Your credit is on the rocks.
Your income isn't anything to write home about.
And you haven't decided to tie the knot and settle down with someone.
Those factors can affect many things about your life, such as your ability to rent, turn on your utilities, get an auto loan, even land your dream job.
But should they affect your auto insurance rates too?
Unfortunately, even some of the largest insurance companies in the industry can base your car insurance rates on factors like your credit, or even your marital status.
But Cure Auto Insurance is one company that vows to quote you based on one thing, and one thing only—how well you drive.
If you've suffered at the hands of insurance companies who look for any excuse to jack up your insurance rates, read on.
In this post, you'll learn all about what Cure Auto Insurance is all about, and whether it's a good option for your auto insurance needs.
History and Origin
Who Cure Auto Insurance is and how it benefits responsible drivers
Cure stands for Citizens United Reciprocal Exchange.
Cure Auto Insurance was founded in 1990 by former New Jersey Insurance Commissioner, James J. Sheeran and insurance expert, Dr. Lena Chang.
This insurance firm was born out of a response to the insurance crisis of the 1980s that took root in New Jersey.
At the time, New Jersey's drivers were charged some of the highest premiums in the nation.
But auto insurers were hesitant to insure these drivers, thanks to low profit margins and strict legislative and regulatory guidelines.
In fact, New Jersey is still listed as one of the most expensive states for car insurance.
Cure defines itself as the voice of these drivers, and others whom auto insurers routinely discriminate against because of factors that have nothing to do with how well they actually perform behind the wheel.
Some of these factors include things like education, home ownership, and employment.
Cure prides itself in being an innovator in its industry, being one of the first to offer a customer-focused solution to this problem.
Unlike most other auto insurance providers, Cure Auto Insurance is said to eliminate practices that discriminate against drivers based on income-related factors. 
When a Cure agent speaks with you to evaluate your rate, you can expect that the most important factor is your driving history.
Things like your homeowner status, credit score, or educational background aren't factored into the quote.
And Cure believes that's the fairest way to rate and underwrite them because none of the other factors correlate to what really matters—how well a driver drives.
Eric Poe, COO of Cure Auto Insurance, said the following:
For the past 25 years, we have pioneered fairer rating and underwriting methods, and have consistently pushed other insurance carriers to follow our lead.
True to its mission, Cure has brought keen focus and scrutiny to other insurance companies across the nation who still consider irrelevant factors when rating and underwriting policies.
Today, this insurance firm is a market leader and a beacon of hope to thousands of responsible drivers.
Company Details and Rates
Why Cure may be right insurance card for your glove compartment
Initially, Cure serviced clients solely in New Jersey, borne out of its initial mission.
However, sometime in 2008, it expanded its services to include Pennsylvania drivers, too.
That means this insurance is only for you if you live in one of those two states.
Primarily, Cure caters to drivers in these two states who may not have the most favorable credit history, employment, or educational background.
These drivers are usually quoted high rates from other insurance providers as a result of those factors.
If you're in New Jersey, you'll know that there are two types of acceptable auto insurance policies: Standard and Basic.
Cure offers both, with options.
The Standard policy is what most New Jersey drivers choose, and it offers several different coverage options.
You can also opt to buy additional protection under this policy.
The Basic policy is a lot cheaper than the Standard, but has limited benefits.
Are you searching for a low-cost option that meets the minimum insurance requirements of the state?
Then this may be right for you.
But beware that it doesn't cover a lot.
The Basic policy might be good for you if you don't have family obligations, and few assets that need to be protected, including your income.
A not-for-profit company, meaning it has your best interests at heart
The other really neat thing about Cure is that unlike most other reputed companies, it's a not-for-profit.
This means that it doesn't earn any profits for the company's owners.
All the money it earns is used to keep the company running and help it achieve its goals.
Typically, not-for-profit companies, because they're not focused on putting more money in their owners' pockets, are said to be more inclined to serve clients' best interests.
And that's exactly what Cure claims.
It's there for the benefit of its customers.
Cure also is known to be a community player.
It's been sponsoring an annual Pay It Forward Scholarship Award since 2006.
This award has paid out more than $140,000 to students who have impacted their communities in altruistic, generous ways.
Executives of the company are also known to devote their time to visiting high schools to offer presentations on vehicle safety and safe driving.
