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Ava Lynch

Insurance Analyst

Ava joined The Zebra as a writer and licensed insurance agent in 2016. She now works as a senior insurance contributor, providing insights and data a…

Credentials
  • 7+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry
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Kristine Lee

Insurance Analyst

Kristine is a licensed insurance agent who joined The Zebra in 2019 as an in-house content researcher and writer. Before joining The Zebra, she was a…

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • 5+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry

How much does car insurance cost in Wilmington?

The average cost of auto insurance in Wilmington is $486 per six-months. That's more expensive than the statewide average in North Carolina ($477) and cheaper than the national average of $1,093. Our guide to Wilmington auto insurance includes average rates based on age, credit score, and other factors in Wilmington. Read on to learn more!

Car insurance in Wilmington vs. North Carolina Average 6 Mo. Premium
Wilmington average $486
North Carolina average $477

The Zebra's key takeaways about car insurance in Wilmington:

  • The average cost of a car insurance policy in Wilmington is $486 per six-month policy — $81 per month.
  • The cheapest company in Wilmington is GEICO ($264).
  • 41% of Zebra customers in Wilmington stated they used our product because they were paying too much for car insurance with their current provider.

Are you paying too much for auto insurance?

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Wilmington car insurance rates by company

One of the most important determinants of your car insurance rates is the insurance company you work with. In Wilmington, GEICO provides the most affordable rates for the typical insurance customer. We've listed the best cheap car insurance companies in Wilmington below. Use this information as a starting point and be sure to compare quotes specific to your unique driving profile.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Wilmington, NC
Company Avg. 6 Mo. Premium
GEICO $264
North Carolina Farm Bureau $394
Erie $427
State Farm $431
Nationwide $541

The Zebra’s auto insurance data methodology

The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.

The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.

For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.


Shop around for the best rates


The only way to know which company is the cheapest coverage for you is to compare. Our comparison will do the leg work for you. Enter your ZIP code to see rates from Progressive, State Farm, GEICO and USAA (+ other top companies) to find the best and cheapest car insurance in Wilmington.

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Wilmington auto insurance rates by age

Our data tells us that drivers between the ages of 20-29 make up 25% of Wilmington drivers. The age bracket that pays the least for auto insurance in Wilmington consists of drivers in their 50s, who pay an average of $455 per six-months. Rates for Wilmington drivers in their 60s are also relatively affordable, at just $455.

Teenage drivers pay Wilmington's most expensive auto insurance rates. When Wilmington drivers hit their 20s, their insurance rates drop substantially. The difference in rates paid by teenage drivers and drivers in their 20s in Wilmington is $1,122, the largest such difference between any two age groups.

Wilmington auto insurance costs by age
Age bracket Avg. 6 Mo. Premium
Teenagers $1,090
20s $529
30s $482
40s $473
50s $455
60s $455
70s $484

Wilmington car insurance rates by credit score

It's no secret credit score is closely correlated with auto insurance rates. In fact, Wilmington drivers who build their credit score from the "Very Poor" tier (300-579) to the "Exceptional" tier (800-850) earn a 42% decrease in car insurance rates. Moving into the "Fair" credit tier from the "Very Poor" level is one of the most impactful steps a driver can take in pursuit of better car insurance rates. In Wilmington, improving your credit to "Fair" corresponds with a $202 decrease in six-month car insurance rates. Our data tells us 34% of drivers in Wilmington have a credit score of good (680-719). 

credit score
Wilmington auto insurance costs by credit level
Credit Tier Avg. 6 Mo. Premium
Very Poor $772
Fair $569
Good $486
Very Good $471
Exceptional $450

Wilmington car insurance rates by violation

If you want to keep your car insurance costs reasonable, keep your driving record clean. At-fault collisions, DUIs and DWIs, citations for reckless driving, and speeding tickets each contribute to increases in car insurance rates. Insurance companies reward low-risk drivers with the gift of low rates.

Wilmington drivers found guilty of reckless driving pay a steep price when it comes to auto insurance, facing a rate increase of $845 per year versus the city average. A ticket for speeding results in a $501 rate hike while a DWI or DUI violation costs $3,472 per year in extra insurance expenditures.

Wilmington auto insurance rates after a violation
Incident Avg. 6 Mo. Premium
DUI/DWI $2,222
Reckless Driving $908
At-fault Accident (damages less than $1,000) $652
At-fault Accident (damages > $2,000) $796
Speeding Ticket (16-20 mph over speed limit) $736

Compare over 100 insurance companies at once!

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About The Zebra

The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.

  • The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
  • The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
  • The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
  • The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.