Best Car Insurance in New Jersey for 2026 - NerdWallet

Advertiser disclosure

Best Car Insurance in New Jersey for 2026

NJM is the best car insurance company in New Jersey, according to NerdWallet’s August2026 analysis.

​

Get Quotes

Drivers can get rates as low as $40/month

Written byAndrew Hurst

Lead Writer & Content Strategist

Edited byLisa Green

Managing Editor

Written byAndrew Hurst

Lead Writer & Content Strategist

+ 1 more

Updated Aug 1, 2026

Fact Checked

NerdWallet’s editorial team collected data on 16 auto insurers in New Jersey and scored them for a variety of factors, including customer experience, online features and discounts. We chose NJM for the top spot in New Jersey, but plenty of other car insurance companies in the state also earned high ratings.

Our August2026 picks for the best car insurance companies in New Jersey are:

Category winner NerdWallet star rating
Best overall car insurance company: NJM 5.0
NerdWallet rating
Runner-up for the best car insurance company: Amica 5.0
NerdWallet rating
Best for budgeting shoppers: GEICO 5.0
NerdWallet rating
Best for coverage add-ons: Travelers 4.9
NerdWallet rating
Best for usage-based insurance: Nationwide 4.8
NerdWallet rating

For our list of the best car insurance companies in New Jersey, we considered only insurers that achieved a minimum NerdWallet star rating of 4.5. As we continue to evaluate more insurance providers and receive fresh market data, our list of best car insurance companies may change.

NerdWallet’s editorial team considers these factors when choosing the best auto insurance companies:

You can read our full auto insurance methodology to learn more.

You can trust the prices we show because our data analysts eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data. We look at rates from every ZIP code in a state where coverage is offered and data is available. And we change only one variable at a time when comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds. That means you can easily see how each factor affects pricing.

Your best insurance company will have . . .

Prices you can affordShopping around can help you find the best insurer for your budget.

Coverage you needYour best insurer will offer the right coverage for your vehicle.

Service you can count onTry to find trustworthy insurers with dependable service.

See what you could save on car insurance

Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.

Zip Code

​

Get my rates

Best overall car insurance in New Jersey: NJM

Best overall in new jersey

5.0

NerdWallet reviewed

5.0

NerdWallet reviewed

Full coverage

$185/month

Liability only

$72/month

Get your quotes

Our take on NJM

NJM boasts high customer satisfaction and low complaints, but it is available in only five states.

Pros & Cons

PROS

CONS

Rating Breakdown

Discounts

Great set of discounts

Ease of use

Above average

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

State Availability

Available in:CT, MD, NJ, OH, & PA.

Get your quotes

Why NJM is the best: NJM boasts one of the best scores in our analysis for customer experience. It earns far fewer customer complaints from policyholders than expected for its size, and scores at the top of the Mid-Atlantic region for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power’s Auto Insurance Study.[1]

One notable perk for New Jersey drivers is NJM's dividends offering. In years when NJM performs well, you could receive a percentage back on your insurance premium. New Jerseyans may also receive a second cash dividend in the form of a check.

NJM has some of the best rates for good drivers in New Jersey, as well as for drivers who have an accident or driving violation on their records. NJM also has a great set of discounts that could help further lower rates.

Don’t pick NJM if: You want to add lots of coverage to a basic car insurance policy. While NJM offers a couple of coverage add-ons, including gap insurance, other insurers (like our runner-up in New Jersey, Amica) may offer more options.

How much does NJM car insurance cost in New Jersey? The average cost of car insurance from NJM for someone with a clean driving record is $185 per month, or $2,215 per year in New Jersey. That’s compared to the statewide average of $3,661 per year.

» Read the full review: NJM auto insurance review

Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate
Clean driving record, good credit $2,215 $863
One speeding ticket, good credit $2,904 $1,152
One at-fault crash, good credit $2,402 $942
One DUI, good credit $2,904 $1,152
Clean driving record, poor credit $3,760 $1,681

Runner-up for best for car insurance: Amica

Best runner-up in New jersey

5.0

NerdWallet reviewed

5.0

NerdWallet reviewed

Full coverage

$282/month

Liability only

$153/month

Get your quotes

Our take on Amica

Low consumer complaints and a wide variety of policy perks and discounts make Amica a top-rated choice for good drivers.

