Every vehicle registered in New Jersey must be covered by
liability insurance. This covers the costs of injury and property
damages in case of an accident.
In New Jersey the minimum amount of
insurance you must carry on each vehicle you own:
$15,000 - For injury to, or
death of, one person in any one accident.
$30,000 - For injury to, or death
of, more than one person in any one accident.
$5,000 - For damage to property
in any one accident.
Your insurance company must give you a New Jersey
Insurance Identification Card for each vehicle covered under the
policy. Always keep the card in the vehicle.
Automobile
insurance is expensive in New Jersey, be prepared. The New Jersey Department of
Insurance prepares annual, regional price comparisons. To receive a
copy, send a self-addressed stamped envelope with a note requesting information
on the location to which you plan to move (the Fort Monmouth zip code is 07703)
to:
Auto Comparison
Division of Public Affairs
NJ Department of
Insurance
CN 325
Trenton, NJ 08625-0325
Another useful booklet is
published by the New Jersey Insurance News Service. Their booklet
titled "New Jersey Insurance Facts" can be obtained by writing:
New
Jersey Insurance News Service
PO Box 3789
Union, NJ 07083-1891
Some
automobile insurance companies do not insure drivers living in New
Jersey. Also, some insurance companies require New Jersey vehicle
registration. Check with your insurance company as soon as you
can. If they do not, check with other insurance companies to see
which ones will provide coverage to comply with the New Jersey state no-fault
insurance laws.
If an insurance company indicates they will provide
coverage in New Jersey, be sure you have this confirmed in
writing. Also, there are insurance companies that have a military
clause allowing you to insure your car in your home state of record provided you
live on a military reservation. This is research you must do on your
own but well worth the effort to find the best coverage at the best
price.
For more information on New Jersey insurance requirements and the
defensive driving course, you can contact the Fort Monmouth Driver Training
School, (732 532-1451; DSN 992-1451.
MOTOR VEHICLES
Title, License
and Registration
State Office: State of New Jersey
Department of Law
and Public Safety
Division of Motor Vehicles
25 South Montgomery
Street
Trenton, New Jersey 08666
General Customer Information:
1-609-292-6500; Hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 4:15 p.m.
Local
Office: Motor Vehicle Services/Driver Testing Center
Highway 36
Eatontown,
New Jersey 07724
(732) 542-5451
Hours: Monday, Wednesday,
Thursday, & Friday:
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Tuesday: 8 a.m.-7:30
p.m.
DRIVER'S LICENSE
Having access to a motor vehicle is a
necessity in the Monmouth County area. Active duty military have two
choices of driver's licenses: New Jersey or your home-of-record state or
territory. Territory licenses acceptable in New Jersey are those from
Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and U.S. Virgin Islands. A federal
government driver's permit alone is not valid. Many states have
"moratorium" laws; if you had a valid license when you entered the service, it
continues to be valid as long as you are on active duty.
For more
information on New Jersey requirements, contact the Fort Monmouth Driver
Training School, (732) 532-1451; DSN 992-1451.
Family members who are
non-residents of New Jersey must obtain a New Jersey driver's license within 60
days or before your current license expires. "Persons presenting a
valid out of state driver license may have the road test waived if the document
and identification are in order". Applicants possessing driver
licenses from other states must surrender them in order to receive their New
Jersey Driver License.
A driver examination permit (cost $5.00) is needed
before you take the written and vision tests. You need a driver examination
permit even though you hold a valid license from another
state. Before your permit can become valid for practice driving or
your valid NJ license (if you have a valid out of state license), you must pass
the required vision and written tests. The New Jersey Driver Manual
contains practice tests. You must also prove age and
identity. A certified copy of your birth certificate is your primary
proof of age and identity. However, other proofs are
acceptable. These are listed in the Driver Manual and include a
United States passport or a license valid or expired less than one
year.
New Jersey driver's licenses are renewable every four
years. Licenses can be obtained at the N.J. Motor Vehicle Division
stations in Eatontown and Freehold.
The minimum age for
driving in New Jersey is 17. At the age of 16, a special learner
permit may be purchased by an approved driving instructor if you are enrolled in
a behind-the-wheel course approved by the State Department of Education, or
licensed by the State of New Jersey.
VEHICLE REGISTRATION
If
you live in New Jersey and buy a new or used car, it must be titled and
registered before it is driven on public roads. If you move into the
State, you must title and register your motor vehicle within 60 days (or sooner
if your out-of-state registration expires before then). Active duty
personnel, who retain out-of-state residency, should check with their state of
residence to confirm that they may retain registration in that state while
living and working in New Jersey.
A New Jersey Certificate of Ownership
(Title) is required (with the exception of non-conventional type vehicles) for
every vehicle before it can be registered in this State. This is
obtained by submitting proper supporting documents to New Jersey
DMV.
FORT MONMOUTH VEHICLE REGISTRATION
Provost Marshal's Office
Bldg. 977, Monday - Friday
Hours: 0800-1600
It is MANDATORY that
personnel living or working on Fort Monmouth register their vehicle with the
PMO. Documents required to register vehicles on Fort Monmouth
are: (1) driver's license, (2) state vehicle registration card, (3)
insurance card, and (4) military identification card.
VEHICLE
INSPECTION
Local Office: Motor Vehicle Services/Inspection
Station
Highway 36
Eatontown, NJ 07724
Hours: Monday,
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.,Tuesday 8 a.m. - 7:30
p.m.
Saturday 7:30 a.m. - noon
All gasoline-powered cars, motorcycles
and trucks registered in New Jersey must pass State safety and emissions
inspections every year. After passing inspection, a sticker will be
placed in the lower left corner (driver's side) of the
windshield. This sticker will show the date it expires.
The
New Jersey Vehicle Inspection Program emphasizes testing of emissions and
exhaust systems. Items that are checked as part of the inspection
are: steering, suspension, horn, wipers, window glazing, lights,
direction signals, red rear lights, mirrors, brakes and hazard signals,
catalytic converter, and the gasoline filler neck restrictor found on vehicles
using only unleaded fuel.