Yes.  The only legal way to transport your gun outside of the home without a permit for doing so is to place the gun in your trunk, in a case that is separate from the ammunition.  You cannot legally have the gun within your reach or in the vehicle even if you have a permit for owning the gun generally. In New Jersey, most private citizens—those who are not involved in law enforcement—are almost never granted a permit to carry the gun outside the home (a “carry permit) unless they can demonstrate strong evidence that they are in danger or have some life-threatening need to carry the weapon.