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Last updated: April 17, 2025

Compare Cheap Auto Insurance in North Carolina

Erie and Progressive offer the cheapest rates on average for most North Carolina drivers, including high-risk categories.

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Full coverage car insurance in North Carolina averages $1,455 annually — 39% cheaper than the national average of $2,399. Minimum coverage, however, is slightly more expensive than the national average ($635), at around $745 per year.

Rates in North Carolina will vary depending on various factors, including driver profile, car make and model, and location. For example, drivers in highly populated areas such as Charlotte can expect to pay more on average than those in more rural areas.

Overview:

  • 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.

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Cheapest Car Insurance in North Carolina for Full Coverage: Erie

Erie offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance in North Carolina, with an average annual premium of $899. That’s 38% cheaper than the state average of $1,455. Progressive and State Farm also offer competitive rates at $944 per year and $1,024 per year, respectively.

Provider Annual Full Coverage Monthly Full Coverage
Erie $899 $75
Progressive $944 $79
State Farm $1,024 $85
GEICO $1,520 $127
North Carolina Farm Bureau $1,668 $139
Nationwide $1,673 $139
Allstate $2,630 $219
North Carolina average $1,455 $121
National average $2,399 $200

Cheapest Car Insurance in North Carolina for Minimum Coverage: Erie

Erie also has the best rates for minimum coverage at only $411 per year, which is 45% below the state average. Progressive has the next cheapest average rates at $467 annually — also well below the state average.

Provider Annual Minimum Coverage Monthly Minimum Coverage
Erie $411 $34
Progressive $467 $39
State Farm $513 $43
GEICO $817 $68
Nationwide $829 $69
North Carolina Farm Bureau $951 $79
Allstate $1,257 $105
North Carolina average $745 $62
National average $635 $53

Cheapest Car Insurance in North Carolina for Teen Drivers: Erie

Erie has the best rates for car insurance for teens in North Carolina at $1,977 per year on average. That’s 38% below the state average. State Farm offers rates that are only slightly higher at $1,984 per year on average, and Progressive also offers affordable rates at around $2,040 per year.

Provider Annual with Teen Driver Monthly with Teen Driver
Erie $1,977 $165
State Farm $1,984 $165
Progressive $2,040 $170
GEICO $3,804 $317
Nationwide $3,806 $317
North Carolina Farm Bureau $3,971 $331
Allstate $5,932 $494
North Carolina average $3,191 $266
National average $5,327 $444

FYI:

In North Carolina, insurers cannot use gender as a rating factor to determine premiums. In most other states, male teens pay more on average than females because they tend to be riskier drivers, but in North Carolina, they do not pay more based on their gender.

Cheapest Car Insurance in North Carolina With a Speeding Ticket: Erie

For North Carolina drivers with a speeding ticket, Erie has the lowest rates at $1,201 per year on average — 28% less than the state average. State Farm and Progressive also offer below-average rates, at $1,446 per year and $1,467 per year, respectively.

Provider Annual With Speeding Ticket Monthly With Speeding Ticket
Erie $1,201 $100
State Farm $1,446 $121
Progressive $1,467 $122
Nationwide $1,918 $160
North Carolina Farm Bureau $2,158 $180
GEICO $2,396 $200
Allstate $3,688 $307
North Carolina average $1,676 $140
National average $2,511 $209

Cheapest Car Insurance in North Carolina With an At-Fault Accident: Erie

Erie and Progressive offer the best car insurance rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record in North Carolina. Erie’s average annual premium is $1,259, which is 28% cheaper than the state average of $1,748. Meanwhile, Progressive has an average annual rate of $1,358 per year, also well below the state average.

Provider Annual With At-Fault Accident Monthly With At-Fault Accident
Erie $1,259 $105
Progressive $1,358 $113
State Farm $1,495 $125
North Carolina Farm Bureau $2,531 $211
Nationwide $3,063 $255
GEICO $3,125 $260
Allstate $4,513 $376
North Carolina average $1,748 $146
National average $2,812 $234

Cheapest Car Insurance in North Carolina With a DUI: Progressive

Progressive offers the cheapest rates for drivers convicted of a DUI in North Carolina at $3,630 per year on average. That’s 24% below the state average. Erie and State Farm also have affordable rates, with average annual premiums of $3,815 and $4,018, respectively.

