Cheap Car Insurance in New Jersey - September 2023

Auto insurance is an important purchase, but finding cheap car insurance in New Jersey isn’t always easy. The best way to find cheap car insurance is to compare rates from multiple insurers.

The cheapest car insurance company in New Jersey is Geico at $1,473 per year on average, or $123 per month, according to the most recent NerdWallet analysis of full coverage car insurance rates in New Jersey. Meanwhile, the average cost of full coverage car insurance in New Jersey is $2,809 per year, or about $234 per month.

Minimum coverage in New Jersey is $1,146 per year on average, but we found you can likely get a cheaper policy. For example, State Farm offers the cheapest rates in New Jersey at $280 per year, on average, for minimum coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record.

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If you’re looking for the cheapest car insurance in your area, NerdWallet analyzed rates for some of the largest New Jersey cities, including:

Jersey City.
Newark.

How we chose the cheapest companies in New Jersey

NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzed car insurance rates from 18 auto insurers in New Jersey and listed the five cheapest options for drivers in several age brackets and with different histories, all driving a 2020 Toyota Camry L. For minimum coverage, we looked at rates that reflect the minimum requirements in New Jersey. For full coverage, we used the below 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.

Why you can trust NerdWallet

Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our writing and data analyses. You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which include rates from every locale in New Jersey where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing.

Cheap car insurance in New Jersey for 20-year-olds

Drivers in their 20s may have to get a lot of quotes to find the best cheap car insurance. Prices can be sky-high for younger 20-somethings, but tend to come down as drivers get more experience on the road. Still, some companies routinely have better insurance rates for young drivers, so it's best to shop around to find them.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in New Jersey for 20-year-olds

Drivers in New Jersey with clean driving records may want to consider the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

NJM: $2,324 per year, or about $194 per month.
Geico: $2,848 per year, or about $237 per month.
State Farm: $3,194 per year, or about $266 per month.
Penn National: $3,292 per year, or about $274 per month.
Plymouth Rock: $3,519 per year, or about $293 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in New Jersey for 20-year-olds

Drivers in New Jersey who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

State Farm: $611 per year, or about $51 per month.
Geico: $835 per year, or about $70 per month.
NJM: $895 per year, or about $75 per month.
Penn National: $1,399 per year, or about $117 per month.
Travelers: $1,592 per year, or about $133 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 20-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in New Jersey should look at the following insurers with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

State Farm: $1,319 per year, or about $110 per month.
NJM: $1,523 per year, or about $127 per month.
Good2Go: $1,681 per year, or about $140 per month.
Plymouth Rock: $1,767 per year, or about $147 per month.
Selective: $1,799 per year, or about $150 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 20-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in New Jersey, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

Geico: $898 per year, or about $75 per month.
State Farm: $1,079 per year, or about $90 per month.
NJM: $1,108 per year, or about $92 per month.
Plymouth Rock: $1,847 per year, or about $154 per month.
Good2Go: $1,983 per year, or about $165 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 20-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident in New Jersey, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

NJM: $895 per year, or about $75 per month.
Geico: $977 per year, or about $81 per month.
State Farm: $1,017 per year, or about $85 per month.
Selective: $1,906 per year, or about $159 per month.
Plymouth Rock: $2,006 per year, or about $167 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 20-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI is shown here, alongside the insurers' average rates for minimum coverage.

NJM: $1,108 per year, or about $92 per month.
Geico: $1,214 per year, or about $101 per month.
Plymouth Rock: $1,767 per year, or about $147 per month.
Foremost: $1,974 per year, or about $165 per month.
Progressive: $2,083 per year, or about $174 per month.

