Cheapest Car Insurance in New Jersey for 2026

New Jersey is the second-most-expensive state for car insurance at $180/month for full coverage, 48% above the national average (~$122/month) and behind only Louisiana. Three regional NJ/NE insurers, NJM, Plymouth Rock and Selective, lead nearly every category. All three are within $2/month on full coverage at $121 to $123/month. NJM leads every age on the family policy table from 16 through 25. New Jersey updated its minimum liability limits to 35/70/25 on January 1, 2026, more than doubling the prior 15/30/15 minimum.

Cheapest in New Jersey by coverage type

• Full coverage: NJM, $121/month
• Minimum coverage: Plymouth Rock, $67/month

Cheapest by city

• Newark: Plymouth Rock, $151/month
• Jersey City: NJM, $140/month
• Paterson: Plymouth Rock, $152/month

Cheapest by driver age

• Teen drivers (age 16) on a family policy: NJM $326/month (female) / $341/month (male)
• Seniors (65+): Selective, $126/month

Cheapest by driving record and credit score

• Speeding ticket: Selective, $123/month
• At-fault accident: NJM, $130/month
• DUI: Plymouth Rock, $145/month
• Texting while driving: NJM, $146/month
• Bad credit: NJM, $188/month

NJM (New Jersey Manufacturers, a regional NJ insurer) leads full coverage at $121/month; Plymouth Rock leads minimum coverage at $67/month. All three regional leaders, NJM ($121), Plymouth Rock ($122), and Selective ($123), are within $2/month of each other on full coverage. Choosing any of the three over AIG (most expensive at $287/month, a specialty high-net-worth insurer) saves over $166/month ($1,992/year). Compare options at best car insurance in New Jersey.

New Jersey is a choice no-fault state. The standard policy minimum was updated January 1, 2026 to 35/70/25 liability (raised from 15/30/15) plus mandatory $15,000 PIP plus required UM/UIM at 35/70. New Jersey also has a "basic policy" option where bodily injury liability is optional, which provides very limited protection and is not appropriate for most drivers. Drivers on older policies should confirm they now meet the new 35/70/25 minimums.

New Jersey ranks among the most expensive states for car insurance due to extreme population density (the densest state in the country), very high traffic volumes, elevated litigation rates, and one of the highest vehicle theft rates on the East Coast. The January 2026 minimum liability increase has also begun flowing into premiums statewide. New Jersey's uninsured motorist rate remains a factor in rate calculations across all providers. Learn more about the average cost of car insurance in New Jersey.

The gap between New Jersey's average minimum coverage ($107/month) and full coverage ($180/month) is $73/month ($876/year). For Plymouth Rock, the cheapest minimum provider, the gap narrows to $55/month ($67 minimum vs. $122 full coverage). New Jersey's minimum now includes 35/70/25 liability, $15,000 PIP, and UM/UIM, one of the more thorough mandatory floors in the country following the 2026 update. The $15,000 PIP limit, though, remains inadequate for serious injuries.

Our full coverage benchmark is 100/300/100 liability plus comprehensive coverage and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible. An at-fault accident causing $50,000 in bodily injury to one person exceeds the $35,000 per-person minimum by $15,000; the 100/300/100 benchmark covers the full amount. Determine the right coverage level at how much car insurance do I need.

Plymouth Rock leads 8 of 10 New Jersey cities; NJM leads Clifton ($139/month) and Jersey City ($140/month). The biggest city-to-city gap is between Paterson/Newark ($151 to $152/month) and Camden ($125/month), a difference of $26 to $27/month ($312 to $324/year). Newark and Paterson are dense urban centers with high auto theft rates, accident frequency, and uninsured driver concentrations. Camden, despite well-documented economic challenges, shows lower insurance rates due to lower claim frequency in recent years.

The five Hudson/Essex County cities, Bayonne, Jersey City, Newark, Union City, and Passaic, all cluster between $129 and $152/month, reflecting the New York metro spillover effect on premiums. Clifton ($139/month) and Trenton ($132/month) are comparatively cheaper. Compare car insurance options across providers.

NJM and GEICO tie for cheapest standalone young driver full coverage at $216/month. New Jersey's elevated baseline means even the cheapest young driver rate ($216/month) exceeds the most expensive adult rate in many other states. The spread from the cheapest provider ($216/month) to Amica ($315/month) is $99/month ($1,188/year), confirming that provider comparison is especially valuable when the absolute dollar stakes are this high.

NJM leads the family policy table at every age from 16 through 25 for both genders without exception. The gender gap starts at $15/month at age 16 ($326 female vs. $341 male) and narrows to $5/month at age 25 ($235 female vs. $240 male) but never closes entirely. The family policy rate at age 25 ($235 to $240/month) remains expensive by national comparison. Parents should budget for sustained costs through the mid-twenties. Review car insurance rates by age for more context.

Selective (a regional Mid-Atlantic insurer) leads senior full coverage at $126/month, the one category where NJM does not lead. NJM at $144/month ranks second, $18/month more than Selective. The spread from Selective ($126/month) to Farmers ($195/month) is $69/month ($828/year). The first-to-second gap of $18/month makes Selective the clear senior choice; NJM's strength in other categories should not cause seniors to overlook this difference. Review cheapest car insurance for seniors for more options.

Selective leads the speeding ticket category at $123/month, which matches its clean-record rate. NJM leads at-fault accidents ($130/month), texting while driving ($146/month), and bad credit ($188/month). Plymouth Rock leads DUI at $145/month, essentially tied with NJM ($146/month) for that violation. The three regional carriers lead every violation category; national brands are much more expensive in New Jersey.

Selective's at-fault accident rate jumps to $204/month (4th place) despite leading the speeding category, reflecting a large surcharge for at-fault violations versus a minimal surcharge for speeding. Most violations affect rates for three years; DUI surcharges last longer. Review high-risk car insurance in New Jersey for more options.

Selective is the most affordable option after a speeding ticket at $123/month, which matches its clean-record rate, consistent with Quadrant data showing a minimal surcharge for this violation. The spread from Selective ($123/month) to Amica ($179/month) in 5th place is $56/month ($672/year).

NJM is cheapest after an at-fault accident at $130/month; Plymouth Rock at $167/month ranks second, a $37/month gap. Selective jumps to $204/month (fourth place) despite leading the speeding category, reflecting a large at-fault surcharge. The spread from NJM ($130/month) to GEICO ($219/month) in fifth place is $89/month ($1,068/year). You can find high-risk car insurance in New Jersey by comparing providers.

Plymouth Rock is the lowest-priced insurer after a DUI at $145/month; NJM at $146/month is essentially tied for first. The spread from Plymouth Rock ($145/month) to GEICO ($249/month) in 5th place is $104/month ($1,248/year).

NJM is cheapest after a texting while driving violation at $146/month; Plymouth Rock at $152/month ranks second, a $6/month gap. The spread from NJM ($146/month) to GEICO ($199/month) in 5th place is $53/month ($636/year).

NJM is cheapest for drivers with poor credit at $188/month; Travelers at $190/month is essentially tied for first. The spread from NJM ($188/month) to Mercury ($235/month) in 5th place is $47/month ($564/year). NJM's poor credit rate ($188/month) is $67/month above its clean-record rate ($121/month), a large but not extreme surcharge. Credit-based insurance scoring uses credit history as one factor in determining rates. You can find other options for low income car insurance in New Jersey