- Best car insurance companies in North Carolina: Erie Insurance
- Cheapest car insurance companies in North Carolina: Erie Insurance
- Average cost of car insurance in North Carolina
- North Carolina car insurance requirements in North Carolina
- Cheapest car insurance companies for minimum liability coverage in North Carolina
- Cheapest car insurance cost in North Carolina by age
- Cheapest car insurance companies in North Carolina by driver profile
- Compare auto insurance rates by city in North Carolina
- Car insurance premium trends in North Carolina
- Methodology
- Compare North Carolina car insurance rates with other states
Best car insurance companies in North Carolina: Erie Insurance
Erie Insurance is the best car insurance company in North Carolina, based on data analysis by Insurance.com, with an overall rating of 4.17. State Farm is the second-best auto insurance company in North Carolina, with an overall rating of 3.56.
Below is a full list of the top North Carolina auto insurance companies based on price, NAIC complaint ratio, and AM Best financial ratings. The total Insurance.com score is calculated out of five using these factors.
| Company | AM Best | JD Power | NAIC | Average annual premium | Insurance.com score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie Insurance | A+ | 829 | 0.61 | $1,082 | 4.17 |
| State Farm | A++ | 807 | 0.7 | $1,180 | 3.56 |
| Nationwide | A+ | 818 | 0.64 | $1,513 | 3.17 |
| Progressive | A+ | 828 | 0.65 | $2,028 | 2.93 |
| Geico | A++ | 847 | 0.91 | $1,617 | 2.93 |
| Farmers | A | 857 | 0.8 | $2,028 | 2.67 |
| Allstate | A+ | 816 | 0.65 | $2,994 | 2.51 |
Cheapest car insurance companies in North Carolina: Erie Insurance
Based on a rate analysis by Insurance.com, Erie Insurance offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance in North Carolina, with average rates of $1,082 annually or $90 a month.
Don't just go with the first insurer you come across. Comparison shopping is the key when it comes to finding the best deal on auto insurance. Get quotes from several different insurers and compare their rates. You may be surprised at how much difference there can be in rates from one company to another.
We have gathered price quotes from all the major insurance providers in North Carolina and put together a list of the cheapest car insurance companies.
| Company | State minimum liability | 50/100/50 liability | 100/300/100 liability with $500 deductible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie Insurance | $309 | $345 | $1,082 |
| State Farm | $331 | $370 | $1,180 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $338 | $380 | $1,217 |
| Nationwide | $425 | $405 | $1,513 |
| Geico | $492 | $539 | $1,617 |
| Penn National Insurance | $493 | $547 | $1,872 |
| Farmers | $530 | $588 | $2,028 |
| Progressive | $530 | $588 | $2,028 |
| UTICA Grp | $695 | $768 | $2,070 |
| Allstate | $667 | $737 | $2,994 |
Average cost of car insurance in North Carolina
The average car insurance cost in North Carolina is $1,741 a year for a full coverage policy with a coverage level of 100/300/100 for a driver age 40, according to a rate analysis by Insurance.com. For the state minimum coverage, the average annual cost in North Carolina is $476.
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Most & least expensive ZIP codes for auto insurance in North Carolina
Most Expensive
| ZIP code | City | Highest rate |
|---|---|---|
| 28216 | Charlotte | $191 |
| 28254 | Charlotte | $182 |
| 28206 | Charlotte | $181 |
| 28215 | Charlotte | $181 |
Least Expensive
| ZIP code | City | Lowest rate |
|---|---|---|
| 28745 | Lake Junaluska | $124 |
| 28719 | Cherokee | $126 |
| 28734 | Franklin | $126 |
| 28741 | Highlands | $126 |
The North Carolina Department of Insurance says...
Your driving record will have the largest impact on your insurance premium. North Carolina insurance points are charged for at-fault accidents and convictions for moving violations that occur within the experience period (see chart on page 8). The experience period is the three years immediately preceding the date of application or the preparation of the policy renewal.
- The North Carolina Department of InsuranceNorth Carolina car insurance requirements in North Carolina
North Carolina’s minimum car insurance coverage limits are 30/60/25. North Carolina’s state minimum liability insurance costs an average of $475 annually or $40 monthly.
Minimum liability insurance requirements for North Carolina:
- Bodily injury liability (BI): $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident
- Property damage liability (PD): $25,000 per accident
- Personal injury protection (PIP): $50,000 per person
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage: $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage: $25,000 per accident
Cheapest car insurance companies for minimum liability coverage in North Carolina
According to Insurance.com, Erie Insurance provides the cheapest state minimum liability insurance, averaging $309 annually or $26 monthly.
