)
)
5+ years writing insurance and personal finance topics
Auto, home, health, and life insurance expertise
Elizabeth has extensive insurance industry experience, having written for Insureon, Rate Retriever, and Insurify. She’s also finance and insurance editor for Car and Driver.
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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Despite having one of the highest accident rates in the state in 2022, Asheville has average car insurance rates well below the North Carolina and U.S. averages. Full coverage costs $76 per month and minimum coverage averages $46 monthly in Asheville, according to Insurify data. By comparison, the North Carolina monthly averages are $92 for full coverage and $57 for liability-only policies.
Asheville's walkability may influence car insurance rates in the city of 93,776 residents.[1] Much of the city's downtown area is pedestrian and bike friendly, and Asheville supports an ongoing program to maintain sidewalks throughout the downtown area.
But Asheville drivers may be able to save even more by comparing car insurance quotes from multiple companies. Here's what to know about buying car insurance in Asheville, North Carolina.
Nationwide, Erie, and GEICO offer the lowest car insurance rates for Asheville drivers.
In 2022, Asheville had 4,517 accidents, resulting in 13 fatalities and more than 1,300 injuries, according to North Carolina Department of Transportation data.[2]
North Carolina drivers must pay a $50 fee following their first insurance lapse, as well as a $50 license restoration fee. A second lapse results in a $100 fee.[3]
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Asheville
You have unique needs when shopping for coverage, which means the best insurer for one driver may not provide the best coverage for another. For some drivers, the best auto insurance company has the cheapest rates. For others, the best insurer offers the most coverage options or has the best customer service.
Here are a few of the cheapest car insurance companies in Asheville for different coverage types and driver profiles.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | 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. ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Best For ▲▼ |
---|---|---|---|---|
Midvale Home & Auto | N/A | $69 | $34 | Cheap rates |
Erie | 9.0 | $62 | $42 | Drivers with incidents |
GEICO | 9.0 | $71 | $48 | Senior drivers |
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 55,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Best for cheap rates: Midvale Home & Auto
A.M. Best A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor). | A |
---|---|
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. | 3.2 /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. | $42/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. | $45/mo |
Midvale Home & Auto consistently offers cheap rates for Asheville drivers. The insurer offers highly customizable policies and ample discounts, including savings for having more than one type of coverage with Midvale. Midvale Home & Auto also sells homeowners and renters insurance, so it's easy to qualify for a multi-product discount. You can also qualify for discounts for being a good student, having a student away at school.
Lowest rates for full coverage and liability insurance in Asheville
Offers gap coverage and emergency roadside service coverage
Higher-than-average number of customer complaints, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Must call to get an auto insurance quote
Best for drivers with an incident: Erie
User Reviews | 4.1 |
---|---|
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. | 9.0 /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. | $35/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. | $52/mo |
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.
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.
Rajesh
February 7, 2025
Erie Review
Dylan
January 13, 2025
The price of the insurance isn't bad, but they're horrible at communicating about a claim. They dragged their feet on my claim. I had to send numerous emails and make a few phone calls just to get my car paid off. It took 25 days when I was told it would take 10 to 15 days max.
Peter
January 6, 2025
High Rates
Erie is one of the cheapest insurers in Asheville for drivers with an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, or DUI on their record. And you can easily customize your auto insurance policy with Erie. The company offers many insurance endorsements, including accident forgiveness, locksmith coverage, and more. Erie also has a Rate Lock guarantee, which means your premium won’t change unless you make adjustments to your policy.
Customizable coverage
Rate Lock guarantee
New-car replacement coverage not available in North Carolina
Low mobile app rating
Best for senior drivers: GEICO
User Reviews | 4.0 |
---|---|
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. | 9.0 /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. | $39/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. | $60/mo |
Customers appreciate the reliability and customer service but find the rates to be high and increase frequently, even without claims or accidents. The app has improved, but some find the claims process lacking.
Customers appreciate the reliability and customer service but find the rates to be high and increase frequently, even without claims or accidents. The app has improved, but some find the claims process lacking.
