum coverage car insurance will pay less on average than those who opt for full coverage. For instance, GEICO offers the cheapest minimum coverage at $128 per month on average, while Travelers offers the cheapest full coverage at $203 per month.

  • The cost of car insurance in New Jersey will vary based on your age, driving record, credit score, location, and other factors. For instance, young drivers with clean driving records can get a full-coverage policy for as low as $246 per month on average with Travelers, while middle-aged drivers can get the same coverage for just $194 per month. For a young driver with a DUI, the lowest cost coverage jumps to $490 on average with Nationwide. The same coverage costs only $380 for a middle-aged driver with a DUI.

    Middle-aged and senior drivers tend to pay less for coverage than younger drivers, and those with bad credit generally pay more than those with excellent credit. Drivers in more densely populated areas are also likely to pay higher insurance rates than those in more rural areas.

  • The average cost of car insurance in New Jersey is relatively high compared to most other U.S. states. Drivers pay an average of $354 per month for coverage, making New Jersey the sixth most-expensive state for an auto policy. That average considers factors like driver location, age, credit, and more. While the cost of car insurance is fairly high in New Jersey, drivers in neighboring New York state pay a steep $569 on average each month for coverage.

  • GEICO, State Farm, USAA, Nationwide, and American Family are among the top insurers in New Jersey based on their Insurify Composite Scores (ICS), which consider provider quality, reliability, and financial health. USAA receives an impressive 96 ICS, followed by Nationwide and American Family, each with scores of 89. GEICO and State Farm both received scores of 88.

    Among those insurers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA all received recent AM Best ratings of A++ (Superior), which is the highest possible rating. Nationwide received an A+, while American Family received an A. AM Best ratings are a measure of the financial stability of insurance companies.

  • New Jersey requires drivers to buy personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. State law mandates that drivers have a minimum of $15,000 per person or accident, though you can get up to $250,000 (or even more, in some cases).4 This type of coverage offers financial protection no matter who’s found at fault in an accident, and it can help pay for medical costs or lost wages if you or a passenger is hurt in an auto accident and can’t work.

  • Yes, car insurance is required in New Jersey. Depending on their situation, drivers in the state may opt for a basic policy or standard policy and select their desired coverage amounts with their insurer. The basic policy offers limited coverage, and it’s designed for young drivers with few assets and no children. With a basic policy, minimum coverage requirements are $5,000 per accident in property damage liability and $15,000 in PIP.

    The standard policy is the more common option, and coverage minimums are as follows:

    • Bodily injury liability: $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident

    • Property damage liability: $5,000 per accident

    • Personal injury protection: $15,000 per person or accident

  • In the majority of U.S. states, the insurance follows the car, and New Jersey is no exception. Your insurance will be the primary form of coverage whether you’re driving or not. If a friend or family member borrows and crashes your car, and they’re found at fault, your insurance coverage will kick in. Keep in mind that an at-fault accident could result in higher insurance premiums for you, so always be sure a driver is trustworthy before you let them borrow your vehicle.

  • Full-coverage car insurance in New Jersey typically includes PIP, bodily injury liability, property damage liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. Note that with standard policies, both collision and comprehensive are optional. It may also include underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage, which is optional as well.

    While these coverages may be optional, adding them to your car insurance policy could help ensure you have adequate financial protection in the event of an accident. However, drivers who have an older vehicle or those who drive very infrequently may decide optional coverage isn’t worth the cost.

