Non-owner car insurance in North Carolina: Best and cheapest companies

Which companies offer the cheapest non-owner car insurance in North Carolina?

The cheapest non-owner car insurance company in North Carolina is State Farm, with average annual rates of $431, followed by Progressive at $509. These insurers consistently offer the lowest liability-only premiums for drivers who don't own a vehicle.

Compare the cheapest non-owner car insurance companies in North Carolina below.

Company	Average annual premium	Average monthly premium
State Farm	$431	$36
Progressive	$509	$42
Nationwide	$607	$51
Penn National Insurance	$638	$53
North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance	$639	$53
Allstate	$919	$77
GEICO	$1,028	$86

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What are the best non-owner car insurance companies in North Carolina?

The best non-owner car insurance companies in North Carolina are Nationwide, State Farm, and Progressive, based on average rates, customer satisfaction, and complaint ratios. These insurers offer reliable, competitively priced non-owner coverage.

To find the best non-owner car insurance companies in North Carolina, we looked at several factors, including how many complaints each company receives, financial stability and average rates. We used rate data from Quadrant Information Services as well as third-party ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

The table below compares the top non-owner car insurance companies in North Carolina.

Company	Average annual premium	J.D. Power	NAIC	A.M Best	Overall score
Nationwide	$607	691	0.64	A	4.51
State Farm	$431	677	0.87	A+	4.47
Progressive	$509	645	0.60	A+	4.03
GEICO	$1,028	670	0.60	A++	3.66
Allstate	$919	654	1.20	A+	3.00

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Insurance.com's top choices for non-owner car insurance

Take a closer look at our top picks for non-owner car insurance in North Carolina.

Nationwide

Nationwide is our top choice for non-owner car insurance in North Carolina. Its average annual non-owner car insurance cost is $607. Nationwide has an AM Best score of A and a low NAIC complaint ratio of 0.64.

State Farm

State Farm is also a great choice for non-owner car insurance in North Carolina, offering coverage at an average annual rate of $431. It has earned an AM Best rating of A+ and maintains a low NAIC complaint ratio of 0.87.

Progressive

Our third recommendation is Progressive, with average rates of $509. It has an NAIC complaint ratio of 0.60 and holds an AM Best rating of A+.

PEOPLE ASK:

Do I need North Carolina non-owner car insurance to drive a friend's car?

Probably not, unless you use the car a lot. If you only drive your friend's car occasionally, their insurance usually covers it under something called permissive use-as long as it's less than 12 times a year. Still, it's a good idea to check with your friend's insurance company just to be sure.

Average cost of non-owner car insurance in North Carolina

The average cost of non-owner car insurance in North Carolina is $681 per year. Your rate depends on several personal and location-based factors.

Your rate will vary based on:

Your driving record
The coverage levels on your policy
Your ZIP code

Non-owner car insurance in North Carolina by age and gender

Younger drivers often pay more because they have less driving experience and higher accident rates. Rates often decrease after age 25 and stay lower through middle age.

How it works:

Teen drivers pay the highest rates due to lack of experience and a statistically higher risk of a crash
Rates start to level out around the age of 25 and continue to drop
Drivers in their 50s pay the lowest average rates
After 65, rates increase, but not dramatically

Even in a state that bans the use of age and gender for car insurance rates, like North Carolina, your years of driving experience will still impact what you pay.

Below are the average non-owner car insurance rates in North Carolina by age and gender.

Age group	Male	Female
Teens (16-19)	$786	$786
Young Adults (20-24)	$778	$778
Adults (25-60)	$679	$679
Seniors (65-75)	$710	$710

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Do you need non-owner car insurance in North Carolina?

Drivers in North Carolina may need non-owner car insurance if they frequently borrow or rent vehicles, need an SR-22 filing or want to maintain continuous coverage between cars. Drivers who own a vehicle, rarely drive or already have coverage through another policy generally do not need a non-owner policy.

You may need non-owner car insurance if:

You frequently drive cars owned by others and want an extra layer of protection
You frequently rent cars
You need insurance to file an SR-22 in order to reinstate your license
You want to prevent a lapse in coverage while in between cars

You don't need a non-owner policy if:

You own and insure your own vehicle
You only drive cars owned by others occasionally
You drive a company car for which insurance is provided by your employer

Non-owner vs. traditional car insurance

Non-owner car insurance usually costs less than standard car insurance because it provides minimal coverage. While non-owner policies only include liability coverage, standard car insurance can offer much broader protection.

For instance, non-owner car insurance in North Carolina won't cover damage to the vehicle you're driving. In contrast, traditional car insurance can include collision and comprehensive coverage to help pay for vehicle repairs or replacements.

Furthermore, because insurance companies anticipate that people who don't own a car will drive less frequently, and because non-owner car insurance is secondary to the owner's policy, the risk of 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. is much lower.

The table below compares average annual rates for non-owner and owner car insurance.

Non-owners state minimum liability only	$681
Traditional state minimum policy	$681
State minimum car insurance limits	50/100/50

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What does North Carolina non-owner car insurance cover?

Non-owner car insurance in North Carolina covers liability claims when you cause an accident in a borrowed or rented vehicle and other state-required coverage. Liability coverage pays for injuries and property damage caused to others.

This coverage may include:

Bodily injury liability
Property damage liability

However, it does not cover:

Damage to the car you are driving
Theft or vandalism

Non-owner car insurance is considered secondary coverage, meaning it only kicks in after the car owner's policy limits are exceeded.

The bottom line: Non-owner car insurance in North Carolina

North Carolina drivers may need non-owner car insurance for various reasons, such as renting or borrowing a car. However, this type of coverage typically only offers liability coverage to pay for property damage or bodily injuries you cause to others. Coverage does not extend to you or the vehicle you're driving.

Non-owner car insurance in North Carolina costs an average of $681 per year. State Farm offers the cheapest average 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 $431. Based on our analysis of rates, complaint data and financial strength, Nationwide is the best overall insurer for non-owner coverage in North Carolina.

Drivers in North Carolina can find the best non-owner insurance policy by comparing quotes from multiple companies, reviewing customer complaint ratios and checking AM Best financial ratings. Choosing appropriate liability limits and maintaining continuous insurance coverage can also help lower premiums over time.

Methodology

170+

insurance companies analyzed

34,000+

ZIP codes examined

$53M

insurance quotes analyzed

Non-owner car insurance rates were fielded by Quadrant Data Services for a sample policy 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++.

FAQ: Non-owner car insurance in North Carolina

Do I need non-owner insurance to drive a friend's car in North Carolina?

No. If you have permission to drive the vehicle, the owner's insurance policy will normally cover you. However, if accident costs exceed the policy limits, non-owner insurance can provide additional liability protection.

Can I use non-owner insurance for Uber or delivery driving in North Carolina?

No. Non-owner car insurance does not cover commercial driving activities such as Uber, Lyft or food delivery services. Drivers using vehicles for rideshare or delivery work need commercial or rideshare insurance coverage that specifically includes business-related driving risks.

Does non-owner insurance cover rental cars?

Yes. A non-owner policy will provide you with liability coverage in a rental car. However, it doesn't cover damage to the vehicle itself, only injuries and damage to others.