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New Jersey Manufacturers car insurance review
If you call New Jersey or Pennsylvania home, this niche insurer is well worth a look.
finder.com’s rating: 5.0 / 5.0
★★★★★
- Get a quote if you are fed up with New Jersey’s high insurance rates.
- Pick something else if you don’t meet the strict eligibility requirements.
- Public sector and NJBIA members may qualify.
Included free
Roadside assistance
New car protection
Details
| States served | New Jersey, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Roadside assistance | Included free |
| Pay schedule | monthly |
| Claims methods | online, phone |
| New car protection | No |
| Accident forgiveness |
Pros
- Local agents
- Competitive rates
- 24/7 claims processing
- Online portal
- Most drivers welcome
- Teen Safe Driving program
Cons
- No live chat
- Limited geographic reach
- Limited eligibility
- Missing coverage
| Anti-theft device discount | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bundling discount | Yes, NJ drivers only |
| Defensive driving discount | Yes, 5%, NJ drivers only |
| Good student discount | Yes, high school & college students with a 3.0 GPA |
| Loyalty discount | No |
| Homeowner discount | Yes |
| Military discount | No |
| Safety device discount | No |
| Special employment discount | No |
| Usage-based discount | No |
| Other discounts | Driver Training Discount - drivers under 21 years old who successfully complete a certain amount of training Mature Driver Improvement - PA drivers over 55 who successfully complete a driver improvement course |
| Rideshare coverage | Not specified |
|---|---|
| SR-22 coverage |
No |
| Temporary & short term coverage | No |
Who can apply for NJM insurance?
For auto insurance in New Jersey, applicants must be employed by one of the 1,600 members of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA), the federal government, the state of New Jersey or a local public school. You may also be eligible if you’re a prior policyholder, the spouse of a policyholder or someone who drives a commercial car that’s covered by NJM.
NJM also writes auto insurance for Pennsylvania residents, and applications are open to anyone.
What car insurance coverage does NJM offer?
NJM’s coverage is geared toward New Jersey state laws and driving conditions. Your policy might cover:
- Personal injury protection (PIP). Covers the cost of medical treatment if you or other people under your policy get into an accident. It also takes care of the other expenses you may incur as a result, such as lost wages. PIP is sometimes called no-fault coverage because it pays regardless of who caused the accident. Depending on your policy, NJM can pay between $15,000 and $250,000 per person or accident. This is legally required in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
- Body injury liability coverage. Legally required in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, this pays for claims and lawsuits by people who are injured in an accident you caused. Choose up to a max of $500,000 combined bodily injury liability and property damage liability.
- Property damage liability coverage. Also state-mandated in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, this helps to pay for the damage you cause to others’ property in an accident.
- Combined single-limit liability coverage. Under New Jersey’s Standard Policy, this provides liability coverage for both bodily injury and property damage as a combined limit.
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. Required by law in New Jersey, this kicks in if you’re in an accident caused by a driver who has little to no insurance. Covers up to your chosen maximum for bodily injury and property damage liability.
- Collision coverage. An optional add-on, this covers the cost of damage to your vehicle after a collision with another car or object.
- Comprehensive. Available as an option, this pays for damages to your car caused by things like theft, vandalism, flooding, fire or broken windshields.
- Extended medical expense coverage limit. With a limit of $10,000, this takes care of the costs if you’re injured while riding in a non-standard vehicle, like a bus, motorcycle, taxi or commercial truck. It also applies to pedestrians struck by those kinds of vehicles.
- Roadside assistance. NJM stands out for offering this service free of charge on all auto policies. The insurer will pay up to $75 for each time a covered car has a mechanical breakdown, flat tire or lockout.
What is NJM’s Teen Safe Driving program?
NJM is committed to educating young drivers. As part of its Teen Driver Safety program, NJM officers visit high schools around New Jersey to talk about distracted driving and state driving laws. The initiative is fully funded by NJM and free for all schools.
In 2013, the insurer launched Share The Keys, a 60- to 90-minute interactive program for parents and their teen drivers. The program aims to reduce the risk of teen crashes by getting parents involved. During the presentation, NJM touches on controlling the keys, being a good role model and boosting your teen’s practice driving hours.
What discounts can I get with NJM?
NJM offers attractive discounts for qualifying customers.
- Home and auto bundle. Choose NJM for your auto and homeowners or renters insurance and you’ll earn a discount.
- Multi-car discount. Insure two or more vehicles on the same policy and NJM will apply a discount for each.
- Good student discount. If you’re a high school or college student with at least a B average or 3.0 GPA or higher, NJM may reward that by slashing your premium.
- Anti-theft device discount. Is your car equipped with an anti-theft or vehicle recovery device? You’ll likely get a discount.
