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If you are like most people, making selections on your auto insurance policy is confusing. The insurance carrier does not properly explain the options to you. That is because when you select lower limits and less coverage, the insurance carrier benefits in the long run. Insurance agents try to get your business by telling you “how much you can save on auto insurance”. Or, our favorite is “what do you want to pay for auto insurance?” The answer is nothing because it is expensive, but nothing will not do.We take a different approach. We want you to understand the options you are selecting and what they mean to you if you are involved in an accident. We hear so many times from people who were involved in a car accident in New Jersey that was someone else’s fault and now the injured person has no recourse due to selections they made on their own policy. It makes no sense, but it is the law in New Jersey.

Q: Why do I need auto insurance in NJ?

  1. It is the law in NJ
  2. To protect you and your family if you are injured in an accident or cause an accident
  3. If you are injured while operating an uninsured vehicle, you will NOT be able to seek money for your injuries, medical bills, or lost wages EVEN IF YOU WERE NOT AT FAULT

Q: What kind of auto insurance should I have?

  1. NO LIMITATION/UNLIMITED RIGHT TO SUE
  2. Uninsured Motorist (UM) AND Underinsured Motorists (UIM) coverage in the same amount of money as selected for Bodily Injury Liability
  3. Bodily Injury Liability coverage in the highest amount you can afford.  Higher limits = greater protection to you
  4. Medical or PIP benefits of $250,000
  5. Property Damage Coverage – highest you can afford
  6. Collision Coverage – depends on the value of your car

Q: Do I pick a Standard or Basic Policy?
A: Always choose the Standard Policy. IMPORTANT: The policy you choose will affect how much your insurance will cover, what claims will be paid, and if you are allowed to bring a claim for injuries EVEN IF you DID NOT cause the accident. Therefore, the Standard Policy provides better coverage to protect you and your family.

Q: Why Should I pick NO LIMITATION?

  1. You retain the right to sue the person who hit you for ANY injury from the collision.
  2. YOUR right to sue the at fault driver for your injuries depends on what YOU picked on YOUR policy.
  3. YOU are worth it!

Q: My insurance company said I would save money if I pick “Limitation”.

  1. You only save a little bit of money
  2. Insurance companies save a LOT of money if you pick Limitation
  3. If you pick Limitation, YOU AGREE NOT TO SUE the person who hit you unless you are:
  • significantly disfigured/scarred
  • lose a fetus
  • lose an arm/leg
  • die from the accident
  • have a displaced fracture (not a regular fracture)
  • sustain a permanent injury to a body part that will not heal to function normally​

​Q: Do I need PIP (medical) coverage?​
A: Yes. When you purchase your policy, you will have a choice to select your health insurance or the auto insurance carrier as primary. DO NOT select your health insurance as primary. Instead, select your auto insurance as primary. It is recommended to select PIP coverage of $250,000.00. However, we understand that it costs more money. If you cannot afford the maximum PIP coverage, pick as much as you can afford. You will have the option to select $15,000, $50,000, $75,000, $150,000 or $250,000. Do not select the minimum $15,000. It does not end up paying for very much medical care and could leave you in a situation where you are unable to obtain further recommended medical treatment unless you pay out of your own pocket.
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Q: If I already paid for an insurance policy, do I have to wait until it expires to make changes?
A: No. You have the right to change your policy coverage AT ANY TIME, even if your policy has not expired. If you find better insurance, you can cancel your current policy and seek a refund of your unused premium.

What Do Certain Auto Insurance Terms Mean?

  • Bodily injury liability coverage: coverage for injuries you cause to person you hit.
  • Property damage liability: coverage for damage you cause to someone else’s car or property.
  • Collision: coverage for property damage to your own car.
  • PIP coverage: coverage for medical treatment and medical bills for you, a family member or a passenger in your car that was injured in an accident regardless of who caused the accident.
  • Uninsured Motorist or UM: coverage to pay for injuries you sustained if the person who caused the accident didn’t have insurance or fled the scene (hit and run driver).
  • Underinsured Motorist or UIM: coverage to pay for injuries you sustained when the at fault driver’s insurance is not enough. For example, the at fault driver only have $30,000 in coverage, but your injuries are worth $200,000.  If you have UIM coverage that is higher than the $30,000 coverage the at fault driver had, you can recover additional money for your injuries from your own insurance company.  UIM protects you and your family when you are injured by someone else who didn’t have enough insurance coverage.
  • At Fault Driver: person who caused the accident to happen.
  • Bodily Injury: an injury sustained by a person involved in an auto accident.
  • Gap insurance: coverage that pays for the difference between your car’s actual value and what you still owe to a loan company for the car.  Gap Insurance is a really good idea when purchasing a new car with a loan or if  purchasing a used car with a loan.