Pros & Cons

PROS

CONS

Rating Breakdown

Discounts

Great set of discounts

Ease of use

Above average

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

State Availability

Available in:AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.

Get your quotes

Why Amica is the runner-up: Amica is a great all-around car insurance company, especially if you’d rather work with a larger insurer than NJM. Amica’s digital features, discounts and customer satisfaction all compare very well to other top insurers. Amica earns fewer complaints than expected for its size, and scored better than average on the J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Study.[2]

We also like the coverage offerings that Amica offers, including gap insurance, new car replacement and glass coverage. Like NJM, Amica may offer a dividend-paying policy that could return part of your premium to you, though a dividend-paying policy can cost more than a regular one.

Don’t pick Amica if: You want the absolute cheapest car insurance in New Jersey. While Amica may be cheaper than average for some drivers, it’s a good idea to compare auto insurance quotes to make sure that it’s the most affordable choice for your needs.

How much does Amica car insurance cost in New Jersey? The average cost of car insurance from Amica for someone with a clean driving record is $282 per month, or $3,387 per year in New Jersey. That’s compared to the statewide average of $3,661 per year.

» Read the full review: Amica auto insurance review

Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate
Clean driving record, good credit $3,387 $1,834
One speeding ticket, good credit $4,464 $2,468
One at-fault crash, good credit $3,755 $1,958
One DUI, good credit $13,400 $7,968
Clean driving record, poor credit $11,217 $2,127

Best for shopping on a budget: GEICO

best for budget shoppers

5.0

NerdWallet reviewed

5.0

NerdWallet reviewed

Full coverage

$170/month

Liability only

$56/month

Get your quotes

Our take on GEICO

With nationwide availability and a raft of discounts, GEICO is a popular, and often affordable, choice for car insurance.

Pros & Cons

PROS

CONS

Rating Breakdown

Discounts

Great set of discounts

Ease of use

Above average

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

State Availability

Available in:AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.

Get your quotes

Why GEICO is the best: GEICO is a great pick for budget-conscious shoppers in New Jersey because of its cheap rates and ample discount opportunities. Good drivers and even those who don’t have a spotless record may find that GEICO has some of the best rates for car insurance in New Jersey.

GEICO earned the highest score in our analysis for its discounts. Its DriveEasy program could provide another way for drivers to get lower rates. GEICO scored above average for usage-based insurance programs on the J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study.[1]

Don’t pick GEICO if: You want to be able to add lots of extra coverage to your policy. GEICO offers only a few add-ons, including mechanical breakdown coverage. Other insurers may offer more options.

How much does GEICO car insurance cost in New Jersey? The average cost of car insurance from GEICO for someone with a clean driving record is $170 per month, or $2,044 per year in New Jersey. That’s compared to the statewide average of $3,661 per year.

» Read the full review: GEICO auto insurance review

Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate
Clean driving record, good credit $2,044 $674
One speeding ticket, good credit $2,044 $674
One at-fault crash, good credit $2,826 $935
One DUI, good credit $2,873 $952
Clean driving record, poor credit $5,854 $2,155

Best for coverage options: Travelers

best coverage options

4.9

NerdWallet reviewed

4.9

NerdWallet reviewed

Full coverage

$181/month

Liability only

$99/month

Get your quotes

Our take on Travelers

Travelers offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help you customize your car insurance policy.

Pros & Cons

PROS

CONS

Rating Breakdown

Discounts

Great set of discounts

Ease of use

Above average

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

State Availability

Available in:AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, & WI.

Get your quotes

Why Travelers is the best: Travelers' many car insurance options could allow drivers in New Jersey to enhance a basic policy. Travelers offers gap insurance, new car replacement, rideshare insurance and the choice between two accident forgiveness plans.

Travelers also has some of the best rates in New Jersey for good drivers. Low average prices might make Travelers more appealing to drivers who want to take advantage of the insurer’s coverage options. Travelers' great set of discounts could also help you reduce your rates.

