Cheap Car Insurance in North Carolina for 2024

If you're looking for cheap auto insurance in North Carolina, we have some good news. North Carolina is one of the least expensive states in America for car insurance with an average premium under $1,400 per year. We researched the cheapest insurers in North Carolina to see how you can save money on car insurance.

See our overall recommendations for Best Car Insurance

Who has the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina?

• GEICO
• NC Farm Bureau
• Erie
• State Farm

We sampled information from a number of sources and developed a range of what cheap car insurance usually costs per year in North Carolina. We based these samples on a driver with at least a decade of driving experience, a clean driving record, driving one of America’s most popular, non-exotic vehicles.

The important thing to remember is that insurance rates can vary widely, and prices can change almost daily. This range is only a GUIDE to give you a basic idea about the rates insurance companies charge today in North Carolina.

DISCLAIMER: There are numerous other factors that are going to impact the cost of insurance on your car, crossover, or truck. We’ll provide info on some of those variables, but your best bet is to read our deep dive on Cheap Car Insurance for 2024 to get a better idea.

Who has the best cheap car insurance in North Carolina?

• Best Large Insurance Carrier - In North Carolina, our data shows that it is GEICO. Cutting out agents has an impact on your premium. State Farm also had some low rates in certain categories as well.
• Cheapest Insurance with Bad Credit - Based on multiple points of data we found, GEICO has the lead here for folks who have a bad credit rating.
• Cheapest Insurance with One Accident - North Carolina Farm Bureau (NC Farm Bureau) is the cheapest when you have had a mishap. Erie may also be with a look.
• Cheapest Insurance for Higher Mileage - GEICO again. The no-middle man insurer seems to be an overall low cost insurer in the state of North Carolina.

How much does car insurance cost in North Carolina?

In Car Talk’s deep dive on affordable car insurance, we found that a national average for auto insurance was $1,800. In North Carolina, depending on what city and county you live in, you’re probably going to be paying up to 35% less. Our prior research also revealed that the overall average is about $1,400 in North Carolina.

(*) The “adjusted average” is computed by eliminating the highest and lowest values and averaging the remaining values.

What causes rates to go up in North Carolina?

Let’s start by asking, “Is car insurance expensive in North Carolina in the first place?” The answer is , “Not even close.” Other states with a high incidence of hail, hurricanes and flooding have much higher rates.

Rates do vary in North Carolina based on many factors including where in the state you make your home, your credits score, and your driving record.

How do accidents affect rates in North Carolina?

Crashing your car in North Carolina means you win the bet. You just beat your insurer who was betting that you wouldn’t crash. Now you have to pay up going forward. If your philosophy is “Rubbin’ is racin”, your insurance rate is going to go up. Exactly how much is known only to the insurer you have. North Carolina is one of the majority states that uses a “fault” system. That can actually help reduce costs overall. But it can also mean costly lawsuits.

Here are the best estimates we could find from various sources on how much one accident will raise your policy premium in North Carolina;

This information is just an approximation. Many factors can change how much your insurance goes up after you have one accident. For example, if you’ve paid more in your annual insurance cost to be a part of an accident forgiveness program, your increase for one accident is nothing, but your overall cost of insurance is higher every year than if you hadn’t. Almost all of the insurers on our list above of cheap insurance providers, and many others, offer this option which was popularized by Allstate.

How do traffic tickets affect rates in North Carolina?

Breaking traffic laws gives your insurer a valid excuse to raise rates. And they are not going to pass up that chance. How much the sting will be in North Carolina varies based on the type of ticket and the severity of the offense.

How can you get car insurance discounts in North Carolina?

The most significant discount you can realize in North Carolina is to move to a location with lower rates. Even just being outside of the downtown area can help. Move to a county or city or town with lower claim rates and you may save as much as 30% per year. We looked at the comparative costs of insurance in North Carolina and found that Kernersville, the “heart of the triad,” to be one of the least expensive cities. Feyetteville is one of the most expensive for car insurance. But moving comes with a lifestyle change many are not willing to make.

The easier way to manage your insurance costs is to avoid crashing and getting traffic tickets. And your car and phone apps can help. Avoiding accidents has gotten easier in recent years as vehicles with automatic emergency braking systems have become the norm, even in affordable vehicles like the Nissan Sentra and Toyota Corolla. Ironically, insurers don’t discount cars with those systems yet because they cost a lot to repair (so they say…)

Avoiding speeding tickets in North Carolina is harder than in some states. The speed limit in Texas on a lonely state highway is as much as 15 MPH higher than in North Carolina. However, apps like Google Maps and Waze to help you know where the speed traps are and warn you to slow down.

We also have an entire story on the tens of thousands of discount programs available, based on memberships, military service, and other associations. Some of the more common meaningful discounts relate to low mileage driving, bundling with your home owner’s policy, and carrying high deductibles. Students take note: Many insurers will offer good students a discount. Parents take note: If your kid is at college more than 100 miles away you may see big savings.

What’s the minimum coverage allowed in North Carolina?

Insurance is required by law in North Carolina and you gave to carry proof of it when you drive. To drive in North Carolina, you must have at least $30,000 in liability coverage for each injured person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. This basic coverage is called 30/25/60. Almost no homeowner with any assets will buy just the basic coverage required by law. More typical is coverage on the order of 100/300/50. It seems unfair, but that’s the way it works when you have assets to protect

Nearly every state’s minimum is way too low. If you have a vehicle loan or lease, or own a home, you will find that you are required to carry higher levels of coverage to satisfy other agreements and responsibilities you have. Our focus in this story is on cheap car insurance.