Cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers in North Carolina

Cheapest car insurance in North Carolina for a bad driving record

If you have a poor driving record in North Carolina, Erie Insurance, North Carolina Farm Bureau, Nationwide are the cheapest options. Erie Insurance has the lowest annual rate at $2,205 per year.

Having accidents, DUIs or traffic tickets on your driving record, will make you pay more for insurance. Most tickets will affect your rates for three to five years. A DUI can affect your rates for up to 10 years and can stay on your record for life.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for high-risk driver
Erie Insurance	$1,082	$2,205
North Carolina Farm Bureau	$1,217	$2,707
Nationwide	$1,513	$2,742
State Farm	$1,180	$2,853
GEICO	$1,617	$3,407
Progressive	$2,028	$3,904
Farmers	$2,028	$3,948
Allstate	$2,994	$6,178

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How much is high-risk car insurance in North Carolina?

A problematic driving record or poor credit score may mean higher insurance rates, but affordable options exist. In North Carolina, high-risk car insurance costs $3,558 per year. However, you can get rates as low as $2,205 annually from Erie Insurance.

Although you may be labeled high-risk for many reasons, some factors raise rates more than others. For example, multiple speeding tickets may significantly raise car insurance rates, but so can a single ticket for excessive speed in a school zone.

Read on as we explain high-risk car insurance factors and rates below.

Average annual car insurance rate for At-fault bodily injury accident in North Carolina, NC is $3,310

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Company	Annual premium for clean record	Annual premium after violation
State Farm	$1,180	$1,839
Erie Insurance	$1,082	$1,878
North Carolina Farm Bureau	$1,217	$1,935
Nationwide	$1,513	$3,118
Progressive	$2,028	$3,159
Farmers	$2,028	$3,186
GEICO	$1,617	$4,441
Allstate	$2,994	$6,998

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Average annual rate

PEOPLE ASK:

Who is considered high-risk for insurance in North Carolina?

Each insurance company has its own rules for deciding who is a high-risk driver. But usually, things like a DUI, several tickets or accidents, or serious violations like reckless driving will put you in the high-risk category.

Cheapest car insurance in North Carolina with a DUI

While many insurers offer coverage after a DUI, State Farm provides the average cheapest coverage for $4,387 annually.

A DUI is one of the most serious traffic violations to have on your record. Not only do you have to pay fines, but you'll also see vastly higher car insurance rates for up to 10 years. Multiple DUIs will cause your premiums to skyrocket.

The table below compares average car insurance rates with a clean driving record and rates after a DUI in North Carolina.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for a DUI
State Farm	$1,180	$4,387
Erie Insurance	$1,082	$4,528
Nationwide	$1,513	$5,629
North Carolina Farm Bureau	$1,217	$7,263
GEICO	$1,617	$7,299
Progressive	$2,028	$7,524
Farmers	$2,028	$7,656
Allstate	$2,994	$12,405

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Cheapest car insurance in North Carolina with multiple tickets

The cheapest insurer for drivers with multiple tickets is State Farm, with rates averaging $1,644 annually or $137 monthly.

One ticket will affect car insurance rates, but multiple tickets will increase rates by a lot more. Repeated failure to obey speed limits and traffic laws means insurers are more likely to pay claims because of your risky driving.

This table shows North Carolina drivers how much multiple tickets increase premiums.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium with a speeding ticket
State Farm	$1,180	$1,644
Erie Insurance	$1,082	$1,682
North Carolina Farm Bureau	$1,217	$1,730
Nationwide	$1,513	$2,113
GEICO	$1,617	$2,538
Progressive	$2,028	$2,837
Farmers	$2,028	$2,856
Allstate	$2,994	$4,562

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Cheapest car insurance in North Carolina with a reckless driving conviction

State Farm offers the most affordable rates for drivers with reckless driving convictions, averaging $1,937 per year.

Engaging in driving behaviors that put others at risk can lead to a reckless driving charge. A conviction for reckless driving results in higher car insurance rates.

The table below compares car insurance premiums for drivers with a clean record and those with a reckless driving conviction.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for reckless driving
State Farm	$1,180	$1,937
Erie Insurance	$1,082	$2,075
North Carolina Farm Bureau	$1,217	$2,141
Nationwide	$1,513	$2,555
GEICO	$1,617	$3,238
Progressive	$2,028	$3,483
Farmers	$2,028	$3,517
Allstate	$2,994	$5,643

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Cheapest car insurance in North Carolina with bad credit

In North Carolina, Erie Insurance provides the lowest premiums for drivers with poor credit, averaging $1,582 per year or $132 per month. Even with a low credit score, you can still find affordable auto insurance.

