For the record it is absolutely insane the amount of money we have to pay for car insurance in this state. I pay around 1400 f-ing dollars a year for full coverage with no points and never had accident and I've researched that the company I am with is one of the cheaper in the state. I would be paying a third of that in most any other state. What I can't figure is that I never filed a claim, nor taken one dime of their coverage yet they raise my rate every year. They have taken thousands upon thousands of dollars of my dollars over the years and haven't put one dime into my car. Population density my ass! I hate the cost of living in this state, factor in the property taxes god forbid you own anything and it's f-ing ridiculous... Now the real reason for this rant: I haven't surfed in weeks and can't afford a trip to Costa Rica this year, and the thought that if I was paying a third for my insurance and had that extra 900 dollars I could be living large for a week, surfing some warm waters, watching the sunset over the pacific and practicing my spanish with a beautiful tica is too much to bear. Instead I'm shoveling snow so I can drive my insured car to the market to buy rock salt, pura vida...
1400 isn't that unheard of, but you should shop around. 15 minutes or less could save you hundreds by shopping at Geico.
also, take a defensive driving course, and you will see a good amount of money. like 10-15% or something around there.
have you tried nj manufacturers? supposedly they are the cheapest in the state, if they decide to insure you. They are very exclusive and won't insure everyone, which keeps the rates down. But definitely agree, my buddy in NC is paying around $700 a year for full coverage.
I understand that most people need to use a car. But I decided to stay off the road for a while, drop the insurance, stop buying gas (even though NOW is the cheapest it been in a long time), I didn't even renew my registration (in MD you do that every 2 years, which is a bullsh!t state gov't money-making scheme). I now just ride my bike, which is free, and is nearly maintenance free. And ins. is bullsh!t too. I do feel better about not paying for all that crap and now I do have extra money, or should I say that Im saving money. And I feel much better about not using fossil fuels and not having nearly as big as a carbon footprint. At these times and days, I believe that that kind of stuff is important, and I am much more aware of my surroundings. But I still own a truck, because there will be the day where I will need to start driving again. Right now I feel as though Im seeing the bigger picture, and being closer to my physical environment, and connecting closer to nature. . . through riding waves.
$1400 isn't bad dude. I work for liberty mutual and sell home life and auto insurance, i'd be happy to give you a rate... just gimme a call at the office i'll be workin til christmas eve. If i'm not there leave me a message and i'll get back to you. Anyone else interested feel free to do the same... I do agree though NJ anything is expensive... urghhhh exit tax anyone? here's my info Nick Kiniry Liberty Mutual 609-882-5001 ext. 53264 nicholas.kiniry@libertymutual.com (sorry to plug... always tryin to help a fellow surfer get to CR... maybe we can help each other out haha)
and don't bother comparing the costs of living in nj to other states, it will just upset you. Oh and I am licensed in PA too so all you PA kooks can get hooked up too (just kidding about the kook) you start looking at things like property taxes and income taxes and you will want to cry. I hear florida has no income tax...
last post i promise... http://www.libertymutualteendriving.com/parents/drivingcourse.aspx $25 defensive driver course that saves you 10%. do the math. college education 10%, homeowner 10% over 25 is huge (i am 24). hope this helps
Thanks for all the suggestions, and ya I know about the courses and organizations that save you money but that is just my point. The whole concept of insurance is, in essence, abstract and leads to all these other steps that constitute the bureaucratic bull**** we have to swim around in when we're not in the ocean. Pay for a class or register for an organization and this makes me a better driver? Pay for what might happen? It just really complicates our lives, it's a game we have to play because if we don't and get caught then we're deemed criminals because we didn't play their game. There has to be a better motivation for making people drive better. New Jersey is the king of making things more complicated then they need to be. Think of property taxes, this small state would save a crapload of money if they just cut out the 516 municipalities who all need their own school district and all the administrative costs that entails and went ahead and consolidated services to say the county level. That's why I love surfing, it just makes sense, it's that one time when everything makes sense and I know why I'm doing this and I understand there is a soul to the world. Car insurance, taxes, ahh, bah hum bug! Seriously if someone has a rhetorical argument for why insurance should be so high in this state I would love to hear it...
my guess is basic market forces. Lots of dangerous roads, possibly a legal system that supports large accident settlements, and the insurance companies charge what the market will bear. Thats crazy tho...I always carry a few points on my license for the occasional speeding tickets (no accidents thank god) and pay about $525 for full coverage on a full size pickup here in DE.
Only reason I can think of why its so expensive. They figure NJ drivers are aren't the best of drivers. Pair that with other Northeast drivers... and you'll have a lot of "accidents" whether you have one or not. Then they figure the bad parts of the state... Camden, Newark... and if you have a nice car, it'll get broken into. Et cetera. So factor in all that, and they charge everyone a lot... Awesome. I'm so lucky I don't have any speeding tickets. Was riding fast down the parkway most of the way home today.
Vw gti 1.8t. Not as much of a fast car as an STi, but I sure as hell would love one of those. Edit: Its also a 2003...
Word Once you turn 25, get married, and sell the hopped up kit cars to buy a mini-van to carry the kids, your insurance rates will drop, but so will your sex drive and your water time, so it's all one.
I believe the price of car insurance in NJ also has to do with the number of estimated uninsured drivers on the road. Population density, number of accidents per year etc would also influence price...just taking a guess.
Like I said before, I am always willing to help a fellow surfer out... some of the rates you guys mentioned seem high...
