5+ years of finance writing experience
Certificate of financial planning from Boston University
Erin is a personal finance writer and journalist with work featured in major publications. Her writing explores investing, credit cards, mortgages, insurance, and more.
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15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
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Updated November 20, 2024
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Table of contents
New Jersey’s second-largest city is also one of the most expensive for car insurance. Drivers in Jersey City pay an average auto insurance premium of $240 per month — a bit higher than the state monthly average of $170, according to Insurify data. The city’s proximity to New York City likely plays a large part in its higher auto insurance rates.
If you live in Jersey City, the good news is you still have plenty of affordable options in your area. Comparing quotes can help you find the best policy for your situation.
NJM, CSAA, and Plymouth Rock have the cheapest car insurance in Jersey City.
Jersey City drivers pay a yearly average of $4,167 for full-coverage insurance.
New Jersey has a no-fault insurance law, meaning drivers aren’t required to carry bodily injury liability coverage but are required to carry personal injury protection.
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Jersey City
You have plenty of options for quality auto insurance companies in Jersey City. The following highlighted insurers rank at the top based on several factors, including average premiums, customer satisfaction, Insurify Quality (IQ) Scores, and available coverage and discounts.
While these three are the top overall companies for many Jersey City drivers, the best company for you will depend on your individual situation and needs.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Best For ▲▼ |
---|---|---|---|---|
NJM | 9.4 | $135 | $86 | Low rates |
State Farm | 9.3 | $315 | $202 | Customer satisfaction |
Travelers | 9.0 | $407 | $261 | Discounts |
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Best insurer for low rates: NJM
User Reviews | 4.1 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.4 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $123/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $191/mo |
Drivers appreciate the accessible customer service and easy claims process but dislike the higher rates and lack of customer loyalty.
Drivers appreciate the accessible customer service and easy claims process but dislike the higher rates and lack of customer loyalty.
Daniel
November 1, 2024
Don't Forget to Shop Around
Richard
September 23, 2024
Too expensive for what is offered
Grigoriy
June 1, 2024
Just after money, but found another. Now they're all together
NJM Insurance is a regional insurer that offers policies in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. NJM offers some of the lowest rates for New Jersey drivers. NJM also scored above average in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study for overall customer satisfaction.
Affordable monthly premiums
Highly rated customer satisfaction
Possible dividend payments for policyholders
No mobile app
Not all discounts available in New Jersey
Can’t sign up for a policy online
Best insurer for customer satisfaction: State Farm
User Reviews | 4.2 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.3 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $285/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $448/mo |
Drivers appreciate the helpful local agents and initial service but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases.
Drivers appreciate the helpful local agents and initial service but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases.
Ronald
November 19, 2024
State Farm Experience: 35 Years+
David
November 19, 2024
Too expensive
Ronald
November 18, 2024
Very Expensive Auto and Home
State Farm is the nation’s top auto insurance company in terms of premiums written.[1] The company offers everything you’d expect of a large insurer, including many coverage and discount options. State Farm also has lower premiums than most New Jersey insurers. The company has the second-highest IQ Score and ranks in the top three for customer satisfaction from J.D. Power.
Best insurer for discounts: Travelers
User Reviews | 4.7 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.0 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $261/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $407/mo |
Drivers appreciate the lowest prices, excellent service, and responsive call centers but dislike the rising premiums and poor claims handling.
Drivers appreciate the lowest prices, excellent service, and responsive call centers but dislike the rising premiums and poor claims handling.
Nancy
November 18, 2024
Checking for Better Rate
Jim
November 12, 2024
Typical
Kenneth
November 5, 2024
Excellent
Travelers Insurance is an excellent option if you want an insurer with plenty of discounts. The company offers more discounts than its competitors. It’s also among the top 10 largest auto insurers in the nation and ranks near the top of J.D. Power’s rankings for overall customer satisfaction. Travelers also has lower rates than most in the state.
