These N.J. Towns Have The Worst — And Best — Car Insurance Costs

No matter how much the economy improves, one thing is for certain: New Jersey consistently has the worst car insurance rates in the nation. But some places are worse than others (see list below).

You may be surprised to see some of your towns on the list of communities with the worst — or the best — car insurance rates in the state.

The consumer analyst Value Penguin collected quotes from a variety of insurance companies across 99 towns and cities in New Jersey to understand how, and why, car insurance costs vary across the state. Here are some of its findings:

• Premiums in West Orange are 15 percent above the New Jersey state average.
• The average cost of car insurance in New Jersey was $2,551.
• Eastern New Jersey is more expensive than Western New Jersey.
• The closer to New York City you get, the pricier car insurance is.

In the Garden State, each city plays a big role in how much you may pay for car insurance, according to the study. Cities less than an hour drive from one another ranged in price by more than 86 percent. Overall, Value Penguin found the statewide average to be $2,551 for our sample driver, with the most expensive town being 37 percent more than the state average, and the most affordable being 26 percent less than the state average.

The five most expensive cities are located within 26 miles of one another, coming either from Essex or Passaic counties, according to the study. The title of "most expensive city" is actually shared by both Newark and Irvington, which are only separated by a 2-mile drive down Springfield Avenue, according to the study.

Overall, the five cities were about 37 percent above the state average. One sample driver paid roughly $3,448 per year. Compared to most expensive cities in neighboring New York and Pennsylvania, New Jersey's most expensive cities were 31 percent and 74 percent more expensive.

Here is a list of towns with the highest car insurance costs and their average yearly rate:

1. Irvington $3,487
2. Newark $3,487
3. Passaic $3,427
4. Orange $3,420
5. East Orange $3,420
6. Paterson $3,419
7. Elizabeth $3,402
8. North Bergen $3,385
9. West New York $3,347
10. Union City $3,347
11. Atlantic City $3,232
12. Perth Amboy $3,196
13. Garfield $3,165
14. Jersey City $3,151
15. Hoboken $3,151
16. Fort Lee $3,138
17. Belleville $3,135
18. Linden $3,123
19. Kearny $3,114
20. Clifton $3,040
21. Union $3,028
22. Rahway $3,014
23. Plainfield $2,995
24. Lodi $2,977
25. Englewood $2,969
26. Hackensack $2,948
27. West Orange $2,942
28. Bayonne $2,903
29. Bloomfield $2,877
30. Lakewood $2,692
31. Bergenfield $2,689
32. Vineland $2,679
33. Willingboro $2,671
34. Teaneck $2,660
35. Sicklerville $2,594
36. Clementon $2,594
37. Fair Lawn $2,594
38. Nutley $2,591
39. Little Falls $2,568
40. Williamstown $2,566
41. Absecon $2,565
42. Trenton $2,550
43. Mays Landing $2,540
44. Egg Harbor Township $2,535
45. North Brunswick $2,487
46. New Brunswick $2,487
47. Old Bridge $2,486
48. Montclair $2,485
49. Millville $2,474
50. Bridgeton $2,474

Here are lowest rates:

1. Point Pleasant Beach $1,876
2. Basking Ridge $1,877
3. Randolph $1,908
4. Hillsborough $1,908
5. Morristown $1,918
6. Bridgewater $1,923
7. Flemington $1,940
8. Parsippany $2,000
9. Middletown $2,003
10. Phillipsburg $2,006
11. Hackettstown $2,012
12. Mahwah $2,025
13. Mount Holly $2,111
14. Burlington $2,121
15. Westwood $2,128
16. Princeton $2,133
17. Hightstown $2,136
18. Vincentown $2,149
19. West Deptford $2,149
20. Lawrence Township $2,157
21. Caldwell $2,172
22. Medford $2,189
23. Mount Laurel $2,201
24. Sewell $2,207
25. Cherry Hill $2,212
26. Manchester Township $2,219
27. Toms River $2,219
28. Riverside $2,220
29. Brick $2,222
30. Freehold $2,223
31. Long Branch $2,225
32. Marlton $2,227
33. Matawan $2,246
34. Englishtown $2,249
35. Neptune $2,251
36. Blackwood $2,252
37. Monroe Township $2,252
38. Voorhees $2,262
39. Asbury Park $2,266
40. Howell $2,268
41. Wayne $2,277
42. Westfield $2,310
43. East Brunswick $2,339
44. Paramus $2,349
45. Edison $2,381
46. Livingston $2,384
47. Piscataway $2,387
48. Somerset $2,387
49. Jackson $2,466

Patch file photo