NJ Car Insurance Consumer Resources Help
New Jersey Car Insurance - Auto Insurance Companies in NJ.
Get NJ Car Insurance Quotes Now!
We have all seen or heard the commercials on the television
as well as online and on the radio encouraging you to switch from one
NJ Insurance Company to another. This is ok if you understand what you
are doing. Many customers report switching several times only to have
their rates increased within months after jumping into the switching
frenzy.
You may want to consider the following information below before you
get your three years of NJ Insurance Company Declarations Pages, copies
of everyone in the households NJ drivers licenses, something to prove
where you live like a bank statement or utility bill, household members
Social Security numbers and copies of all vehicles registration card.
If you have several policies with one NJ Insurance Company,
i.e.; NJ Car Insurance and NJ Homeowners and or an Umbrella Policy you
will be shooting yourself in the foot to spite your face just to switch
your Auto Insurance to one of the companies that only have one product
available because you will loose your companion policy discount and
possibly your preferred tier rating classification if applicable. Be
careful and do not let you policy lapse. If you lapse a NJ Car Insurance
Policy you will feel the wrath of the insurance companies as a whole
for at least the next three years by having your rate increased up to
thirty percent until you have three years continuous coverage.
One last item to consider is to name your Group Health Insurance
Plan as your P.I.P. (Personal Injury Protection, Health or Medical related
expenses from any accident or injury on or near your automobile)
NJ Health or NJ Medical related expenses as the Primary
coverage if available. Simply choose the Group Health as Primary on
the Coverage Selection Form that you must sign at the time of purchase.
This will save you a lot of money and afford you and your family far
better coverage in the case of an accident with injuries. Most insurance
agents wont tell you this because it reduces the commissions that are
paid on your car insurance premium which is about 15 percent. So if
you pay $3,000.00 per year your agent will receive $450.00 for writing
your one policy, so expect and demand a little attention in the 15 minutes
or so it takes to bind you policy.
To obtain the best rates you need continuous coverage and
have your complete driving history, you could visit the NJ Motor Vehicle
Commission near you or
order your NJ DMV Drivers abstract for
the past 5 years here for a small fee and review your NJ Driver
License history. Whether or not you carried NJ car insurance
coverage continuously over the past several years will affect your ability
to get a NJ voluntary car insurance policy now. That's because the insurance
industry assumes is that you've either been driving without coverage
(that is real bad!!) or had your policy canceled by the previous insurance
company (not too good either!!). In fact if you were canceled for not
paying your premium that was expected by your NJ insurance company you
will have to go through the NJPAIP (New Jersey Personal Automobile Insurance
Plan). This is also known as the NJ high risk or NJ assigned risk car
insurance program. If this is the case and or you have been declined
or denied coverage elsewhere go to
www.njpaip.com for help and quotes.
NJ Car Insurance Rate Quotes.
Where you live in New Jersey, or more precisely, where you keep your car at night has a bearing on your chances of having an accident or becoming a victim of theft or vandalism. That's why a vehicle owner in Jersey City, New Jersey pays a higher rate than the owner of an identical vehicle in Cape May, NJ.
Other factors affecting insurance territory rates include time and efficiency of police response and law enforcement, local road and traffic conditions and the quality of local medical services. Insurers even factor in the litigation rates in a given area, how many lawsuits are filed, go to trial, are settled out of court, and for how much money.
What Steps can I take to control my Car Insurance Rates in New Jersey
NJ Car Insurance companies often discount their rates in order to encourage good driving practices and the use of safety and security precautions. Depending on the insurance company, you can often lower your rates from 5 to 55 percent. Sometimes the investment you make in your vehicle is worth the discount, and sometimes it's simply worth some peace of mind. For example, the purchase of anti-lock brakes merits a discount from nearly every insurer, but the discount probably will not pay for the brakes which cost several hundred dollars during the normal life of your vehicle. Anti-lock brakes are touted, nonetheless, as a life-saving feature and deserves serious consideration when safety is a top priority.