Mitchell
February 19, 2025
Geico Review
Godfrey
February 19, 2025
Very Expensive
Brandon
February 18, 2025
Poor Theft Coverage
One of the country’s top insurers, GEICO offers a number of insurance products, including auto insurance coverages. The company offers affordable rates in Asheville by coverage level, age, and driving history. GEICO has 16 advertised discounts, including some that seniors can commonly benefit from. Older drivers may earn multi-policy, good driver, defensive driving, and vehicle safety discounts. Drivers can also save with the DriveEasy telematics program.
Multiple available discounts
Many insurance products
Gap insurance not available
Rideshare insurance not available
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Asheville
When shopping for car insurance in Asheville, you want to get the best rate. However, car insurance rates depend on many factors, like your age, driving record, insurer, and vehicle type.
Here are a few tips for getting the cheapest car insurance for your situation:
Find discounts. Most car insurance companies offer discounts. Some of the most common discounts reward you for bundling policies, paying your premium in full, insuring multiple vehicles, earning good grades, and insuring a car with safety features.
Choose high deductibles. For car insurance policies that require a deductible, choosing high deductibles can lower your monthly premium. However, make sure you can afford the higher deductible in case you need to file a claim.
Take a defensive driving course. Many insurers provide a discount to drivers who complete an approved defensive driving course.
Maintain a clean record. Drivers with a clean record usually pay the lowest insurance rates. Avoid accidents, tickets, and other traffic violations to keep your insurance costs low.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Asheville: Nationwide
Per state law, Asheville drivers must have liability-only car insurance. If you cause an accident, personal liability insurance compensates the other driver for their losses, including bodily injury and property damage. Liability-only car insurance doesn’t provide any protection for your medical expenses or vehicle damages, but it does cover resulting legal fees.[4]
On average, Asheville drivers pay $46 per month for minimum-coverage car insurance. In the table below, you can see which car insurance companies in Asheville offer the cheapest liability-only insurance.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
Nationwide | $34 |
Erie | $35 |
GEICO | $39 |
Travelers | $44 |
Direct Auto | $46 |
Safeco | $46 |
Allstate | $47 |
Dairyland | $47 |
Progressive | $48 |
Liberty Mutual | $52 |
National General | $52 |
State Farm | $56 |
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Asheville: Erie
Full-coverage auto insurance typically includes liability, collision, comprehensive, and medical payments insurance. If you lease or finance a vehicle, your lender may require you to purchase this coverage. You should consider full coverage to provide physical damage protection for new or high-value vehicles. Otherwise, you may face high out-of-pocket expenses for repairs.
Full-coverage auto insurance costs, on average, $76 per month in Asheville. Here are the cheapest car insurance companies in Asheville for full-coverage insurance.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
Erie | $52 |
Nationwide | $52 |
GEICO | $60 |
Travelers | $66 |
Allstate | $72 |
Progressive | $73 |
Direct Auto | $81 |
State Farm | $86 |
National General | $87 |
Safeco | $91 |
Liberty Mutual | $153 |
Dairyland | $198 |
Cheapest recent rates near Asheville, North Carolina
Recent Asheville, North Carolina car insurance prices for Toyota, Lexus, KIA , and more.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Asheville, North Carolina within the last 10 days. Last updated on February 20, 2025. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Asheville, North Carolina within the last 10 days. Last updated on February 20, 2025. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
Car insurance requirements in North Carolina
Car insurance is a legal requirement in the state of North Carolina. All vehicle owners must carry a minimum amount of personal liability insurance.[3] The state minimum-coverage requirements may not cover the full cost of an at-fault accident, so you may want to choose higher coverage limits when you purchase a policy.
The specific coverage limits required in the state increase on July 1, 2025. The table below reflects the change in requirements:[3]
Coverage ▲▼ | Current Coverage Limits ▲▼ | Coverage Limits as of July 1, 2025 ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Bodily injury liability | $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident | $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident |
Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident | $50,000 per accident |
Common optional coverages to consider for more robust protection include:
Collision coverage
After an accident or collision with an object, collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle.
