Drunk driver - stock photo, not related to event in story.
Drunk Driver - Stock photo, not related to event in story.

Drunk Drivers to Pay Much More for Car Insurance in New Jersey Under Proposed Law

Posted by
1 min read
January 20, 2026

Drunk driving offenders hit with massive insurance hikes under new NJ Senate bill

Trenton, NJ – A new bill moving through the New Jersey Senate would sharply increase mandatory automobile liability insurance coverage for drivers convicted of driving under the influence, imposing some of the highest post-conviction insurance requirements in state law.

Senate Bill 130, pre-filed for the 2026 legislative session, is sponsored by Sen. James W. Holzapfel of Monmouth and Ocean counties and targets repeat and first-time DUI offenders by significantly raising the minimum insurance limits they must carry after regaining driving privileges.

Under the proposal, a first-time DUI offender who owns or registers a vehicle in New Jersey would be required to maintain enhanced liability coverage for one year after any license forfeiture period expires. That coverage would need to include at least $250,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $500,000 for bodily injury or death of multiple people, and $100,000 for property damage per accident.

For a second DUI conviction, the bill requires offenders to maintain even higher insurance limits for two years. Those drivers would be mandated to carry coverage of at least $500,000 for injury or death of one person, $1 million for injury or death of multiple people, and $200,000 for property damage. The same coverage levels would apply to third or subsequent offenders, but for a longer four-year period following license restoration.

The legislation builds on New Jersey’s existing DUI penalties, which already include fines, jail time, ignition interlock requirements, license forfeitures, and mandatory participation in Intoxicated Driver Resource Center programs. The new insurance provisions would apply only after offenders are legally permitted to drive again.

The bill amends R.S.39:4-50 and is intended to ensure that drivers convicted of DUI carry insurance coverage commensurate with the risks posed by impaired driving. The measure also includes technical updates to existing statutory language.

If enacted, the law would take effect 90 days after being signed.

A New Jersey Senate bill would force DUI offenders to carry dramatically higher auto insurance coverage for years after conviction.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version