nj auto insurance

NJ Auto Insurance

In 2000, New Jersey had the dubious honor of the most expensive auto insurance rates in the country, with New York trailing right behind. In other states it works out cheaper. For example, California auto insurance costs much less than NJ auto insurance.

Clearly, if you live in the Garden State, you have to take steps to keep insurance costs low. Here are a few ways that you can bring down your NJ auto insurance expenses:

Raise your deductible
Your deductible (the amount you pay out-of-pocket when there is a claim) can be as low as $50 or as high as $1,000. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium will be. Decide how much out-of-pocket expense you can handle. Then find out how much you can save by increasing your deductible.

Buy the right car
Many sporty, high-performance models are considered high risk because they are more dangerous or more likely to be stolen. If you own one of these autos, your premium may be several hundred dollars higher than it might cost to insure a more sedate sedan. Some cars are also more expensive than others to repair. That is one reason many people call their insurance agent before they buy.

Don't cut too many corners
Some people discontinue collision coverage once the car is a certain age. However, many of today's cars are holding their value longer...while the cost of carrying collision a few extra years may only be a few dollars.

Get all the discounts to which you are entitled
If you are looking for a low cost auto insurance, then ask about:

• Multi-car discounts for insuring several vehicles with the same carrier. It may pay to work with only one company.



• Multi-policy discounts for insuring your home, autos, etc. with one company.



• Good driver discounts if you have had no accidents or moving violations for a certain period of time.



• Low-mileage discounts if you drive a limited number of miles a week. If you use your car only to go to the grocery store once a week, you may pay a lower rate than the person who drives to work and puts on 20,000 miles a year.



• Teen-driver discounts. Your rates can soar when teenagers get behind the wheel. However, you may benefit from a student discount if your teen maintains a certain grade point average; completes a driver training course; or is away at school at least 100 miles from home (and the car stays behind).
  

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