Highly rated customer satisfaction
Largest number of discounts
Most coverage options
Poor claims satisfaction[4]
Rideshare coverage not available in New Jersey
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Jersey City
Many factors affect your car insurance premiums, including your driving history, age, gender, vehicle, coverage type and limits, location, and more. While some of these factors may be out of your control, you can still do several things to save money on insurance, including:
Shop around. Don’t just assume the cheapest company overall will be the cheapest for you. Get quotes from multiple companies to ensure you find the one that offers the best rates for your specific situation.
Reconsider your car insurance coverage. A simple way to reduce your premiums is to reduce your coverage limits. But proceed with caution, because you don’t want your limits to fall below your needs.
Raise your deductible. You can lower your premiums by raising your deductible, the amount you’ll pay out of pocket before your insurance company covers the rest, up to your coverage limits.
Improve your credit. Generally speaking, the higher your credit score, the lower your insurance premiums. This means you can save money on premiums by increasing your credit score.
Save with discounts. Just about every top insurer offers discounts to help their customers save money. Common discounts include those for bundling your auto and renters or home insurance policies, having certain vehicle safety features, maintaining a safe driving record, and more.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Jersey City: NJM
Liability car insurance provides bodily injury and property damage coverage when you cause an accident that results in damages or injury to others. But it won’t cover any damage to your own vehicle in an accident or another incident.
Jersey City drivers pay a monthly average of $133 for liability-only auto insurance. Liability-only car insurance rates are the most affordable. Below, you can see the average liability-only quotes from insurers serving Jersey City.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
NJM | $123 |
CSAA | $124 |
Plymouth Rock | $130 |
GEICO | $155 |
Foremost | $196 |
Mercury | $202 |
State Farm | $285 |
Progressive | $295 |
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Jersey City: NJM
Full-coverage car insurance is more expensive than liability-only insurance but provides you with more coverage. Full coverage generally includes collision and comprehensive coverages, which pay for damages to your vehicle from an accident or another incident. It also often includes uninsured motorist coverage, which applies if you’re in an accident caused by someone who doesn’t have insurance or lacks sufficient coverage.
Full coverage is more expensive. But it’s better for drivers who wouldn’t be able to replace their vehicles out of pocket if their car was totaled. Drivers in Jersey City pay a monthly average of $347 for full-coverage auto insurance.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
NJM | $191 |
Plymouth Rock | $200 |
CSAA | $205 |
GEICO | $243 |
Mercury | $275 |
Foremost | $353 |
State Farm | $448 |
Progressive | $494 |
Car insurance requirements in New Jersey
Like most states, New Jersey law requires that all drivers have a minimum amount of liability insurance.
New Jersey is also a no-fault state, which means that after an accident, all drivers file a claim for bodily injury with their own car insurance company, regardless of who’s at fault. Because of that, the state’s minimum insurance requirements look a bit different from other states.
Included in New Jersey’s required coverage minimums is personal injury protection (PIP). Each person’s PIP pays for their own injuries after an accident. This coverage replaces the bodily injury liability that most other states require.[5]
Bodily injury liability
Not required
$10,000 coverage must be available as an option
Property damage liability
$5,000 per accident
Personal injury protection
$15,000 per person, per accident
$250,000 for certain injuries, including brain injury, spinal cord injury, and disfigurement
When you opt for the minimum coverage, known as the basic policy, you also have a limited right to sue, which allows you to sue the at-fault driver of an accident only in certain situations. If you choose the standard policy, which has more expansive coverage, you can also opt for “unlimited right to sue,” which allows you to sue for any damages after an accident. The standard policy includes:
$25,000 per person and $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage
$25,000 per accident of property damage liability coverage
$15,000 per person or accident of personal injury protection
Optional uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Optional collision coverage
Optional comprehensive coverage
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
If you have an incident on your driving history — such as an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, DUI, or another moving violation — then you’re likely to pay more for insurance.
The effect on your rates will depend primarily on the type of incident. The more serious the incident, the higher the rate increase. For example, a DUI is likely to increase your rate far more than a speeding ticket.
