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

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

State Farm offers the lowest non-owner car insurance rates in North Carolina, with an average cost of $285. The next most affordable option is North Carolina Farm Bureau, which has an average rate of $324.

The table below lists the most budget-friendly non-owner car insurance companies in North Carolina.

Company	Average annual premium	Average monthly premium
State Farm	$285	$24
North Carolina Farm Bureau	$324	$27
Nationwide	$440	$37
Utica National Insurance Group	$468	$39
Farmers	$504	$42
Progressive	$504	$42
GEICO	$569	$47
Allstate	$641	$53
Erie Insurance	$846	$71

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Best non-owner car insurance in North Carolina

Although State Farm came out on top, Erie Insurance and Nationwide are also excellent choices for providing 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	AM Best	Overall score
State Farm	$285	807	0.70	A++	3.61
Erie Insurance	$846	829	0.61	A+	3.30
Nationwide	$440	818	0.64	A+	3.13
Progressive	$504	828	0.65	A+	3.02
Allstate	$641	816	0.65	A+	2.83
Farmers	$504	857	0.80	A	2.76
GEICO	$569	847	0.91	A++	2.74

Read our methodology

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

Explore our top recommendations for non-owner car insurance in North Carolina.

State Farm

Our top choice for non-owner car insurance in North Carolina is State Farm, with an average rate of $285 for liability coverage. State Farm holds an AM Best rating of A++ and has an NAIC complaint ratio of 0.7.

Erie Insurance

Erie Insurance is also a great choice for non-owner car insurance in North Carolina, offering coverage at an average annual rate of $846. It has earned an AM Best rating of A+ and maintains a low NAIC complaint ratio of 0.61.

Nationwide

Our third choice is Nationwide, with an average rate of $440. It has an NAIC complaint ratio of 0.64 and 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 $470, but your rate will vary based on:

Your driving record
The coverage levels on your policy
Your ZIP code
Your age and gender
Your credit history

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

Both your age and gender can affect your insurance rates, whether you're looking for non-owner or standard car insurance in North Carolina.

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	Female	Male
Teens (16-19)	$613	$611
Young Adults (20-24)	$556	$556
Adults (25-60)	$472	$477
Seniors (65-75)	$487	$486

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

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 is typically cheaper than standard car insurance since coverage is minimal. Non-owner car insurance only includes liability coverage, while owner car insurance can include a lot more coverage.

For example, non-owner car insurance in North Carolina doesn't pay for damages to the car you're driving or any injuries you sustain. Owner car insurance can include collision and comprehensive coverage to pay for vehicle damages.

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 shows a comparison of average yearly rates for non-owner and standard car insurance.

Non-owners state minimum policy	$470
Traditional state minimum policy	$476
State minimum car insurance limits	30/60/25

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What does North Carolina non-owner car insurance cover?

A North Carolina non-owner car insurance policy provides only the basic coverage required to drive legally. It satisfies all the minimum car insurance requirements in North Carolina, but it won't cover any damage to the vehicle you're driving.

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

Drivers in North Carolina might need non-owner car insurance for different situations, like renting or borrowing a vehicle. However, this coverage typically only includes liability protection to cover property damage or injuries you cause to others. It does not cover you personally or any damage to the car you're driving.

In North Carolina, non-owner car insurance costs an average of $470, with State Farm offering the most affordable rates. Based on our research, State Farm stands out as the best overall option. Remember, factors like your age, gender and driving history can significantly affect your insurance rates.

Be sure to compare your options to find the best non-owner car insurance in North Carolina. You can use the tool above to quickly and easily compare non-owner insurance providers in your area.

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 are driving the car with permission, your friend's insurance will cover you. However, non-owner car insurance adds an extra layer of protection in case your friend's limits are exceeded.

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

No. Non-owner car insurance is a personal car insurance policy that doesn't cover business use of any vehicle. The vehicle being used for ridesharing or deliveries must have the correct coverage.

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.