Car Insurance in New Jersey vs. Texas: Costs, Laws and Resources

There are several differences between the car insurance requirements in New Jersey vs. Texas. Both states require property damage coverage, but Texas' minimum limit is higher. Texas also mandates bodily injury coverage, which isn’t necessary for New Jersey. Furthermore, you must have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage in New Jersey, which Texas doesn't require.

MoneyGeek analyzed differences in auto insurance between New Jersey and Texas and determined the cheapest insurers.

Car insurance laws in Texas require, at minimum, 30/60/25 liability coverage. New Jersey car insurance laws mandate a $5,000 limit for property damage and PIP coverage.

Coverage levels can impact your premiums, but they aren’t the only influencing factor. For example, despite having fewer requirements, a state minimum policy in New Jersey costs $1,018 per year on average, while in Texas, you’ll spend around $665. Insurers evaluate other criteria, including theft rates and population density.

New Jersey and Texas have different car insurance laws. New Jersey is a no-fault state, which means all drivers can file a claim with their respective car insurance companies regardless of who was at fault in an accident. This is one reason why car insurance in New Jersey is more expensive.

Texas is a tort state. The driver who causes the accident is liable for costs the other party incurs, including medical bills and property damage.

MoneyGeek compared quotes from various car insurance companies in New Jersey and Texas. Our analysis showed that these companies offer the cheapest rates for state minimum policies on average:

• Cheapest in New Jersey: GEICO ($499 per year)
• Cheapest in Texas: Farmers ($420 per year)

The cheapest auto insurance policy in both states comes from different carriers. This shows that a car insurance company may charge differently across states. In fact, while GEICO was the most affordable insurer in New Jersey, it only ranked fifth in Texas.

• Cheapest car insurance in New Jersey
• Cheapest car insurance in Texas

The average cost of auto insurance in New Jersey vs. Texas varies depending on coverage levels.

For state minimum policies, you can purchase coverage in New Jersey for an annual average premium of $1,018. In Texas, you’ll spend roughly $665 per year on this coverage.

Additionally, the cost of full-coverage insurance in Texas is $1,316 per year on average, while you’ll pay an average of $1,674 in New Jersey for the same coverage.

Several factors affect car insurance rates, causing costs in one state to be more expensive than in another. Narrowing it to a single element might not be possible.

While New Jersey and Texas are densely populated, our analysis showed that New Jersey has a higher highway density. More vehicles on the road increase the probability of accidents. This increase in risk exposure leads to higher premiums.

Car insurance costs don’t just vary between states. They also differ between cities in the same area.

For example, drivers in Jersey City pay an average of $960 yearly for state minimum coverage. In comparison, a similar policy costs $1,089 annually in Paterson. Both of these cities are in New Jersey.

In Texas, Abilene has the lowest annual average premium at $480, while drivers in Houston pay the highest rate of around $806 annually.

Insurance requirements don’t vary within states, so this is not a contributing factor. Population density is a more likely explanation for the difference in rates.

You need to transfer your driver’s license and registration if you relocate from New Jersey to Texas or vice versa. If your current carrier covers your new state, you don’t have to switch providers if you’re happy with their service. However, your rates may change.

You can also choose to find a new car insurance company. MoneyGeek can help you choose a provider that can match your driving background and needs.

There are several differences between laws about car insurance in New Jersey vs. Texas. Here are the most commonly asked questions to help you find the right option for your needs.

To calculate average car insurance rates by company and across New Jersey and Texas, MoneyGeek collaborated with Quadrant Information Services to collect auto insurance quotes from both locations. We used a sample profile for a 40-year-old driver with a clean driving record and minimum coverage unless modified by criteria like coverage level, age, driving offenses and credit score. Learn more about how costs are calculated in our MoneyGeek car insurance methodology.

Minimum car insurance requirements by state were sourced from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of the respective state.