In the table below, see the most affordable car insurance companies with their state minimum coverage rates in North Carolina.
| Company | Liability insurance premium | Monthly liability insurance premium |
|---|---|---|
| Erie Insurance | $309 | $26 |
| State Farm | $331 | $28 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $338 | $28 |
| Nationwide | $425 | $35 |
| Geico | $492 | $41 |
| Penn National Insurance | $493 | $41 |
| Farmers | $530 | $44 |
| Progressive | $530 | $44 |
| UTICA Grp | $695 | $58 |
| Allstate | $700 | $58 |
Cheapest car insurance cost in North Carolina by age
In North Carolina, car insurance rates are higher for teenagers as they are more prone to accidents due to their lack of experience on the road.
Erie Insurance offers the cheapest car insurance for teen drivers in North Carolina at $2,240 per year for a full coverage policy.
Car insurance rates will decrease as teens age and keep a good driving record. Car insurance rates for adults 25+ and seniors 60+ are lower than those for teens and young adults.
In North Carolina, Erie Insurance offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance for adult drivers (25-55 year-olds) and senior drivers (60-75 year-olds) at $1,056 per year, and $1,165 per year, respectively.
Compare car insurance rates by age
Select your age group and age below to see the insurance company and its
average annual and average monthly premium rates.
| State Farm | $3,517 | $293 |
| Nationwide | $4,045 | $337 |
| Farmers | $5,561 | $463 |
| Progressive | $5,561 | $463 |
| Geico | $6,791 | $566 |
| Allstate | $8,144 | $679 |
Cheapest car insurance companies in North Carolina by driver profile
Drivers who have accidents or tickets are considered a higher risk and will pay more.
However, the severity and frequency of the incidents also affect your insurance rates. For instance, drivers with a single minor accident will see a smaller increase in their rates compared to those with multiple major accidents.
Below are average North Carolina rates by company for drivers with accidents and tickets on their driving record.
| Company | Clean record | Accident | Speeding ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,180 | $1,692 | $1,643 |
| Erie Insurance | $1,082 | $1,731 | $1,682 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $1,217 | $1,781 | $1,730 |
| Nationwide | $1,513 | $2,905 | $2,113 |
| Geico | $1,617 | $3,583 | $2,538 |
| Progressive | $2,028 | $2,917 | $2,837 |
| Farmers | $2,028 | $2,938 | $2,856 |
| Allstate | $2,994 | $5,812 | $4,562 |
Compare auto insurance rates by city in North Carolina
Auto insurance rates in your city can differ significantly from the state average due to factors such as population density, increased instances of auto theft or accidents, and a few other factors. It's best to compare quotes from various insurance providers to find the most competitive rates for your specific city in North Carolina.
| City | Annual insurance premium |
|---|---|
Apex | $1,549 |
Bessemer City | $1,979 |
Charlotte | $1,824 |
Raleigh | $1,703 |
Car insurance premium trends in North Carolina
Car insurance average rates increase most years and various factors contribute to these changes, including shifts in economic conditions, changes in state laws, and the number and severity of insurance claims.
That's why it's important to keep track of car insurance premiums to make better decisions. The graph below shows how insurance rates in North Carolina have increased or decreased from 2020 to 2023.
Whether you're planning to renew your policy with your current insurer or looking for a new one, this analysis is invaluable for making informed insurance choices.
Methodology
Insurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services in 2023 to field rates from major insurers in every state across most ZIP codes. Driver profile: male, age 40, driving a 2023 Honda Accord LX with full coverage of 100/300/100 with comprehensive and collision; $500 deductible.
The car insurance rates for drivers with accidents and tickets are averaged based on rates for the following accidents and tickets:
Accidents:
- 1 at-fault property damage accident over $2k
- 1 at-fault property damage accident under $2k
- At-fault bodily injury accident
- Single vehicle accident
Tickets:
- Distracted driving ticket
- Speeding ticket 1- 10 MPH over limit
- Speeding ticket 11- 29 MPH over limit
- Talking on cellphone ticket
- Texting ticket
Insurance.com analyzed rates from more than 34,000 ZIP codes, 56 million quotes, and 136 companies. Rates sourced from Quadrant Data Services are for comparison purposes only; your rates may differ.
Compare North Carolina car insurance rates with other states
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