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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Selective offers significantly less expensive premiums than New Jersey Skylands
• New Jersey Skylands offers more discounts than Selective Insurance
• Selective offers more affordable rates for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit

New Jersey Skylands vs. Selective: 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 huge discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering New Jersey Skylands or Selective for your next policy, but which one will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, New Jersey Skylands is quite a bit more expensive than Selective, with rates averaging $460 per month compared to just $184 with Selective.

But Selective may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on where you live or how old you are (among many other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of New Jersey Skylands or Selective is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by several different rate factors.

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

Both New Jersey Skylands and Selective only offer car insurance in New Jersey, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. For New Jersey residents, Selective offers insurance for $184 monthly on average. New Jersey Skylands's average premiums come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $460 a month.

Typically, the state you live in will play a hefty role in how much you pay for car insurance, but since both companies only do business in New Jersey, a range of other factors will come into play when you compare New Jersey Skylands and Selective. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use Selective save more than $500 a month compared to those who use New Jersey Skylands.

That being said, both companies will reduce rates once you turn 25. Selective offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. New Jersey Skylands's average prices drop nearly 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the cheapest car insurance rates you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for insurance.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? Selective gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $237 more affordable than the national average for New Jersey Skylands.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance prices are normally more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married policyholders? That's typically because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Selective is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $320 per month cheaper than New Jersey Skylands, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Selective has the edge when it comes to average prices.

New Jersey Skylands vs. Selective: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

Usually, men see rates around 2% a month higher with New Jersey Skylands, while with Selective, the difference is closer to 5% per month.

When it comes to the most affordable premiums for each gender, Selective comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average rates $275 less for men and $278 cheaper for women.

New Jersey Skylands or Selective: 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 insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs auto 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 that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Selective normally offers significantly more affordable prices of $127 compared to New Jersey Skylands's $297. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Selective again has the edge, with policies about $400 a month less expensive than New Jersey Skylands, on average.

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

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

Tickets and at-fault accidents will most likely raise your rates, but is New Jersey Skylands or Selective more affordable for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

New Jersey Skylands policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $67 per month if they get a ticket, while Selective usually raises prices around $76 a month, on average.

Even so, Selective is generally the less expensive option for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records. Drivers with a clean record can save about $179 per month and drivers with a ticket can save around $170 a month with Selective Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through New Jersey Skylands can expect to see about an $67 -- or around 17% -- increase in their car insurance rates. Drivers who use Selective for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $21 (or 13%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance company.

Overall, the cheaper prices come from Selective, with monthly premiums averaging $162 compared to New Jersey Skylands Insurance's $387.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly auto insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. On average, New Jersey Skylands will climb your rates around 57% after a DUI, while Selective's average prices rise by over 35%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Selective tends to be the much more affordable option with average prices of $217 per month compared to $747 from New Jersey Skylands.

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

Did you know that many insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

Car insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking at New Jersey Skylands and Selective specifically, which carrier has the best rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Selective. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 50% compared to New Jersey Skylands, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $219 or 55% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Selective typically offers lower prices than New Jersey Skylands when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $284 per month less with Selective compared to New Jersey Skylands, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $436 monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly rates. Generally, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither New Jersey Skylands or Selective report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Selective comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car yearly, with average prices of $184 a month for both.

New Jersey Skylands vs. Selective: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Selective normally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Selective offers prices around $210 per month compared to New Jersey Skylands's $555. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $204 per month for Selective and $471 for New Jersey Skylands. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable premiums from both companies, with average monthly rates coming in at $139 and $355 for Selective and New Jersey Skylands respectively.

New Jersey Skylands vs. Selective Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by New Jersey Skylands and Selective so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, New Jersey Skylands has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Selective offers a grand total of 13 discounts, while New Jersey Skylands has 18.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but New Jersey Skylands also offers company car discounts, education discounts, ESC discounts, and more that Selective does not.

On the flip side, Selective has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for getting driver training, occasional operator discounts, and prior insurance discounts.

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

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is New Jersey Skylands or Selective the best fit for you?

Selective might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You have above-average credit.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

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

• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between New Jersey Skylands and Selective and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

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

New Jersey Skylands vs. Selective FAQs

Is New Jersey Skylands or Selective cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Selective is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $184 a month compared to $460 for New Jersey Skylands. That being said, Selective won't necessarily be the lowest company for each policyholder, since there are multiple different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, New Jersey Skylands or Selective?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

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

Auto insurance companies take a look at lots of different variables when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Factors like age, where your home is, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both New Jersey Skylands and Selective calculate premiums using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

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

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