Just as in every other state, New Jersey has its own laws about how your insure your car against damages. When you’re purchasing auto insurance in NJ, it helps not only to know what your coverage minimums are, but what your rights are as a consumer. When you’re ready to buy auto insurance in New Jersey, you should research the basic coverage that you need and what other options you have.
The Basics
The minimum coverage for auto insurance in NJ covers basic liability for property damage, up to $5,000, and also covers $15,000 per person in personal injury protection. These amounts are requirements for basic auto insurance in New Jersey, so expect to have to request at least this much through your insurer. You can always select more coverage than this, but while you’ll save money in the short-term, you’ll be hurting if you get in a crash.
Standard Coverage
When buying auto insurance in NJ, the next tier of coverage above basic, called the standard coverage, has minimums that start with what’s in basic coverage, but adds a minimum of $15,000 in bodily injury liability, as well as protections for you if the other person involved in an accident was underinsured or not insured at all. The state of New Jersey claims that this is the most common coverage selected, and with the protections offered, this coverage does make sense.
Giving You Choices
Although auto insurance in NJ is governed by laws as far as what you can purchase, there are also laws that the insurance companies have to follow. For instance, insurance companies are required to provide you with three different coverage choices when you purchase a new policy, so you can better understand the way that changes in coverage affect the way New Jersey auto insurance protects you. This means that NJ works to ensure that their consumers are educated when making a purchase.
The Ability To Change
Another protection that you get when purchasing auto insurance in New Jersey is that you have the right to change your policy at any time, not just when it’s up for renewal. The protection of your right to change isn’t limited to just being able to get a new policy. If you do change, you have the right to request a refund of your auto insurance premiums in NJ. This way, even if you paid for six months of coverage ahead of time, you’ll get some of that money back when you switch insurance companies. So, with laws that force you to protect yourself with insurance and laws that help force insurance companies to help you save money, buying auto insurance in New Jersey ends up being a good thing for drivers.
By: John Hilaire