Safety Features Anti-lock brakes, air bags and passive restraint systems i.e., automatic seat belts.
Defensive Driving Clean violation record, driver's education courses for teenagers and defensive driving or accident prevention courses for adults insurance discounts for the latter are required in some states.
Security Systems Alarms, electronic locks, VIN etching and automotive disabling devices.
Changing The Driving Habits Try commuting by public transit, using a company vehicle for work-related travel and car-pooling.
Formal Agreements Not to Drink and Drive The availability of a discount for signing such an agreement varies among insurers, however is a powerful idea that works.
Buying NJ Home Owners and NJ Car Insurance Policies from the Same Company. If you own a NJ home and an automobile and you are insured by two different companies, check into the cost of carrying both policies by one insurer. Your NJ insurance agent or broker can give you guidance as to which insurers offer discounts. This will always offer your the best buy, so put it in your corner when shopping for rates
You may also lower your NJ Car Insurance rates by requesting higher deductibles, which is the amount of money you pay out of pocket before you make a claim. Increasing your deductibles on collision and comprehensive coverage from $500 to $750, or even $1,000, will bring your rates down. Moreover, you may not need collision and comprehensive coverage if you drive an older car. Ask your agent, broker or direct writing customer service professional which discounts are available to you.
The more people you allow to drive your vehicle on a regular basis, the greater the chances of your vehicle being in an accident. Teenagers are especially expensive to insure because they are the least experienced drivers. A driver's-ed course can help ease the burden of insurance costs since it teaches your teenager defensive driving techniques. If your child's high school does not offer drivers education, try to find one offered by another school or a private firm in the area. After all, the cost of driver's-ed could be cheaper than the extra cost of your insurance. Many insurers offer "good student" discounts as well. An adult's driving experience can also affect your rates significantly. Don't assume that every adult you know has been driving since age 16 or 17 or is a competent driver with a clean driving or insurance record. Again, taking a defensive driving course is a good way for adults to prove they are also responsible drivers, thus lowering their risk and their insurance premium rates. Hopefully armed with this information you will be able to get your best buy on NJ Car Insurance.
NJ Car Insurance Youthful Operator Example
Driver: 18-year-old, youthful male, unmarried
Principal Operator
Driver Training, no good student discount
No accidents within the past 3 years
No motor vehicle violations within the past 3 years
Pleasure use (12,000 annual miles)
Verbal Threshold
$250,000 Standard Personal Injury Protection (PIP), $250 deductible
With a Category II Anti-theft device discount, and active seatbelt and
dual airbags (front only)
Without any defensive driving course discount
Liability only policy:
Bodily Injury limits of $15,000/$30,000
Property Damage liability $5,000 (or combined single limit of $35,000)
Uninsured Motorist Coverage:
Bodily Injury limits of $15,000/$30,000
Property Damage liability $5,000 (or Combined Single Limit of $35,000)
2003 Buick Century Custom - 4 door sedan
ISO rating symbol 8
NJ Car Insurance Experienced Operator Example
Driver: Married couple, both between the ages of 65 and 69
No accidents within the past 3 years
No motor vehicle violations within the past 3 years
Pleasure use (12,000 annual miles)
Verbal Threshold
$250,000 Standard Personal Injury Protection (PIP), $250 deductible
With a Category II Anti-theft device discount, and active seatbelt and
dual airbags (front only)
Without any defensive driving course discount
Liability:
Bodily Injury limits of $100,000/$300,000
Property Damage liability $25,000 (or combined single limit of $300,000)
Uninsured Motorist Coverage:
Bodily Injury limits of $100,000/$300,000
Property Damage liability $25,000 (or combined single limit of $300,000)
2003 Buick Century Custom - 4 door sedan
ISO rating symbol 8
$750 deductibles for Comprehensive and Collision
End of NJ Car Insurance Examples