Will your NJ car insurance cover the unexpected?

It was a late Saturday night following a Deal, NJ high school performance in the dead of winter.  I inched along the icy asphalt whilst praying to make it home with car and passengers safely intact. As I rounded the bend at the last stretch, I discerned the flashing lights of emergency vehicles at the end of the block.

“Mom, look!” exclaimed sixteen-year old, Jenny.

Last on our minds was that the source of excitement would be at our very own address. Incredibly, as we neared home, that’s exactly where the lit up police cars were – with one more vehicle, the center of attention: a green Volkswagen lodged into the bark of the tree on our snow-laden front lawn!

We soon discovered that upon impact, the driver had scampered out into the frigid darkness, leaving the mess of his collision behind. All the drama of the night’s preceding play paled in comparison with the commotion the anonymous driver had created!  

Although I never got a real epilogue to the event, the bold NJ auto insurance issues continued to nag at me: Did the driver even own classic car insurance? It certainly appeared as if the car didn’t belong to him – did he then have non owner car insurance? While I was not responsible for what very well may have been the young man’s lack of any form of general liability insurance, the wacky episode cemented the urgency of securing adequate NJ auto insurance – especially once my sixteen-year-old came of driving age.

The primary questions any driver has are “What type of NJ auto insurance coverage do I need?” and “How much is car insurance?”  Here’s a quick synopsis of the two most basic forms of coverage:

• NJ Auto Liability

If you’re the driver who at fault, auto liability insurance will protect you.  The amount of auto liability is firstly determined by the minimum amount of NJ liability insurance required by law.

It’s also wise practice to add coverage to this. If you are the guilty party and your auto liability insurance doesn’t cover all property damage or medical bills, you’ll be responsible for the remainder - out of pocket.  How much above the minimum requirement should you acquire? Discussing the assets you wish to protect with a qualified independent insurance agency, like Prime Insurance, will shed light on the matter.

• Collision Insurance

If your car sustains damage in an accident that you caused, you need collision insurance for repairs.  In the event your car was totaled, it won’t cover the cost of replacing it with a new one but  will pay for the approximate worth of the car before the accident. Is NJ collision insurance a necessity?

Discussing your car’s true value and the fiscal risks involved with not owning collision insurance with experts, like Prime Insurance, will give you the clarity you seek.

Exploring the possibility of other NJ auto insurance coverage - comprehensive insurance, uninsured motorist protection, medical/personal-injury protection, no-fault insurance, and gap insurance –is a good idea as well.

PRIME Insurance Agency can simplify your path to the best coverage. Saving you money and time, we get you the NJ car insurance you need because the unexpected can (and does) happen! 

PRIME Insurance is a three-generation family-run independent agency. We’re proud partners with many of the leading companies in the industry – big names such as ACE, AmTRUST, ASI, ASSURANT, CHUBB, CNA, Employers, FOREMOST, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, PROGRESSIVE, Safeco, StillWater, Travelers, USLI, ZURICH and more. This gives us the ability to provide all forms of nationwide coverage and bonds at competitively lowest quotes. Visit us on our online insurance website or email us at PRIME [at] primeins [dot] com or call us at 732-886-5751 and HAVE A PRIME DAY™!