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6 years experience in personal finance writing
Featured on Credit Karma and Insider
Jamie is a meticulous researcher who has published 2,000+ personal finance articles. Her expertise is trusted by major brands like Bankrate and Rocket Mortgage.
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Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga, and crocheting.
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Jacob Gee is a member of Insurify’s agent team, with more than six years of experience in auto, home, and life insurance. Prior to joining Insurify, he was a senior sales representative for Amica Insurance, where he evaluated new business applications, provided data insight for underwriting decisions, and trained new representatives. His career also encompasses work with the Lear Corporation, and Hilton and Omni Hotels.
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Table of contents
Companies like Uber and Lyft provide liability insurance to New Jersey rideshare drivers, but you need to purchase your own policy as well.[1] A rideshare endorsement can eliminate any gaps in coverage between your personal policy and what the transportation network company (TNC) provides.
Rideshare insurance doesn’t have to be expensive — you can save on your insurance costs by shopping around and comparing quotes from several companies. Here’s a look at how rideshare insurance works and how New Jersey drivers can find the right coverage.
Liability rates for rideshare insurance in New Jersey average $193 per month, and full-coverage rates average $337 per month, according to Insurify data.
NJM, Plymouth Rock, and Mercury are the best rideshare insurance companies in New Jersey.
The three phases of rideshare driving affect which type of insurance covers you.
Cost of rideshare insurance in New Jersey
New Jersey drivers pay average monthly premiums of $193 for rideshare liability insurance and $337 for full-coverage rideshare insurance, which is higher than the rates in many other states. This may be partly because New Jersey requires rideshare drivers to obtain higher minimum-coverage levels than other states.
The table below shows the cheapest rideshare insurance companies in New Jersey and the average rates for each.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote |
---|---|
NJM | $177 |
Plymouth Rock | $181 |
CSAA | $183 |
GEICO | $226 |
Mercury | $267 |
Foremost | $303 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $360 |
State Farm | $414 |
Best rideshare insurance companies in New Jersey
Not all auto insurance companies offer rideshare insurance, so your options are more limited. Here’s a look at the best rideshare insurance companies for New Jersey drivers.
NJM: Best for cheap rates
User Reviews | 4.0 |
---|---|
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 |
Drivers appreciate the friendly service and efficient claim handling but dislike the significant rate increases and overall high prices.
Drivers appreciate the friendly service and efficient claim handling but dislike the significant rate increases and overall high prices.
Joanne
March 12, 2025
Too Expensive
Rosalie
March 11, 2025
Pleased with NJM
Patty
March 4, 2025
Significant Rate Increase
Liability only: $141
Full coverage: $213
New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance began in 1913 to provide workers’ compensation in New Jersey. Today, the company offers auto insurance across five different states, including a rideshare endorsement.
NJM is the best option for rideshare drivers looking to save money. The company offers the most affordable rates, as well as various discounts. You could earn a discount for purchasing full coverage, enrolling in automatic payments, or bundling your policies.
Affordable rates for New Jersey rideshare drivers
Unique endorsements allow for policy customization
Many available discounts
Mature driver discounts not available for New Jersey residents
Accident forgiveness not available
No 24/7 customer service
Plymouth Rock: Best for customized coverage
User Reviews | 3.7 |
---|---|
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. | NR |
Drivers appreciate the competitive rates and efficient customer service but dislike the frequent rate increases and the mandatory tracking app.
Drivers appreciate the competitive rates and efficient customer service but dislike the frequent rate increases and the mandatory tracking app.
George
March 19, 2025
You Can Find the Same Insurance Cheaper
Margaret
March 8, 2025
Inconsistent Pricing
Jo-Anne
March 4, 2025
Fair
Liability only: $144
Full coverage: $217
Plymouth Rock offers many different types of insurance policies, including auto insurance. The company offers two options for rideshare insurance: a basic endorsement and an enhanced endorsement. That way, you can customize your coverage based on your needs and budget. Rideshare drivers can take advantage of additional endorsements, like gap insurance, new car replacement coverage, and accident forgiveness.
Two different rideshare endorsements
Accident forgiveness available
AM Best financial strength rating of A- (Excellent)
Coverage available in only six states
Not as many discounts as other insurers
Trustpilot rating of 1.9 out of five stars
Mercury: Best for bundling your policies
User Reviews | 3.6 |
---|---|
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. | 8.0 /10 |
Drivers appreciate the attentive customer service and claim handling but dislike the consistent rate increases and lack of transparency in pricing. Some also found the company to be lacking in empathy and flexibility.
Drivers appreciate the attentive customer service and claim handling but dislike the consistent rate increases and lack of transparency in pricing. Some also found the company to be lacking in empathy and flexibility.
Cathy
March 23, 2025
The Ups and Downs Through the Years with Mercury Insurance
Nomie
March 16, 2025
Fed up with Rising Prices
Hope
March 7, 2025
Raised my rates after first 6 months
Liability only: $243
Full coverage: $290
Mercury is a good choice for rideshare drivers looking to save money by bundling their home and auto insurance. The company offers a variety of discounts and coverage options to choose from, including rideshare coverage. You can purchase a rideshare endorsement from Mercury for as little as $.90 per day.