Don’t pick Travelers if: You prefer that your insurer has a high customer experience rating. We rated Travelers well, and it receives fewer complaints than expected for its size. But it scored lower than average on the Customer Satisfaction Study from J.D. Power.[2]

How much does Travelers car insurance cost in NewJersey? The average cost of car insurance from Travelers for someone with a clean driving record is $181 per month, or $2,167 peryear in New Jersey. That’s compared to the statewide average, which is $3,661 per year.

» Read the full review: Travelers auto insurance review

Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate
Clean driving record, good credit $2,167 $1,191
One speeding ticket, good credit $2,914 $1,583
One at-fault crash, good credit $3,446 $1,991
One DUI, good credit $3,702 $2,062
Clean driving record, poor credit $4,534 $2,804

Best for usage-based insurance: Nationwide

best usage-based insurance

4.8

NerdWallet reviewed

4.8

NerdWallet reviewed

Get your quotes

Our take on Nationwide

Nationwide’s wide variety of coverage options and low number of complaints make it a solid choice for many consumers.

Pros & Cons

PROS

CONS

Rating Breakdown

Discounts

Great set of discounts

Ease of use

Above average

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

State Availability

Available in:AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.

Get your quotes

Why Nationwide is the best: Nationwide offers two usage-based insurance options: SmartMiles and SmartRide. In SmartRide, your rates depend on your driving habits, like your speed, handling and phone usage. Rates in SmartMiles depend on the number of miles you drive. Nationwide ranks first for customer satisfaction for usage-based insurance, according to the J.D. Power Auto Insurance Survey.[1]

Nationwide’s usage-based insurance provides the same coverage as regular car insurance. If you want more coverage than what a basic policy offers, you might think about adding Nationwide's accident forgiveness, gap insurance and vanishing deductible, as well as other extras, to your policy.

Don’t pick Nationwide if: You haven’t gotten to compare car insurance rates yet. We don’t have rates for Nationwide in New Jersey, so while it could be a relatively cheap option for you, you’ll want to shop around for coverage to be sure.

» Read the full review: Nationwide auto insurance review

Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate
Clean driving record, good credit $2,671 $950
One speeding ticket, good credit $3,449 $1,227
One at-fault crash, good credit $4,239 $1,494
One DUI, good credit $5,533 $1,869
Clean driving record, poor credit $3,997 $1,373

All of the top-rated insurance companies in New Jersey

There isn’t one insurance company that’s best for everyone. In fact, the best car insurance company for you depends on your insurance needs, your driving history and the amount that you can afford to spend on coverage, as well as other factors.

Of all of the top-rated car insurance companies in New Jersey, these are the ones we think are best for certain types of drivers:

Company Star rating
Best car insurance in New Jersey: NJM 5.0
NerdWallet rating
Best runner-up: Amica 5.0
NerdWallet rating
Best for affordability: GEICO 5.0
NerdWallet rating
Best for coverage options: Travelers 4.9
NerdWallet rating
Best for usage-based insurance: Nationwide 4.8
NerdWallet rating
Best for high-risk drivers: Progressive 4.8
NerdWallet rating
Best for military families: USAA* 4.7
NerdWallet rating
*USAA is available only to active-duty military members, veterans and their families.

What to know about car insurance in New Jersey

There are some ways that insurance in New Jersey is different from other states. It’s important to understand these differences so that you know how much car insurance you need, and what to expect after an accident.

Drivers in New Jersey must have a certain amount of car insurance to drive. Unlike in most other states, drivers can choose between a couple of different coverage tiers to satisfy the state’s insurance requirements. Most drivers opt to get what’s called the “standard policy.”[3]

A standard policy in New Jersey includes:

In New Jersey your insurance would help pay for your injuries after an accident, regardless of fault. But after causing an accident that seriously injures another driver, you may have to rely on your bodily liability insurance to pay for that person’s injuries.

While a standard policy comes with more coverage than other tiers, most drivers need more insurance. A full coverage policy — one that has comprehensive and collision insurance — would help pay for damage to your own car in most situations, even if you were at fault for the damage. A standard policy in New Jersey doesn’t offer this kind of protection.

