Which company has the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina for a bad driving record?

Drivers with a poor record in North Carolina will find the lowest rates from Erie Insurance, North Carolina Farm Bureau and Nationwide. Among these, Erie Insurance provides the lowest annual premiumThe payment required for an insurance policy to remain in force. Auto insurance premiums are quoted for either 6-month or annual policy periods. at $2,205 annually.

If you have accidents, DUIs or traffic tickets on your driving record, you'll likely pay higher insurance rates. Most traffic violations can impact your rates for three to five years, while a DUI can raise your rates for up to 10 years and may remain on your record for life.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual 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

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.

Many things can make you a high-risk driver, but some affect your rates more than others. For example, having multiple speeding tickets or a ticket for speeding in a school zone will increase your rates more than a single basic speeding ticket.

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

Select your state and risk factor below to see the insurance company and its
average annual full coverage rates.

Average annual car insurance rate for At-fault bodily injury accident in North Carolina, NC is $3,310
Show Graph View
CompanyAnnual premium for clean recordAnnual 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
Average annual rate

PEOPLE ASK:

Who is considered a high-risk driver 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.

What company offers the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina after 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.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual 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

What is the 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.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual 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

tip iconKey insight

Two minor tickets can sometimes cost you more on insurance in the end than one major violation.

Which company offers the cheapest insurance for reckless driving in North Carolina?

State Farm has the cheapest rates for drivers with reckless driving convictions at $1,937 a year.

If you engage in hazardous driving behaviors that endanger others, you may be charged with reckless driving. A reckless driving conviction will increase your car insurance rates.

The table below shows car insurance rates for drivers with a clean record vs. drivers with a reckless driving conviction.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual 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

tip iconKey insight

A reckless driving conviction can limit your car insurance options and significantly raise rates, so shopping around is critical.

Which company has the cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in North Carolina?

The cheapest North Carolina insurer for bad credit is Erie Insurance, with rates averaging $1,582 per year or $132 per month. The good news is that drivers with bad credit can still get affordable auto insurance.

Your credit score may not be related to your driving skills, but it can affect your car insurance rates and put you in a higher-risk category. From an insurer's perspective, higher risk means an increased chance of filing a claimAn insurance claim is a request you make to your insurance company for coverage after your car is damaged or you have an accident. You can file a claim online, by phone, or in writing., and statistics show that drivers with lower credit scores are in this category.

Check the table below to see how your credit score affects North Carolina car insurance.

CompanyAnnual premium for good creditAnnual 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

What company has the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina after an accident?

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

Drivers with accidents on their driving records see higher rates than drivers who avoid crashes. While car insurance increases after one accident, multiple accidents significantly increase rates.

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

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for one at-fault accidentAnnual 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

tip iconKey insight

Accident forgiveness programs can prevent rate increases, but eligibility varies by insurer, and often only minor accidents qualify.

Which city has the cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers in North Carolina?

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.

CityAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual 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

How can high-risk drivers lower their car insurance rates in North Carolina?

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

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170+

insurance companies analyzed

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34,000+

ZIP codes examined

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$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:

  • Bodily injury liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident
  • Property damage liability of $100,000 per incident
  • Comprehensive and collision deductibles of $500
  • 40-year-old driver
  • Honda Accord LX
  • Good credit
  • A clean driving record
  • 12-mile commute, 10,000 annual mileage

Our data is then adjusted to reflect the rate increase from this base rate for the following infractions and issue:

  • DUI
  • Reckless driving
  • Multiple speeding tickets
  • Bad credit
  • One at-fault accident over $2,000
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