Here's what you need to know when driving in North Dakota
Across the Peace Garden State, there are 175,960 miles of road just waiting to be driven. We’ll get you prepped, then you take the wheel.
Compare the best rates from 8 car insurance companies in North Dakota.
Across the Peace Garden State, there are 175,960 miles of road just waiting to be driven. We’ll get you prepped, then you take the wheel.
Rank | Company Name | Avg. Annual Premium |
---|---|---|
1 | USAA | $718 |
2 | Allied | $903 |
3 | Nodak Mutual | $937 |
4 | Grinnell | $1,049 |
5 | State Farm | $1,131 |
6 | Safeco | $1,145 |
7 | Progressive | $1,307 |
8 | State Auto | $1,326 |
9 | Auto-Owners | $1,436 |
10 | Auto Club Group | $1,473 |
11 | Allstate | $1,504 |
12 | American Family | $1,507 |
13 | MetLife | $1,557 |
14 | EMC | $1,686 |
15 | National Farmers Union | $1,771 |
16 | North Star | $2,024 |
17 | GEICO | $2,039 |
18 | Farmers | $2,159 |
19 | Liberty Mutual | $2,423 |
20 | Dairyland | $5,145 |
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 Dakota drivers without a recent moving violation can save 18% on their car insurance premiums, on average — compared to the national average of 17%. 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 | $286 | 18.80% |
No Accidents | $535 | 30.25% |
Good Credit | $1,058 | 46.18% |
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. North Dakota's teen drivers receive a relative bargain, paying just $4,384 per year on average, roughly $600 less than the national average — but still about three times as much as the average driver in North Dakota.
Age | Annual Rate with Parents | Annual Rate Alone |
---|---|---|
16 | $4,715 | $6,197 |
17 | $4,404 | $4,899 |
18 | $4,076 | $4,542 |
19 | $3,401 | $2,840 |
If you have a clean driving record — no at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs, or other recent citations — you'll probably enjoy relatively cheap car insurance rates. Conversely, a bad driving record will cause your costs to skyrocket: car insurance premiums typically increase by 38% after a DUI, 30% after an at-fault accident, and 18% after a speeding ticket in North Dakota. The post-citation penalties assessed by car insurance companies in North Dakota roughly align with national averages. If you have a clean driving history, be sure to inquire about your insurance company's safe driver discount.
Rating Factor | Annual Rate | % Increase |
---|---|---|
At-Fault Accident | $1,768 | 30.25% |
DUI | $2,003 | 38.44% |
Speeding Violation | $1,519 | 18.80% |
Bad Credit | $2,292 | 46.18% |
Every auto insurance company advertises its low prices. But as with any product, the most affordable car insurance option is not always the finest option. Considering what's at stake, it's worth doing your research to zero in on an insurance policy that covers your vehicle completely in the event of an incident. Find a great value, instead of settling for the cheapest car insurance in your state.
Compare popular insurers' fiscal strength and claims satisfaction levels to better understand the level of service you can expect. Claims satisfaction — measured by J.D. Power — is ranked 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 "Superior" to "Poor" — assesses an insurer's financial strength and ability to fulfill its policy and contractual obligations.
Insurance Company | Claims Satisfaction (J.D. Power) | Financial Strength (A.M. Best) |
Allied | 3 | Superior |
Allstate | 3 | Superior |
American Family | 4 | Excellent |
Auto Club Group | 2 | Excellent |
EMC | Not Rated | Excellent |
Farmers | 3 | Excellent |
GEICO | 3 | Superior |
Liberty Mutual | 3 | Excellent |
MetLife | 3 | Superior |
Nodak Mutual | Not Rated | Excellent |
North Star | Not Rated | Superior |
Progressive | 3 | Superior |
State Auto | Not Rated | Excellent |
State Farm | 3 | Superior |
USAA | 5 | Superior |
The minimum insurance requirement in North Dakota is $25,000 Bodily Injury per person, $50,000 Bodily Injury per accident, and $25,000 Property Damage per accident.
If you select the minimum required coverage in North Dakota, you'll pay an average of $358 each year. This cost is cheaper than the nationwide average by 46%. If you elect more comprehensive coverage, you can purchase a policy with comprehensive and collision coverage, insuring against the costs of vehicle crashes, theft, or weather incidents. However, better auto insurance coverage comes at a cost: in North Dakota, a comprehensive policy with a $1,000 deductible costs $1,054, 194% more than basic coverage. For comprehensive insurance coverage with a $500 deductible, you can expect to pay 243% more than you might for a basic liability-only policy.
Compare average costs for basic, good, and great coverage levels below.