Comprehensive coverage
When non-collision incidents — like natural disasters, vandalism, or falling objects — cause damage, comprehensive insurance kicks in.[5]
Medical payments coverage
Sometimes called MedPay, this optional insurance provides coverage for your own medical expenses following an accident.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Having an incident — like a speeding ticket, at-fault accident, or DUI — on your driving record usually causes your car insurance premium to increase. From the perspective of an insurance company, drivers with past moving violations are riskier to insure than people with a clean record.[6]
However, the specific cost increase after an incident will depend on your insurance company and the specific violation. For example, someone with a severe violation or multiple incidents typically pays more for insurance than a driver with a single speeding ticket.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Nationwide
Though less severe than some infractions, a speeding ticket can affect the cost of your auto insurance. If you have multiple speeding tickets in a short period of time, you’ll face even higher rates.
A speeding ticket bumps the average cost of full-coverage car insurance to $119 per month in Asheville. In the table below, you can see the monthly auto insurance quotes for Asheville drivers with a speeding ticket.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Record ▲▼ | With Ticket ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Nationwide | $34 | $48 |
Erie | $35 | $50 |
GEICO | $39 | $54 |
Travelers | $44 | $62 |
Direct Auto | $46 | $64 |
Safeco | $46 | $65 |
Allstate | $47 | $65 |
Dairyland | $47 | $65 |
Progressive | $48 | $66 |
Liberty Mutual | $52 | $77 |
National General | $52 | $72 |
State Farm | $56 | $77 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Nationwide
If you cause an accident, your car insurance premium will almost always increase. Your insurer, previous accident history, and the severity of the accident all influence specific premium changes.
An at-fault accident bumps the average cost of full coverage in Asheville to $125 per month. Here are the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers in Asheville with an at-fault accident.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Record ▲▼ | With Accident ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Nationwide | $34 | $50 |
Erie | $35 | $53 |
GEICO | $39 | $57 |
Travelers | $44 | $65 |
Direct Auto | $46 | $69 |
Safeco | $46 | $68 |
Allstate | $47 | $69 |
Dairyland | $47 | $68 |
Progressive | $48 | $71 |
Liberty Mutual | $52 | $80 |
National General | $52 | $75 |
State Farm | $56 | $81 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Nationwide
No matter where you live, a DUI conviction typically leads to significantly higher car insurance rates. Due to the severity of the offense, insurers consider people with a DUI conviction as high-risk drivers to insure.
Asheville drivers with DUIs on their records face average car insurance costs of $140 per month for full coverage and $85 for liability only. In the table below, you can see which car insurance providers in Asheville have the cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI on their record.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Record ▲▼ | With DUI ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Nationwide | $34 | $59 |
Erie | $35 | $61 |
GEICO | $39 | $68 |
Travelers | $44 | $77 |
Direct Auto | $46 | $80 |
Safeco | $46 | $76 |
Allstate | $47 | $82 |
Dairyland | $47 | $82 |
Progressive | $48 | $84 |
Liberty Mutual | $52 | $91 |
National General | $52 | $91 |
State Farm | $56 | $97 |
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Nationwide
“There are numerous factors that impact the cost of car insurance, including the age of the driver,” says P.J. Miller, vice president of Wallace & Turner Inc. For most drivers, rates decrease around the age of 35 and start increasing again for drivers 75 and older. However, the cost of car insurance for seniors depends on the insurance company.
The average monthly cost of car insurance for Asheville seniors is $64 for full coverage and $39 for liability-only insurance. Here are the insurance companies in Asheville with the lowest rates for seniors.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Nationwide | $26 | $39 |
Erie | $27 | $41 |
GEICO | $31 | $48 |
Progressive | $35 | $53 |
Travelers | $35 | $52 |
Direct Auto | $36 | $63 |
Allstate | $38 | $58 |
Dairyland | $38 | $159 |
National General | $40 | $67 |
Safeco | $40 | $79 |
Liberty Mutual | $43 | $128 |
State Farm | $44 | $67 |
Cheapest car insurance for teens: Erie
Teenagers typically pay much higher rates for auto insurance than adults. Insurers consider young drivers to be high-risk drivers due to a lack of driving experience. Additionally, statistics show that teens are more likely to get into accidents than older drivers.[7]
Although most teens pay expensive insurance premiums, you can attempt to earn a lower rate. For example, driving a safe vehicle and getting good grades in school could help you earn discounts on your policy. Also, it’s usually cheaper for teens to stay insured on their parents’ policy.
