If you want to drive a car on any public roadway in New Jersey you'd better have car insurance. If you're caught driving without insurance the fines are horrendous and the hassles you are put through later on will having you pulling your hair out. In other words, it's simply not worth it to drive without insurance in New Jersey.

And you shouldn't have to. If money is the problem there are several simple things you can do to reduce the cost of your automobile insurance.

Let's start with your car itself. Not all cars are created equal in the eyes of your insurance company. Some are more likely to be stolen than others and some are more expensive to repair than others. If you really want to get the best rates on car insurance in New Jersey it will pay you to ask your insurance agent for a list of the least expensive cars to insure before you ever purchase a vehicle.

Probably the most important thing you can do to keep you car insurance rates as low as possible to simply to always drive safely and within the law. Don't speed, and don't drive when drinking or impaired in any way. Even one speeding ticket or other moving violation and your car insurance rates will begin to soar.

If you are convicted of a DUI or a DWI your rates will skyrocket and if you receive a second conviction for either offense you'll be stuck treading water in the high-risk insurance pool with little hope of finding insurance at all.

If you can possibly reduce the amount you drive to less than 500 miles per month you can greatly reduce your car insurance costs. Many people achieve this by using public transportation whenever possible and only use their cars for emergencies and special occasions.

Do you have access to a garage where your car can be parked at night? If so let your insurance agent know and you could save on your monthly bill.

Can you add any safety features to your car? Ask your agent if there is any reduction in your rates if you purchase a simple steering wheel locking device. Installing an electronic anti-theft device that shuts off your fuel pump unless a special code is entered is relatively simple and inexpensive and can save you money month after month.

If you're under 25 stay in school and keep your grades up. If you maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average you should qualify for a Good Student Discount, saving you at least 5% on your monthly insurance premium.

If you consolidate all of your insurance policies (homeowner's, life, health etc.) under one insurance company you should receive a hefty Multi-Policy Discount on your car insurance. Also, if you have had your policy with the same company for 5 years or more you should be receiving a special Long Term Discount. Make certain you are receiving it.

One of the most common ways that people reduce the cost of their car insurance is to increase the size of their deductible. You need to be honest with yourself when setting your deductible and seriously consider how much you can actually afford to pay out of your own pocket anytime you have a claim - but the more you can afford to pay yourself, the lower your monthly premium will be.

So now you have enough information to create a car insurance policy on paper which is designed to save you money from the start. To save even more money I want you to go online and find at least 3 different websites that allow you to compare prices among the different insurance companies.

Take the time to compare the cost of your paper policy on at least 3 different websites - and then pick the best price you find. Once you've done that you will know for sure that you have gotten the best rates on car insurance in New Jersey and that you can look forward to saving money on your car insurance month after month.