In the following sections, you’ll see how each incident type affects the rates you receive from the top insurers in Jersey City.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: CSAA
A speeding ticket in New Jersey is likely to increase your insurance premiums. The exact effect a ticket will have depends on several factors, including your insurance company and the severity of the incident. Generally speaking, subsequent incidents will continue to increase your premiums.
In New Jersey, speeding results in either two, four, or five points on your record, depending on how far over the speed limit you’re driving. Three points will be subtracted after each year you don’t have a violation, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the ticket will no longer affect your insurance premiums.[6]
Jersey City drivers with a speeding ticket pay a monthly average of $174 for liability-only insurance and $453 for full-coverage insurance.
Here, you can see average policy rates for drivers with a speeding ticket from insurers serving Jersey City.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With Ticket ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
NJM | $123 | $170 |
CSAA | $124 | $158 |
Plymouth Rock | $130 | $175 |
GEICO | $155 | $194 |
Foremost | $196 | $265 |
Mercury | $202 | $271 |
State Farm | $285 | $353 |
Progressive | $295 | $366 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: CSAA
Being at fault for an accident can have a major effect on your car insurance. On average, insurance premiums increase 26% after an at-fault accident, according to Insurify data. The accident can also affect your insurance rates for several years, but the effect may lessen over time.
It’s also worth noting that an accident can increase your premiums even when you aren’t at fault. Due to New Jersey’s no-fault insurance law, your insurance company may have to pay out for a claim even when another driver caused the accident. As a result, your insurance rates could go up.
Drivers in Jersey City with an at-fault accident on record pay a monthly average of $185 for liability-only insurance and $482 for full-coverage insurance.
Here’s a look at the average monthly quotes for Jersey City drivers with at-fault accidents.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With Accident ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
NJM | $123 | $180 |
CSAA | $124 | $171 |
Plymouth Rock | $130 | $184 |
GEICO | $155 | $207 |
Foremost | $196 | $278 |
Mercury | $202 | $288 |
State Farm | $285 | $376 |
Progressive | $295 | $395 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: CSAA
A DUI represents a serious driving infraction and can result in fines, imprisonment, license forfeiture, and more. A DUI can also have a major effect on your insurance premiums and may even cause your insurer to drop you altogether.
It’s also important to note that a DUI stays on your record permanently in New Jersey.
Jersey City drivers pay a monthly average of $211 for liability-only insurance and $552 for full-coverage insurance. Here, you can see the average monthly quotes for drivers with a DUI in Jersey City.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With DUI ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
NJM | $123 | $182 |
CSAA | $124 | $180 |
Plymouth Rock | $130 | $210 |
GEICO | $155 | $251 |
Foremost | $196 | $317 |
Mercury | $202 | $302 |
State Farm | $285 | $461 |
Progressive | $295 | $478 |
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: NJM
Age plays an important role in car insurance rates as well. While senior drivers generally have the lowest car insurance rates of any age group, their premiums can begin to increase as they grow older. This is because insurers see older drivers as a greater risk — not only because of their slowed reflexes but because of their increased risk of severe injury in a crash.
Drivers in Jersey City older than 60 pay a monthly average of $118 for liability-only insurance and $307 for full-coverage insurance. Here’s a list of the top insurers available for senior drivers.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
NJM | $89 | $138 |
CSAA | $98 | $163 |
Plymouth Rock | $104 | $160 |
GEICO | $128 | $201 |
Foremost | $162 | $293 |
Mercury | $165 | $225 |
Progressive | $222 | $371 |
State Farm | $230 | $361 |
Cheapest car insurance for teens: NJM
Drivers ages 16 to 19 have a fatal crash rate nearly three times as high as all other people.[7] This is due to a lack of experience, a high rate of nighttime and weekend driving, distracted driving, speeding, and more. As a result, teens pay higher insurance premiums than any other age group.
Teen drivers in Jersey City pay monthly averages of $224 for liability-only auto insurance and $583 for full-coverage auto insurance.