Drivers in New Jersey can meet the state’s insurance laws by choosing a basic policy, which covers less damage than a standard policy. A basic policy doesn’t come with bodily injury liability coverage, though you can add it. It doesn’t have the option of adding uninsured or underinsured coverage, either.

For comparison, a basic policy includes:

Bodily injury liability isn’t required for the basic policy, but should you choose to buy it, the minimum is $10,000 per accident.

Meanwhile, a standard policy includes:

So is it a good idea to get a basic policy? For most people, probably not. The danger of a policy with low limits (and no bodily injury liability requirement) is that you could face massive out-of-pocket costs and possibly a lawsuit if you’re involved in a serious accident.

Dollar-a-day car insurance or a Special Auto Insurance Policy (SAIP) is an option for drivers in New Jersey who are eligible for Medicaid with hospitalization.[4] An SAIP is notan option for all drivers, and coverage is much different than the standard and basic insurance options.

As its name suggests, an SAIP costs just $365 per year. This policy covers treatment after an accident for a serious brain or spinal cord injury, and provides a death benefit if the accident is fatal.

The average cost of car insurance in New Jersey is $3,661 per year, but it depends on how much coverage you have and your driving record. Other details like your age, where you live, your car and your insurance company will also affect your rates. Here is the median cost of car insurance in the state for different drivers:

Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate
Clean driving record, good credit $3,661 $1,587
One speeding ticket, good credit $5,145 $2,178
One at-fault crash, good credit $5,593 $2,191
One DUI, good credit $7,324 $2,868
Clean driving record, poor credit $6,875 $2,217

» MORE: Estimate your cost of car insurance

It could be difficult to find car insurance after multiple accidents or serious driving violations. In this case, you may need to get insurance through the New Jersey Auto Insurance Plan (NJAIP). The NJAIP isn’t an insurer; it’s an organization that the state created to help high-risk drivers find enough insurance to meet New Jersey’s minimum coverage requirements.

How to get the best car insurance in New Jersey

There are many more insurance companies in New Jersey than the ones we’ve called out here. If you’re unsure which insurer is the right one for you, follow these steps to find which one is the best fit.

Find all of our nerdy insurance info for your state

Choose a stateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington, D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Alabama

City-specific

Alaska

Arizona

City-specific

Arkansas

California

City-specific

Colorado

City-specific

Connecticut

Delaware

Washington, D.C.

Florida

City-specific

Georgia

City-specific

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

City-specific

Indiana

City-specific

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

City-specific

Louisiana

City-specific

Maine

Maryland

City-specific

Massachusetts

City-specific

Michigan

City-specific

Minnesota

City-specific

Mississippi

Missouri

City-specific

Montana

Nebraska

City-specific

Nevada

City-specific

New Hampshire

New Jersey

City-specific

New Mexico

City-specific

New York

City-specific

North Carolina

City-specific

North Dakota

Ohio

City-specific

Oklahoma

City-specific

Oregon

City-specific

Pennsylvania

City-specific

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

City-specific

Texas

City-specific

Utah

City-specific

Vermont

Virginia

City-specific

Washington

City-specific

West Virginia

Wisconsin

City-specific

Wyoming

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.

Auto insurance ratings methodology

NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance.

Here’s how we evaluated each car insurance company and the weights we placed on each category:

The best auto insurers excel at all of these categories. They provide the information people need to make a purchase without any surprises along the way. They offer insurance at a fair price and provide more than one way to buy and manage a policy. They're financially strong and able to keep their customers happy throughout the relationship.

Insurer complaints methodology

NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.

Average rates methodology

NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for men and women for all ZIP codes in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.

In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.

These are median rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.

Sample drivers had the following coverage limits:

In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:

We used a 2023 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven. We analyzed rates for 35-year-old drivers.

These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.

DIVE EVEN DEEPER IN INSURANCE

The Best Car Insurance Companies of 2026Travelers is the best car insurance company in the nation, according to NerdWallet's March 2026 analysis. American Family, Auto-Owners, State Farm and USAA also made our list.\ \ \ \ Drew Gula

Cheap Car InsuranceThe companies with the cheapest car insurance won't be the same for every driver. Our analysis could help you find your best options.\ \ \ \ Drew Gula