There are five fundamental automobile insurance coverages. They are:

1. Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability coverage,
2. Personal Injury Protection coverage (sometimes called “No-Fault”),
3. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists coverage,
4. Collision coverage,
5. Comprehensive coverage (sometimes called “Other Than Collision”).

The first three coverages; 1. bodily injury and property damage liability coverage, 2. personal injury protection coverage, and 3. uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage, are required by law in most states.

The other two coverages; 4. collision coverage and 5. comprehensive coverage, are not required by law, but are usually required to be purchased under the terms of most finance contracts. That is, when you buy a new or used car and are financing the purchase through a bank or some other financial entity, they usually require you to purchase these coverages as a condition of the loan. Similarly, when you are leasing a car, the leasing company will often require comprehensive and collision coverage.

Automobile insurance may be required, but even if it
weren’t, it is still a good idea to have auto insurance. Here are some examples why.

OK, the “good” in New Jersey might be the beaches, the closeness to New York and to Philadelphia, and the culture. There is easy access to many professional sports teams. There’s hiking and camping and good theatre and dining.

The “evils” are those smells emanating from certain areas of the state and the highest auto insurance rates in the country.
This site is written from a New Jersey point of view. Although this site is most valuable to the drivers of the approximate 4 million insured vehicles in New Jersey, it can be just as valuable to those that live outside of New Jersey too.

The concept of a deductible doesn’t change simply because you’ve crossed over a state border. Higher limits of liability coverage will cost you more money wherever you go. Discounts that are mandated by New Jersey state law and regulation such as for anti-theft devices and defensive driver courses, are mandatory in many other states too. When one state passes a law that’s good for consumers, other states aren’t shy about copying that law.

Many rules that govern how your auto insurance policy is
rated are countrywide rules. There are sometimes state exceptions, but often those state exceptions simply change the amount of the savings and discounts.
If you live in New Jersey, this site can be invaluable. If you live in another state, this site is still very worthwhile.