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Finding the best car insurer in North Carolina for you will depend on a few different factors like your coverage needs, price, customer service, and the insurer’s ability to handle claims successfully. Insurify’s data shows that on average, North Carolina drivers pay monthly rates of $92, scoring some of the cheapest rates in the country. Cost will ultimately vary depending on your age, location in the state, driving record, and credit history. But generally, North Carolina drivers pay around 47% less than the national average for car insurance.
Best car insurance companies in North Carolina
You have many car insurance companies to choose from — each with its unique offerings. The best auto insurance company for you will depend heavily on your individual situation and needs. Whether you value finding the cheapest coverage, scoring discounts for your teen drivers, superior customer service, or something else, you can find an auto insurance company you can trust.
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Insurance Company
Best For
Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only
Insurify Quality Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Insurify uses an in-house, proprietary method to rate and review the best car insurance companies. The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 crucial criteria, including average premiums, customer satisfaction, discounts, third-party ratings, and more, to calculate a final score for a company.
Criteria are weighted by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings. With the IQ Score, Insurify is able to provide quantitative ratings for drivers to better compare car insurance companies and make informed decisions to meet their coverage needs.
GEICO ranks as the overall best car insurance in North Carolina because of its Insurify Quality Score of 4.3 out of 5, low rates, numerous available discounts, and personalized coverage options. GEICO offers online quotes and unique coverage options, including emergency road service, mechanical breakdown insurance, rental reimbursement, and more. On average, North Carolina drivers pay $54 per month for liability and $92 for full-coverage insurance with GEICO.
Pros
Personalized coverage options
Below-average customer complaints in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index
Many advertised discounts
Cons
No gap coverage or rideshare insurance
Below-average customer satisfaction rating in the Southeast region from J.D. Power[1]
Limited number of local agents
Best cheap car insurance in North Carolina: State Farm
If you feel drawn to a larger insurer with modern features, easy access, and a range of discounts, you should consider State Farm. The company provides drivers in the state with the best value coverage, with a high Insurify Quality Score of 4.4 out of 5 and affordable premiums. State Farm drivers can benefit from accident-free and good driver savings discounts. And it has a Steer Clear savings program for drivers younger than 25 who have gone three or more years without any moving violations or at-fault accidents. State Farm drivers pay $78 per month for liability and $131 for full-coverage car insurance on average.
Pros
Below-average customer complaints in the NAIC complaint index
Available in all 50 states
Multiple discounts available
Cons
No gap insurance coverage if you total your car
No accident forgiveness
Steer Clear program is unavailable for drivers older than 25
Most affordable car insurance in North Carolina: Erie
Founded in 1925, Erie has the most affordable car insurance rates in North Carolina, starting at just $48 for liability coverage and $80 for full coverage. Erie provides discounts for cars with anti-theft devices, students, customers who bundle insurance policies, and more. Additionally, customers benefit from first accident forgiveness and a rate-lock feature to help you manage your premiums over time.
Pros
First accident forgiveness after being a customer for three years
Several available discounts, including for young drivers
High Insurify Quality Score of 4.4 out of 5
Cons
Limited coverage options
You’ll need to file most claims over the phone
Erie’s diminishing deductible feature unavailable in North Carolina
Though teens and young drivers can face high car insurance costs, Allstate offers young drivers a few different ways to save. The company’s Smart Student discount provides a significant discount to students younger than 25 who maintain or exceed a B- average or a 2.7 GPA, complete the teenSmart driver education program, and attend school 100 miles away from where they store their car. Allstate drivers pay $65 per month for liability and $109 for full-coverage car insurance on average.
Pros
Student discount and teenSmart driver education program
Roadside assistance available
Offers accident forgiveness
Cons
Below-average customer satisfaction rating in the Southeast region from J.D. Power
Above-average customer complaints in the NAIC complaint index
Higher full-coverage rates than some North Carolina insurers
Nationwide has been around for more than 90 years and has an Insurify Quality Score of 4.1 out of 5. On average, Nationwide drivers pay $92 for full-coverage insurance, and premiums remain affordable even if you have a serious incident on your record. Drivers with an accident have average monthly rates of $131, and drivers with a DUI pay $182.
This insurer also offers an accident forgiveness program, which helps prevent your car insurance rate from increasing after your first accident. You can also save with Nationwide through its usage-based programs, SmartRide and SmartMiles.
Progressive provides great options for seniors through the company’s Name Your Price Tool, a diminishing deductible discount, and accident forgiveness options. Progressive claims safe drivers participating in the Snapshot program can also receive an average savings of $146. Progressive earned an Insurify Quality Score of 4.1 out of 5 and offers flexible customer service hours. On average, drivers pay $71 per month for liability and $114 for full coverage.
