Esurance vs. New Jersey Skylands: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Esurance offers significantly less expensive premiums than New Jersey Skylands
• Esurance offers more affordable prices for residents of rural areas
• New Jersey Skylands offers more affordable rates for residents in New Jersey

Esurance vs. New Jersey Skylands: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering Esurance or New Jersey Skylands, but which carrier has more affordable prices for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, New Jersey Skylands is quite a bit more expensive than Esurance, with premiums averaging $460 per month compared to just $299 with Esurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Esurance will necessarily be cheaper than New Jersey Skylands for every driver. Car insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how old you are or how clean your driving record is (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Esurance and New Jersey Skylands by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Esurance or New Jersey Skylands: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Esurance and New Jersey Skylands only compete against each other in New Jersey, where Esurance offers the cheaper average rates. For New Jersey residents, Esurance offers auto insurance for $296 per month on average. New Jersey Skylands's average premiums come out to be over 50% more expensive, at $460 a month.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your insurance cost than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any other group of drivers out there on the road. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Esurance save more than $250 a month compared to those who use New Jersey Skylands. It's worth noting that Esurance offers auto insurance in 11 different states compared to New Jersey Skylands's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your prices drop significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Esurance policyholders reduce nearly $500 and New Jersey Skylands's prices decrease over $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable premiums you'll ever find.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Esurance gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $232 monthly compared to New Jersey Skylands's $357.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance prices are usually more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples? This usually boils down to married policyholders having several cars on their policy -- something lots of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Esurance is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates around $177 per month less expensive than New Jersey Skylands, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Esurance offers the lowest average prices.

Esurance vs. New Jersey Skylands: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to car insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

With Esurance, men normally pay about $20 a month more than women, while with New Jersey Skylands, the difference is closer to $7 per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Esurance comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $169 a month and men save around $155 with Esurance compared to the average New Jersey Skylands policyholder.

Esurance or New Jersey Skylands: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Esurance usually offers significantly more affordable premiums of $201 compared to New Jersey Skylands's $297. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Esurance again has the edge, with policies about $250 per month cheaper than New Jersey Skylands, on average.

Is Esurance or New Jersey Skylands Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Esurance policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $45 a month if they get a ticket, while New Jersey Skylands generally raises premiums around $67 per month, on average.

However, Esurance tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering rates that are 24% and 26% more affordable, respectively, compared to New Jersey Skylands Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Esurance drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums increase by just under 35%, while those who have insurance through New Jersey Skylands will see about a 15% increase.

Overall, the less expensive prices come from Esurance, with monthly rates averaging $364 compared to New Jersey Skylands Insurance's $387.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even a collision. For example, New Jersey Skylands increases average premiums by just under $450 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

Esurance has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $301 per month, but it's worth noting that Esurance's average rates come from 11 states compared to just one for New Jersey Skylands, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Esurance and New Jersey Skylands Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance prices. This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect many policyholders out there.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper rates.

Looking at Esurance and New Jersey Skylands specifically, which one has the most affordable premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Esurance. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 40% compared to New Jersey Skylands, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $133 or 33% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Esurance typically offers lower prices than New Jersey Skylands when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $162 per month less with Esurance compared to New Jersey Skylands, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $207 monthly.

Is Esurance or New Jersey Skylands Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a large impact on your monthly rates? That's because the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much New Jersey Skylands charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Esurance, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle yearly paying about $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, Esurance is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

Esurance vs. New Jersey Skylands: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because of the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Esurance generally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Esurance offers rates around $396 a month compared to New Jersey Skylands's $555. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $288 a month for Esurance and $471 for New Jersey Skylands. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the cheapest prices from both companies, with average monthly premiums coming in at $211 and $355 for Esurance and New Jersey Skylands respectively.

Esurance vs. New Jersey Skylands Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Esurance and New Jersey Skylands so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Esurance blows New Jersey Skylands away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering six more discounts than New Jersey Skylands.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Esurance also offers ABS discounts, agency transfer discounts, DRL discounts, and more that New Jersey Skylands does not.

On the flip side, New Jersey Skylands has a couple unique discounts of its own -- company car discounts, distant student discounts, ESC discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Esurance or New Jersey Skylands Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Esurance or New Jersey Skylands the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Esurance might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

New Jersey Skylands might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional company.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Esurance and New Jersey Skylands and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Esurance and New Jersey Skylands. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Esurance vs. New Jersey Skylands FAQs

Is Esurance or New Jersey Skylands cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Esurance is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $299 per month compared to $460 for New Jersey Skylands. But Esurance won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are lots of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Esurance or New Jersey Skylands?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Esurance and New Jersey Skylands offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at several different variables when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Things like age, where you park your vehicle, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Esurance and New Jersey Skylands calculate rates using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

How do I know if Esurance or New Jersey Skylands is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Esurance or New Jersey Skylands at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.