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

Erie Insurance, North Carolina Farm Bureau and Nationwide offer some of the cheapest rates for drivers with poor driving records in North Carolina. Among them, Erie Insurance has the lowest average premium at $2,205 annually.

If you have accidents, tickets or a DUI on your record, insurance companies will charge higher rates. Serious violations may affect your premiums for years, especially if you have multiple offenses.

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?

The average cost of high-risk car insurance in North Carolina is $3,558 per year. Depending on your driving history and insurer, you may be able to find rates as low as $2,205 annually.

Several factors can classify you as a high-risk driver, but some raise your premiums more than others. For example, receiving multiple speeding tickets, or one in a school zone, will increase your rates more than a single basic speeding ticket.

Keep reading as we break down the factors that make you a high-risk driver and what you can expect to pay for car insurance.

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?

State Farm has the cheapest average DUI insurance rates in North Carolina at $4,387 annually.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a major traffic violation that will hurt your driving record. It can increase auto insurance rates for almost a decade, in addition to fines and other penalties. Multiple DUIs will increase your premiums even more, but improving your driving habits can help you get better rates over time.

The table below shows the average car insurance rates for a clean record vs. 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?

State Farm offers the lowest average rates for drivers with multiple traffic tickets at $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 iconExpert's 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 provides the cheapest average reckless driving insurance rates in North Carolina at $1,937 per 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 iconExpert's 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?

Erie Insurance has the cheapest average rates for drivers with poor credit in North Carolina at $1,582 annually or $132 monthly.

Your credit score may affect your insurance rates, even though it is unrelated to your driving skills. Insurers often charge higher premiums to drivers with lower credit scores because they are statistically more likely to file claims.

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

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 offers the cheapest average post-accident rates in North Carolina at $1,692 annually. Erie Insurance also provides relatively affordable rates at $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 iconExpert's Insight Accident forgiveness programs can prevent rate increases, but eligibility varies by insurer, and often only minor accidents qualify.

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

Holly Springs has the cheapest average high-risk car insurance rates in North Carolina at $3,109 annually. In comparison, Bessemer City has the highest average premiums at $4,033 per year.

Where you live in North Carolina matters, too. If you're in an area with heavy traffic or a high rate of vehicle theft, your premiums will rise to reflect the increased likelihood 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?

Even if you're considered a high-risk driver, there are still several ways to lower your insurance premiums in North Carolina, including shopping around, taking a defensive driving course and avoiding further infractions.

You may be able to save money by:

  • Carefully consider filing claims. Covering minor damage out of pocket can be less expensive than filing an insurance claim, which might raise your premiums for years.
  • Avoid costly infractions. Practice safe driving to prevent additional traffic violations on your record. Tickets typically impact your insurance rates for only a few years, and your premiums may decrease if no new violations occur during that time.
  • Improve your credit score. Improving your credit score can lower your car insurance premiums. Paying bills on time and managing your credit utilization responsibly will help raise your score.
  • Take a defensive driving course. Many insurers offer discounts for completing the course, and certain states will even remove points from your driver's license once you complete it.
  • Shop around for coverage. Each car insurance company evaluates factors differently and sets its own rates. Comparing quotes can help you find the lowest price.

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 North Carolinadepends 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

research logo

170+

insurance companies analyzed

research logo

34,000+

ZIP codes examined

research logo

$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

FAQ: High-risk car insurance in North Carolina

Can high-risk drivers get full coverage car insurance in North Carolina?

Yes, you can get full coverage insurance as a high-risk driver. However, you can expect it to cost a lot more than liability-only coverage.

An SR-22 doesn't increase your rates, but the violation that resulted in the requirement will; as a result, having an SR-22 means higher rates. An SR-22 is the form the insurance company has to file with the state, and by itself, it doesn't increase your rates.

Yes. Your rates will decrease if you avoid new violations, maintain coverage and keep a clean driving record for several years.

Follow insurance.com on Google
Tip icon You might also be interested in

In case you missed it

Stay updated with our latest insurance insights and guides