Pros
Wide selection of coverage options
More than 35,000 insurance agents
Accident forgiveness
Cons
For some drivers, rates may be more expensive than other insurers’ premiums
Direct Auto specializes in insurance for high-risk drivers and provides several car insurance options including liability, comprehensive, collision, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist coverage. Direct Auto offers an affordable average rate of $65 per month for both liability and full-coverage insurance. The company also provides discounts to help you save up to 25% on your car insurance premium. This insurer has 30 offices in North Carolina and earned an IQ Score of 3.2 out of 5.
Pros
In-person experience possible due to multiple offices throughout the state
Several insurance companies don’t offer discounts for military families, but Liberty Mutual does. As an active, retired, or reserved military member, you can qualify for savings. The company also rewards drivers with clean driving records, homeowners, and good students. Liberty Mutual has an Insurify Quality Score of 3.8 out of 5 and allows you to get a customized quote online. On average, customers pay $68 per month for liability and $163 for full coverage.
Pros
Military discount
Discounts for no driving violations
Customizable coverage, with options for lifetime repair guarantee, gap coverage, and teacher’s auto insurance
Cons
High rates for full-coverage insurance
Above-average customer complaints in the NAIC complaint index
Below-average customer satisfaction rating in the Southeast region from J.D. Power
How Insurify’s experts used internal proprietary data to rate the top auto insurers
Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page.
The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service’s database of auto insurance rates.
With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums. The data included on this page represent averages across all driver ages, gender, credit scores, and driver profiles for Illinois drivers.
How to shop for the best car insurance in North Carolina
When shopping for the best car insurance in North Carolina, you’ll want to consider a few important factors:
Your coverage needs: All insurers offer basic or minimum coverage options, but you may want added coverage for your specific needs, whether it’s roadside assistance or rental reimbursement. Select an insurer that offers the coverage you need.
Reviews and customer satisfaction: Companies with high customer service satisfaction ratings should stand out over companies with bad reviews. Find customer reviews online to see how policyholders view various insurers.
Communication options: Make sure you can contact your insurer and get a timely response. Ideally, you should have the option to contact a local agent, submit a support ticket online, or reach someone by phone during the day.
Claim-filing process: Look into how companies handle claims, including whether you can file claims easily via phone or through an online system. Some companies even allow you to check your claim status online or through a mobile app.
Compare rates: Compare car insurancerates and coverage options from a handful of different insurance companies side by side to ensure you find the best deal.
How to get the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina
Finding the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina depends on factors like your city, age, and driving history, but you can take a few specific actions to lower costs:[2]
Ask about discounts
Common savings include multi-policy, safe driver, bundling, good student, loyalty, and affinity discounts. Proactively ask your insurer if you qualify for any advertised discounts.
Keep your driving record clean
Drivers with clean records earn the cheapest rates. Practice safe driving habits and try to avoid receiving any violations or tickets.
Choose a car with safety and anti-theft features
Many insurers reward drivers for driving vehicles equipped with safety and anti-theft features. If your existing car doesn’t have them, look into getting them installed.
Shop around and gather quotes
To find the cheapest rates, you can use an insurance-comparison tool like Insurify to see how car insurance companies in North Carolina stack up against each other for your coverage needs.
Minimum car insurance requirements in North Carolina
All motor vehicles operating in North Carolina must meet minimum insurance coverage requirements for bodily injury and property damage liability.[3]Bodily injury covers the costs associated with injury or death you cause in an auto accident, while property damage coverage pays for damages you cause to another person’s vehicle or other property.
Coverage Requirement
Coverage Amount
Bodily injury
$30,000 per person
Bodily injury
$60,000 per accident
Property damage
$25,000 per accident
Liability-only vs. full-coverage insurance in North Carolina
North Carolina requires minimum liability auto insurance to cover damage to the other vehicle and the other person’s medical expenses from an accident. Liability-only coverage doesn’t pay for repairs to your car or your personal medical expenses after an accident.
Minimum coverage may make sense if you drive an older vehicle that would be cheaper to replace in an accident. However, if paying for vehicle repairs out of pocket would cause financial stress, you should consider full-coverage auto insurance.
Full-coverage insurance builds on liability by also protecting your vehicle and covering your medical bills after an accident — up to your coverage limit — with collision and comprehensive coverage. If you lease or finance your car, the leasing company or lender will likely require you to buy full coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle against natural disasters, falling objects, fires, theft, riots, civil unrest, and more. Collision coverage helps pay for damage to your car due to any type of collision — usually up to the actual cash value of your vehicle.[4] While full coverage may cost more, it’ll provide the highest level of protection for your vehicle.
