Discover In-depth Secrets of New Jersey Auto Insurance

Exclusive New Jersey auto insurance advice has been revealed in our car tips interview with David. the Director of Regulatory Knowledge and Licensing at Goji.

Hi David, please tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do at Goji.

I’m originally from the greater Philadelphia area and have lived in Boston for the past 9 years. I started at Goji just over 5 years ago as an agent, and am now the Director of Regulatory Knowledge and Licensing. My job at Goji is to make sure that our agents are properly trained and licensed according to the laws of each state in which we do business. My team and I ensure our licensed agents know the intimate details necessary to talk expertly about coverage in multiple states.

New Jersey auto insurance law is pretty different from other states. What are some key regulations we need to be aware of?

New Jersey is one of very few states which offer personal injury protection on a no-fault basis. In a nutshell, that means you have to rely on your own policy for basic medical care for injuries you sustain in a car accident. While it is possible to claim damages from someone who injures you, the New Jersey auto policy is designed so that as many injuries as possible are funneled through the injured person’s own coverage.  This is very important because personal injury protection can be costly, and it’s a coverage many customers look to slash without fully understanding it. Selecting the wrong kind of personal injury protection could leave you on the hook for thousands of dollars of medical bills even when you thought you were covered.

What are the easy ways to save money on auto insurance? Is getting an insurance bundle a good idea?

The best possible way to save money on insurance is to comparison shop. This is even more true if you have gone through a big life change (gotten married, moved, bought a new car), or if you have been with your insurer for a long time.  When it comes to bundling policies, insurance bundles are one of those things that a lot of customers think isn’t for them. Many people know that bundle discounts exist when you buy homeowner’s and auto insurance from the same provider, but you don’t have to be a homeowner to take advantage of package policy discounts. Some companies offer great bundling discounts for packaging an auto policy with renter’s insurance.

People get confused while seeing various auto insurance plans including different features. What are the essential items that should be included in the plan?

There is no one-size-fits all insurance plan, so my best advice is to talk to an agent.  When pricing insurance, you have to think about the worst-case scenario and what you absolutely could not provide for yourself.  Most of us can’t pay to just up and replace our cars, so comprehensive and collision coverage are important even when they aren’t required.  It is important to go through each coverage line-by-line. Many customers are surprised to find that they can easily afford thousands of dollars of extra medical and liability protection for very small increases in monthly premium.

Any tips to buying auto insurance for drivers under 25 years old and drivers with car accident record?

Do your homework, and do it ahead of time. Pretend you’re shopping for a flight; most of us know the best deals are had by comparing lots of options and shopping ahead of time. Don’t hesitate to ask about discounts. Not all companies offer the same discounts, so it’s important to ask often about which ones are available to you.

Can you tell us the step-by-step standard operating procedure for auto insurance claim in a easy-to-understand way?

1. Call the police if anyone looks hurt in any way.
2. Take down information from the other person, including name, vehicle, driver’s license number and insurance policy number.
3. Take photos of any visible damage.
4. Collect the contact information of any witnesses who may have seen the incident.
5. If your vehicle is in a safe place where it is not blocking the flow of traffic or in danger, use this time to call your insurer and report the incident.
For more information on what to do after an accident, we have a detailed post on our blog.

Any tips or advice you’d like to share with our readers?

Drive safely, don’t text & drive, and give us a call at 1-888-991-1033 when you have any questions about auto insurance! There’s probably a better auto policy for you out there at a better price.

About Goji

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Goji is changing the way people shop for auto insurance. By combining proprietary technology with unbiased advice, Goji makes it easy for customers to compare and buy insurance from more than a dozen major carriers all in one place. Eight years in the business gives Goji the experience and data needed to provide the quickest and most accurate quote estimates in the industry, bringing transparency to the insurance marketplace.

 

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