Cheapest for 30-year-old drivers

By the time they reach their 30s, most drivers will enjoy cheaper car insurance rates than in their teens and 20s. Still, factors like a person’s driving record and car make and model can increase prices. Drivers in their 30s can get lower rates by shopping around and taking advantage of any car insurance discounts.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in New Jersey for 30-year-olds

Drivers in New Jersey who want their state's minimum coverage can check with the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

Geico: $1,490 per year, or about $124 per month.
State Farm: $1,511 per year, or about $126 per month.
NJM: $1,535 per year, or about $128 per month.
Penn National: $1,682 per year, or about $140 per month.
Selective: $1,897 per year, or about $158 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in New Jersey for 30-year-olds

Drivers in New Jersey who want their state's minimum coverage can check with the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

State Farm: $281 per year, or about $23 per month.
Geico: $452 per year, or about $38 per month.
NJM: $564 per year, or about $47 per month.
Penn National: $746 per year, or about $62 per month.
Travelers: $871 per year, or about $73 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 30-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in New Jersey should consider the following companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

Selective: $2,067 per year, or about $172 per month.
NJM: $2,418 per year, or about $201 per month.
State Farm: $3,138 per year, or about $261 per month.
Geico: $3,217 per year, or about $268 per month.
Encompass: $3,305 per year, or about $275 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 30-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in New Jersey, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

State Farm: $479 per year, or about $40 per month.
Geico: $500 per year, or about $42 per month.
NJM: $688 per year, or about $57 per month.
Plymouth Rock: $1,066 per year, or about $89 per month.
Penn National: $1,099 per year, or about $92 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 30-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers in New Jersey with a recent accident, here are the lowest average rate options for full coverage:

NJM: $1,535 per year, or about $128 per month.
Geico: $2,015 per year, or about $168 per month.
Selective: $2,128 per year, or about $177 per month.
State Farm: $2,443 per year, or about $204 per month.
Penn National: $2,471 per year, or about $206 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 30-year-old drivers after a DUI

For the cheapest auto insurance after a DUI, we found the following options for full coverage.

NJM: $1,847 per year, or about $154 per month.
Progressive: $2,409 per year, or about $201 per month.
Plymouth Rock: $2,554 per year, or about $213 per month.
Geico: $2,671 per year, or about $223 per month.
Selective: $2,903 per year, or about $242 per month.

Cheapest for 40-year-old drivers

Drivers in their 40s tend to have better insurance rates than their younger counterparts on average, but still pay more than older age groups. Shopping around for cheap car insurance quotes with multiple insurers is the best way to find lower rates. Good drivers who don’t get behind the wheel often might want to consider pay-per-mile insurance, which charges drivers by how many miles they drive.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in New Jersey for 40-year-olds

Drivers in New Jersey with clean driving records may want to think about the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

NJM: $1,443 per year, or about $120 per month.
Geico: $1,451 per year, or about $121 per month.
State Farm: $1,489 per year, or about $124 per month.
Penn National: $1,544 per year, or about $129 per month.
Selective: $1,696 per year, or about $141 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in New Jersey for 40-year-olds

Drivers in New Jersey who want just the minimum coverage may want to check prices from these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

State Farm: $283 per year, or about $24 per month.
Geico: $447 per year, or about $37 per month.
NJM: $538 per year, or about $45 per month.
Penn National: $697 per year, or about $58 per month.
Selective: $785 per year, or about $65 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 40-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in New Jersey can check out the following insurers with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

Selective: $1,845 per year, or about $154 per month.
NJM: $2,275 per year, or about $190 per month.
State Farm: $3,088 per year, or about $257 per month.
Geico: $3,120 per year, or about $260 per month.
Penn National: $3,123 per year, or about $260 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 40-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in New Jersey, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

State Farm: $482 per year, or about $40 per month.
Geico: $495 per year, or about $41 per month.
NJM: $654 per year, or about $55 per month.
Plymouth Rock: $1,013 per year, or about $84 per month.
Penn National: $1,023 per year, or about $85 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 40-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident living in New Jersey, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

NJM: $1,443 per year, or about $120 per month.
Selective: $1,899 per year, or about $158 per month.
Geico: $1,958 per year, or about $163 per month.
Penn National: $2,257 per year, or about $188 per month.
State Farm: $2,405 per year, or about $200 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 40-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest full coverage auto insurance we found for drivers with a DUI came from the following companies.

