In a Nutshell
We’ve gathered data on the lowest-cost auto insurers in New Jersey. Car insurance rates vary based on individual circumstances, such as credit score, age, vehicle and driving history. Read on for the cheapest car insurance options for basic coverage.Note from our editor: Maybe you’re searching for car insurance for the first time or want to do some insurance shopping to help lower your monthly premium? This article can serve as a starting point for your car insurance research. There are a lot of factors when it comes to the cost of car insurance, so while you may not see the exact premiums we’ve researched, they can give you an idea of some of the insurers offering the cheapest rates in your state.
With 39,000 miles of highways and roads, there’s plenty of ground to cover driving in New Jersey.
But is your car insurance coverage the best value you can possibly find? We looked into the average cost of car insurance in New Jersey and insurers offering the cheapest estimated rates, on minimal coverage, for several driver needs and profiles.
Unless otherwise noted, we used a relatively neutral driver profile — someone with no tickets, claims or accidents on their record, as outlined in our full methodology. The rates you get may be higher or lower depending on your personal driving history and other factors that affect car insurance like your vehicle, mileage, age and coverage selections.
Read on to learn about New Jersey’s car insurance rates and our findings for the cheapest options for basic coverage.
- Cost of car insurance in New Jersey
- 5 cheapest car insurance companies in New Jersey
- Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in New Jersey
- Cheapest state-minimum car insurance in New Jersey
- Cheapest car insurance for good credit in New Jersey
- Cheapest car insurance for poor credit in New Jersey
- Cheapest car insurance for drivers with multiple claims in New Jersey
- Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in New Jersey
- New Jersey auto insurance requirements
- Is usage-based insurance available in New Jersey?
- FAQs about the cheapest car insurance rates in New Jersey
- Methodology
Cost of car insurance in New Jersey
Monthly premiums for basic car insurance in New Jersey range from just over $100 up to almost $300 per month, depending on the type of coverage and driver profile.
Average monthly auto insurance premiums in New Jersey
| Driver or coverage | Avg. monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Full-coverage car insurance in New Jersey | $281.74 |
| State-minimum car insurance in New Jersey | $129.81 |
| Drivers with poor credit in New Jersey | $217.48 |
| Drivers with multiple claims in New Jersey | $293.14 |
| Young drivers in New Jersey | $229.86 |
5 cheapest car insurance companies in New Jersey
We’ve calculated rates based on a specific New Jersey driver profile, as detailed in our methodology, to assess insurers evenly and get the best sense of costs for an average driver and minimal coverage — so your rates could be different.
Unless otherwise noted, our New Jersey driver profile has a credit score of 680 to 719, is between 36 and 45 years old, hasn’t gotten any tickets or had any coverage gaps, and drives a car worth $20,000 to $30,000.
1. Palisades Group
In business since 1960, Palisades offers several lines of personal insurance, including auto, boat, homeowners, life and health. To get a quote or purchase coverage from this family-owned small business, you’ll need to email the company or speak to an agent over the phone.
2. New Jersey Manufacturers
Founded in 1913, New Jersey Manufacturers, or NJM, offers basic insurance coverage options and some optional add-ons. NJM offers collision and comprehensive auto insurance policies, which include limited pet coverage, transportation expense coverage and new car replacement. You can customize your policy to add gap insurance, roadside assistance and a higher rental reimbursement limit.
3. Geico
Geico offers a wide range of coverage options and many opportunities to save money for safe driving habits, safety equipment and customer loyalty. Its mobile app allows users to manage their policies, pay bills, request roadside assistance and more. Read reviews of Geico to learn more.
4. Travelers
Travelers car insurance is available in most states and offers customers who remain accident- and violation-free with a decreasing deductible every six months. Standout coverage options include new-car replacement coverage and accident forgiveness. Prospective customers can get a quote online, over the phone or through a local agent. Read reviews of Travelers to learn more.
5. Selective Insurance
Selective insurance offers personal car insurance policies through independent agents in certain states. Customers can get basic coverage or choose The Selective Edge package, which includes roadside assistance, key replacement, pet injury coverage and more. Various discounts are also available, and you can customize your policy with various optional add-ons. Learn more about Selective Insurance.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in New Jersey
The most complete car insurance you can get is often called full-coverage insurance and generally consists of bodily injury, property damage, uninsured motorist, personal injury protection, collision and comprehensive coverage.
Full coverage is usually a more expensive insurance option that your basic insurance coverage. The following five companies are the cheapest options for full-coverage insurance in New Jersey.
