The best car insurance company in New Jersey: Travelers
After thoroughly evaluating 22 insurance companies in New Jersey, NerdWallet’s editorial team found that Travelers is the best car insurance company in New Jersey for April 2025.
We based our ratings on important factors like coverage and discount options, affordability, customer satisfaction and financial strength ratings., and only compared companies that we confirmed operate in New Jersey.
Here are the best auto insurance companies in New Jersey
Best overall: Travelers
Best for ease of use: Plymouth Rock
Best for young drivers: GEICO
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best overall
Travelers
Travelers offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help you customize your car insurance policy.- Received fewer customer complaints than expected.
- Lots of coverage options for auto insurance.
- One of the largest insurance providers in the nation.
- Customer ratings for claim satisfaction are below average, according to J.D. Power.
Why Travelers is the best auto insurance company in New Jersey
Travelers holds the highest overall score out of the 22 companies in New Jersey we researched. Because the ratings in our auto insurance reviews reward companies for customer-first features and practices, this category represents an overall solid choice for drivers seeking a well-rounded insurance company.
Travelers is one of the biggest car insurance companies in the country and provides some perks you may not always find with other companies. For example, Travelers’ Premier Responsible Driver Plan includes both accident forgiveness and disappearing deductibles for eligible drivers.
» Read the full review: Travelers auto insurance review
Best budget pick
GEICO
With nationwide availability and a raft of discounts, GEICO is a popular, and often affordable, choice for car insurance.- Robust website and mobile app.
- Many discounts available.
- Doesn't offer gap or rideshare insurance.
- Limited network of local agents.
- Below average customer satisfaction for auto insurance claims in a recent J.D. Power study.
Full coverage cost per year, on average
$1,499
Full coverage cost per month, on average
$125
Why GEICO is the best for affordability
GEICO is one of NerdWallet’s best car insurance companies of 2025, and it also offers the cheapest rates for full coverage insurance in New Jersey among the top-rated companies we analyzed. Drivers in Jersey might pay, on average, $1,499 a year or $125 a month for full coverage from GEICO, based on our April 2025 analysis.
However, your own rate will be different and you may be able to find even cheaper options depending on the coverage you need. For example, while GEICO is the cheapest for full coverage, State Farm is the cheapest for minimum coverage, our analysis found. For a more comprehensive list of affordable options, check out NerdWallet’s analysis of cheap car insurance in New Jersey, which includes the absolute cheapest companies.
» Read the full review: GEICO auto insurance review
We don’t have data for every single company that offers coverage to New Jersey drivers. And because insurance companies use different methods to calculate rates, our advice is to compare car insurance quotes from several insurers to find which one is cheapest for you.
best for customer satisfaction
NJM
NJM boasts high customer satisfaction and low complaints, but it is available in only five states.- Customer ratings for claim satisfaction are above average, according to J.D. Power.
- Complaints are low.
- Possible dividend payments for New Jersey policyholders.
- No mobile app for managing policy.
Why NJM is the best for customer satisfaction
New Jersey drivers have plenty of reasons to feel satisfied with NJM. Headquartered in West Trenton, New Jersey, NJM had the fewest customer complaints to state regulators relative to insurers of its size. It also ranked first for overall customer satisfaction in J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, and NJM’s insurance rates are, on average, among the cheapest for New Jersey drivers, regardless of age and driving history.
NJM policyholders living in New Jersey may be eligible to receive dividend payments if the company is profitable. This particular perk isn’t available to drivers outside New Jersey, adding even more value for Jersey drivers looking for a local — but still top-rated — option.
» Read the full review: NJM auto insurance review
best for ease of use
Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock offers auto insurance in six Northeastern states and offers a wide variety of coverage types and discounts.- Offers a wide range of coverage types.
- Many discounts available.
- All auto policies include perks like up to $50 for a one-time cab ride and valet claim service.
- Ranked below average for overall customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power.
Why Plymouth Rock is the best for ease of use
Plymouth Rock is the best car insurance company in New Jersey when it comes to ease of use, according to NerdWallet’s comparison of website function and features for both mobile and desktop users. Drivers can manage their policy and submit claims online, and Plymouth Rock’s mobile app has excellent user ratings for both iOS and Android devices.
» Read the full review: Plymouth Rock auto insurance review
Best for young drivers
GEICO
With nationwide availability and a raft of discounts, GEICO is a popular, and often affordable, choice for car insurance.- Robust website and mobile app.
- Many discounts available.
- Doesn't offer gap or rideshare insurance.
- Limited network of local agents.
- Below average customer satisfaction for auto insurance claims in a recent J.D. Power study.
Why GEICO is the best for young drivers
Young drivers frequently get the highest prices for car insurance because of their lack of driving experience.
Fortunately, GEICO offers discounts for good students, college students who leave their vehicle at home and good drivers of any age. GEICO also offers the cheapest car insurance rates for young drivers in New Jersey, with average rates of $146 per month for 20-year-olds with full coverage, compared to the state average of $613 per month.
» Read the full review: GEICO auto insurance review
best for military families
USAA
USAA offers insurance to active military, veterans and their families only.- High customer satisfaction ratings.
- One-stop shop for insurance as well as banking and investing products.
- Policies available in all states and Washington, D.C.
- Available to active military, veterans and their families only.
Why Plymouth Rock is the best for ease of use
If you’re an active member of the military, a veteran or have an immediate family member who served in the military, you may be eligible to get car insurance from USAA. However, USAA isn’t available to the general public.