The average monthly cost of car insurance for Asheville teens is $133 for full coverage and $46 for liability insurance. In the table below, you can see the cheapest insurers in Asheville for teens.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Erie | $60 | $90 |
Nationwide | $62 | $94 |
GEICO | $65 | $99 |
Dairyland | $76 | $322 |
Travelers | $82 | $123 |
Progressive | $85 | $130 |
Direct Auto | $86 | $152 |
Allstate | $87 | $133 |
Safeco | $89 | $177 |
Liberty Mutual | $90 | $266 |
State Farm | $99 | $153 |
National General | $104 | $174 |
Asheville car insurance quotes by credit tier
In North Carolina, car insurance companies can use credit-based insurance scores. When you apply for a policy, the insurer may consider your credit score when calculating your rate. Drivers with excellent or good credit usually pay lower rates than drivers with poor credit.
Below, you can see the average car insurance rates for drivers in Asheville by credit tier.
Rates by Credit Tier
Is car insurance more expensive in Asheville?
Compared to the national average rate, car insurance in Asheville is affordable. The average car insurance premium in the U.S. is $199 per month for full coverage and $105 per month for liability coverage. For comparison, the average insurance rate in Asheville is $76 per month for full coverage and $46 for liability.
Within North Carolina, Asheville drivers earn lower rates than many other cities in the state. Specific location-based factors that influence rates include an area’s crime rates, accident rates, population density, and traffic congestion. Even your ZIP code affects how insurers assess your risk level.
More cities in North Carolina
Car insurance is cheaper in Asheville than in many other North Carolina cities. Factors like a city’s number of uninsured drivers, vehicle theft rate, and more can influence premiums.
Here are average monthly rates for other cities in North Carolina.
City ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Charlotte | $119 | $71 |
Durham | $95 | $56 |
Fayetteville | $106 | $66 |
Greensboro | $94 | $62 |
High Point | $95 | $62 |
Raleigh | $96 | $61 |
Wilmington | $98 | $56 |
Asheville car insurance FAQs
Finding the insurance company that provides the exact amount of coverage you need — with all the features you care about — can feel overwhelming. The information below should answer any questions you still have and help you make an informed decision.
How much is car insurance in Asheville?
On average, Asheville drivers pay $61 per month for car insurance. Liability insurance averages $46 per month, while full-coverage insurance averages $76 per month in the city. Statewide, North Carolina drivers pay $92 per month for a full-coverage auto policy and $57 for minimum coverage. Your premium depends on your driving record, credit history, age, vehicle, and more.
What company has the cheapest car insurance in Asheville?
Nationwide offers the lowest car insurance rates in Asheville, with liability policies as low as $34 per month. Erie and GEICO are the second- and third-cheapest insurers in the city, with liability rates starting at $35 and $39, respectively.
What are the best car insurance companies in Asheville?
Erie is the best car insurance company in Asheville. It has a 4.4 IQ Score, an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from A.M. Best, and solid rankings in J.D. Power customer and claims satisfaction studies. Other top insurers in the city include Nationwide, GEICO, and Travelers.
What factors affect car insurance costs in Asheville?
Insurers in Asheville consider your driving record, credit history, age, vehicle type, ZIP code, and more when determining your insurance costs. North Carolina has a relatively low amount of uninsured drivers in the state — about 7.4% — which can help decrease risk levels and average auto rates in the state.[8]
How much car insurance do you need in North Carolina?
North Carolina drivers must carry at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $25,000 per accident in property damage liability. On July 1, 2025, the minimum coverage limits will increase to $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $50,000 per accident in property damage liability.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 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 50+ 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:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Related articles
More cities in North Carolina
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau. "Asheville City, North Carolina QuickFacts."
- North Carolina Department of Transportation. "North Carolina 2022 Traffic Crash Facts."
- North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. "Insurance Requirements."
- Insurance Information Institute. "Auto insurance basics—understanding your coverage."
- Insurance Information Institute. "What is covered by collision and comprehensive auto insurance?."
- Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Teen Drivers and Passengers: Get the Facts."
- Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists."
)
Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer covering insurance and personal finance. She has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including property and casualty, health, and life insurance. Her byline has been featured in dozens of publications, including Investopedia, Forbes, Bankrate, NextAdvisor, and Insurance.com.
Elizabeth has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
)
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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