Meet Marco, a lifelong resident of Jersey City who just got a reminder that living in the Garden State comes with a "Garden State tax"—his new car insurance premium.
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Marco opened his mail to find his rates had jumped by over 10% for 2026, a trend hitting drivers across the state. Like many, he was feeling the squeeze from New Jersey's recent mandate that raised minimum liability coverage limits to $25,000 per person, with another hike to $35,000 scheduled for January 2026. Meet Marco, a lifelong resident of Jersey City
: Marco had opted for the "Limitation on Lawsuit" threshold to save money on his monthly bill. This meant he couldn't sue the other driver for "pain and suffering" unless his injuries were permanent or severe, like a displaced fracture or significant scarring. Learn more NJDOBI | Controlling the Cost of
: His Personal Injury Protection (PIP) kicked in immediately, but he had to choose between a "Standard" policy (with more coverage) or a "Basic" policy (which might not cover as much if he were seriously injured).
In the end, Marco managed to find a policy that balanced his budget with the protection he needed for the busy Turnpike commutes.