Coverage
Services and policies that keep you covered
At this time, Cure only offers auto insurance.
Before actually signing up for one, it's always a good idea to double check which coverages may or may not be offered with your specific policy.
Below are the various kinds of coverage its policies come with.
Personal injury protection (PIP). This provides medical coverage for any injuries you and other people involved in an auto accident might have sustained.
This type of coverage is also commonly called no-fault coverage because it covers your medical expenses no matter who was at fault.
PIP has two parts.
The first part offers coverage for any treatment you receive from medical providers, including hospitals and doctors.
This also includes any special medical equipment you might need to help treat your injuries.
The second part offers reimbursement for other expenses that could result from your injury.
These can include things like lost wages, or hiring help for yourself or your family as a result of your being injured.
Liability. If you were found responsible for an auto accident, this is the insurance that would step in to pay the other party for damages caused.
It would also help you pay for an attorney if you end up getting sued for those damages.
There are two kinds of liability coverage: bodily injury, and property damage.
Bodily injury coverage pays the people who are injured, or die, from an accident you cause.
It includes payments for pain, suffering, and monetary damages, such as loss of wage.
Property damage coverage takes care of claims and lawsuits that come about from people whose property is damaged from an accident you caused.
Uninsured motorist coverage. Say an uninsured driver hits you, causing an accident. Who pays for the vehicle damage? Or your bodily injuries?
This kind of coverage takes care of situations like that by paying for those types of damages in the event the motorist is uninsured.
Underinsured motorist. What happens if a motorist has insurance, but they don't have enough to fully cover damages?
This coverage pays you for both property and bodily damage for accidents where the total cost required to fully cover the damages exceeds the maximum amount covered by the insurance policy of the driver at fault.
Collision coverage. Say you collide with an object, like a tree, or another car.
This coverage is what pays for the damages caused to your car.
Comprehensive coverage. Sometimes things can happen to your car through no fault of your own.
Circumstances that have nothing to do with a collision, such as vandalism, fire, a broken windshield, or even flooding, can happen to you and your car.
That's when your comprehensive coverage steps in to pay.
The exception to this is that the coverage will still apply and cover you if you collide with an animal.
Umbrella insurance not offered. Many people like umbrella insurance because it offers extra liability coverage above and beyond what's covered by your normal insurance policy.
Umbrella coverage also kicks in when the coverage on your regular policy is exhausted.
Put simply, this insurance is meant to protect you from major claims and lawsuits.
Some of the common items that fall under umbrella policy include injuries, property damage, specific lawsuits, and certain personal liability situations.
Situations not covered in your typical liability coverage.
At the time of writing, Cure doesn't offer Umbrella insurance.
But it wouldn't hurt to check again when you have your policy written, just in case that changes.
Discounts
How Cure Auto can help put dollars back in your pocket
Cure offers several potential discounts to policyholders.
The ones below apply specifically to drivers in Pennsylvania.
It's possible that the same discounts or others are available to you if you drive in New Jersey, so be sure to ask.
Good driver discount. As a Cure policyholder, you're eligible to receive a 35% good driver discount given that everyone on the policy has been driving for at least three years.
If you're a new policyholder, everyone on your policy must be loss-free and free of major or minor violations for at least three years before the date you applied for your policy.
But say everyone on your policy has been driving for at least five years on the day before your policy renewal date without losses or minor and major violations.
Plus you've been with Cure two years or longer.
These two factors combined will earn you a 40% discount.
Your applicable discount rate is applied to Bodily Injury, Comprehensive, Collision, Property Damage, Basic First Party Benefits, and Medical Expense Benefits.
Multivehicle collision discount. If you've more than one vehicle on a policy, you can get a better discount.
You simply do a combined policy for those vehicles rather than a separate policy for each vehicle.
Parking discount. Where you park your car can matter when it comes to reaping discounts.
Cure gives you a 15% discount for off-street parking.
This means that you typically parked off the street, like in a driveway or non-secured parking area.
But say if you park in a garage, a 24/7 monitored facility that has a guard, or in a space that requires a security code to enter or exit, you could get a 50% discount.
Payments
Plans and options that offer flexibility and convenience
Cure offers different payment plans.
Its policies are written in six-month terms, so you can choose to pay for the entire six months together or pay monthly.
Its payment options are also flexible, allowing you to pay by phone, mail, or online.
