120+ more*Quotes generated for Insurify users from North Carolina within the last 10 days. Last updated on July 25, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users from North Carolina within the last 10 days. Last updated on July 25, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
)
)
7+ years in personal finance writing
Certified Financial Education Instructor
)
)
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
){kind=small}
)
)
Media relations director for Insurance Information Institute
20+ years in insurance and communications
Impartial, independent expert
)
)
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Updated
Cheapest car insurance company in North Carolina: Erie
Cheapest car insurance rate in North Carolina: $56
Average monthly liability-only car insurance cost in NC: $69
Average monthly full-coverage car insurance cost in NC: $115
Based on the typical North Carolina profile of a driver with a clean motor vehicle record and good to excellent credit, Erie, Progressive, and GEICO are the cheapest insurance companies in the Tarheel State.
Here’s a look at the cheapest car insurance quotes in North Carolina, according to Insurify data.
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Erie | $56 | $96 |
| Progressive | $61 | $89 |
| GEICO | $64 | $109 |
| Direct Auto | $65 | $89 |
| National General | $65 | $89 |
| Liberty Mutual | $66 | $106 |
| Safeco | $68 | $115 |
| Travelers | $70 | $121 |
| Dairyland | $75 | $158 |
| Allstate | $76 | $131 |
| State Farm | $92 | $156 |
Unlike many other states, where individual insurance companies are responsible for filing their own rates, in North Carolina, the North Carolina Rate Bureau represents insurers.
The NCRB is a nonprofit that represents member insurance companies and proposes rates on the insurer’s behalf. It’s then up to the insurance commissioner to review the proposal and accept or reject. This process helps regulate insurance rates and can keep costs down for drivers.[1]
)
Austin Moyers
Licensed P&C Insurance Agent and Sales Manager, Insurify
North Carolina increased its minimum coverage requirements in July 2025, but you still may want to consider additional coverage limits. If you cause an accident and the damages exceed your policy limits, you’ll have to pay any remaining costs out of pocket. A full-coverage policy and higher liability limits offer more financial protection.
Car insurance rates in North Carolina are lower than the national average, thanks in part to regulation from the NCRB. Comparing quotes from the best car insurance companies in North Carolina can help you find coverage that meets your needs and budget.
The best car insurance companies in North Carolina have strong customer satisfaction, based on actual user reviews Insurify compiled. Here’s a look at the top three, according to Insurify data and real user reviews.
| User Reviews | 4.4 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.4 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $56/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $96/mo |
Erie Insurance's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.2 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 3.7 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 3.8 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 4.0 | 3.1 |
| Value | 3.7 | 2.9 |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s excellent customer service and quick claim handling but are dissatisfied with the unexpected and unexplained rate increases. Some also found the policy details hard to understand.
Teen drivers (and their parents) pay some of the highest car insurance rates in North Carolina. If you want to find quality auto coverage at the best rate, Erie offers some of the cheapest liability premiums for teens in the state. You can also save when you bundle multiple Erie policies.
Accident forgiveness coverage available
Above-average J.D. Power claims and customer satisfaction ratings
Wide range of optional auto coverages
Youthful driver discounts not available in North Carolina
Can’t get a quote online
Limited features on web and mobile app
| User Reviews | 4.3 |
|---|
Nationwide's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.1 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 4.0 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 3.7 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 3.9 | 3.1 |
| Value | 3.5 | 2.9 |
Drivers appreciate the helpful and knowledgeable customer service but dislike the frequent and significant rate increases. Some also found the claims process to be slow and frustrating.
From Duke University to Fayetteville State University and UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina is home to many quality higher-education institutions and students who can take advantage of Nationwide’s good student discounts. Students aged 16–24 who maintain a minimum B average may qualify to save on their premiums.
Offers several discounts for students
Online quotes available
Affordable rates in North Carolina
Discount availability varies by state
Not available in every state
Lower financial strength rating than some competitors
| JD Power J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale. | 622 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.7 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $61/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $89/mo |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s good customer service and initial affordability but dislike the consistent price increases and complex claims process.
Progressive offers some of the cheapest rates to drivers in North Carolina. With Progressive, you can get a discount for bundling home, condo, or renters insurance with your car insurance policy. Through Progressive’s Snapshot usage-based driving program, you can save even more depending on how you drive and how much you drive.