Provider Annual with DUI Monthly with DUI
Progressive $3,630 $303
Erie $3,815 $318
State Farm $4,018 $335
GEICO $6,091 $508
Nationwide $6,350 $529
North Carolina Farm Bureau $9,618 $801
Allstate $11,390 $949
North Carolina average $4,757 $396
National average $3,305 $275

Cheapest Car Insurance in North Carolina With Low Credit: Progressive

Drivers with low credit in North Carolina will find the lowest average rates from Progressive. Its average annual premium of $1,047 is 58% cheaper than the state average. Erie and Nationwide also offer below-average rates, at $1,139 per year and $1,781 per year, respectively.

Provider Annual with Low Credit Monthly with Low Credit
Progressive $1,047 $87
Erie $1,139 $95
Nationwide $1,781 $148
North Carolina Farm Bureau $2,254 $188
GEICO $2,418 $201
State Farm $3,553 $296
Allstate $4,886 $407
North Carolina average $2,496 $208
National average $3,377 $281

Best Claims and Customer Satisfaction in North Carolina: Erie

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.

Provider Southeast Customer Satisfaction (J.D. Power)1 Claims Satisfaction (J.D. Power)2 CRASH Network Insurer Report Card Grade3
Erie 676 733 A- (Honor Roll)
State Farm 673 710 C-
Nationwide 669 728 C
North Carolina Farm Bureau 667 N/A A+ (Honor Roll)
GEICO 651 692 C-
Progressive 637 672 C
Allstate 634 691 D
Average 663 697 C+

How to Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates in North Carolina

  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.

Average Auto Insurance Cost in North Carolina by City

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.

City Annual Full Coverage Monthly Full Coverage
Charlotte $1,726 $144
Greensboro $1,495 $125
Raleigh $1,481 $123
Durham $1,441 $120
Winston-Salem $1,341 $112
North Carolina average $1,455 $121

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in North Carolina

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina?

Erie offers the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina, with average rates of $899 annually for full coverage and $467 annually for minimum coverage. Progressive has the next cheapest rates at $944 annually for full coverage and $467 annually for minimum coverage.

How much is car insurance per month in North Carolina?

Car insurance in North Carolina costs an average of $121 per month for full coverage and $62 per month for minimum coverage. However, the amount you pay is based on several factors and is likely to differ from the average.

What are the best car insurance companies for new drivers in North Carolina?

Erie is one of the best car insurance companies for new drivers in North Carolina, as it has some of the highest customer satisfaction ratings and also offers competitive rates for teens. Its average annual premium for teen drivers is $1,977, which is 38% below the state average. It also has affordable rates for many other types of drivers, so new drivers who are older will likely find good rates from them as well. However, always get multiple quotes to compare the best rates.

Are there any discounts available for good students in North Carolina?

Yes, many car insurance companies in North Carolina offer discounts for good students, though availability and discount amount will vary by company. Typically, these discounts are available to students under 25 years old with at least a B average and give you around 10% to 15% off your premium, but check with your provider to see what they offer.

Methodology

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
Maya Afilalo Headshot MBA Photo
Written by:Maya Afilalo
Managing Editor & Industry Analyst
Maya Afilalo holds over 10 years of professional experience in writing, communications, and research, which she leverages to provide accurate and reliable information to empower consumers. In addition to overseeing content production, Maya has herself written many articles on auto insurance costs, company comparisons, state laws and requirements, and other topics. She is committed to helping consumers navigate the complex world of car insurance with clarity and confidence. Maya holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s from North Carolina State University.

Citations

  1. Trust Emerges as Top Driver of Customer Satisfaction with Auto Insurance as Prices Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2024, Jun 5).
    https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-auto-insurance-study

  2. Auto Insurance Repair Cycle Times Improve but Price Increases Take a Toll, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2024, Oct 29).
    https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-auto-claims-satisfaction-study

  3. 2024 CRASH Network Insurer Report Card. CRASH Network. (2024).
    https://www.crashnetwork.com/irc/