Choosing NJ Car Insurance
May 12, 2011 1:37 PM Subscribe
Looking into auto insurance as a 22 year old male in NJ. What companies are affordable yet also reliable in the event I need to file a claim?
I used to take advantage of a rider on my mother's NJ Manufacturer's insurance. According to my mom and most people I talk to, NJM is very good, but selective. As I lack a job with a business they're associated with and a good driving record due to a recent accident, I would not be able to have a policy with them on my own.
I was recently in an accident that totaled my car due to skidding into another car that suddenly stopped in front of me in a rainstorm. The other driver and me are not injured or anything, and insurance resolved everything. In the future, I will keep a greater following distance, or maybe not go out in the rain, and my new car will definitely have ABS.
However, my mom is now (probably rightfully) concerned that if I have another accident in a replacement car and cause major injury or property damage, the insurance company may go after her assets. So, as I have barely any assets, I should get my own insurance policy that she pays (I'm an unemployed student who will gladly pay for my own insurance if I can find a job). Is she right in this concern?
And if she's right, what's the best company I can go to that would offer me affordable insurance, while also responding well to a claim (IE not trying to weasel out of it, good customer service, etc)? Keep in mind this is for New Jersey.
Coverage is something I'm pretty aware of my needs on. I discussed what good amounts for each component of the insurance would be, all that remains is to find out where to go for the insurance.
I used to take advantage of a rider on my mother's NJ Manufacturer's insurance. According to my mom and most people I talk to, NJM is very good, but selective. As I lack a job with a business they're associated with and a good driving record due to a recent accident, I would not be able to have a policy with them on my own.
I was recently in an accident that totaled my car due to skidding into another car that suddenly stopped in front of me in a rainstorm. The other driver and me are not injured or anything, and insurance resolved everything. In the future, I will keep a greater following distance, or maybe not go out in the rain, and my new car will definitely have ABS.
However, my mom is now (probably rightfully) concerned that if I have another accident in a replacement car and cause major injury or property damage, the insurance company may go after her assets. So, as I have barely any assets, I should get my own insurance policy that she pays (I'm an unemployed student who will gladly pay for my own insurance if I can find a job). Is she right in this concern?
And if she's right, what's the best company I can go to that would offer me affordable insurance, while also responding well to a claim (IE not trying to weasel out of it, good customer service, etc)? Keep in mind this is for New Jersey.
Coverage is something I'm pretty aware of my needs on. I discussed what good amounts for each component of the insurance would be, all that remains is to find out where to go for the insurance.
If you or someone you are related to is in the military or a veteran you may be eligible for USAA, which is awesome.
posted by radioamy at 1:42 PM on May 12, 2011
posted by radioamy at 1:42 PM on May 12, 2011
Response by poster: I like the suggestion of USAA, but sadly, my closest military veterans are two grandfathers. Last I checked, that was too distant for USAA, although I will try to get a quote just in case that works.
posted by mccarty.tim at 2:02 PM on May 12, 2011
posted by mccarty.tim at 2:02 PM on May 12, 2011
Like others, I have USAA, so that may not be much help to you. FWIW, I have heard horror stories about Geico.
posted by InsanePenguin at 2:12 PM on May 12, 2011
posted by InsanePenguin at 2:12 PM on May 12, 2011
Best answer: Twice I've gotten in accidents with people who had Progressive and they were very nice, if that helps.
posted by radioamy at 2:17 PM on May 12, 2011
posted by radioamy at 2:17 PM on May 12, 2011
Response by poster: What's people's thoughts on Progressive, and is that logging computer thing likely to give a good discount? I've heard people say it's bad to give away that much info to a corporation, but that strikes me as a bit alarmist, since it doesn't seem to be highly actionable information and they claim they don't use it to determine claims.
posted by mccarty.tim at 2:18 PM on May 12, 2011
posted by mccarty.tim at 2:18 PM on May 12, 2011
Best answer: mccarty.tim: "What's people's thoughts on Progressive, and is that logging computer thing likely to give a good discount?"
I think if you're a 22 year old male with an accident on your record, you are in the highest risk, most expensive, insane premium pool, and that if driving around with a PALIN FOR PRESIDENT bumper sticker will give you even a 5% break on your rates, you should seriously consider selling out and doing it.
posted by DarlingBri at 2:30 PM on May 12, 2011
I think if you're a 22 year old male with an accident on your record, you are in the highest risk, most expensive, insane premium pool, and that if driving around with a PALIN FOR PRESIDENT bumper sticker will give you even a 5% break on your rates, you should seriously consider selling out and doing it.
posted by DarlingBri at 2:30 PM on May 12, 2011
Progressive was what I signed up for when speeding tickets got me dropped from USAA in my early 20s. Their rates were the best, but this was in 1995. When I got in an accident, though, and the other driver lied about where her car was relative to mine, causing the accident to appear to be my fault instead of hers, they failed to advocate for me.
posted by jocelmeow at 2:36 PM on May 12, 2011
posted by jocelmeow at 2:36 PM on May 12, 2011
I have Progressive, no problems. Look into NJCure, I looked into it when I was getting kicked off of NJM due to age (years ago, can't remember why I didn't join).
posted by tremspeed at 2:53 PM on May 12, 2011
posted by tremspeed at 2:53 PM on May 12, 2011
Your grandparents are good enough for USAA as long as (I think) your parents use(d) USAA. I have USAA and my grandparents were military. USAA is awesome.
Even if you can't, though, USAA now offers at least banking to anybody, though just anybody doesn't get the same rates as someone who's "qualified." I don't know what those rates are like.
posted by cmoj at 7:18 PM on May 12, 2011
Even if you can't, though, USAA now offers at least banking to anybody, though just anybody doesn't get the same rates as someone who's "qualified." I don't know what those rates are like.
posted by cmoj at 7:18 PM on May 12, 2011
Response by poster: Neither parent used USAA.
NJRe was several times more expensive than any other quote I've found, so even though they're part of a great company, I will have to turn them down.
I think I'll go with Progressive, since they are willing to take me, and they're affordable and don't sound too flakey.
Thanks for your help, everyone!
posted by mccarty.tim at 7:18 AM on May 13, 2011
NJRe was several times more expensive than any other quote I've found, so even though they're part of a great company, I will have to turn them down.
I think I'll go with Progressive, since they are willing to take me, and they're affordable and don't sound too flakey.
Thanks for your help, everyone!
posted by mccarty.tim at 7:18 AM on May 13, 2011
I read somewhere that you might be able to get USAA insurance without being military THROUGH Progressive. Worth asking about, anyway...
posted by Leah at 11:58 AM on May 13, 2011
posted by Leah at 11:58 AM on May 13, 2011
Response by poster: I Googled it. Apparently, if you're with USAA (in the military, veteran or child of a person who is/was in the military) and want to insure a motorcycle, boat or other recreational vehicle, USAA has you buy a plan through Progressive and it counts as insurance under the same company so you get the discounts for getting more than one type of insurance.
Not really important for my situation, but I thought I'd put it in this thread in case anyone references it.
posted by mccarty.tim at 6:23 AM on May 14, 2011
Not really important for my situation, but I thought I'd put it in this thread in case anyone references it.
posted by mccarty.tim at 6:23 AM on May 14, 2011
If you're still checking this, get a quote from High Point too. They deal with NJ exclusively. I was sad to give the m up when I moved to PA. Any claims under 1k don't count against you, so if its a little bummper scratching incident it's no skin off your back.
posted by WeekendJen at 8:17 AM on May 16, 2011
posted by WeekendJen at 8:17 AM on May 16, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by daveg02 at 1:41 PM on May 12, 2011