Assigned Risk Auto Insurance in New Jersey

Reader’s Question:

My boyfriend has the worst driving record in New Jersey. There were so many traffic violations, tickets, citations etc under his name. Just name it he almost got everything under his driving record. And because of this, as expected, we were not able to purchase car insurance through voluntary market. So we purchased his car insurance through assigned risk market. We’ve been under the said market for three years now. And it’s an expensive plan if I may add. Now, what we would like to know is how do we get out of this market? We would like to be considered for voluntary market to avoid paying so much on his auto insurance.

Teresa

Jersey City, NJ

I’m sorry to hear that Teresa. But I got good news for you! According to the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, every year if a person renews his/her policy or whenever a new policy is purchased, the auto insurance company will review a person’s driving record. This covers the three-year period prior to the renewal or buying of the car insurance policy.

In addition, auto insurance eligibility points are removed after the three-year period. So, traffic violations or vehicular accidents that were given insurance eligibility points by auto insurance companies are no longer included on the driver’s record provided that it falls out the three-year look back period. So, assuming that your boyfriend’s total insurance eligibility points for the last three years is less than seven points, then he may be eligible to purchase auto insurance from voluntary market again.

For more information about auto insurance in New Jersey, you can also contact your car insurance agent and even the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance.