Best Cheap Car Insurance in North Carolina (from $54/mo)

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By Kristine Lee

Updated May 24, 2022

Edited By Renata Balasco

Here's what you need to know when driving in North Carolina

Across the Tar Heel State, there are 221,456 miles of road just waiting to be driven. Read on to learn how much auto insurance costs in North Carolina based on the most common rating factors. Or, enter your ZIP code above to receive free personalized quotes and ensure you are getting the best price for your insurance.

Affordable insurance companies in North Carolina

What's the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina?

Rank	Company Name	Avg. Annual Premium
1	NC Farm Bureau	$852
2	Auto-Owners	$861
3	Travelers	$918
4	Erie	$929
5	State Farm	$940
6	Titan	$1,024
7	Progressive	$1,228
8	Allied	$1,432
9	Allstate	$1,540
10	Nationwide	$1,569

Compare quotes from dozens of insurance companies that provide coverage throughout North Carolina. Enter your ZIP code below to get started.

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Cheap auto insurance for good drivers in North Carolina

Drivers with clean driving records typically enjoy lower car insurance costs than drivers with histories of speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, or DUI citations. North Carolina drivers without a recent speeding ticket typically save 32% on their car insurance premiums — far exceeding the 17% national average. In addition to earning a cheaper premium for driving incident-free, you may qualify for a safe-driving bonus through your car insurance company. The amount of these discounts may vary, but they typically run between 5 and 10%.

Rating Factor	$ Savings	% Savings
No Traffic Tickets	$423	32.96%
No Accidents	$442	33.97%
Good Credit	$147	14.60%

Cheap auto insurance for young drivers in North Carolina

Young drivers (those between the ages of 16 and 25) pay extraordinarily high auto insurance rates, with those aged 16-19 paying the most expensive premiums of all. Because of the risk presented by inexperienced drivers, teens pay more than three times the national average for car insurance. In North Carolina, the typical teen driver pays $2,583 per year — approximately half the national average for teens, but more than twice the statewide average for all drivers in the Tarheel State.

Age	Annual Rate with Parents	Annual Rate Alone
16	$4,037	$2,650
17	$3,202	$2,063
18	$2,987	$1,816
19	$2,987	$925

Cheap auto insurance for bad drivers in North Carolina

If you have a clean driving record — no at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs, or other recent citations — you'll probably pay less for car insurance. Conversely, a bad driving record will cause your rates to skyrocket: car insurance premiums typically increase by 48% after a DUI, 33% after an at-fault accident, and 32% after a speeding ticket in North Carolina. The post-citation penalties assessed by car insurance companies after violations and at-fault accidents in North Carolina are substantially higher than nationwide averages. If you have a clean driving record, be sure to check for good-driving discounts from your insurer.

Rating Factor	Annual Rate	% Increase
At-Fault Accident	$1,302	33.97%
DUI	$1,658	48.15%
Speeding Violation	$1,282	32.96%
Bad Credit	$1,006	14.60%

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Top rated car insurance companies in North Carolina

Every auto insurance company advertises its cheap prices. But as with any product, the most affordable car insurance option is not always the finest choice. Considering what's at stake, it's worthwhile to do the homework to discover an insurance policy that will cover your car completely in the event of a collision. It's worth contrasting options to find a great value, rather than settling for the cheapest car insurance you can find.

Use the table below to better understand the quality of service you'll receive. You'll see reviews for popular auto insurers' financial strength, claims satisfaction, and customer satisfaction including an internal satisfaction score from The Zebra's customers.

Insurance Company	Claims Satisfaction (J.D. Power)	Customer Satisfaction (J.D. Power)	Financial Strength (A.M. Best)	Customer Satisfaction (The Zebra)
Allstate	Average	Average	Superior	4.3 / 5
Auto-Owners	N/A	Above average	Superior	N/A
Erie	Excellent	Above average	Superior	4.5 / 5
MetLife	N/A	Below average	Excellent	N/A
Nationwide	Average	Poor	Superior	4.3 / 5
NC Farm Bureau	N/A	N/A	Excellent	N/A
Progressive	Below average	Below average	Excellent	4.3 / 5
Safeco	Average	Average	Excellent	N/A
State Farm	Above average	Above average	Superior	4.5 / 5
Travelers	Average	Below average	Superior	4.3 / 5

North Carolina auto insurance laws

In North Carolina, drivers are required to maintain auto insurance at or above the below levels:

Liability

Bodily Injury $30,000 per person
Bodily Injury $60,000 per accident
Property Damage $25,000 per accident

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist

Bodily Injury $30,000 per person
Bodily Injury $60,000 per accident
Property Damage $25,000 per accident

Optional coverage in North Carolina (varies by carrier):

Comprehensive
Collision
Loan/Lease Payoff
Medical Payments
Rental Car Reimbursement
Roadside Assistance

For the minimum required coverage in North Carolina, you can expect to owe an average of $428 each year. This average cost is cheaper than the U.S. average by 35%. If you opt for better car insurance coverage, you can choose a policy with comprehensive and collision coverage, insuring against damages caused by car-on-car collisions, auto theft, or weather incidents. Better car insurance has a cost: in North Carolina, a comprehensive policy with a $1,000 deductible costs $814, 90% more than liability-only car insurance. For a comprehensive policy with a $500 deductible, expect to pay 104% more than for a liability-only policy.

Learn more about car insurance laws in North Carolina.

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How tickets change insurance rates in North Carolina

If you receive a ticket, your auto insurance premiums may get more expensive. By how much depends on the specific citation, your insurance company's pricing strategy, and local insurance regulations. That's why tickets may have a different impact on insurance in your state compared to the national average.

See below average auto insurance rates in North Carolina after some common violations.

Violation	Avg. Annual Auto Insurance Rate	% Insurance Rate Increase	$ Insurance Rate Increase
Hit and Run	$4,358	360%	$3,411
Refused Breathalyzer/Chemical Test	$4,011	324%	$3,064
DUI	$4,011	324%	$3,064
Racing	$4,358	360%	$3,411
Reckless Driving	$1,743	84%	$796
Driving with a Suspended License	$2,763	192%	$1,816
At-Fault Accident	$1,402	48%	$455
Driving with an Open Container	$1,275	35%	$328
Operating a Vehicle Without Permission	$1,275	35%	$328
Passing a School Bus	$1,718	81%	$771
Improper Passing	$1,403	48%	$456
Following Too Closely	$1,403	48%	$456
Speeding	$1,402	48%	$455
Failure to Stop at a Red Light	$1,275	35%	$328
Illegal Turn	$1,275	35%	$328
Driving Wrong Way/Wrong Lane	$1,275	35%	$328
Failure to Yield	$1,275	35%	$328
Speeding in a School Zone	$1,300	37%	$353
Driving Too Slowly	$1,300	37%	$353
Distracted Driving	$1,236	30%	$289
Driving with Expired Registration	$1,265	34%	$318
Failure to Show Documents	$1,142	21%	$195
Not-at-Fault Accident	$957	1%	$10
Failure to Use Child Safety Restraint	$1,265	34%	$318
Failure to Wear a Seat Belt	$1,265	34%	$318
Driving Without Lights	$1,265	34%	$318

North Carolina Car Insurance FAQs

Who has the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina?

NC Farm Bureau offers the cheapest premiums for North Carolina drivers with an average rate of $426 for a six-month policy, or $71 per month. If you're interested in seeing quotes from multiple insurance companies, use our comparison tool to get started.

How much is car insurance in North Carolina?

The average cost of car insurance in North Carolina is $873 per year for full coverage or $428 for liability-only.

What type of car insurance is required in North Carolina?

North Carolina requires bodily injury and liability limits of 30/60/25 along with uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

How much does car insurance cost in North Carolina cities?

Car insurance companies calculate your rate based on many factors, location of the vehicle being an important one. The cheapest car insurance is found in Winston Salem, North Carolina, and the most expensive in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Rank	City	Avg. Annual Premium
1	Fayetteville	$1,188
2	Charlotte	$1,110
3	Concord	$994
4	Greenville	$979
5	Wilmington	$972
6	Raleigh	$952
7	Durham	$951
8	Greensboro	$945
9	Cary	$856
10	Winston Salem	$847

Can salvage title vehicles be insured?

Insuring a salvage title vehicle is not impossible, however, you will probably run into companies that flat-out won't provide coverage for that type of vehicle. Your best bet is to let the agent providing a quote know that the vehicle is salvaged so you don't waste your time.

Mar 23, 2017 Greensboro, NC

Should I pay for damage out of pocket or file a claim with my insurance company?

A car accident can have a fairly significant impact on your rates so if they damage is not extensive, as you say, you might want to consider paying for the damage out of pocket. Ultimately, that decision is up to you, but our State of Insurance Report (page 58) shows that at fault accidents in North Carolina will cause an average rate increase of $426 per year to your policy.

Oct 22, 2016 Greensboro, NC

Will I lose my accident free discount if I file a hit and run claim?

You will lose this discount and most likely your rates will be impacted if you file a claim. How much your rates will be impacted depends on the types of coverage you have and what coverage pays out to fix your car.

Aug 25, 2018 Elizabeth City, NC

What do I do if I am hit by another driver and they refuse to provide me their insurance information?

Regardless of the amount of damage caused in an accident, drivers should still exchange insurance information. Normally in the event that the police are called and a report is written the information of both drivers is documented, including insurance information.

Aug 6, 2017 Haw River, NC

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Kristine LeeManager, Content and Data

Kristine is a licensed insurance agent who joined The Zebra in 2019 as an in-house content researcher and writer.

She is an authority on all things insurance and covers the ins and outs of auto, home, life and renters insurance. Her specialty is in providing data-backed insights and information to help insurance shoppers make informed decisions.

Kristine's insurance expertise and research have been cited by publications such as CNBC, Car and Driver, Business Insider, Yahoo!, The Balance, Nationwide and Elephant.

Learn more about Kristine Lee

Cheap North Carolina Car Insurance