Rideshare insurance available for as little as $0.90/day
Variety of available discounts and coverage options
Home, renters, and business insurance also available
Trustpilot rating of 1.6 out of five stars
Not as many options for customizing your policy
Not as many available discounts as larger insurers
Rideshare insurance requirements in New Jersey
New Jersey’s rideshare regulations for Lyft and Uber drivers break driving activities into three distinct phases:[2]
Phrase 1: During phase one, the driver drives for personal use and the rideshare app isn’t on. Since the driver isn’t using the app or driving for work purposes, their personal auto insurance will cover them if they get in an accident.
Phase 2: During this phase, the driver is driving with the rideshare app turned on but has yet to accept a ride request. It gets tricky because although they haven’t accepted a ride yet, they’re technically working since the app is on. During this phase, the company’s rideshare insurance applies.
Phase 3: At this point, the driver is driving with the rideshare app on and is either on the way to pick up a customer or driving someone to their destination. Anytime a driver is transporting a passenger, the company’s rideshare insurance applies.
New Jersey law requires all rideshare companies to provide at least $50,000 per person in bodily injury liability, $100,000 per accident in bodily injury liability, and $25,000 in property damage liability. In addition, all rideshare companies must maintain $1.5 million in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Requirements to drive for Uber and Lyft in New Jersey
You don’t need a special permit to become a rideshare driver in New Jersey, but you must meet certain requirements. Here’s an overview of the vehicle and driver requirements to ensure passenger safety.[3]
Rideshare car requirements
Your vehicle can’t be more than 15 years old.
You drive a four-door vehicle with five to eight seats, including the driver’s.
Your vehicle is registered in the state of New Jersey and has a valid license plate.
It can’t be on the list of ineligible subcompact vehicles.
Rideshare driver requirements
You must be at least 21 years old.
You have at least one year of driving experience, or three years if you’re younger than 25.
You’ve undergone a background check that reviewed your criminal and driving history.
You have a valid personal auto policy — rideshare insurance isn’t necessary, though it’s a good idea.
Types of rideshare insurance coverage
These are the different types of rideshare coverage you can pick from:[4]
Liability coverage
A basic liability policy pays for injuries and damages to the other driver in an accident you cause. But it won’t pay for your medical expenses or damages to your vehicle.
Full coverage
A full-coverage policy includes comprehensive, collision, and liability insurance. It provides coverage for you and the other driver involved in the accident, regardless of who’s at fault.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
This coverage protects you if an uninsured or underinsured motorist hits you. It can also protect you if you’re the victim of a hit-and-run.
Rideshare insurance FAQs
New Jersey rideshare drivers need rideshare insurance in addition to their personal auto policy. Here’s some more information about buying rideshare insurance in New Jersey.
Do you need rideshare insurance in New Jersey?
Yes. New Jersey rideshare drivers need a rideshare endorsement. Using your personal auto insurance policy could leave you with gaps in coverage since most policies won’t cover you once you turn the rideshare app on.
Do Uber drivers in New Jersey have to carry commercial auto insurance?
Yes. New Jersey rideshare drivers need either a rideshare endorsement or some type of commercial auto insurance to cover them while they’re working.
Do you really need rideshare insurance if you have personal auto insurance?
Yes. You’ll need a rideshare endorsement along with your personal auto insurance policy. This ensures no gaps in coverage and provides you with extra protection, so you won’t be liable for damage and out-of-pocket expenses.
What happens if you get into an accident while ridesharing without insurance?
If you get into an accident while ridesharing with insurance, you’ll be personally liable for any injuries and damages to the other driver. You may be responsible for medical costs, legal fees, and vehicle repairs, which can add up to thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses.
It’s also illegal to drive without insurance in New Jersey, so you could face fines, license suspension, and more.
Does DoorDash count as rideshare for insurance?
No. DoorDash and other delivery services aren’t categorized as rideshare services since you’re transporting goods instead of people. But your personal auto insurance won’t cover you while you’re driving for DoorDash, so you’ll need to purchase an additional commercial auto policy.
How does a rideshare insurance claim work?
If you’re involved in an accident during a rideshare, contact the police, take photos of the damages, and get the other driver’s insurance information. You can file a claim with Uber or Lyft through your driver app. If you have an additional rideshare endorsement, you’ll also contact your insurance company with details about the claim.
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.
Sources
- New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. "Transportation Network Company Safety and Regulatory Act."
- Harrell Law Firm. "Navigating Insurance and No-Fault Coverage in New Jersey’s Rideshare Accidents."
- Lyft. "What you need to drive with Lyft in Newark."
- III. "What is covered by a basic auto insurance policy?."
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Jamie Johnson is a Kansas City-based personal finance writer whose work has been featured on several of the top finance and business sites in the country, including Insider, Credit Karma, Bankrate, Rocket Mortgage, Fox Business, Quicken Loans, and The Balance. For the past six years, she's dedicated more than 10,000 hours of research and writing to more than 2,000 articles about personal finance topics.
Jamie has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
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Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga, and crocheting.
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Jacob Gee is a member of Insurify’s agent team, with more than six years of experience in auto, home, and life insurance. Prior to joining Insurify, he was a senior sales representative for Amica Insurance, where he evaluated new business applications, provided data insight for underwriting decisions, and trained new representatives. His career also encompasses work with the Lear Corporation, and Hilton and Omni Hotels.