Type "Route 66" into a map near Ocean Township, NJ and you'll get a three-and-a-half-mile state road, not a cross-country legend. It still manages to carry a legend's worth of traffic straight off the Parkway and into town every summer weekend.

Ocean Township Car Insurance at a Glance

  • Minimum coverage: Tracks New Jersey's ~$1,570/yr statewide average
  • Population (2023 est.): ~27,800
  • County: Monmouth County, Jersey Shore
  • ZIP codes: 07712 (Wanamassa/Wayside, shared with Asbury Park), 07755 (Oakhurst)
  • State minimum: 35/70/25 Standard Policy, no-fault with $15,000 PIP minimum
  • Notable: Garden State Parkway exits 100–105, NJ Route 66 corridor, Oakhurst and Wanamassa communities

A Route 66 That Isn't Trying to Be Famous

New Jersey's Route 66 runs along part of the border between Ocean Township and Neptune Township, linking the Garden State Parkway on one end to Route 18 and Asbury Park on the other. Most of it is a workaday commercial strip, not a scenic drive.

A widening proposal has circulated for the two-lane stretch between Jumping Brook Road and Wayside Road, aimed at handling traffic that's outgrown the road's original footprint. Until that happens, it stays one of the township's tighter squeezes during peak hours.

One Township, Two ZIP Codes

Ocean Township never fully merged the addressing of the older unincorporated communities inside it. Oakhurst, tucked in the northeast corner, keeps its own ZIP code: 07755.

Everywhere else in the township, including the Wanamassa and Wayside sections, shares ZIP code 07712 with neighboring Asbury Park. Because insurers rate policies by garaging ZIP, two households in the same township — sometimes a short walk apart — can land in different rating pools.

A Parkway On-Ramp With Two Jobs

Ocean Township sits near Garden State Parkway exits in the 100–105 range, which makes it a quick on-ramp for commuters heading north toward Newark and New York on weekday mornings.

Come summer, the same exits flip roles and funnel beach traffic east toward Asbury Park, Deal, and Allenhurst. A town of under 28,000 people ends up absorbing commuter volume and shore-season volume back to back, most of the year.

What New Jersey Actually Requires

None of that changes the floor New Jersey sets statewide. Since January 1, 2026, a Standard Policy needs at least $35,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $70,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage, plus the $15,000 PIP minimum required because New Jersey is a no-fault state. A Basic Policy skips the bodily injury requirement but wasn't touched by the 2026 increase.

Where to Focus If You're Shopping Rates

  • Check your garaging ZIP code: 07712 and 07755 don't always price the same.
  • Re-shop after a 2026 renewal to confirm your carrier applied the new 35/70/25 floor correctly.
  • Ask about usage-based discounts if your commute skips the Route 66 corridor and summer Parkway exits.
  • Review comprehensive limits before peak beach season if you park near the Route 66/Parkway interchange regularly.

For more on how much coverage makes sense beyond the state floor, see our minimum vs. full coverage guide.

The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance publishes current Standard and Basic Policy minimums and handles complaints against licensed carriers — worth checking before signing with an unfamiliar insurer.

Get quotes using your actual garaging ZIP code, not just "Ocean Township," and you'll get a more accurate picture than the township-wide average.