The pricing and costs of auto insurance in New Jersey is based on several factors including driving record, credit history, age, area and the type of vehicles driven. New Jersey car insurance laws requires that all drivers carry, at minimum, liability insurance, personal injury protection and uninsured motorists coverage.

Laws governing car insurance in New Jersey requires that all owners of commercial vehicles principally garaged or registered in the state carry liability insurance. Commercial car insurance in New Jersey can be obtained voluntarily or through a licensed New Jersey auto insurance company certified by the New Jersey Auto Insurance Plan. Consider the following tips to help you get the best rates for car insurance in New Jersey.

1. Research average pricing and costs of auto insurance in New Jersey.

2. Shop around for the best NJ car insurance rates.

3. Screen the driving record of your employee commercial drivers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Do your homework before obtaining car insurance in New Jersey

Auto insurance is generally higher in urban areas due to increased traffic and risk for theft and accidents. New Jersey car insurance rates have consistently been among the highest in the nation. Basic New Jersey car insurance premiums vary and can average approximately $2,500 or more annually.

I recommend: The State of New Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance provides information on New Jersey auto insurance rates. You may also consider checking out the NJPAIP.com for information on New Jersey auto insurance companies.

Conduct research to find affordable New Jersey car insurance rates

Shopping around is the best way to obtain affordable New Jersey car insurance rates and reliable claims service. State Farm, Allstate Insurance and Progressive continue to be the top three U.S. insurance providers. There are quite a few websites from which businesses can obtain free online New Jersey auto insurance quotes from these and a range of other reliable and well-known New Jersey insurance companies.

I recommend: You may consider checking out OnlineAutoInsurance.com, Insurance Noodle, NetQuote, InsuranceQuoteOnline, MostChoice or USInsuranceOnline to compare New Jersey automobile insurance quotes. You may also consider visiting High Point Auto Insurance to compare rates.

Check out your driving record before applying for NJ auto insurance

Under state law, providing inaccurate information to a New Jersey car insurance company is considered insurance fraud. Be sure to pull your driving record and review for inaccuracies. It's also a good idea to screen any prospective employees to ensure that their driving records will not negatively affect your premium for car insurance in NJ.

I recommend: Check out 4dmv.com to obtain driving records for your employees. You may also consider visiting 4safedrivers.com to order a copy of your driving record.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before you can register a vehicle and obtain license plates, you must first purchase car insurance in New Jersey that includes at least the state-minimum coverage requirements. As a commercial driver, it's best to carry more than the state minimum to ensure that your business is adequately protected.

Car insurance in New Jersey, like gas or rent, is expensive yet necessary. It doesn't just protect your car from dents; it protects you and other drivers from both bodily harm and financial ruin. For that reason, New Jersey car insurance isn't just something that drivers in the "Garden State" should have; it's something they must have.

New Jersey auto insurance doesn’t have to break the bank. You may be able to save by shopping around, declining unnecessary coverage and trading high deductibles for lower premiums. Indeed, you can cut costs, but you can't cut corners. If you drive in New Jersey, you need car insurance in New Jersey. Here's what kind and how much, according to New Jersey state law:

1. When buying auto insurance in New Jersey, drivers must purchase property damage liability (PDL), personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured motorist (UM) coverage; collision, comprehensive and uninsured property damage coverage are recommended, but not required.
2. While New Jersey auto insurance is mandatory, state law does not specify minimum coverage. Still, the state recommends PDL coverage of at least $5,000 per accident and PIP coverage of at least $15,000 per person, per accident, up to $250,000 for permanent or significant injury.
3. In New Jersey, auto insurance comes in two types: The “Basic” policy, which includes only the minimum coverage as required by state law, and the “Standard” policy, which includes extra coverage -- including bodily injury liability (BIL) -- and higher coverage limits.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Browse NJ auto insurance rates online

If you need New Jersey auto insurance, online quotes are a good starting point. Available from all major New Jersey auto insurance companies, they offer a fast and convenient way to research and compare premiums.

I recommend: Get comprehensive online quotes from many a New Jersey auto insurance company at websites like InsWeb, Insurance.com, InsuranceUSA and InsuranceFinder, or from companies like Progressive and Esurance, which quote both their own and competitors' rates.

Solicit NJ car insurance quotes from national providers

Most major car insurance carriers offer auto insurance in New Jersey and all provide competitive New Jersey car insurance rates.

