Cheap North Carolina Car Insurance

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. We’ll get you prepped, then you take the wheel.

Cheap Car Insurance

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%.

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.

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.

What are the Best Auto 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.

Review top insurance companies' financial strength and claims satisfaction levels to better understand the quality of service they will provide. Claims satisfaction — measured by J.D. Power — is rated on a scale of 2 to 5, with 5 being "among the best" and 2 being "the rest." Financial strength — calculated by A.M. Best and ranging from "Poor" to "Superior" — assesses an insurance company's financial strength and ability to satisfy its policy and contractual obligations.

What is the Best Auto Insurance Coverage in North Carolina?

The minimum insurance requirement in North Carolina is $30,000 Bodily Injury per person, $60,000 Bodily Injury per accident, and $25,000 Property Damage per accident.

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.

Analyze average premiums for liability-only and comprehensive coverage levels in the table below.

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.

North Carolina Car Insurance FAQs

What is the minimum car insurance in North Carolina?

In order to legally drive in North Carolina, you need to have bodily injury liability coverage of at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per incident, as well as $25,000 in property liability damage.

Is car insurance required in North Carolina?

Yes — car insurance is required by law in North Carolina.

Why is North Carolina car insurance so expensive?

In 2017, North Carolina was the cheapest state on average in which to insure a vehicle. Minimum coverage in NC is 35% cheaper than it is in other US states. If you're paying too much for auto insurance, it could be because there are things on your driving profile — poor credit, accidents, or an overpriced insurance company — are causing you to pay more.

Driving Laws

North Carolina Texting and Driving Laws

1. Ban on all cell phones for school bus drivers
2. Ban on all cell phones for drivers <18 years old
3. Ban on text messaging for all drivers

North Carolina DUI Laws

North Carolina has a seven-year lookback period. Each subsequent DWI within a seven-year period leads to enhanced penalties.

There are five levels of misdemeanor DWI offenses in North Carolina. Judges use mitigating factors to determine which level to apply to an intoxicated individual. Such mitigating factors include:

• The driver’s BAC
• The driver’s driving record
• Level of observable impairment
• Voluntary submission or participation in assessment and treatment
• And other factors