If you insure a car in New Jersey, the minimum amount of liability coverage you're required to carry went up this year. As of January 1, 2026, under New Jersey law P.L. 2022, c.87, the state's standard auto policy minimum liability limits increased from the old $15,000/$30,000/$5,000 to:
New minimum liability limits (effective January 1, 2026):
$35,000 bodily injury per person / $70,000 bodily injury per accident / $25,000 property damage
In plain terms: if you cause an accident, your policy now has to be able to pay out at least $35,000 for injuries to any one person, up to $70,000 total for everyone hurt in the accident, and $25,000 for damage to someone else's car or property. That's more than double the old bodily injury limits and five times the old property damage limit.
Why did the minimums change?
New Jersey's previous minimums — 15/30/5 — hadn't been raised in decades, and hadn't kept pace with the real cost of medical care or vehicle repairs. A $5,000 property damage limit, for example, doesn't go far against the price of a modern car; even a moderate fender-bender can exceed it. Lawmakers raised the floor so that a standard policy is more likely to actually cover the cost of a typical serious accident, rather than leaving both drivers exposed.
Does this affect your policy automatically?
If you already carry higher limits than the old minimums — which we generally recommend for most drivers regardless of what the law requires — this change may not affect your premium much, if at all. If you were carrying the old state-minimum limits, your policy should have been brought up to the new required minimums at your next renewal after the effective date. It's worth confirming with your agent (or checking your declarations page) that your current limits actually meet or exceed 35/70/25.
It's also a good moment to check your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. In New Jersey, UM/UIM limits generally have to match your liability limits unless you specifically choose lower coverage in writing — so this change may affect that side of your policy too.
Is the state minimum actually enough coverage?
Even at the new, higher limits, 35/70/25 is a legal floor, not a recommendation. A serious injury accident involving a hospital stay, lost wages, and long-term care can easily exceed $70,000 in total costs. For drivers with any real assets to protect — a home, savings, future wages a court could go after in a lawsuit — carrying higher liability limits (and often an umbrella policy on top) is usually a lot cheaper than most people expect relative to the protection it adds.
What should you do next?
- Pull up your current auto policy and check your bodily injury and property damage liability limits.
- If you're at or near the old 15/30/5 minimums, confirm your policy has actually been updated to the new 35/70/25 requirement.
- Ask about how much it would cost to go above the minimum — the difference in premium is often smaller than people assume.
- If you're not sure what you're currently carrying, we're happy to pull your policy details and walk through it with you.
Not sure where your policy stands? We can review your current auto coverage against the new New Jersey minimums at no cost, and show you what stepping up your limits would actually cost. Contact us or get a quote to get started.
This article is for general informational purposes and isn't legal advice. Requirements can change — always confirm current minimums and how they apply to your specific policy with a licensed agent. Source: New Jersey P.L. 2022, c.87.