Phone.You can call Cure at 1-800-535-Cure and pay through a live representative using a Visa®, MasterCard®, Discover® card or debit account.
But keep in mind you'll be charged a handling fee of $17.95.
Cure's customer service hours at this number are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
For a reduced fee of $12.95, you could call Western Union Speedpay's Interactive Voice Response at 1-866-537-3083, 24/7.
You can pay using Visa®, MasterCard®, Discover® card or a debit account.
Mail. Send a money order or check with your policy number on it to Cure at:
Cure
P.O. Box 48285
Newark, NJ 07101-8485
Online. The Cure website allows you to make one-time payments with a Visa, MasterCard, Discover card or debit card for a fee of $12.95.
Rates
What you can expect to pay—or save—with Cure's affordable rates
To give you a gist of the annual rates for Cure, here are some average numbers for New Jersey, broken down by demographics.
A 25-year-old unmarried female can expect to pay around $612, while a 30-year-old unmarried male can expect to pay about $1,545.
Married couples aged 30-49 can expect to pay approximately $2,550, while those aged 65 and up can expect to pay around half of that at around $1,390.
On the whole, Cure's rates are about 7%-29% cheaper than others in New Jersey for single males, females, and senior-aged couples.
Remember, your driver's record can impact the rate you get.
These are just estimates for New Jersey to give you a ballpark idea.
For a more accurate rate, you can visit Cure's website to get a free quote.
To find the best rates for you, it's a good idea to shop at least three different insurance companies in your state. 
Signing Up
How to get started, and what to expect, once you're a customer
Signing up with Cure is a pretty straightforward process.
You can go online or call them for a quote.
If you start the process online, once you're given a quote, you'll be offered the option to sign up at that time.
To sign up, you'll need to provide some basic information about yourself like your name, address, social security number, driver's license number, etc.
Cure will then run its own reports on you and get back to you with firm rates based on your profile and, mainly, your driving record.
Claims process
Filing a claim or reporting an accident with Cure is pretty simple.
If you find yourself in an accident, simply call 800-229-9151, and you'll automatically be connected to a claims agent without entering any prompts.
These agents are available 24/7.
The agent will ask you some pertinent questions like your policy number, how, when, and where the accident or loss occurred.
Usually, he or she will also ask whether a police report was filed (which may also be requested for records).
After you file a claim, you're able to check the status of your vehicle repair by logging into your account.
Ratings
What customers like you are saying about Cure's process and service
Several Cure customers complain that the company has a difficult, long, and complicated claims process.
But then there are plenty of others who are extremely pleased with the company's performance of its services.
These people say signing up with Cure was a breeze, they've had a pleasant experience from day one, and zero issues with claims.
Let's take a look at some of the pros and cons.
The pros include :
- Quick response times.
- Great customer service.
- Affordable car insurance.
- Rewards for clean driving history.
- Caring adjusters.
On the other hand, the cons are:
- The company only underwrites in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
- The claims process might be more complicated than it appears on the company's website.
Customer service feedback
For the most part (with the exception of claims), customers have positive feedback to share about Cure's customer service department, saying that staff is friendly and helpful.
Also, if at any time you decide to cancel your policy, Cure appears open and receptive to that.
It's staff encourage you to find a better price, saying you're welcome to cancel your policy at anytime, and get a refund for the unused part of your premium within 60 days.
It also says that you can change your coverages and policies any time you please—even if you're not close to your renewal date.
Its customer service center can be contacted at 800-535-Cure (2873) Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
You'll be prompted to press 1 if you're from New Jersey or 2 if you're from Pennsylvania.
FAQs
Answers to some other routinely asked questions
Our Verdict
A promising company with a unique vision for the right kind of driver
If you're a New Jersey or Pennsylvania driver this might be a good option for you.
Especially if you're paying too much because of factors that have nothing to do with your behavior behind the wheel.
Get a quote from Cure auto to see what it offers.
But keep in mind that to get the best rates, you'll have to have a clean driving record, and rarely file a claim or get into auto accidents.
Otherwise, this company might not be a worthwhile option for you.
If you do end up signing with them, heed caution from customer reviews, and be prepared for a potential battle if you ever do end up needing to file a claim.
Have you or a friend tried Cure's auto insurance products?
How would you rate them based on your experience?
What auto insurance companies do you love, and why?
We'd love to hear from you!