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New Jersey Home Insurance

The right home insurance coverage is like having a safety net that helps you bounce back when the unexpected happens. Amica helps New Jersey homeowners protect their most important investment, ensuring they're ready for whatever life throws their way.

Is home insurance required in New Jersey?

New Jersey law doesn’t require homeowners to have insurance on their property, but if you finance your home through a mortgage, your lender will likely require you to have homeowners insurance. Even if you own your home outright without a mortgage, it’s still highly advisable to be insured. Home insurance is not a one-size-fits-all product. It should be tailored to your specific situation and needs.

Typical New Jersey homeowners insurance coverages

  • Coverage A – Dwelling:

    Coverage for your home and attached structures for damage caused by events such as fire, lightning, wind or hail.

  • Coverage B – Other structures:

    This covers damage to other structures on the property that are set apart from the dwelling, such as a fence, shed or detached garage.

  • Coverage C – Personal property:

    Coverage for your belongings, such as furniture, clothing and electronics, if they’re damaged by a peril listed in your policy.

  • Coverage D – Loss of use:

    This covers your temporary living expenses when a covered loss makes your home unfit to live in.

  • Coverage E – Personal liability:

    This covers damage or injury to another person on their property that you’re responsible for causing. It also covers legal assistance for claims made against you.

  • Coverage F – Medical payments to others:

    This coverage can pay for medical bills for people who are accidentally hurt on your property, not including members of your household.

Remember, each of these coverages is subject to a policy limit, deductible and exclusions, which are specified within your policy.

Your homeowners insurance won’t cover flood damages, so it helps to ensure you’re properly covered if there’s a flood. Flood insurance policies are available and are written through the federally backed National Flood Insurance Program. It’s common for mortgage companies to require flood insurance if your home is within or near a floodplain. Regardless, a flood can occur anywhere, and it’s a good idea to buy this additional coverage.

Additional coverages in New Jersey

You may find that the general coverages afforded in a basic homeowners policy don’t cover certain losses or types of property. Amica offers home insurance options in the form of policy endorsements that can fill in some of those gaps in coverage. Adding endorsements to your New Jersey homeowners insurance policy can provide valuable additional coverage tailored to your specific needs. Here are a few endorsements you might consider:

  • Special computer coverage:

    Additional protection beyond what’s included in your policy for devices against direct physical loss, like accidental damage or theft. Devices covered under special computer coverage include:

    • Desktops
    • Laptops
    • Smartphones
    • Gaming devices
    • Smart TVs

  • Identity fraud expenses:

    Identity theft is a growing concern, and this endorsement can help cover expenses associated with restoring your identity, such as legal fees, lost wages and other related costs.

  • Water backup and sump overflow:

    Unexpected and accidental water damage, like from an appliance or burst pipe, is covered by most homeowners insurance policies. But, at the same time, they also exclude coverage for backed-up sewers and drains. This endorsement provides coverage for water that backs up through drains and sump pumps.

  • Scheduled personal property:

    If you have high-value items such as jewelry, fine art or collectibles, a basic homeowners policy may not provide sufficient coverage. With this endorsement, you can insure specific items to make sure they’re adequately covered against loss or damage.

  • Earthquakes:

    A standard New Jersey policy excludes damage caused by earth movement, including earthquakes. This endorsement would extend coverage to damage caused by an earthquake.

How New Jersey homeowners insurance rates are determined

The location of your home is a factor that impacts your home insurance premiums. Different areas face different risks and exposures. Home insurance costs may differ between a house on the coast of New Jersey and a house situated inland, influenced by regional weather patterns, construction expenses and local property values.

Your New Jersey homeowners insurance policy should be as unique as your home. That’s why we emphasize the importance of selecting the right coverage for your individual needs. By customizing your policy to suit your preferences, you help protect your home and gain some control over your rates.

Additionally, regularly reviewing and updating your coverage can ensure that your policy adequately reflects your current needs. 

Explore New Jersey home insurance discounts for more savings

There are several ways New Jersey homeowners can save money on home insurance without compromising the quality of their coverage.1 We offer home insurance discounts for:

  • Alarm systems: Receive a discount when you insure a home with burglar alarms, sprinkler systems or fire alarms.
  • Automatic detection devices: Insure a home in New Jersey with a temperature monitoring, water leak detection or gas leak detection system installed and receive a discount. 
  • New or remodeled home: Receive a credit when you insure a new or fully remodeled home. 
  • Claim-free: Receive a discount when you’ve had no claims in the past three years.

If these don’t apply to you, we also offer discounts for:

  • AutoPay: Receive a discount when you opt to pay your premium using automatic deductions. 
  • E-discount: Receive a discount when you sign up to receive policy information and bills electronically.
  • Paid in full: Save money when you pay the entire balance of your New Jersey policy premium up front.

One of the best ways to conveniently manage all of your insurance needs and save money at the same time is to bundle your insurance coverages for home and auto with the same insurance company. In fact, New Jersey homeowners who bundle home and auto insurance with Amica could save up to 20% with a multiline discount.1

Facts and figures about New Jersey

Common claims in New Jersey:

New Jersey’s geography allows for a diverse climate that can lead to a wide range of weather conditions, which can pose unique challenges for homeowners.

  • Frozen pipes: When temperatures drop below freezing, water pipes in homes can freeze and burst, causing significant water damage. As long as heat in the residence was adequately maintained, homeowners insurance typically covers damage resulting from burst pipes, including water cleanup and repairs to the affected areas.
  • Lightning: Lightning from spring and summer storms may cause damage through power surges or fires. While homeowners insurance generally covers lightning and fire damage, coverage may be subject to certain exclusions or limitations.

It’s important to note that flood damage caused by rising water from sources such as overflowing rivers, storm surges or heavy rainfall is not covered under standard homeowners insurance policies.

Fun facts about New Jersey:

  • Trenton, New Jersey, briefly served as the capital of the U.S., holding this distinction for less than two months at the end of 1784.2 
  • Ellis Island is shared by New Jersey and New York. A long-standing dispute between the states ended in 1998 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled most of the island belongs to New Jersey.2 
  • New Jersey is known as "The Garden State." This nickname is often attributed to Abraham Browning, the Attorney General of New Jersey in the 1840s. However, there are also accounts that Benjamin Franklin made a similar comparison to New Jersey, making the origins of the nickname uncertain.3

How to get home insurance in New Jersey

We’re here to guide you through the process of personalizing your homeowners insurance in New Jersey. Here’s how to secure your policy in three easy steps:

  1. Assess your coverage needs:

    An Amica representative can provide personalized guidance and help you navigate your options to find the right coverage for your needs.

  2. Discover potential discounts:

    A representative can also assist you in exploring potential discounts or cost-saving measures available to New Jersey homeowners based on your unique circumstances.

  3. Get a quote:

    Amica offers convenient options for getting a quote. You can either get a home insurance quote online or call 800-242-6422 today to speak with a representative.

With Amica, you can rest easy knowing that your home is safeguarded against the unexpected, allowing you to focus on what matters most – enjoying life in beautiful New Jersey.

Get a home insurance quote

or call 833-513-3881

1 Discounts not available in all states and may vary.
2 100 Interesting Facts About New Jersey
3 Official Site of The State of New Jersey: Origins of the Nickname
 

Your Policy, Policy Declarations or Amended Declarations in effect on the date of loss is the primary source of reference for your coverage, coverage limits and deductible amounts.

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