Location | Liability-Only | Comprehensive — $1,000 Deductible | Comprehensive — $500 Deductible |
North Dakota | $358.09 | $1,054.27 | $1,227.64 |
National Average | $657.66 | $1,241.26 | $1,397.94 |
Liability coverage is legally required in North Dakota 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 Dakota, the minimum is listed as 25/50/25 and explained below:
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is legally required in North Dakota 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 Dakota, the minimum is listed as 25/50 and explained below:
Personal Injury Protection provides coverage for medical costs that you and your passengers incur in an accident regardless of fault. PIP will cover medical expenses such as hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, and even work loss resulting from an accident. In North Dakota, minimum PIP coverage of $30,000 per person is required on your policy.
These numbers reflect the minimum limits required in North Dakota but higher coverage amounts are available with most companies.
Put simply, a no-fault insurance laws system requires that drivers carry their own protection. When an accident happens, no matter who is at fault, your own insurance foots the bill. Each driver takes care of his or herself, and theoretically, the chances of someone suing or raising a hissy fit over culpability are lessened. And bonus? It guarantees every driver immediate medical treatment in the event of an accident.
Yes. If you happen to find yourself pulled over by a police officer in North Dakota 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.
7% of drivers don't have insurance in North Dakota — below the US average of 13%. It's worth considering uninsured motorist coverage in North Dakota to avoid extra costs in the event of an accident.
Yes. Car insurance is mandatory in North Dakota.
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 West Fargo, North Dakota, and the most expensive in Beulah, North Dakota.
Rank | City | Avg. Annual Premium |
---|---|---|
1 | Beulah | $1,323 |
2 | Hazen | $1,323 |
3 | Rugby | $1,313 |
4 | Bottineau | $1,310 |
5 | Carrington | $1,302 |
6 | Belcourt | $1,302 |
7 | Williston | $1,296 |
8 | Grafton | $1,286 |
9 | Devils Lake | $1,278 |
10 | Bismarck | $1,224 |
11 | Dickinson | $1,223 |
12 | Minot | $1,217 |
13 | Mandan | $1,210 |
14 | Lincoln | $1,204 |
15 | Valley City | $1,156 |
16 | Lisbon | $1,147 |
17 | Jamestown | $1,147 |
18 | Wahpeton | $1,138 |
19 | Casselton | $1,132 |
20 | Grand Forks AFB | $1,132 |
21 | Fargo | $1,106 |
22 | Horace | $1,089 |
23 | Grand Forks | $1,077 |
24 | West Fargo | $1,019 |
My car was totaled while it was parked. I’m with AAA and they’re with Mercury. Mercury is now telling me ...
My car was parked in my driveway and when I left the house to go to work the next morning ...
The DUI lookback for most DUI offenses in North Dakota is seven years. The lookback period is extended to 15 years for four or more offenses. Imposed penalties are harsher for repeated DUI convictions within this timeframe.
First-time DUI offenses in North Dakota are class B misdemeanors and lead to:
At The Zebra, we know better than most just what a pain buying car insurance can be. We also know that students suffer from higher-than-average policy rates. Talk about a double-whammy. That’s why, this year, we’ve decided to continue The Zebra’s annual scholarship with the goal of helping to alleviate the financial pressures of college-bound students in the North Dakota area, while also getting an insider view of the Peace Garden State.
So, students, we want to see your favorite road trip destination(s) in your state— from your unique perspective. If it makes sense to hit the open road and be our virtual tour guide, that's great! But there are no limits to what we're looking for: a narrated animation, a slideshow of memorabilia, an illustrated map of the best roadside attractions on the way. This is a chance for you to showcase any place you love in as an original way as possible.
The length of the road trip to your feature destrination is inconsequential. So if you have an awesome spot in mind that's just two miles from home, we want to see it.
Applicants must be currently enrolled at or planning to attend a four-year university, graduate program, community college, or trade school located in the continental United States. Upon notification, winner(s) must supply a current proof of enrollment or letter of acceptance.
Your original video should not exceed 2 minutes
The video must be hosted on YouTube or Vimeo
Email your submission to scholarships@thezebra.com
your name, address, and phone number when you submit
Selected winner(s) will be awarded a check for $1,000
Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. CST on December 31st, 2018
Winner(s) will be selected and notified by email by January 31st, 2019
The winner will be selected based on creativity in the content and presentation
*Upon notification, winner(s) must also supply a current proof of enrollment at a four-year university, graduate program, community college, or trade school located in the continental United States.
Fine Print
By participating, entrants represent that the video submitted is their sole and original work and does not infringe the intellectual property rights of any other party. In other words, no copyrighted music or images may be used.
Employees of The Zebra and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate in the contest.
Written credits for any technical or talent positions (e.g., editor, director, actors) should be included with your submission, along with any sources used to create the video.