Best car insurance companies in North Carolina: Erie Insurance

Erie Insurance is the best car insurance company in North Carolina, based on data analysis by Insurance.com, with an overall rating of 4.17. State Farm is the second-best auto insurance company in North Carolina, with an overall rating of 3.56.

Below is a full list of the top North Carolina auto insurance companies based on price, NAIC complaint ratio, and AM Best financial ratings. The total Insurance.com score is calculated out of five using these factors.

Best home insurance companies in Alaska
Graph
Table
CompanyAM BestJD PowerNAICAverage annual premiumInsurance.com score
Erie InsuranceA+8290.61$1,0824.17
State FarmA++8070.7$1,1803.56
NationwideA+8180.64$1,5133.17
ProgressiveA+8280.65$2,0282.93
GeicoA++8470.91$1,6172.93
FarmersA8570.8$2,0282.67
AllstateA+8160.65$2,9942.51
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology

Cheapest car insurance companies in North Carolina: Erie Insurance

Based on a rate analysis by Insurance.com, Erie Insurance offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance in North Carolina, with average rates of $1,082 annually or $90 a month.

Don't just go with the first insurer you come across. Comparison shopping is the key when it comes to finding the best deal on auto insurance. Get quotes from several different insurers and compare their rates. You may be surprised at how much difference there can be in rates from one company to another.

We have gathered price quotes from all the major insurance providers in North Carolina and put together a list of the cheapest car insurance companies.

CompanyState minimum liability50/100/50 liability100/300/100 liability with $500 deductible
Erie Insurance$309$345$1,082
State Farm$331$370$1,180
North Carolina Farm Bureau$338$380$1,217
Nationwide$425$405$1,513
Geico$492$539$1,617
Penn National Insurance$493$547$1,872
Farmers$530$588$2,028
Progressive$530$588$2,028
UTICA Grp$695$768$2,070
Allstate$667$737$2,994
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology

Average cost of car insurance in North Carolina

The average car insurance cost in North Carolina is $1,741 a year for a full coverage policy with a coverage level of 100/300/100 for a driver age 40, according to a rate analysis by Insurance.com. For the state minimum coverage, the average annual cost in North Carolina is $476.

Auto insurance calculator

Average auto insurance rates in North Carolina
30
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75
Male
Male Female
28356 - Linden
For a 30-year-old male
$45 State minimum
$155 Full coverage
$49 Liability only

Most & least expensive ZIP codes for auto insurance in North Carolina

Most Expensive

ZIP codeCityHighest rate
28216Charlotte$191
28254Charlotte$182
28206Charlotte$181
28215Charlotte$181

Least Expensive

ZIP codeCityLowest rate
28745Lake Junaluska$124
28719Cherokee$126
28734Franklin$126
28741Highlands$126
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology

The North Carolina Department of Insurance says...

Your driving record will have the largest impact on your insurance premium. North Carolina insurance points are charged for at-fault accidents and convictions for moving violations that occur within the experience period (see chart on page 8). The experience period is the three years immediately preceding the date of application or the preparation of the policy renewal.

- The North Carolina Department of Insurance

North Carolina car insurance requirements in North Carolina

North Carolina’s minimum car insurance coverage limits are 30/60/25. North Carolina’s state minimum liability insurance costs an average of $475 annually or $40 monthly.

Minimum liability insurance requirements for North Carolina:

  • Bodily injury liability (BI): $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability (PD): $25,000 per accident
  • Personal injury protection (PIP): $50,000 per person
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage: $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage: $25,000 per accident

Cheapest car insurance companies for minimum liability coverage in North Carolina

According to Insurance.com, Erie Insurance provides the cheapest state minimum liability insurance, averaging $309 annually or $26 monthly. 

In the table below, see the most affordable car insurance companies with their state minimum coverage rates in North Carolina. 

