Compare Cheap Auto Insurance in North Carolina

• Full coverage auto insurance in North Carolina costs an average of $1,455 annually, while minimum coverage costs an average of $745 annually.
• Erie and Progressive offer the cheapest rates for most drivers in North Carolina; Erie also has one of the strongest customer service records.
• State Farm also tends to have competitive rates, depending on the driver profile.

Erie is the overall best provider in North Carolina based on various customer satisfaction metrics. It also happens to offer the cheapest average rates in most driver categories, making it a worthwhile option. However, your rates may differ, so always get quotes from multiple companies. State Farm also has a strong customer service record in North Carolina, as does North Carolina Farm Bureau. In CRASH Network’s Insurer Report Card, which surveys collision repair shops on insurers’ claims practices, the North Carolina Farm Bureau ranked number one overall among 97 companies nationally.

1. Shop around: We recommend always getting quotes from at least three different providers so you can compare rates and discounts. Make sure to get quotes for the same coverage so you can more accurately compare costs among providers.
2. Use discounts: Look into what discounts you may qualify for from the companies you’re interested in and make sure they’re applied to your quote. Most companies offer discounts for bundling policies, insuring more than one vehicle, being a good student (for young drivers), and more. If you’re unsure about what’s available, contact an agent.
3. Increase your deductibles: If you have full coverage, your collision and comprehensive policies each have a deductible, which is the amount you pay out of pocket before insurance covers anything. Increasing your deductibles can lower your premium, but make sure you can afford to pay the amounts if you need to file a claim.
4. Improve your credit: In North Carolina, drivers with low credit pay an average of 72% more for car insurance than those with good credit. Working to improve your credit, while not an immediate fix, can help lower your rates significantly.

Charlotte has the most expensive average auto insurance rates in North Carolina, at $1,726 on average, which is 19% higher than the state average. By contrast, Winston-Salem, which is much less populated, has an average annual rate of $1,341 — 8% below the state average.

In North Carolina, drivers must carry insurance with at least the following limits to abide by state law:

• Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
• Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
• Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
• Uninsured motorist property damage coverage: $55,000 per accident

The required uninsured motorist coverages will help pay for your injuries or damage to your vehicle if you’re in an accident caused by an uninsured driver. In general, these minimum limits offer basic financial protection, but they may not be enough if you’re in an accident and need to file a claim. They also won’t cover damage to your own vehicle if you cause an accident or it’s damaged in a non-collision incident. We recommend getting higher limits as well as full coverage when possible.

We analyze average auto insurance premiums in North Carolina for full and minimum coverage for good drivers with good credit, as well as other driver profiles, including those with DUIs, accidents, low credit, and teenagers. Full coverage averages use the following limits:

• Bodily injury liability: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
• Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
• Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible