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Best Car Insurance in New Jersey of 2025

Best Car Insurance in New Jersey of 2025

New Jersey drivers pay some of the highest rates for car insurance in the nation: A full coverage policy averages $3,008 a year, compared to a national average of $2,680.

Minimum coverage in the Garden State is even more expensive at an average of $1,303 a year, or a whopping 63% more than the national average of $802.

In part, that’s because the state’s minimum liability coverage requirements are higher than other states. New Jersey is also a no-fault state, so your insurer pays for your medical bills after a collision, regardless of who is at fault.

Still, it’s possible to find affordable coverage in the Garden State without sacrificing coverage or service.

CNBC Select has picked the best car insurance in New Jersey based on cost, coverage options, customer satisfaction and other factors. (See our methodology for more on how we made our selections.)

Average rates from Bankrate analysis of Quadrant Information Services data from June 2025.

Best car insurance in New Jersey

Best for affordability: Geico

Geico Auto Insurance

  • Policy highlights

    Geico offers 16 discounts and a variety of optional add-ons, such as emergency roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement and mechanical breakdown insurance.

  • Availability

    Geico auto insurance is available in all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.

  • Accident forgiveness

    Accident forgiveness is automatic if you remain accident-free for five years. It can also be bought as an upgrade when you buy or renew your policy.

Pros

  • Lower average rates for most drivers
  • Can easily purchase and manage policy online
  • Available nationwide

Cons

  • No gap insurance
  • Fewer branches for in-person services
  • Ranks below average for customer service and claims on J.D. Power surveys

Who’s this for? Geico has the lowest premiums for both full coverage and minimum liability insurance for almost all kinds of drivers in New Jersey.

Standout benefits: Geico offers mechanical breakdown coverage, which covers the cost of repairs to the transmission, engine, A/C and other mechanical parts and systems due to normal wear and tear.

Best for accident forgiveness: Travelers

Travelers Auto Insurance

  • Cost

    The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

  • App available

  • Policy highlights

    Travelers auto insurance policies are affordable and backed by the sixth largest company for car insurance by market share according to the NAIC. The company also offers a number of discounts to customers, including discounts for bundling, owning a hybrid or electric car, and good student discounts.

Pros

  • Sixth largest auto insurer in the U.S. by market share
  • Many discounts available
  • Low average prices compared to other companies we reviewed

Cons

  • Not all discounts available in every state
  • Not available in all states
  • Below average J.D. Power customer satisfaction score

Who’s this for? If you think you might get into a fender bender, Travelers’ Responsible Driver Plan enables you to avoid a premium increase following either your first covered accident or your first minor moving violation.

Standout benefit: The Premier Responsible Driver plan adds a decreasing deductible to the accident forgiveness benefit. For every six months you’re accident-free, you can earn a $50 credit toward your deductible after a covered loss, up to $500. It also waives your deductible if your car is totaled.

Best for new cars: Plymouth Rock Assurance

Plymouth Rock Assurance Auto Insurance

  • Policy highlights

    Plymouth Rock Assurance offers four tiers of coverage, but even the basic Essential Assurance plan comes with door-to-door valet claim service, guaranteed repairs and a $50 taxi credit you can redeem once a year. Optional add-ons include new car replacement, pet injury coverage, key replacement and gap insurance.

  • Availability

    Plymouth Rock Assurance issues auto insurance in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania

  • Accident forgiveness

Pros

  • All plans come with door-to-door valet claim service
  • Add-ons include accident forgiveness and glass replacement
  • Auto policies may be eligible for dividends

Cons

  • Only available in six states

Who’s this for? If you just bought a new car, Plymouth Rock Assurance has optional gap insurance, which can help cover the difference between your car’s depreciated value and your the balannce on your loan or lease. The regional insurer also has a new car replacement add-on for cars up to two model years old.

Standout benefits: Plymouth Rock Assurance’s door-to-door valet service means you can file a claim and get your car repaired without having to leave the house.

Best for bad credit: NJM

NJM Auto Insurance

  • Cost

    The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

  • Policy highlights

    Full coverage policies with NJM come with several uncommon benefits, including new car replacement, reimbursement for a rental car while your vehicle is in the shop and coverage for pets injured in a covered accident There are also 10 discounts for drivers, including for bundling, owning a new car and for seniors who complete a defensive driving course

  • Accident forgiveness

    Accident forgiveness with NJM is only available in Pennsylvania

Pros

  • Low average rates
  • Highly ranked for claims satisfaction by J.D. Power
  • Offers gap insurance and rideshare insurance

Cons

  • Only available in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania
  • Accident forgiveness only available in Pennsylvania

Best for families: State Farm

State Farm Auto Insurance

  • Cost

    The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

  • App available

  • Policy highlights

    The largest auto insurer in the U.S., State Farm has an excellent reputation for customer satisfaction and offers over a dozen discounts, including for safe driving, bundling and good students.

Pros

  • High customer satisfaction ratings
  • Available in most states
  • Affordable rates for teen drivers

Cons

  • Doesn’t offer gap insurance
  • Accident forgiveness requires nine years without an at-fault accident.

Who’s this for? Adding a young driver can cause your premiums to soar, but State Farm has some of the most affordable rates for families with teens in New Jersey. Plus, there’s a generous 25% discount for students who maintain a B average.

Standout benefits: Rental car coverage includes meals, lodging and transportation if you’re stranded more than 50 miles from home. If you drive for Uber or Lyft, State Farm also offers rideshare insurance.