Cheap rates in North Carolina
Highly rated mobile app
AM Best financial strength rating of A+ (Superior)
Below-average J.D. Power claims satisfaction rating
Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating
Low Trustpilot rating
Our editorial team analyzed regional and national insurers that sell policies in North Carolina, evaluating each based on their average rates, coverage options, available discounts, customer service, and savings to drivers. We prioritized competitive rates, 24/7 customer service, low-mileage discounts or programs, safe driving discounts, homeownership discounts or bundling options, and specialty or supplemental coverages.
North Carolina’s average annual cost for full-coverage car insurance, which includes collision and comprehensive coverages, is $1,374. Minimum-coverage policies average $826 annually in the state. That’s well below the national averages of $2,237 annually for full coverage and $1,176 for liability-only coverage.
Fewer, less severe accidents and less litigation around claims contribute to North Carolina’s lower car insurance rates. The state also has more rural areas than high-density urban ones, which reduces accident risks. And with the exception of coastal communities, most North Carolina drivers aren’t exposed to many severe weather risks.
But North Carolina’s rates may climb by 1.7% in 2026, Insurify data analysts predict. In 2025, the state increased its minimum liability limits and began allowing insurers to apply an inexperienced operator surcharge to anyone with less than eight years of driving experience.
Minimum-coverage rates start as low as $56/mo.
Car insurance rates in North Carolina vary from one city to the next. Large urban areas, such as Charlotte and Raleigh, tend to have higher premiums than smaller cities, like Chapel Hill or Cary.
Below is a comparison of the average monthly rates across several North Carolina cities.
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
City | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill | $54 | $86 |
| Asheville | $55 | $89 |
| Burlington | $58 | $99 |
| Morrisville | $58 | $85 |
| Cary | $60 | $96 |
| Durham | $64 | $102 |
| Mooresville | $64 | $91 |
| Rocky Mount | $65 | $94 |
| Hickory | $66 | $100 |
| Jacksonville | $67 | $97 |
| Wilmington | $67 | $91 |
| Raleigh | $68 | $105 |
| Goldsboro | $69 | $110 |
| Greensboro | $72 | $107 |
| Matthews | $73 | $112 |
| Wilson | $73 | $116 |
| Concord | $74 | $110 |
| High Point | $74 | $114 |
| Kannapolis | $74 | $112 |
| Greenville | $76 | $115 |
| Charlotte | $82 | $122 |
| Fayetteville | $82 | $114 |
| Gastonia | $82 | $114 |
The North Carolina cities with the highest car insurance rates tend to be either cities with large urban populations or suburbs of larger urban centers. For example, Charlotte is the state’s largest city by population and land area, and it has the highest car insurance rates.
The following graphic shows the five most expensive cities for car insurance in North Carolina.
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
City | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Kannapolis | $74 | $112 |
| Greenville | $76 | $115 |
| Charlotte | $82 | $122 |
| Fayetteville | $82 | $114 |
| Gastonia | $82 | $114 |
){kind=small}
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
25+ years of insurance experience
Anuj has 25+ years of experience in auto, home, and renters insurance. As a digital insurance agent at Insurify, he takes pride in helping customers understand their coverage and in offering risk-management strategies tailored to each customer’s needs.
){kind=small}
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
14+ years insurance experience
Britney has 14+ years of experience in auto and home insurance. She’s committed to making sure customers feel informed and supported through every step of the insurance-buying process.
){kind=small}
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
13+ years of insurance experience
Austin has 13+ years of personal lines experience. As a sales manager at Insurify, he mentors agents and partners with leadership to refine sales strategies and improve the customer experience.
More than 170 companies sell auto insurance in North Carolina, including Allstate, Progressive, and State Farm, which are the three largest.[2] Rates can vary widely, and coverage options can be confusing. For example, Allstate’s average cost for full coverage in North Carolina is $131 per month, according to Insurify data. State Farm’s average is $156 monthly.
While North Carolina’s rates are still below national averages, they’re climbing. Getting multiple accurate quotes is the best way to ensure you’re getting the lowest car insurance premiums available to you.
