New Jersey Phase 2 auto minimums are in force: $35,000 / $70,000 on 2026 policies
New Jersey’s second-step increase in mandatory auto liability limits is now the law for new and renewal policies dated on or after January 1, 2026.
P.L. 2022, c.87 raised the floor in two phases. The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance restated the 2026 numbers in Bulletin 25-06: $35,000 for injury or death of one person in one accident, and $70,000 for two or more people, with property-damage coverage remaining at $25,000. Uninsured and underinsured motorist minimums follow the same per-person / per-accident figures.
What this means if you are hit in New Jersey
Minimum limits are not a prediction of medical bills. A hospital stay, surgery, or weeks off work can exceed $35,000 quickly. Drivers who last looked at their policy in 2024 may still think the old $15,000 / $30,000 world applies. It does not — not on a 2026 NJ policy.
Insurers were told to raise qualifying renewals automatically and to notify the named insured. A new signed coverage-selection form is not required solely for that statutory bump, the bulletin says.
What to check this week
- Open the declarations page on your current New Jersey auto policy.
- Confirm bodily-injury liability and UM/UIM show at least 35/70 if the policy incepted or renewed in 2026.
- If you commute into New York or Pennsylvania, ask your insurer how out-of-state crashes interact with these limits — that is a coverage question, not something a news site can decide for you.
New Jersey remains a no-fault (PIP) state. Lawsuit rights still depend on the tort option you selected and on the verbal threshold in many cases. That is separate from the 35/70 liability floor.
Sources: NJ DOBI Bulletin 25-06; P.L. 2022, c.87; N.J.S.A. 39:6B-1.
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