I recommend: When they’re browsing car insurance companies, New Jersey drivers should start with the largest and most popular, including major providers like AIG, Allstate, Chubb, Farmers, GEICO, The Hartford, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. National associations like AAA and AARP are also good sources for affordable auto insurance in New Jersey.

Get car insurance in New Jersey from local and regional companies

In New Jersey, auto insurance rates can vary dramatically; for some of the most affordable, consider locally based providers.

I recommend: For automotive insurance, New Jersey drivers should try New Jersey-based companies like IFA Insurance Company, New Jersey Skylands Insurance and New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company. Also consider local programs, such as the New Jersey Automobile Insurance Plan, which is designed for drivers who can't easily find auto insurance in New Jersey, and the Dollar a Day Auto Insurance Policy, or SAIP.

Use an independent agent to find New Jersey car insurance bargains

Buying car insurance in New Jersey via an independent insurance agent can expose you to new resources, practical advice and special rates.

I recommend: To find an independent agent who can sell you car insurance in New Jersey, use the “find an independent agent” feature at the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New Jersey.

Choose NJ auto insurance companies that you can trust

Before doing business with New Jersey car insurance providers, review their records with consumers to make sure they are reliable, reputable and responsible.

I recommend: If you subscribe to Consumer Reports, you can check up on New Jersey car insurance companies. Another good resource is the New Jersey Division of Insurance, which compiles statistics on complaints about New Jersey auto insurance companies on its automobile insurance page.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider buying more coverage than is required by state law; minimum New Jersey car insurance might not be enough to cover car repairs or medical bills after an accident.
• •  Penalties for drivers who don't have New Jersey car insurance include driver's license and license plate suspension, cash fines and even jail time.
• •  If you're leasing or financing your car, dealerships might require you to have more and better New Jersey auto insurance than is required by state law.
• •  Higher deductibles typically mean lower premiums and more monthly savings on auto insurance in New Jersey.

Staying abreast of auto insurance in New Jersey news and trends will help business owners obtain and keep affordable commercial auto insurance rates. On average, drivers in New Jersey pay the highest insurance premiums across the United States.

New Jersey auto insurance companies base premiums on several factors including driving record, credit history, age, area and the type of vehicles driven. Consider the following auto insurance in New Jersey news and trends on which you should stay informed.

1. Stay on the lookout for changes in New Jersey car insurance regulations.

2. Research the latest news on ways to obtain affordable New Jersey car insurance.

3. Review prices and products offered by a range of New Jersey insurance companies.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check with state departments for NJ car insurance law updates

Insurance laws and regulations are ever changing. Because having adequate commercial car insurance is a must for all business owners, it's important that businesses stay updated on state requirements that could impact their ability to obtain and keep affordable New Jersey car insurance.

I recommend: The State of New Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance provides information on New Jersey auto insurance rates and other insurance-related news and trends. You can also visit the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to obtain national insurance information as well as specific New Jersey car insurance information.

Watch out for new NJ car insurance product news and trends

The state insurance commissioner and insurance companies are constantly working together to come up ways to reduce insurance rates for New Jersey residents. For example, the pay-as-you-drive New Jersey auto insurance concept was recently introduced in the state, which is an option for affordable insurance offered by Progressive Insurance, a top U.S. insurance company.

I recommend: Check out the DMV.org website for information on car insurance in NJ state requirements and other tips on obtaining and keeping automobile insurance in New Jersey. You may also consider regularly visiting Insurance & Financial Advisor or Insurance Headlines for up-to-date news on auto insurance in New Jersey.

Rely on auto insurance in New Jersey news and trends to find affordable rates

Shopping around and staying knowledgeable about industry news and trends are helpful in obtaining affordable New Jersey car insurance rates and reliable claims service. There are quite a few websites from which businesses can obtain free online New Jersey auto insurance quotes from a range of reliable and well-known New Jersey insurance companies.

I recommend: The NJPAIP.com website offers a wealth of information on New Jersey auto insurance companies and other pertinent car insurance in New Jersey news and trends related to driver requirements and policy eligibility criteria. You may also consider checking out articles on auto insurance in New Jersey news and trends provided by Palisades, a New Jersey auto insurance company.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Under state law, providing inaccurate information to a NJ auto insurance company is considered insurance fraud. Be sure to gather all of your necessary documents beforehand to avoid leaving out critical information.