Cheapest car insurance in New Jersey for a bad driving record

NJM, Plymouth Rock Assurance, Travelers provides affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers with bad driving record in New Jersey.

Traffic infractions, accidents and DUIs wind up on your driving record, meaning you'll pay higher car insurance rates in addition to any fines assessed. While most violations only affect your insurance rates for a few years, a DUI may affect rates for a decade and never be removed from your record.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
NJM$1,318$1,820
Plymouth Rock Assurance$1,737$2,570
Travelers$1,706$2,791
Progressive$2,187$3,081
GEICO$1,563$3,170
Allstate$2,294$3,453
Farmers$2,254$4,173
State Farm$2,153$6,271

How much is high-risk car insurance in New Jersey?

A problematic driving record or poor credit score may mean higher insurance rates, but affordable options exist. In New Jersey, high-risk car insurance costs $3,399. However, you can get rates as low as $1,820 from NJM.

Many things can make you a high-risk driver, but some affect your rates more than others. For example, having multiple speeding tickets or a ticket for speeding in a school zone will increase your rates more than a single basic speeding ticket.

Read on as we explain high-risk car insurance factors and rates below.

Select your state and risk factor below to see the insurance company and its
average annual full coverage rates.

New Jersey
State
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington, D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
*Please select from the list
At-fault bodily injury accident
Risk Factor
1 At-fault property damage accident over 2K1 At-fault property damage accident under 2K1 comprehensive claim for over 2k1 comprehensive claim for under 2k2 At-fault property damage accident over 2k2 comprehensive claims for over 2k2 speeding tickets 11 mph or overAt-fault bodily injury accidentCareless drivingDUI/DWI first offenseDUI/DWI second offenseDistracted driving ticketDriving without a license or permitDriving without insuranceFailure to stopFailure to yieldFair creditFollowing too closelyHit and run - injuryHit and run - property damageImproper turnImproper/illegal passLapse of coverage for 7 daysLapse of coverage for 7 to 30 daysLapse of coverage for over 30 daysOperating a vehicle in a race (highway racing)Passing stopped school busPoor creditReckless drivingSR22 Filing OnlySR22 with 1 DUISeatbelt infractionSingle vehicle accident (so the drivers car only)Speeding 30+ over limitSpeeding ticket 1-10 MPH over limitSpeeding ticket 11-29 MPH over limitTalking on cellphone ticketTexting ticket
*Please select from the list
Average annual car insurance rate for At-fault bodily injury accident in New Jersey, NJ is $3,449
Show Graph View
CompanyAnnual premium for clean recordAnnual premium after violation
NJM$1,318$1,430
GEICO$1,563$2,197
Plymouth Rock Assurance$1,737$2,573
Travelers$1,706$2,965
State Farm$2,153$3,586
Progressive$2,187$3,730
Farmers$2,254$4,984
Allstate$2,294$5,169
Average annual rate

PEOPLE ASK:

Who is considered high-risk for insurance in New Jersey?

Each insurance company determines who they consider a high-risk driver, but a DUI, multiple tickets or accidents and other serious violations like reckless driving will generally land you in the high-risk category.

Cheapest car insurance in New Jersey with a DUI

While many insurers offer coverage after a DUI, NJM has the lowest rate at $1,732.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a major traffic violation that will hurt your driving record. It can increase auto insurance rates for almost a decade in addition to fines and other penalties. Multiple DUIs will increase your premiums even more, but improving your driving habits can help you get better rates over time.

The table below shows the average car insurance rates for a clean record vs. a DUI in New Jersey.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for a DUI
NJM$1,318$1,732
Plymouth Rock Assurance$1,737$2,141
Progressive$2,187$2,654
Travelers$1,706$2,738
GEICO$1,563$3,171
Allstate$2,294$3,439
Farmers$2,254$4,399
State Farm$2,153$8,623

Cheapest car insurance in New Jersey with multiple tickets

NJM is the cheapest car insurance company for drivers with multiple traffic tickets, with rates averaging $1,732 or $144.

One ticket will affect car insurance rates, but multiple tickets will increase rates by a lot more. Repeated failure to obey speed limits and traffic laws means insurers are more likely to pay claims because of your risky driving.