NJM: $1,732 per year, or about $144 per month.
Progressive: $2,256 per year, or about $188 per month.
Plymouth Rock: $2,473 per year, or about $206 per month.
Selective: $2,576 per year, or about $215 per month.
Geico: $2,587 per year, or about $216 per month.

Cheapest for 50-year-old drivers

Drivers in their 50s have cheaper car insurance rates than most other age groups on average. Prices will continue to drop as they inch toward their 60s and gain more driving experience. Rates can still vary depending on other factors such as a driver’s gender and location, so it’s smart to shop around to find the best rate. Our list of cheap auto insurance companies is a good place to start.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in New Jersey for 50-year-olds

Drivers in New Jersey with clean driving records may want to get quotes from these insurers, which had the lowest average rates:

NJM: $1,351 per year, or about $113 per month.
Geico: $1,391 per year, or about $116 per month.
Penn National: $1,440 per year, or about $120 per month.
State Farm: $1,442 per year, or about $120 per month.
Selective: $1,600 per year, or about $133 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in New Jersey for 50-year-olds

Drivers in New Jersey who opt for the state minimum coverage may want to consider the following companies, with the lowest average rates:

State Farm: $277 per year, or about $23 per month.
Geico: $430 per year, or about $36 per month.
NJM: $502 per year, or about $42 per month.
Penn National: $665 per year, or about $55 per month.
Selective: $733 per year, or about $61 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 50-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in New Jersey can check with the following companies, which showed the lowest average rates for full coverage:

Selective: $1,739 per year, or about $145 per month.
NJM: $2,112 per year, or about $176 per month.
Penn National: $2,892 per year, or about $241 per month.
Progressive: $2,932 per year, or about $244 per month.
Geico: $2,970 per year, or about $248 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 50-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in New Jersey, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

State Farm: $471 per year, or about $39 per month.
Geico: $477 per year, or about $40 per month.
NJM: $609 per year, or about $51 per month.
Penn National: $974 per year, or about $81 per month.
Plymouth Rock: $979 per year, or about $82 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 50-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers living in New Jersey with a recent accident, here are the insurers with the lowest average full coverage rates:

NJM: $1,351 per year, or about $113 per month.
Selective: $1,789 per year, or about $149 per month.
Geico: $1,907 per year, or about $159 per month.
Penn National: $2,095 per year, or about $175 per month.
State Farm: $2,325 per year, or about $194 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 50-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found for drivers with a recent DUI comes from the following companies, listed with rates for full coverage.

NJM: $1,614 per year, or about $134 per month.
Progressive: $2,088 per year, or about $174 per month.
Plymouth Rock: $2,423 per year, or about $202 per month.
Selective: $2,424 per year, or about $202 per month.
Geico: $2,554 per year, or about $213 per month.

Cheapest for 60-year-old drivers

Although 60-year-olds have cheaper car insurance rates than many other age groups on average, prices will start increasing as they get older. To find cheap car insurance for seniors, drivers in their 60s should make sure to shop around to find the best rate. Drivers in this age group should also take advantage of any available discounts for senior citizens.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in New Jersey for 60-year-olds

Drivers in New Jersey with clean driving records may want to think about getting quotes from these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

NJM: $1,267 per year, or about $106 per month.
State Farm: $1,343 per year, or about $112 per month.
Geico: $1,402 per year, or about $117 per month.
Penn National: $1,439 per year, or about $120 per month.
Selective: $1,574 per year, or about $131 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in New Jersey for 60-year-olds

Drivers in New Jersey who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these insurers, which had the lowest average rates:

State Farm: $259 per year, or about $22 per month.
Geico: $435 per year, or about $36 per month.
NJM: $474 per year, or about $39 per month.
Penn National: $671 per year, or about $56 per month.
Selective: $707 per year, or about $59 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 60-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in New Jersey can look at the following companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