- Driver training discount. This is available to drivers younger than 21 who successfully complete 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours of behind-the-wheel training, or three hours of behind-the-wheel training and 12 hours in an approved driving simulator.
- Defensive driving. If you’ve taken a defensive driving course approved by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), you’ll get a 5% discount for up to three years. You can retake the course every three years, and online courses count.
- Pennsylvania mature driver improvement discount. Pennsylvania drivers 55 years or older can qualify for a discount if they voluntarily complete a mature driver improvement course through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The policyholder must have done the course within three years, and continue to take it every three years to stay eligible.
- Dividends. Along with offering specialized service and a long list of discounts, NJM pays dividends to its policyholders at an average rate of 5% of the yearly premium each year. Since 1918, more than $6 billion has been paid to policyholders — an impressive number for a niche insurer.
Pros and cons of NJM
Pros
- Local agents. Every agent is aware of unique local driving laws.
- Competitive rates. NJM’s premiums can be up to 20% lower than the state average.
- 24/7 claims processing. You can file a claim over the phone or online at any time.
- Online portal. Manage your policy, make payments and monitor claims
- Most drivers can apply. The insurer offers some of the cheapest rates for drivers with poor credit and one at-fault accident on their record.
- Teen Safe Driving program. NJM takes the safety of its state’s roads into its own hands, offering free safety presentations to New Jersey high schools.
Cons
- No live chat. NJM’s website doesn’t offer real-time help.
- Limited geographic reach. Auto insurance policies are only available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
- Limited eligibility. While insurance is available to all Pennsylvania drivers, New Jerseyans have to tick a few boxes.
- Missing coverage. Unlike many providers in New Jersey, NJM’s policies don’t cover luxury cars or include mechanical breakdown, personal property or pet injury coverage.
Compare alternatives to NJM
What do customers say about NJM?
While NJM isn’t accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), it has an A rating. The BBB has closed just 28 complaints in the past three years, most of which touched on issues with billing and claims processing.
On online forums, customers praise the company’s local knowledge, timely investigations and fair repairs, though some say it can be slow to communicate and process claims.
In J.D. Power’s 2017 Auto Insurance Study, NJM ranked highly for customer satisfaction. It earned a score of 874 on a 1,000-point scale, which was well above the national average of 819.
How to apply for car insurance with NJM
To get a quote online:
- Head to NJM’s website.
- On the homepage, you’ll see two dropdown boxes. Select your area: New Jersey or Pennsylvania, and the type of coverage you’re interested in: Auto.
- Click Get Quote.
- You’ll then be asked to enter your personal information and driving history, and shown your coverage options and rates.
You can also get a quote over the phone by calling 800-232-6600, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. or Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.
What information do I need to apply?
You’ll need:
- Your driver’s license number
- Details on your driving history, including past claims and accidents
- Details of the car you’re insuring
- The names of the people who will be driving it
How do I find an NJM agent near me?
NJM has offices in West Trenton, Parsippany and Hammonton in New Jersey. If you’re not nearby, you can call, email or fax customer service. The company does not have any brick-and-mortar offices in Pennsylvania.
How do I make a claim with NJM?
You can file a car insurance claim 24/7 by calling 800-367-6564 or logging into the online portal.
You’ll need to provide the following information:
- Your policy number
- Your contact details
- Your relationship to the policyholder, if it’s not you
- Date, time and location of the incident
- Description of incident
- Photos of any damage caused
How do I contact NJM?
You can get in touch with NJM in a few ways.
- In person. Visit the offices in West Trenton, Parsippany and Hammonton, New Jersey.
- Email. Navigate to the Contact Us page on NJM’s website, and fill out the email form.
- Phone. Call 800-232-6600. The customer service team is available Monday through Friday from 7a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.
- Fax. Send a fax to the below numbers.
- West Trenton: 609-882-3457
- Parsippany: 973-326-6809
- Hammonton: 609-493-1475
- Mail. Post can be directed to: NJM Insurance Group, 301 Sullivan Way, West Trenton, NJ 08628
Bottom line
NJM caters to drivers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and its agents are not only local but specialize in the laws and nuances of both states. It’s an exclusive, niche insurer and for customers, that’s where its appeal lies.
As a mutual company, the firm relies on customer service and it has very few complaints to its name. It’s also paid out steady dividends to policyholders since 1918.
If you qualify for coverage, NJM is definitely worth exploring. While coverage is limited in some ways, it stands out for offering low premiums and discounts — especially in New Jersey, where auto insurance rates are among the highest in the country.
Before committing, compare car insurance policies to make sure you’re getting the best one for you.
Frequently asked questions about NJM
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