Insurify Insights

How New Jersey Drivers Measure Up

While most drivers know that car insurance quotes are determined in part by your personal driving history, many may be unaware that rates are also impacted by the average risk of the drivers around you as well. Check out Insurify's latest analysis of driving records in New Jersey below:

Methodology

Drawing from an internal database of over 4 million car insurance applications, the research team at Insurify analyzes patterns in car ownership and driver behavior - including how New Jersey drivers measure up to their fellow motorists across the United States in areas including speeding, DUIs, and more.
Insurify Insights publishes data-driven articles, trend analyses, and national rankings each week on all factors related to cars and those who drive them.

honda

Honda Accord

Most Popular Car in New Jersey

#49

State with the Most Speeding Tickets Rank

#47

State with the Moving Violations Rank

#47

State with the Most DUIs Rank

#41

State with the most Suspended Licenses

  • While car accidents are a sadly unavoidable feature of time spent on the road, rates of accidents do vary from city to city and from state to state. New Jersey is the #42 state in the country for drivers with an at-fault accident on their driving record.

    • Rank among states: #42
    • Percent of drivers in New Jersey with an accident: 6.9%
  • While driving while intoxicated is never acceptable, it’s a more common offense than many assume. New Jersey is the #47 state in the country for drivers with a prior drunk driving conviction.

    • Rank among states: #47
    • Percent of drivers in New Jersey with a DUI: 0.8%
  • Reckless driving refers to a specific traffic violation: when drivers willfully act dangerously in spite of the risks they’re imposing on both themselves and others. New Jersey is the #20 state in the country for drivers with a reckless driving offense on record.

    • Rank among states: #20
    • Percent of drivers in New Jersey with a reckless driving offense: 1.4%
  • The Insurify team classifies rude drivers as those who commit one or more of the following driving offenses: failure to yield or failure to stop, improper backing, passing where prohibited, tailgating, street racing, or hit-and-run. New Jersey is the #17 state in the country for drivers with a rude driving violation on record.

    • Rank among states: #17
    • Percent of drivers in New Jersey with a rude driving violation: 1.8%
  • Exceeding the speed limit can endanger others and have a serious impact on your insurance costs. New Jersey is the #49 state in the country for drivers with a speeding ticket on record.

    • Rank among states: #49
    • Percent of drivers in New Jersey with a speeding ticket: 4.7%
  • Failing to yield the right of way isn’t just frustrating for other drivers; it’s dangerous, too. New Jersey is the #11 state in the country for drivers with a failure to yield violation on record.

    • Rank among states: #11
    • Percent of drivers in New Jersey with a failure to yield violation: 0.2%

Insurify Insights

Insurify's team of data scientists and content specialists presents Insurify Insights, a series of automotive, home, and health studies focusing on the topics that impact us all. through expert analysis of over 4 million car insurance applications and an array of top data sources, the Insurify Insights team produces new data-driven articles, trend analyses, regional superlatives, and national rankings every week. See Insurify Insights as featured in Forbes, Fox News, USA Today, NPR, and more.

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  • Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service's database of auto insurance rates. With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums.

Sources

  1. New Jersey State Government. "2021 Population Density: New Jersey Counties." Accessed December 20, 2022
  2. New Jersey State Government. "State of NJ Profile." Accessed December 20, 2022
Jess Ullrich
Written by
Jess Ullrich
Linkedin

Insurance Writer

Jess is a personal finance writer who's been creating financial and business content for over a decade. Her work is published on Investopedia, MoneyWise, NextAdvisor, The HuffPost, and more. Prior to freelancing full-time, Jess was an editor at Investopedia, The Balance, and FinanceBuzz. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Learn More
Tanveen Vohra
Edited by
Tanveen Vohra
Linkedin

Editorial Manager

Photo of an Insurify author
Edited by
Tanveen Vohra
Editorial Manager
Tanveen Vohra is an editorial manager at Insurify specializing in writing about property and casualty insurance. Through her work, Tanveen helps consumers better understand the components of their insurance policies so they can make smarter purchase decisions.Tanveen's work has been cited by CNBC , Fox Business, Business Insider, Fortune, and Market Watch, among others.
Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed by
Konstantin Halachev
Linkedin

VP of Engineering

Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Data reviewed by
Konstantin Halachev
VP of Engineering
Konstantin has led data science and engineering projects across multiple domains: biology, travel and insurance. He loves finding data nuggets that help people.