Selective: $1,710 per year, or about $143 per month.
NJM: $1,962 per year, or about $164 per month.
State Farm: $2,762 per year, or about $230 per month.
Progressive: $2,812 per year, or about $234 per month.
Penn National: $2,891 per year, or about $241 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 60-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in New Jersey, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

State Farm: $439 per year, or about $37 per month.
Geico: $482 per year, or about $40 per month.
NJM: $573 per year, or about $48 per month.
Plymouth Rock: $971 per year, or about $81 per month.
Penn National: $983 per year, or about $82 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 60-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident living in New Jersey, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

NJM: $1,267 per year, or about $106 per month.
Selective: $1,761 per year, or about $147 per month.
Geico: $1,925 per year, or about $160 per month.
Penn National: $2,094 per year, or about $175 per month.
State Farm: $2,156 per year, or about $180 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 60-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI came from the following companies, shown with their average rates for full coverage.

NJM: $1,508 per year, or about $126 per month.
Progressive: $2,019 per year, or about $168 per month.
Selective: $2,390 per year, or about $199 per month.
Plymouth Rock: $2,403 per year, or about $200 per month.
Geico: $2,585 per year, or about $215 per month.

Cheapest for 70-year-old drivers

Car insurance costs may start to rise for 70-year-old drivers. To find the cheapest possible coverage, shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies. Also, look for insurers that offer discounts for seniors. For example, some insurers offer discounts to senior drivers who take a defensive driving course.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in New Jersey for 70-year-olds

Drivers in New Jersey with clean driving records may want to think about getting quotes from these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

NJM: $1,280 per year, or about $107 per month.
Geico: $1,350 per year, or about $112 per month.
State Farm: $1,437 per year, or about $120 per month.
Penn National: $1,584 per year, or about $132 per month.
Selective: $1,694 per year, or about $141 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in New Jersey for 70-year-olds

Drivers in New Jersey who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these insurers, which had the lowest average rates:

State Farm: $270 per year, or about $22 per month.
Geico: $433 per year, or about $36 per month.
NJM: $485 per year, or about $40 per month.
Penn National: $723 per year, or about $60 per month.
Selective: $770 per year, or about $64 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 70-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in New Jersey can look at the following companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

Selective: $1,839 per year, or about $153 per month.
NJM: $1,980 per year, or about $165 per month.
Geico: $2,877 per year, or about $240 per month.
State Farm: $2,975 per year, or about $248 per month.
Penn National: $3,211 per year, or about $268 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 70-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in New Jersey, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

State Farm: $459 per year, or about $38 per month.
Geico: $478 per year, or about $40 per month.
NJM: $587 per year, or about $49 per month.
Penn National: $1,064 per year, or about $89 per month.
Plymouth Rock: $1,088 per year, or about $91 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 70-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident living in New Jersey, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

NJM: $1,280 per year, or about $107 per month.
Geico: $1,858 per year, or about $155 per month.
Selective: $1,900 per year, or about $158 per month.
Penn National: $2,318 per year, or about $193 per month.
State Farm: $2,318 per year, or about $193 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in New Jersey for 70-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI came from the following companies, shown with their average rates for full coverage.

NJM: $1,524 per year, or about $127 per month.
Geico: $2,509 per year, or about $209 per month.
Plymouth Rock: $2,584 per year, or about $215 per month.
Selective: $2,593 per year, or about $216 per month.
Progressive: $2,663 per year, or about $222 per month.

Minimum car insurance requirements in New Jersey

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.

Alternative car insurance in New Jersey

If DUIs, poor credit or other factors are preventing you from getting car insurance on the voluntary market, you can seek coverage through the New Jersey Automobile Insurance Plan.

For more help finding competitive car insurance quotes in New Jersey, try NerdWallet's car insurance comparison tool.

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 2020 Toyota Camry L for all drivers and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven.

We analyzed rates for drivers 20 to 70 years old in ten-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.