While your credit score doesn't reflect your driving ability, it can impact your car insurance rates and place you in a higher-risk category. Insurers view lower credit scores as an indicator of increased risk based on statistics showing that these drivers are more likely to file claims.

Check the table below to see how credit scores impact car insurance costs in North Carolina.

Company	Annual premium for good credit	Annual premium for bad credit
Erie Insurance	$1,082	$1,582
North Carolina Farm Bureau	$1,217	$1,649
Nationwide	$1,513	$1,929
GEICO	$1,617	$2,295
Allstate	$2,994	$5,333
State Farm	$1,180	$5,867

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Cheapest car insurance after an accident in North Carolina

State Farm has the lowest rates after an accident at $1,692 a year. Erie Insurance also has affordable rates at $1,730 a year.

Drivers with accidents on their record typically pay higher insurance rates than those with a clean record. While car insurance rates may increase after one accident, multiple accidents can increase rates even more.

This table shows rates for drivers with a clean record, one at-fault accident and multiple accidents.

Company	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for one at-fault accident	Annual premium for multiple accident
State Farm	$1,180	$1,692	$1,937
Erie Insurance	$1,082	$1,730	$2,075
North Carolina Farm Bureau	$1,217	$1,781	$2,141
Nationwide	$1,513	$2,904	$3,434
Progressive	$2,028	$2,917	$3,483
Farmers	$2,028	$2,938	$3,517
GEICO	$1,617	$3,583	$3,675
Allstate	$2,994	$5,811	$7,747

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Cheapest car insurance in North Carolina by city

Holly Springs has the cheapest car insurance rates in North Carolina at $3,109 per year. But the most expensive city is Bessemer City with rates of $4,033 per year.

Your location in North Carolina also matters. For example, if you live in an area with heavy traffic or a high vehicle theft rate, rates will reflect the increased chance of claims.

City	Average annual premium for clean record	Annual premium for high-risk driver
Holly Springs	$1,534	$3,109
Apex	$1,549	$3,139
Kill Devil Hills	$1,636	$3,311
Browns Summit	$1,663	$3,355
Cornelius	$1,693	$3,445
Stanley	$1,698	$3,456
Raleigh	$1,703	$3,467
Durham	$1,741	$3,540
Charlotte	$1,824	$3,743
Fayetteville	$1,901	$3,895
Garysburg	$1,946	$3,956
Bessemer City	$1,979	$4,033

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How to reduce car insurance rates in North Carolina for a bad driving record

Finding affordable car insurance in North Carolina is possible, even with a bad driving record. Ways to lower car insurance rates include:

Where you live in North Carolina also affects car insurance rates. For example, if you live in a high-traffic or high-theft area, rates will increase because your vehicle is more likely to be damaged or stolen.

Carefully consider filing claims. Paying for minor damage out of pocket may be cheaper than filing an insurance claim and increasing rates for years.
Avoid costly infractions. Drive carefully to avoid adding traffic infractions to your record. Tickets only affect insurance rates for a few years, which will decrease if more tickets aren't added.
Improve your credit score. Raising your credit score lowers car insurance rates. Make on-time payments and consider credit usage to improve your rating.
Take a defensive driving course. Many insurance companies offer a discount for doing so, and some states remove driver's license points for successfully completing the class.
Shop around for coverage. Every car insurance company weighs factors differently and offers different rates. Compare quotes to find the cheapest rates.

PEOPLE ASK:

How long are you considered a high-risk driver in North Carolina?

Three years is common, but how long you are considered a high-risk driver in California depends on the insurance company's guidelines. The state determines how long a violation stays on your record, but the insurance company determines how long you're charged for that violation.

Methodology

170+

insurance companies analyzed

34,000+

ZIP codes examined

$53M

insurance quotes analyzed

National and state average rates are based on three coverage levels: state minimum, 50/100/50 liability-only, and full coverage with 100/300/100 liability and $500 deductibles.

All base rate averages are based on our full coverage data set. This data set is based on:

A 40-year-old driver
A clean record
Good credit
State minimum insurance, which includes liability coverage and may also include personal injury protection, medical payments and uninsured motorist coverage

Best company rankings use the rate data outline above, as well as:

Customer complaints ratios from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaints database, where a score of 1.00 is considered the baseline and anything below is a low complaint volume while anything above is considered a high volume.
Overall customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power's U.S. Auto Insurance Study, where companies are scored out of 1,000.
AM Best financial ratings were used to indicate financial stability, where the best possible score is A++.