I’m sick of having to pay a small fortune on my car insurance coverage rates. What can I do to change this?

Aimee

Elizabeth, NJ

You’re not alone; we’re sure many others all over the country are saying the same thing. Here are some tips to help you get a more pocket-friendly car insurance rate and coverage.

1. Know Your Discounts – Start by asking your insurer about discount options, especially if you’re not even sure you’re getting any. Low-mileage discounts, defensive driver discounts, good student discounts, and safe car discounts are just some of the many types available.

2. Streamline Your Policy – Aim to remove redundant/unused coverage items. If you have medical insurance you may not need to have Personal Injury Protection on your policy. Have an old clunker? Consider dropping comprehensive coverage to save.

3. Go with a Higher Deductible – Simply put, a higher deductible leads to lowered premiums. As long as you don’t raise it too high then you should still be fine when you do need to file a claim.

4. Be a Good Driver – Want to enjoy affordable car insurance rates for years to come? Make sure to keep your driving record clean.

5. Setup an Annual Payment Plan – Most companies today award lowered rates/ discounts for paying your policy a year upfront.

6. Bundle Your Coverage – Most insurers also give incentives/discounts for getting multiple policies or insurance coverage with them.

7. Shop Around – It wouldn’t be a bad idea to do a car insurance search online as well. Use insurance comparison websites like this one to get an idea about the latest rates and deals out there. A better, and more affordable insurer may your best option.

I get confuse about my NJ vehicle insurance so I will need some of your help. I already know what liability coverage is, but can you differentiate the three: collision, comprehensive and medical coverage?

Sandeep

Toms River, NJ

A lot of drivers really get confused about their NJ vehicle insurance and seek the help of their friends and family or even a vehicle insurance agent or broker. Since you already know what liability coverage is, I’ll help you understand what collision, comprehensive and medical coverage in your NJ vehicle insurance are.

First up, collision coverage would pay for the damages on your car in the event that you have a collision with another car or object. If you have collision coverage as part of your NJ vehicle insurance, you are required to pay the deductible first before your insurer picks up the tab. Similarly, comprehensive coverage would pay for the damages on your car but if it is due to natural causes like fire, flood or storm. Theft and vandalism are also coverage if you have comprehensive coverage on your NJ vehicle insurance.

In the state of New Jersey, medical payments coverage or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is required for a driver to have as part of his/her NJ vehicle insurance. These things work in a different way but they are the same in giving medical care for you after an accident.

I just moved here in Paterson, New Jersey and my car insurance has just ended. I had a discount for having an anti lock brake on my car from the state I previously resided. Does the state of New Jersey also have that kind of discount on car insurance?

Bill

Paterson, NJ

I understand that at the present time, you are probably thinking about all the bills that you have to pay, including your car insurance premium in Paterson, New Jersey, because I do, too. And it is likely that you can get better premiums from another insurance provider, than what your current insurer offers you. Since your car insurance coverage has just ended, you could be able to save on your premiums if you ensure that you get all the discounts that you are entitled to, keep a clean driving record, by driving a ‘low-profile car’ and of course, by shopping around.

Car insurance companies in the state of New Jersey offer several kinds of discounts such as a price reduction for vehicle security features. That could also lessen the price that you pay for your car insurance. The number one item on the list of vehicle safety features that could save you a lot would be the antilock brakes. New Jersey persuades motorists to purchase vehicles that have antilock brakes by requiring auto insurance companies to offer discounts. Some other safety features that could often give you discount are airbags as well as automatic seat belts.

I just got my driver’s license here in Jersey City, New Jersey, and I would like to know what factors can make car insurance rates high before I buy one. Thanks!

Kurt

Jersey City, NJ

Hello Kurt. Congratulations for getting your driver’s license! You must be very excited to hit the road already. Along with your new found freedom comes the responsibility of maintaining adequate car insurance coverage not only for your personal and financial well-being, but for others as well. So it would be to your advantage to know how car insurance companies determine the rates you pay.

Here’s a list of factors that affects car insurance rates and premiums:

1. Your age has a big impact on how your insurance rates are evaluated. Young, inexperienced drivers are considered more prone to be involved in car accidents to expect your premiums for the first year to be high.
2. The kind of car you drive affects your insurance rates. Sports cars costs more to insure than older vehicles.
3. Your credit history, or lack off, can also influence your insurance premiums. Insurance companies sees the lack of an established credit history in the same light as a bad credit rating, until you are able to show them otherwise.
4. Where you live also affects your insurance rates. Urban dwellers are statistically more inclined to get involved in car crashes as compared to those who live in the country.

I suggest you get at least five or six quotes online to determine the best provider there for your car in Jersey City, New Jersey. Make sure you get a good idea of what’s out there base your purchase on what you will need for insurance, not what’s cheapest.

I have a DWI charge here in New Jersey and one of my main concerns is my car insurance. Is it true that a car insurance policy with SR22 insurance coverage means that I would have to pay higher premiums?

Helen

Newark, NJ

Yes, it’s true that after your DWI charge in Newark, New Jersey, I’m sure that you will soon realize that since you have to obtain an SR22 car insurance, your premium rate would not be cheap. The reason for this is simply because anyone who needs SR22 car insurance is said to be considered a high risk driver. But consumers don’t pay the high price blindly because they must realize beforehand just how expensive the car insurance would be.

Shopping around could probably help to reduce drastically the price of your car insurance policy. You could definitely check with your local insurance companies to see how much they would charge to provide you a car insurance policy with SR22 car insurance coverage. But before accepting or signing onto one specific insurance company, you might also want to check around on the Internet and see what type of pricing you could get. The more that you shop around, the better of a chance that you would have in obtaining a less expensive car insurance policy with SR22 insurance coverage. I’m sure that you could definitely get a low premium rate for SR22 car insurance if you start your search by getting an online rate quote available from this website.