The best way to save money and get a discount on car insurance in New Jersey is to make a policy that fits your needs and then check with every insurance company in the state to see how much that policy would cost.
To do this, let's start by looking at everything you can do to build a policy from the ground up that will save you as much money as possible.
In New Jersey, you must have at least Liability, Personal Injury Protection (PIP), and Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage on your car.
If you cause an accident, none of these types of insurance will fix or replace your car, especially if you were at fault. If you want to protect your own car, you will need to buy Collision insurance and Comprehensive insurance in addition to the three types of insurance I just mentioned.
Just so you know, driving in New Jersey without insurance can get you into a lot of trouble. At the very least, you could get fines, community service, or have your licence taken away. When you buy insurance to legally drive in New Jersey, you can expect to pay a "insurance surcharge," which is just another fine.
So let's start making a policy that will give you the coverage you need for as little money as possible.
Keep your driving record clean. This is the first thing you need to do. This means you have never been caught speeding or breaking any other traffic laws, and you have never been convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) (DWI). Even a speeding ticket will keep you from getting the best rates on discount car insurance, but a DWI or DUI will send your rates through the roof.
If you are younger than 25, keep going to school and do well. You can save about 5 percent on your monthly car insurance premium if you keep at least a "B" average.
Can you park your car overnight in a garage? If so, you can save a lot more on your insurance.
Do you drive on average less than 500 miles a month? If that's the case, you shouldn't have to pay for insurance on a car that just sits in your garage. You should be able to get a Low-Mileage Discount.
Have you bought more than one policy from the same insurance company? You might have life insurance or a policy for your home with the same company. If so, you should be able to get a discount on your car insurance for having more than one policy.
Has the same insurance company covered you for at least 5 years? If so, ask for a discount on a long-term policy.
Are you 55 or older? If so, check to see if you can take a special course to brush up on your driving skills. If you qualify and pass the test, you can cut about 10% off your monthly car insurance bill.
Do you drive an old, broken-down car that the Kelly Blue Book says is worth little or nothing? If that's the case and you're still paying for collision or comprehensive insurance, you're just throwing your premium money down the drain.
Along the same lines, remember that the Kelly Blue Book says the value of your car goes down every year. So, you should lower the amount of your comprehensive and collision insurance each year, which will also lower the cost. Ask your agent how much you could save by just doing this.
How much can you spend on a deductible? Before you answer, give it some thought. The higher your deductible, the lower your monthly car insurance premium, but keep in mind that you'll have to pay that amount out of your own pocket every time you file a claim. Make sure your deductible is something you can pay.
Okay, you now have enough information to make the best, most affordable car insurance policy. Now it's time to go online and find at least three websites where you can compare the prices of different insurance policies from different companies.
Each site wants you to believe that it checks prices at all insurance companies, but that's not true. If you really want to save money and get a discount on your New Jersey car insurance, you'll need to spend a few extra minutes comparing the prices of your super policy on at least three different websites.
Then choose the best price you can find, and you're done! You saved money and got the best car insurance deal you could in New Jersey. Congratulations!