This table shows New Jersey drivers how much multiple tickets increase premiums.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium with a speeding ticket
NJM$1,318$1,732
Plymouth Rock Assurance$1,737$2,201
Travelers$1,706$2,486
Progressive$2,187$2,960
Allstate$2,294$3,264
Farmers$2,254$3,863
State Farm$2,153$4,395

Cheapest car insurance in New Jersey with a reckless driving conviction

Drivers with reckless driving conviction can get the cheapest rates from NJM at $1,732.

You can be charged with reckless driving for many reasons, such as excessive speed, multiple accidents in a short time or street racing. Regardless of the cause, a reckless driving conviction raises car insurance rates.

The table below compares car insurance rates for drivers with a clean driving record and a reckless driving conviction.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for reckless driving
NJM$1,318$1,732
Plymouth Rock Assurance$1,737$2,460
GEICO$1,563$2,684
Travelers$1,706$2,738
Allstate$2,294$3,280
Progressive$2,187$3,298
Farmers$2,254$4,578
State Farm$2,153$4,983

Cheapest car insurance in New Jersey with bad credit

Based on our research, NJM is the cheapest car insurance company for drivers with poor credit, averaging $2,259 or $188. Fortunately, drivers with bad credit can still find affordable auto insurance.

Your credit score may not be related to your driving skills, but it can affect your car insurance rates and put you in a higher-risk category. From an insurer's perspective, higher risk means an increased chance of filing a claimAn insurance claim is a request you make to your insurance company for coverage after your car is damaged or you have an accident. You can file a claim online, by phone, or in writing., and statistics show that drivers with lower credit scores are in this category.

Check the table below to see how your credit score affects New Jersey car insurance.

CompanyAnnual premium for good creditAnnual premium for bad credit
NJM$1,318$2,259
Progressive$2,187$3,650
GEICO$1,563$3,655
Travelers$1,706$3,816
Allstate$2,294$4,212
Plymouth Rock Assurance$1,737$4,216
Farmers$2,254$4,472
State Farm$2,153$8,957

Cheapest car insurance after an accident in New Jersey

NJM and GEICO have the lowest car insurance rates after an accident at $1,430 and $2,197, respectively.

Drivers with accidents on their record typically pay higher insurance rates than those with a clean record. While car insurance rates may increase after one accident, multiple accidents can increase rates even more.

This table shows rates for drivers with a clean record, one at-fault accident and multiple accidents.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for one at-fault accidentAnnual premium for multiple accident
NJM$1,318$1,430$2,025
GEICO$1,563$2,197$2,684
Plymouth Rock Assurance$1,737$2,573$3,433
Travelers$1,706$2,892$4,422
State Farm$2,153$3,586$6,564
Progressive$2,187$3,730$5,141
Farmers$2,254$4,984$9,860
Allstate$2,294$5,169$5,964

Cheapest car insurance in New Jersey by city

Allenhurst has the cheapest car insurance rates in New Jersey at $3,137. But the most expensive city is Fairview with rates of $4,370.

Your location in New Jersey also matters. For example, if you live in an area with heavy traffic or a high vehicle theft rate, rates will reflect the increased chance of claims.

CityAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
Allenhurst$1,784$3,137
Matawan$1,868$3,284
East Brunswick$1,878$3,317
Pleasantville$2,026$3,574
Trenton$2,138$3,921
Bloomfield$2,193$3,930
Hoboken$2,308$4,101
Jersey City$2,331$4,168
Clifton$2,344$4,250
Garfield$2,371$4,310
Fairview$2,511$4,370

How to reduce car insurance rates in New Jersey for a bad driving record

Finding affordable car insurance in New Jersey is possible, even with a bad driving record. Ways to lower car insurance rates include:

  • Carefully consider filing claims. Paying for minor damage out of pocket may be cheaper than filing an insurance claim and increasing rates for years.
  • Avoid costly infractions. Drive carefully to avoid adding traffic infractions to your record. Tickets only affect insurance rates for a few years, which will decrease if more tickets aren't added.
  • Improve your credit score. Raising your credit score lowers car insurance rates. Make on-time payments and consider credit usage to improve your rating.
  • Take a defensive driving course. Many insurance companies offer a discount for doing so, and some states remove driver's license points for successfully completing the class.
  • Shop around for coverage. Every car insurance company weighs factors differently and offers different rates. Compare quotes to find the cheapest rates.

PEOPLE ASK:

How long are you considered a high-risk driver in New Jersey?

Three years is common, but how long you are considered a high-risk driver in New Jersey depends on the insurance company's guidelines. The state determines how long a violation stays on your record, but the insurance company determines how long you're charged for that violation.

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