North Carolina requires all vehicles with valid registration to have continuous liability coverage from an insurance company licensed to do business in the state. The state doesn’t accept out-of-state policies.[3] To legally drive, you’ll need proof of insurance coverage with an insurer that operates in North Carolina.
The state increased its minimum car insurance requirements in July 2025. To meet North Carolina car insurance requirements, you must have the following coverage:
Type of Coverage | North Carolina Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (one person) | $50,000 |
| Bodily injury (two or more people) | $100,000 |
| Property damage liability | $50,000 |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage | $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident |
Not every state requires uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, but North Carolina does. This coverage protects you against other drivers who don’t have any or enough insurance to pay for damage to your property or medical expenses if they cause an accident.
Comparing through Insurify could cut your car insurance bill up to 50%
Comparing quotes is the best way to find cheap car insurance in North Carolina. But Tarheel drivers can also try these shopping strategies that can help.
Recheck your coverages every time your policy renews. North Carolina has made some significant changes to its minimum coverage requirements recently. It’s almost always a good idea to buy liability coverage that’s higher than your state’s minimums for greater financial protection. And if you leased or financed your vehicle, you’ll need comprehensive and collision coverage.
Protect yourself with uninsured motorist coverage. North Carolina requires drivers to have uninsured motorist coverage, and buying more than the minimum can be smart. Nearly 12% of North Carolina drivers have no insurance, meaning if one causes an accident that damages your car or injures you, your UM coverage will step in to pay your bills.
Double-check that your ZIP code and address info are all correct. Many urban areas in North Carolina are experiencing rapid growth. Insurers may struggle to keep up with all the new neighborhoods, but where you live matters for car insurance. For example, Charlotte has the highest rates, according to Insurify data. Nearby Matthews is smaller and has lower rates.
Choose a cheaper-to-insure vehicle. Although cities like Charlotte and the Raleigh/Durham area are highly urbanized, it’s still common to see large pickup trucks and SUVs on their highways. But the Accord, Camry, and Altima are the three most popular vehicles in North Carolina for a reason. They’re not only reliable, but they also generally cost less to insure than larger vehicles and electric vehicles.
North Carolina doesn’t allow insurers to use gender as a rating factor for car insurance. But the state does allow insurers to consider credit history and use information in your consumer credit file to generate a credit-based insurance score for you. Average rates reflect this. Drivers with good to excellent credit see average full-coverage rates of $102 in North Carolina, while drivers with poor credit pay average rates around $144 per month.
Looking for particular information on North Carolina car insurance? Our comprehensive guides can help.
Car insurance after a DWI in North Carolina
Car insurance for high-risk drivers in North Carolina
Gap insurance for North Carolina drivers
Best rideshare insurance for Uber and Lyft drivers in North Carolina
North Carolina premiums are projected to increase 1.7% by the end of 2026, bringing its average car insurance premiums to $1,300 annually, according to an Insurify report.
New state legislation in North Carolina might help explain rising costs. As of July 1, 2025, the state increased minimum limits and made underinsured motorist coverage mandatory, increasing premiums for drivers carrying minimum coverage.[4]
The following graph illustrates how car insurance rates in North Carolina have changed over the past five years.