“If you don’t have comprehensive coverage, there is always a risk of having to pay a significant amount out of pocket and/or being sued for injuries [and] damages,” saysP.J. Miller, vice president and independent insurance agent withWallace & Turner Insurancein Ohio.
Most North Carolina auto insurers have average quotes for both liability and full-coverage insurance that fall below the national average rate of $148 per month.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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North Carolina car insurance rates by driving and accident history
Violations or tickets on your record can increase your car insurance rates. This includesspeeding tickets, driving under the influence, and at-fault accidents, which can stay on your driving record for several years. It can also affect your rates in a good way if you maintain a driving record free of violations. Rates for drivers with clean records start as low as $65 and $80 per month.
The table below provides insight into how certain violations can affect car insurance rates in North Carolina. For example, Nationwide customers with a clean driving record pay about 29% less for car insurance each month than customers with speeding tickets.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
SR-22 insurance in North Carolina
Many states require drivers convicted of a DUI to get an SR-22 — a form that your insurer files with the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles to verify that you carry the state’s minimum amount of auto coverage.
North Carolina doesn’t require SR-22s, however. If you have a DUI conviction in North Carolina, talk to your insurance company about your coverage options.
Important Information
While North Carolina doesn’t require suspended drivers to file SR-22s to restore their licenses, the state does apply multiple fees. For example, drivers suspended for driving while intoxicated will need to pay a $140.25 reinstatement fee.
North Carolina car insurance quotes by credit tier
North Carolina, and many other states, allow insurers to factor in your credit score when calculating car insurance rates.
Your credit history shows how well you manage your finances and if you pay bills on time. Auto insurers tend to give drivers with a higher credit score lower rates than drivers with a poor credit history.
Car insurance quotes in North Carolina cities
Car insurance rates can vary by city within North Carolina. Some larger cities may have more traffic or higher vehicle repair costs on average, which can lead to increased car insurance rates. The following cities have some of the cheapest average rates in North Carolina.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Larger cities like Charlotte, Durham, Chapel Hill and the state capital, Raleigh, have higher average monthly insurance rates.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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North Carolina car insurance rates by driver age
Your age will also affect car insurance rates. Statistics show that teenagers and drivers younger than 25 tend to have more accidents than other drivers, so auto insurers adjust car insurance rates accordingly. Similar to other states, North Carolina teen drivers can expect to pay more than other drivers. Drivers in their 50s and 60s earn the cheapest average rates.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
North Carolina car insurance FAQs
You probably care about price when shopping for car insurance, but you likely also have many other questions. Check out Insurify’s library of car insurance knowledgearticles on topics like how to get auto insurance on a Saturday, and the 10 best and worst sites for comparing car insurance quotes online.
Who has the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina?
Comparing multiple quotes at once can help you find the cheapest car insurance rate for your situation. In North Carolina, some of the cheapest insurance carriers include Direct Auto, Erie, Nationwide, and GEICO. Liability coverage in the state starts as low as $48 per month, and full-coverage costs start at $65.
Who has the best car insurance for farmers in North Carolina?
Nationwide provides farm and ranch insurance, which includes coverage for tractors, machinery, and even rented or leased equipment. Farm insurance falls under the category of business insurance and typically can be purchased for individual pieces of equipment or under a blanket policy up to a certain amount.
What car insurance does North Carolina require?
North Carolina’s minimum car insurance requirements include liability coverage for up to at least $30,000 in bodily injury per person and $60,000 in bodily injury per accident. Also, your insurance must cover at least $25,000 in property damage per accident. Liability insurance covers the other vehicle and doesn’t cover damage to your own vehicle or your medical bills incurred after an accident.
What are the best car insurance companies in North Carolina?
Some of the best car insurance companies in North Carolina include GEICO, State Farm, Erie, and Nationwide. These insurance companies have a variety of coverage options, great rates, good customer service scores, and positive feedback from customers.
How does credit score affect car insurance premiums in North Carolina?
A better credit score typically results in lower car insurance costs. Anything that falls below 630 qualifies as a poor credit score, while anything above 720 qualifies as an excellent credit score.
Is North Carolina a no-fault state?
North Carolina is an at-fault state.[5] This means the driver responsible for the accident must pay for damages and injury that occurred in an accident out of pocket (if they’re uninsured) or through their insurer.
Methodology
Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service's database of auto insurance rates. With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums.
Amy is a personal finance and technology writer. With a background in the legal field and a bachelor's degree from Ferris State University, she has a talent for transforming complex topics into content that’s easy to understand. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.
