Car insurance costs an average of $221 per month in Trenton, according to proprietary data from Insurify. That’s slightly higher than the state average of $193. It’s not surprising, considering that Trenton has one of the highest property crime rates and highest auto theft rates in the state.1
However, while some aspects of your insurance premiums are outside your control, you can do several things to significantly lower your insurance costs in Trenton. Here’s how.
Cheapest car insurance companies in Trenton
The cheapest insurance agency overall, based on average rates, isn’t necessarily the cheapest for you. That’s why it’s a good idea to explore coverages and compare rates from a few different companies to find the right coverage for your needs and budget.
As you start your search for a new insurer in Trenton, keep the following insurers in mind. You’ll also find their state averages for full coverage and liability insurance here.
Best insurer for small-business owners: New Jersey Manufacturers
Best insurer for rideshare drivers: State Farm
Best insurer for military members: USAA
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Trenton
Car insurance rates can differ dramatically depending on the coverage choices you make and the level of risk you pose to an insurer.
Risk factors you can control include your driving record, your credit history, the kind of car you drive, and, to some extent, where you park it. Factors beyond your control include your age and gender.
To reduce your car insurance rates in any situation, you should:
Maintain a clean driving record to earn good-driver discounts.
Pay bills on time and pay down debt to improve your credit.
Avoid purchasing more coverage than you need.
Bundle your car insurance with your homeowners insurance, renters insurance, or life insurance to earn better rates.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Trenton: CSAA
Liability car insurance is basic coverage that protects your assets if you or someone driving your car causes an accident that injures or kills someone or damages their property.
This type of coverage has two parts: bodily injury liability to cover the costs related to the other person’s injuries or death and property damage liability to cover the cost of repairing or replacing their damaged property.
The coverage extends to family members listed on your policy, as well as people driving your car with permission. However, it doesn’t cover your own injuries or property damage.
Most states require drivers to have liability coverage for every car they drive. You can purchase this coverage from any NJ auto insurer, and the average monthly rate for liability-only insurance in Trenton is $165.
This table shows you average quotes for liability-only coverage offered by top Trenton insurers.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Trenton: CSAA
Full-coverage auto insurance consists of liability insurance coverage plus collision and comprehensive coverages to protect your own car. Full coverage is optional, but if you lease or finance your vehicle, your insurer will probably require it.
Collision coverage pays for repairs to your vehicle when you’re at fault in a crash with another driver or with an inanimate object, such as a telephone pole. Comprehensive auto insurance covers other kinds of mishaps, including hitting a deer, hail damage, fire, theft, and vandalism.
The average rate for full-coverage auto insurance in Trenton is $278 per month.
Car insurance requirements in New Jersey
New Jersey law requires drivers to have proof of insurance.4 The three types of mandatory coverage are:
Liability
Personal injury protection, also called no-fault coverage, which pays medical expenses if you or your passengers suffer injuries in a car accident, regardless of who caused the accident5
Uninsured motorist coverage, which protects you if you’re in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver
New Jersey offers a basic policy and a standard policy. Basic policies include minimum required liability and personal injury protection and are advised for people with few assets.6 Standard policies expand those coverage amounts and offer uninsured motorist coverage, as well as optional collision and comprehensive coverages.
Here are the minimum coverage amounts New Jersey requires:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Drivers who have an incident on their record — such as an at-fault accident, a speeding ticket, a driving under the influence citation, or another traffic violation — often see their rates increase. This is because an incident makes you riskier in the eyes of insurers, and with that added risk comes a higher price on your policy. The extra charge could stay with you for a few years.
The table below shows how incident types can affect quotes.
Average cost of car insurance by age
Drivers usually pay their lowest rates between the ages of 35 and 70. Before age 35, higher accident rates due to inexperience and immaturity raise rates, especially for the youngest drivers.
Later, frailty and declining health become additional risk factors. By age 70, drivers have a higher risk of serious accident-related injury or death, and this results in higher car insurance premiums.
The following chart shows how dramatically rates decline as young drivers age — and how those rates rise again after age 70.
Trenton car insurance quotes by credit tier
Insurance companies use a metric called a credit-based insurance score to predict how likely customers are to file a claim. Although these scores aren’t the same as credit scores, New Jersey insurance companies are allowed to use your credit history to calculate them.
Maintaining excellent or good credit may get you a lower rate than you’d pay with poor credit.
This table illustrates the effect credit has on your monthly insurance costs.