Best for military members and veterans: USAA

USAA Auto Insurance

  • Cost

    The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

  • App available

  • Policy highlights

    USAA auto insurance is available to service members, veterans and their families in all 50 states and Washington D.C.. In addition to low rates, USAA offers discounts if you are deployed or store your vehicle on base.

Pros

  • Cheapest insurer for liability-only coverage
  • Stellar customer satisfaction scores
  • Track record of financial strength
  • Available in all 50 states

Cons

  • Limited to military families and veterans
  • No brick-and-mortar offices 
  • Customer service is not available 24/7
  • Safe-driver discount not available in every state

Who’s this for? Available to military families, USAA is touted nationwide for its affordable coverage and first-rate customer service. Drivers who park their car on base can save up to 15% and, if you’re deployed, you can suspend certain coverages and get up to 60% off.

Standout benefits: After five years of accident-free driving, USAA will automatically forgive your first at-fault accident.

How much is car insurance in New Jersey?

A full coverage car insurance policy in New Jersey averages $3,008 a year in 2025 (or around $250 a month). That’s roughly 12% higher. than the national average of $2,680 a year.

For a minimum liability insurance policy, New Jersey drivers pay an average of $1,303 a year (about $109 a month), or nearly 63% more than the nationwide average.

Why is car insurance so expensive in New Jersey?

New Jersey has some of the highest average premiums for car insurance in the U.S., thanks to a confluence of factors, including its high population density and number of accidents.

In addition, drivers’ minimum liability insurance requirements are higher than in many other states, and increasing all the time.

New Jersey minimum liability insurance requirements

2022 2023 2026
Bodily injury (per person): $15,000 Bodily injury (per person): $25,000 Bodily injury (per person): $35,000
Bodily injury (per accident): $30,000 Bodily injury (per accident): $50,000 Bodily injury (per accident): $70,000
Property damage coverage: $5,000 Property damage coverage: $25,000 Property damage coverage: $25,000

New Jersey is also a no-fault state, which means drivers have to carry $15,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) to pay for their medical expenses and other costs after an accident, regardless of who is responsible.

How to save on car insurance in New Jersey

There are a few simple ways to get the best price on car insurance.

1. Raise your deductible

Increasing your deductible, or the amount you have to pay before your insurer reimburses you for covered losses, usually lowers your monthly premiums. Raising your deductible from $200 to $1,000 can reduce the cost of collision and comprehensive coverage by up to 40%.

Just be sure you can afford the additional out-of-pocket expense if you are in an accident.

2. Shop for discounts

Regional and national car insurance companies offer discounts for a variety of drivers, including good students, homeowners, veterans, safe drivers and households with more than one car on a policy.

Bundling your car insurance with the same provider as your homeowners policy can result in a discount of as much as 25%.

3. Consider pay-per-mile insurance

If you don’t drive much, pay-per-mile car insurance can save you up to 40% over a traditional policy. Drivers pay a small flat monthly rate and a per-mile surcharge of between four and eight cents. There are typically mileage caps, though, so pay-per-mile is best if you work from home or otherwise don’t drive much.

SmartMiles by Nationwide and Metromile are two of our top picks for pay-per-mile car insurance and both are available in New Jersey.

SmartMiles® by Nationwide

  • Cost

    The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

  • App available

  • Policy highlights

    SmartMiles® is one of the more widely available pay-per-mile auto insurance options. It offers affordable coverage by the mile, tracked through a device plugged into your vehicle or through your vehicle’s existing system for some models. For those who road trip often, only the first 250 miles of driving per day count towards mileage.

Metromile Auto Insurance

  • Cost

    The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

  • App available

  • Policy highlights

    Metromile’s auto insurance offers coverage in eight states and is backed by Lemonade. Metromile offers discounts for insuring multiple cars and discounts for bundling policies, and a discount of up to 15% for using its Ride Along program, which tracks driving for 17 days before calculating a rate.

4. Work on improving your credit

Like most states, New Jersey allows car insurance providers to consider your credit history when calculating your premiums. Making on-time payments, keeping your debt-to-income ratio low and checking your credit report for errors can all help boost your credit score and lower your rates.  

New Jersey car insurance FAQs

Who has the cheapest car insurance in New Jersey?

We found Geico has the cheapest premiums for car insurance in New Jersey for most types of drivers. NJM came out ahead in a few high-risk categories, however, including motorists with bad credit or a DUI or accident on their record.

What are the minimum car insurance requirements in New Jersey?

As of 2023, drivers in New Jersey must carry a minimum of $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Drivers must also carry a minimum of $15,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. Those minimums will go up in January 2026, however.

What is no-fault car insurance?

No-fault car insurance means a driver’s insurance company pays for their own medical expenses and certain other losses after an accident, regardless of who is held liable. Because there’s no need to determine fault, claims are usually processed faster — although the right to sue the other driver is usually curtailed.

New Jersey is one of a dozen U.S. states with no-fault laws.

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Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every auto insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of insurance products. To research the best insurance companies, we compiled over 100 data points on more than a dozen insurance companies. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.  

Our methodology  

CNBC Select analyzed over a dozen car insurance companies offering policies in New Jersey, focusing on rates, coverage options, discounts, customer satisfaction and online experience.

We prioritized companies with strong customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power and the Better Business Bureau, and low scores on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ complaint index.

We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

Based on these criteria, our picks for the best car insurance in New Jersey are:

Catch up on CNBC Select’s in-depth coverage of credit cardsbanking and money, and follow us on TikTokFacebookInstagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.


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