If you have a teen driver in your house, you have some ways to save money on insurance, including keeping your teen on your insurance policy for as long as possible, having them drive a safe vehicle, and taking advantage of discounts such as a good student discount.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
NJM | $179 | $279 |
CSAA | $198 | $327 |
Plymouth Rock | $236 | $363 |
GEICO | $246 | $386 |
Foremost | $346 | $624 |
Mercury | $356 | $484 |
State Farm | $487 | $766 |
Progressive | $515 | $863 |
Jersey City car insurance quotes by credit tier
Your credit history is an important factor that helps determine your insurance premiums. While some states have banned insurance companies from using credit as a factor for insurance rates, New Jersey isn’t one of them.
Generally speaking, the higher your credit score, the lower the insurance rates you’ll pay. Drivers with excellent or good credit scores tend to get the best insurance rates. On the other hand, drivers with poor credit scores tend to pay considerably higher rates because of the higher perceived risk to the insurance company.
Rates by Credit Tier
Is car insurance more expensive in Jersey City?
Unfortunately, New Jersey drivers generally pay rates that are well above the national average.
The average annual insurance expenditure in the U.S. is $1,850, according to Insurify data. Meanwhile, the yearly average in New Jersey is $2,034.
More cities in New Jersey
Jersey City’s rates are just slightly higher than the state average but considerably lower than some other large New Jersey cities, like Newark and Paterson. But Jersey City is more expensive than Trenton and Toms River.
The table below shows average monthly quotes in some other New Jersey cities.
City ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Camden | $602 | $158 |
East Orange | $303 | $167 |
Irvington | $373 | $167 |
Newark | $334 | $168 |
Trenton | $228 | $126 |
Jersey City car insurance FAQs
If you still have questions about car insurance in Jersey City, here are a few more things to know.
How much is car insurance in Jersey City?
The average liability insurance policy in Jersey City costs $133 per month, while the average full-coverage policy costs $347 per month. But your rate may be higher or lower based on your driving history, insurance company, and other factors.
What are the best car insurance companies in Jersey City?
Based on factors like average premiums, customer satisfaction rankings, and an Insurify Quality Score of 9.4 out of 5, the best insurance company in Jersey City is NJM. Other top insurers include State Farm and Travelers.
Which company has the cheapest car insurance in Jersey City?
NJM has the cheapest car insurance in Jersey City, with liability-only rates as low as $123 per month.
You can also find low rates with CSAA and Plymouth Rock, with liability rates averaging $124 and $130 per month, respectively.
Why is car insurance super expensive in New Jersey?
New Jersey has some of the highest insurance rates in the country for several reasons. First, the state has a high population density that’s second only to Washington, D.C. This can lead to an increase in accidents.
Another reason for New Jersey’s high insurance rates is its no-fault insurance law, which has been shown to lead to higher premiums because insurers risk having to pay out more often.
What is the best full-coverage car insurance in Jersey City?
NJM offers some of the cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Jersey City. But that doesn’t mean it'll be the best option for everyone.
Before signing up for a policy, shop around to find insurers that offer the coverages you need and get quotes to see which company offers the best rate.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Related articles
More cities in New Jersey
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Insurance company rankings."
- A.M. Best. "State Farm."
- NAIC. "Results by Complaint Index."
- J.D. Power. "Insurers Struggle to Manage Expectations in Auto Claims Process as Repair Times Increase, J.D. Power Finds."
- New Jersey Dept. of Banking and Insurance. "Get Legal with New Jersey's Basic Auto Insurance Policy."
- NJMVC. "NJ Points Schedule."
- CDC. "Teen Driver Fact Sheet."
Erin Gobler is a personal finance writer and journalist based in Madison, Wisconsin. With more than five years of experience, Erin has covered topics such as investing, credit cards, mortgages, insurance, and more. Her work has been featured in major publications like Business Insider, Fox Business, and Time. Erin received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2013, studying journalism and political science. She also received a certificate of financial planning from Boston University in 2022.
15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
Featured in