State minimum auto insurance coverage in North Carolina
Company Liability insurance premiumMonthly liability insurance premium
Erie Insurance$309$26
State Farm$331$28
North Carolina Farm Bureau$338$28
Nationwide$425$35
Geico$492$41
Penn National Insurance$493$41
Farmers$530$44
Progressive$530$44
UTICA Grp$695$58
Allstate$700$58
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology

Cheapest car insurance cost in North Carolina by age

company_name
Cheapest for teens
$2,240/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for adults
$1,056/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for seniors
$1,165/yr
Learn more

In North Carolina, car insurance rates are higher for teenagers as they are more prone to accidents due to their lack of experience on the road.

Erie Insurance offers the cheapest car insurance for teen drivers in North Carolina at $2,240 per year for a full coverage policy.

Car insurance rates will decrease as teens age and keep a good driving record. Car insurance rates for adults 25+ and seniors 60+ are lower than those for teens and young adults. 

In North Carolina, Erie Insurance offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance for adult drivers (25-55 year-olds) and senior drivers (60-75 year-olds) at $1,056 per year, and $1,165 per year, respectively.

Compare car insurance rates by age

Select your age group and age below to see the insurance company and its
average annual and average monthly premium rates.

Age group
Teen
Age
16
Table
Graph
State Farm$3,517$293
Nationwide$4,045$337
Farmers$5,561$463
Progressive$5,561$463
Geico$6,791$566
Allstate$8,144$679
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology
Yearly premium

Cheapest car insurance companies in North Carolina by driver profile

company_name
Cheapest for at-fault accident
$1,692/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for DUI
$4,387/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for speeding ticket
$1,643/yr
Learn more

Drivers who have accidents or tickets are considered a higher risk and will pay more. 

However, the severity and frequency of the incidents also affect your insurance rates. For instance, drivers with a single minor accident will see a smaller increase in their rates compared to those with multiple major accidents.

Below are average North Carolina rates by company for drivers with accidents and tickets on their driving record. 

CompanyClean recordAccidentSpeeding ticket
State Farm$1,180$1,692$1,643
Erie Insurance$1,082$1,731$1,682
North Carolina Farm Bureau$1,217$1,781$1,730
Nationwide$1,513$2,905$2,113
Geico$1,617$3,583$2,538
Progressive$2,028$2,917$2,837
Farmers$2,028$2,938$2,856
Allstate$2,994$5,812$4,562
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology

Compare auto insurance rates by city in North Carolina

Auto insurance rates vary not just by state, but also by city. Cities have different levels of risk based on factors like accident rates, claim costs, weather and more. That means where you live in North Carolina will impact what you pay. Below, we've gathered North Carolina car insurance rates by city for comparison.

CityAnnual insurance premium
Apex
$1,549
Bessemer City
$1,979
Charlotte
$1,824
Raleigh
$1,703
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology

Car insurance rates change regularly, influenced by changes in the cost of repairs, claim rates and other factors. Recent years have seen car insurance rates rise across the country, but not every state has seen the same increases.

We've tracked car insurance premium trends in North Carolina to show you how things have changed and help you prepare for potential changes in the future. Take a look at the chart below.

Insurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services in 2023 to field rates from major insurers in every state across most ZIP codes. Driver profile: male, age 40, driving a 2023 Honda Accord LX with full coverage of 100/300/100 with comprehensive and collision; $500 deductible.

The car insurance rates for drivers with accidents and tickets are averaged based on rates for the following accidents and tickets: 

Accidents: 

  • 1 at-fault property damage accident over $2k
  • 1 at-fault property damage accident under $2k
  • At-fault bodily injury accident 
  • Single vehicle accident 

Tickets: 

  • Distracted driving ticket
  • Speeding ticket 1- 10 MPH over limit 
  • Speeding ticket 11- 29 MPH over limit 
  • Talking on cellphone ticket 
  • Texting ticket 

Insurance.com analyzed rates from more than 34,000 ZIP codes, 56 million quotes, and 136 companies. Rates sourced from Quadrant Data Services are for comparison purposes only; your rates may differ.

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