Cheap Car Insurance
It's cheap to get car insurance in North Carolina!
Whoa! North Carolina is one of the cheapest states for car insurance. Let's see how much you'll save!
At The Zebra we're all about helping you save money on car insurance. Our engine looks for the cheapest insurance provider to find the best fit for you and your vehicle. Since North Carolina might have cheaper premiums that makes our job a breeze! It's easy to get started—we just need some basic information to begin finding the best auto discounts for you.
What's the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina?
| Rank | Company Name | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Progressive | $645 |
| 2 | Utica National | $649 |
| 3 | Liberty Mutual | $714 |
| 4 | NC Farm Bureau | $723 |
| 5 | Penn National | $732 |
| 6 | GEICO | $735 |
| 7 | Titan | $744 |
| 8 | State Farm | $764 |
| 9 | Auto-Owners | $861 |
| 10 | National General | $899 |
| 11 | Allied | $910 |
| 12 | Erie | $913 |
| 13 | Travelers | $918 |
| 14 | Peerless | $982 |
| 15 | Nationwide | $1,021 |
| 16 | Unitrin | $1,022 |
| 17 | MetLife | $1,028 |
| 18 | Encompass | $1,052 |
| 19 | Safeco | $1,055 |
| 20 | Allstate | $1,075 |
Cheap Insurance for Good Drivers in North Carolina
Drivers with good 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 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 Car 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% |
Car Insurance Laws
State minimum insurance requirements in North Carolina
In North Carolina, the state minimum coverage requirements are as follows:
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
Liability coverage is legally required in North Carolina and pays for injury and lost wages that you cause to another driver or their passengers as well as damage to the other driver’s vehicle in the event that you are considered “at fault” in an accident. The coverage limits are determined by each individual state and normally split into three categories. In North Carolina, the minimum is listed as 30/60/25 and explained below:
$30,000 bodily injury coverage per person. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for a single person that you injure in an auto accident.
$60,000 bodily injury coverage per accident. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for all injuries that you cause in an accident if more than one person is hurt.
$25,000 property damage per accident. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for damage that you cause in an accident.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is legally required in North Carolina and pays for injury and lost wages that you or your passengers may suffer in the event that you are hit by an uninsured/underinsured driver who is at fault. The coverage limits are determined by each individual state and normally split into two categories. In North Carolina, the minimum is listed as 30/60/25 and explained below:
$30,000 bodily injury coverage per person. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for a single person injured in your vehicle by an uninsured/underinsured driver.
$60,000 bodily injury coverage per accident. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for all injuries in your vehicle by an uninsured/underinsured driver if more than one person is hurt.
$25,000 property damage coverage per accident. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for damage caused to your vehicle by an uninsured/underinsured driver.
These numbers reflect the minimum limits required in North Carolina but higher coverage amounts are available with most companies.
Cheap North Carolina Car Insurance Companies
The Zebra compares over 200 companies & 1,800 products, so you can save way more than 15% and find the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina.
Car Insurance FAQs
Are digital insurance cards accepted in North Carolina?
What does this mean for you?
If you happen to find yourself pulled over by a police officer in North Carolina you won't have to rifle through your glovebox wondering if you remembered to replace that expired insurance card last month. Instead, you can provide proof of coverage with your smartphone.
Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in North Carolina?
Uninsured Drivers in North Carolina
9%
12%
Did you know?
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you from damage caused by other drivers without insurance and hit-and-runs.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 Asheville, North Carolina, and the most expensive in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
| Rank | City | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | $914 |
| 2 | Jacksonville | $882 |
| 3 | Charlotte | $824 |
| 4 | Gastonia | $795 |
| 5 | Durham | $781 |
| 6 | Wilmington | $773 |
| 7 | Greensboro | $771 |
| 8 | Cary | $757 |
| 9 | Raleigh | $752 |
| 10 | Goldsboro | $750 |
| 11 | Huntersville | $749 |
| 12 | Greenville | $745 |
| 13 | Wilson | $739 |
| 14 | High Point | $738 |
| 15 | Indian Trail | $738 |
| 16 | Rocky Mount | $733 |
| 17 | Apex | $732 |
| 18 | Hickory | $725 |
| 19 | Chapel Hill | $710 |
| 20 | Winston Salem | $702 |
| 21 | Salisbury | $698 |
| 22 | Burlington | $685 |
| 23 | Concord | $683 |
| 24 | Kannapolis | $683 |
| 25 | Asheville | $674 |
Recent North Carolina Car Insurance Questions and Answers
DUI ticket issued vs convicted on insurance application
Question of “have you received a ticket for DUI” on insurance application. No trial after almost 2 years – how ...
My bank added forced insurance that is too expensive
My bank has added forced insurance to my auto loan and in the contract it says it can do so ...
Can my ex husband take out an insurance policy in my name?
Me and my husband have been separated for 6 months and he doesn’t live at my address. Can he put ...
What is Extended Transportation Expenses Coverage?
My insurance coverage comes with this, but I’ve never heard of it. ...
Driving Laws
North Carolina Texting and Driving Laws
- Ban on all cell phones for school bus drivers
- Ban on all cell phones for drivers <18 years old
- Ban on text messaging for all drivers
Alcohol Related Fatalities
402
Per Year in North CarolinaAnnual DUI Arrests
North Carolina49,599
US Average23,438
DUI Legal Limit
0.08%
Blood Alcohol ContentAverage DUI Cost
10k
Nationally, For First OffendersWhat does this mean for you?
Driving with a blood alcohol content higher than the number above will put you at risk of being arrested for driving under the influence. If arrested you’ll face harsh consequences and may face varying degrees of jail time, fines, driver’s license suspensions, and reinstatement requirements.
If convicted of a DUI, you can expect the financial obligations to extend beyond the DUI ticket to court costs, attorney fees, higher insurance rates, and potentially the installation of a Ignition Interlock Device to serve as a breathalyzer test each time you start your vehicle.