USAA consistently scores among the top insurance companies in the nation, according to NerdWallet’s reviews, in part because of perks such as accident forgiveness and military-minded discounts for things like storing your car on base. Additionally, USAA often ranks as one of the most affordable insurers across the country.
» Read the full review: USAA auto insurance review
Full list of the best car insurance companies in New Jersey
If you’re looking for even more options, NerdWallet analyzed 22 car insurers to find which companies offer the best car insurance in New Jersey. Here are the insurers that earned a NerdWallet star rating of 4.5 or higher.
Company | Star rating |
|---|---|
*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families. | |
How to get the best car insurance in New Jersey
Still not sure which company to go with? Try these tips:
Assess your needs. Evaluate your own needs and preferences before deciding on a car insurance company, since everyone’s needs are different. For example, one person might prioritize a company with strong customer service and a low-mileage discount, while another may prize affordability and a well-polished mobile app.
Do more research. While the companies on this page represent solid choices, you may want to explore other options. Whichever insurer you go with, make sure they’re financially stable, have few customer complaints and offer the coverage you need at a competitive price. You can also check out our full list of auto insurance reviews.
Consider small insurance companies. Small, regional insurers may provide a better price and customer service than the big companies you see advertised on TV. You might have to recruit the help of a local independent car insurance agent to find them.
Shop around once a year. Make a practice of shopping for car insurance quotes about once a year — especially if price is important to you. Insurers adjust car insurance rates regularly, so a company that gave you the best rate last year might no longer be a bargain this year. Be sure to get quotes from at least three insurers, and for the most accurate comparison, use the same or similar coverage options and deductibles while shopping around.
New Jersey auto insurance requirements
New Jersey is a no-fault state, requiring drivers to carry personal injury protection, or PIP, in addition to liability insurance. New Jersey is unique in that it offers a choice between two sets of requirements for minimum insurance coverage, in the form of a Basic Policy and a Standard Policy. The state says most drivers opt for Standard, but the Basic Policy is cheaper and has the lowest possible limits you can buy in the state.
Basic Policy:
$5,000 property damage liability per accident.
$15,000 personal injury protection.
Bodily injury liability isn’t required for the Basic Policy, but should you choose to buy it, the minimum is $10,000 per accident.
Standard Policy:
$15,000 bodily injury liability per person.
$30,000 bodily injury liability total per accident.
$5,000 property damage liability per accident.
$15,000 personal injury protection.
Liability car insurance covers the cost of any damage, injuries or deaths you cause in a car accident, up to your policy’s predefined limits.
Personal injury protection will cover your medical bills and expenses if you’re injured in a car crash, up to your policy limits, no matter whose fault it was. Depending on your state, PIP may also pay for:
Lost wages if you’re unable to work due to injuries from an accident.
Services you can no longer perform, like house cleaning or child care, because of your injuries.
Funeral costs if an accident-related injury leads to death.
A small death benefit as a cash payout.
Even though these minimums will allow you to drive legally, you may want to buy more liability coverage to better guard your savings and assets against lawsuits. For example, if you total another person’s car, the damage could easily exceed a $5,000 property damage liability limit on your policy. The difference would have to come out of your pocket.
It’s also wise to consider common optional coverages such as collision and comprehensive, which keep you from paying out of pocket if, say, you skid on ice and hit a tree, or your vehicle is stolen.
Learn more about your required and optional New Jersey coverages with our guide to state car insurance requirements.
Why you can trust NerdWallet
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage so you can choose the insurance company that works best for you. Our ratings are specific to auto insurance; a company's rating for other products may be different on our site. See our criteria for evaluating auto insurance companies.
How we found the best car insurance in New Jersey
NerdWallet’s editorial team considered pricing, discounts, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more to determine the best car insurance companies in New Jersey. Our “ease of use” category includes factors such as website transparency and how simple it is to file a claim. As we continue to evaluate more insurance providers and receive fresh market data, our list of best car insurance companies is likely to change over time. In our list of the best insurers in the state, we only include insurance companies that have achieved a minimum NerdWallet star rating of 4.5.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.J.D. Power. Auto Insurance Repair Cycle Times Improve but Price Increases Take a Toll, J.D. Power Finds. Accessed Mar 20, 2025.
METHODOLOGY
For our “good driver” profile, NerdWallet averaged insurance estimates for single male and female drivers with good credit and no tickets or violations. The analysis included 5-10 of the largest insurance companies in each state; smaller insurers were also included when rates were available. Liberty Mutual and its subsidiaries were excluded from our analysis as rates were not available.
For full coverage policies, we used the following coverage limits:
$100,000 bodily injury liability per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.
$50,000 property damage liability per accident.
$100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.
Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.
In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. Some policies include additional coverages at the insurer’s discretion.
We used a 2022 Toyota Camry LE for all drivers and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven.
We analyzed rates for drivers 20 to 70 years old in 10-year increments. For the average cost of full and minimum coverage in each state, we looked at 35-year-old drivers.
We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:
For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect the minimum required coverage by law in the state.
We changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor” as reported to the insurer to see rates for drivers with poor credit.
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash that happened six months ago, resulting in $10,000 in property damage and no bodily injury claim.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken driving violation that happened six months ago.
We looked at 35-year-old drivers to find the cheapest company overall, the cheapest company for minimum coverage and the cheapest company for drivers with poor credit in states where credit history is used to price rates. We looked at 20-year-old drivers to find the cheapest company for young drivers.
These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different. Some insurance companies included in this article may have made changes in their underwriting practices and no longer issue new policies in your state.