5 cheapest full-coverage car insurance companies in New Jersey
| 1 | Palisades Group | $140.90/month |
| 2 | New Jersey Manufacturers | $155.35/month |
| 3 | Selective Insurance | $191.17/month |
| 4 | Penn National | $195.33/month |
| 5 | Travelers | $205.33/month |
Cheapest state-minimum car insurance in New Jersey
Maybe you’re driving an older car or just want the bare minimum coverage required to drive your car in New Jersey legally. If that’s the case, you may be interested in state minimum — or basic — car insurance. The following insurers have the lowest estimated rates for our standard driver profile in New Jersey interested in state-minimum coverage only.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in New Jersey for state-minimum coverage
| 1 | Palisades Group | $64.63/month |
| 2 | New Jersey Manufacturers | $80.10/month |
| 3 | Geico | $84.79/month |
| 4 | Travelers | $87.92/month |
| 5 | Selective Insurance | $92.71/month |
Cheapest car insurance for good credit in New Jersey
Lots of things can affect the premium you pay for insurance. One of those things is your credit-based insurance score. You’ll likely pay less for car insurance if you have good credit. If your credit is relatively high, you may find the best rates at the following car insurance companies.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in New Jersey for those with good credit
| 1 | Palisades Group | $53.42/month |
| 2 | Travelers | $60.14/month |
| 3 | Geico | $64.01/month |
| 4 | New Jersey Manufacturers | $68.34/month |
| 5 | Selective Insurance | $84.57/month |
Cheapest car insurance for poor credit in New Jersey
While your credit isn’t the only factor affecting car insurance costs, you may wind up paying more for insurance if your credit isn’t great.
If you’re still working on raising your credit scores, you might want to shop around at the following insurers, which have the cheapest car insurance, minimal coverage, for New Jersey drivers with poor credit.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in New Jersey for those with poor credit
| 1 | Palisades Group | $104.40/month |
| 2 | New Jersey Manufacturers | $135.02/month |
| 3 | Geico | $138.58/month |
| 4 | Travelers | $154.83/month |
| 5 | Selective Insurance | $156.06/month |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with multiple claims in New Jersey
Your claims history can also affect how much insurers charge you for coverage. Drivers with more claims on their records may see their rates go up. The following companies have the lowest estimated rates on basic car insurance for drivers with multiple claims.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in New Jersey for multiple claims
| 1 | Palisades Group | $119.42/month |
| 2 | New Jersey Manufacturers | $127.60/month |
| 3 | Amica Mutual | $130.06/month |
| 4 | Geico | $143.00/month |
| 5 | Penn National | $186.50/month |
Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in New Jersey
Your experience is another factor included in your insurance score. In general, less-experienced drivers typically pay higher rates than drivers with more experience.
We found the following companies have the lowest estimated rates for 18- to 21-year-olds.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in New Jersey for young drivers
| 1 | Palisades Group | $116.40/month |
| 2 | Travelers | $127.58/month |
| 3 | Geico | $137.88/month |
| 4 | New Jersey Manufacturers | $139.71/month |
| 5 | Allstate | $173.00/month |
New Jersey auto insurance requirements
New Jersey requires all drivers to carry a basic auto insurance policy. That basic policy includes $5,000 per accident of personal damage liability coverage, $15,000 per person per accident of personal injury protection, and up to $250,000 for specific injuries. If you have a car loan or lease, your coverage responsibilities will likely be more extensive.
Is usage-based insurance available in New Jersey?
Usage-based insurance is vehicle insurance that allows customers to pay premiums based on their driving behavior. New Jersey drivers may take advantage of programs that reward them for reporting their safe driving habits.
FAQs about the cheapest car insurance rates in New Jersey
There are many ways to lower your car insurance premium. For example, you can ask for a higher deductible, which is the money you pay on a claim before insurance kicks in. In general, higher deductibles come with lower monthly payments. Alternatively, you can check into discounts you might qualify for — such as savings for recording safe driving habits or bundling multiple policies.
Basic car insurance is the minimum car insurance required by the state of New Jersey. It includes $5,000 per accident of personal damage liability coverage, $15,000 per person per accident of personal injury protection and up to $250,000 for certain injuries. Basic auto insurance is often the cheapest auto insurance available.
New Jersey Manufacturers, or NJM, is one of the cheaper car insurers we found for our New Jersey driver profile. It offers car insurance as low as $68.34 per month and may be a good choice for young drivers.
Methodology
This article’s estimated rates for basic coverage are the lowest based on the profile of a driver age 36 to 45 living in New Jersey. Unless otherwise noted, the rates displayed assume a single driver on the insurance policy with no tickets on their driving record and no claims or coverage lapses. The vehicle used in this estimate is valued between $20,000 and $30,000 and has annual mileage of 12,000 to 15,000. Estimated rates for insurance for good credit apply to scores of 720 and higher. Estimated rates for insurance for poor credit apply to scores from 350 to 579. Estimated rates for young drivers include those age 18 to 21. Estimated rates for those with multiple claims are calculated based on two claims.
Note that rates are provided every six months by Quadrant Information Services. Quadrant Information Services doesn’t include all insurance companies in its rate data. These are estimated rates meant only to provide a frame of reference and comparison. Your rates may vary depending on a range of factors, such as your age, vehicle driving habits and history.
Average monthly premium for full-coverage car insurance includes bodily injury, property damage, uninsured motorist, personal injury protection, collision and comprehensive coverages. Average monthly premium for state-minimum car insurance includes a New Jersey-mandated 15/30/5 insurance policy.