State Name | 2021-06 | 2021-07 | 2021-08 | 2021-09 | 2021-10 | 2021-11 | 2021-12 | 2022-01 | 2022-02 | 2022-03 | 2022-04 | 2022-05 | 2022-06 | 2022-07 | 2022-08 | 2022-09 | 2022-10 | 2022-11 | 2022-12 | 2023-01 | 2023-02 | 2023-03 | 2023-04 | 2023-05 | 2023-06 | 2023-07 | 2023-08 | 2023-09 | 2023-10 | 2023-11 | 2023-12 | 2024-01 | 2024-02 | 2024-03 | 2024-04 | 2024-05 | 2024-06 | 2024-07 | 2024-08 | 2024-09 | 2024-10 | 2024-11 | 2024-12 | 2025-01 | 2025-02 | 2025-03 | 2025-04 | 2025-05 | 2025-06 | 2025-07 | 2025-08 | 2025-09 | 2025-10 | 2025-11 | 2025-12 | 2026-01 | 2026-02 | 2026-03 | 2026-04 | 2026-05 | 2026-06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 1,019 | 1,024 | 1,022 | 1,019 | 1,025 | 1,027 | 1,035 | 1,033 | 1,040 | 1,015 | 996 | 983 | 981 | 982 | 986 | 985 | 985 | 998 | 1,013 | 1,022 | 1,026 | 1,051 | 1,062 | 1,068 | 1,111 | 1,119 | 1,129 | 1,152 | 1,147 | 1,161 | 1,164 | 1,181 | 1,219 | 1,287 | 1,398 | 1,392 | 1,418 | 1,452 | 1,403 | 1,364 | 1,328 | 1,306 | 1,288 | 1,272 | 1,280 | 1,282 | 1,271 | 1,262 | 1,266 | 1,293 | 1,299 | 1,296 | 1,312 | 1,329 | 1,354 | 1,359 | 1,364 | 1,372 | 1,374 | 1,374 | 1,373 |
| United States | 1,551 | 1,553 | 1,555 | 1,557 | 1,562 | 1,564 | 1,566 | 1,568 | 1,572 | 1,577 | 1,591 | 1,602 | 1,608 | 1,612 | 1,618 | 1,624 | 1,632 | 1,640 | 1,650 | 1,666 | 1,689 | 1,719 | 1,758 | 1,802 | 1,850 | 1,887 | 1,919 | 1,956 | 1,983 | 2,006 | 2,036 | 2,076 | 2,128 | 2,194 | 2,240 | 2,300 | 2,343 | 2,370 | 2,391 | 2,387 | 2,374 | 2,370 | 2,363 | 2,353 | 2,367 | 2,367 | 2,366 | 2,356 | 2,342 | 2,317 | 2,285 | 2,257 | 2,228 | 2,214 | 2,221 | 2,222 | 2,224 | 2,232 | 2,238 | 2,236 | 2,237 |
Check out these answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about North Carolina car insurance.
All drivers in North Carolina must have continuous liability coverage, which includes $50,000 of bodily injury per person, $100,000 of bodily injury per accident, and $50,000 in property damage coverage. The state also requires drivers to have underinsured motorist coverage that’s equal to the bodily injury and property damage limits.
The average cost of car insurance in North Carolina is $69 per month for liability insurance and $115 per month for a full-coverage policy.
How much you should expect to pay for car insurance in NC depends on factors like your driving record, vehicle, coverage levels, age, gender, and more. Generally, North Carolina’s average car insurance costs are below national averages. But certain drivers pay higher-than-average costs in the state.
For example, if you’ve been driving for less than eight years in NC, your insurer can apply an inexperienced driver surcharge to your policy, which will push your premium higher. And violations like a speeding ticket or at-fault accident can make it more difficult to find affordable car insurance in North Carolina.
Erie is the cheapest insurer in North Carolina, according to Insurify data, with an average monthly rate of $56 for liability-only coverage.
Both companies have reputations for competitive pricing and robust discounts. Insurify data shows that GEICO’s average monthly premium for full coverage in North Carolina is $109, while Progressive’s average is $89. But your rates may vary from these averages based on factors particular to you, like your driving record, credit history, and ZIP code.
Yes. North Carolina is an at-fault state — also known as a tort state — for car insurance. This means the driver who caused the accident is responsible for paying the damages.
Yes. In North Carolina, your personal auto insurance policy won’t cover you if you get into an accident or sustain damage while you’re logged into a transportation network platform like Uber or Lyft. You’ll need to purchase rideshare car insurance.
Vehicle color isn’t a car insurance rating factor in North Carolina — or in any other state. The make, model, value, and type of vehicle do affect your rates, though.
Here’s an example. You have a red Honda Accord and a dark gray BMW Z4, each with the same coverage levels and driver. The Z4 will cost more to insure because it’s a sports car and a high-value vehicle that costs more to repair or replace. And you’ll pay less to cover your moderately priced, cheaper-to repair Honda, even if it’s fire-engine red with racing flames.
To find the cheapest car insurance rates in North Carolina, get quotes from multiple insurers. You can also ask about car insurance discounts, raise your deductible, and try to maintain a clean credit and driving history.
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
7+ years in personal finance writing
Certified Financial Education Instructor
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
Media relations director for Insurance Information Institute
20+ years in insurance and communications
Impartial, independent expert
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
