Best Cheap Car Insurance: North Carolina (2021)

By shopping around, you should be able to find a reliable and trustworthy provider that also offers affordable car insurance rates in North Carolina. Enter your zip code below to start comparing quotes.

According to our rate estimates, Erie is the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina with an average annual rate of $927 for full coverage. North Carolina Farm Bureau, Nationwide, and Geico are also affordable providers in the state.

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Here’s a breakdown of the coverage costs that year based on data from the Insurance Information Institute:

$391

According to our rate estimates, women pay just a few dollars more on average for full coverage car insurance in North Carolina than men. In our research, the difference was seven dollars annually.

Having a fair credit score in North Carolina can increase your rates by 12 percent, and having a poor score can increase them by 46 percent. While that might sound like a big increase, drivers in other states can pay double or even triple for having poor credit.

In North Carolina, you'll pay more for car insurance if you have points on your driving record. A speeding ticket can raise your rates by 50 percent and an accident can raise them by 88 percent. If you have a DUI, you could pay a whopping 307 percent more for car insurance in North Carolina.

In our search to find the best car insurance companies, we found several that offer cheap rates to North Carolina drivers. But to pick the best overall, we have to look beyond the price. It’s also important to consider the company’s reputation, customer reviews, and independent rankings.

We also took the time to evaluate the available car insurance discounts and additional benefits each provider offers. After doing this, we feel confident that these five companies have insurance policies to meet most needs.

4.5

$1,118

5.0

N/A

4.0

$927

4.0

$976

4.5

$1,398

Our research shows that Geico car insurance has some of the lowest rates for North Carolina car insurance. The company also has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Here’s what one customer wrote on Trustpilot about his claims experience with Geico:

–Cody Pomeroy

Aside from a solid reputation, Geico offers some unique policy add-ons. You can choose from:

No matter how you look at it, USAA tends to be the cheapest car insurance around. If you can qualify for USAA car insurance, you could end up paying well below the average for North Carolina car insurance.

There is one downside to USAA – its membership is selective. You can qualify for USAA if you are a military member or veteran or if you have immediate family in the service.

What that means is that USAA does a great job of responding to claims, communicating with customers throughout the process, and returning customers’ cars quickly. We think a strong claims process is the most important thing to find in an auto insurance company – that’s what you’re really paying them to do, after all.

We also like that USAA car insurance has a few extra coverage options like roadside assistance and gap insurance – which not all providers have.

Erie Insurance has been in business since 1925 and has set numerous industry standards.

We rate Erie highly for its low cost and strong customer service reputation. Erie customers are able to save through numerous discount opportunities, including:

Erie has an A+ rating from the BBB as well as an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best. In the 2021 J.D. Power Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study, Erie scored 874 out of 1,000 points, placing it in second for the Southeast region.

North Carolina Farm Bureau (NCFB) is one of the largest auto insurance companies in the state of North Carolina. It has locations in every county and an extensive network of local agents who specialize in North Carolina car insurance.

NCFB also offers home, life, health, and business insurance. Customers can bundle these policies to save even more in North Carolina.

Must be a Farm Bureau member

D- rating from the BBB

Some complaints regarding the claims process

It’s typical to consider Progressive car insurance when thinking about industry leaders. While the company is one of the major players in the industry, it also provides some of the lowest rates for good drivers in North Carolina.

For the most part, you will pay more to go with Progressive over Geico, but many motorists prefer the company and the service. Also, the only way to know for sure is to get quotes from both providers.

The BBB rating for Progressive is an A+. On the other hand, it didn’t score as high as Geico or our other recommendations in J.D. Power’s Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study. Still, customer reviews are largely positive, such as the one below:

–via BBB

As far as additional coverage is concerned, you have several options available from Progressive, including:

Each state dictates the required auto insurance coverage for drivers. Typically, if you don’t have the state minimum, you could find yourself in hot water if you’re in an accident or pulled over by the police. The minimum required by states usually includes some combination of bodily injury liability and property damage liability insurance.

In a few states, uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage, and personal injury protection (PIP) are also required. After choosing the state-required insurance coverage, you have the option to add on additional protections.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation dictates the required coverage limits of drivers in the state.

The first two North Carolina auto insurance state limits relate to the damage caused to others and their property during an accident where you’re at fault. The other two cover damage done to your vehicle by an uninsured motorist.

If you want additional protection for your vehicle, medical bills, and other related expenses, you will need to add that coverage to your policy. We recommend this approach if you’re financially able. Why?

Because North Carolina is an at-fault state, you’re responsible for any car accident you cause. If damages exceed the amount your insurance covers, you will be held personally liable. That’s one reason why it’s not always wise to have just the minimum coverage car insurance in North Carolina.

Consider carrying some of these coverages, as well:

If you choose to drive without auto insurance in North Carolina, you could face serious consequences. You could have your license plates revoked, as well as deal with fines, civil penalties, and other fees under North Carolina state law.

Some drivers can’t get typical North Carolina car insurance because of a poor driving record, DUIs, or poor credit. For these drivers, there’s still a chance to get behind the wheel with coverage from the North Carolina Reinsurance Facility.

While this organization will help high-risk drivers get behind the wheel of a car, it should be seen as a last resort. Policy premiums are incredibly high, and you can find better car insurance options in North Carolina if you do a little digging.

The state ranks as having some of the best road conditions in the nation, according to a study by Reason Foundation. That may be part of the reason that the rates for car insurance in North Carolina are some of the most affordable in the country.

According to Statista, there are more than seven million licensed drivers on the roads in North Carolina. With numbers like this, it places eighth in most drivers among the fifty states.

Teen drivers in North Carolina can get a learner’s permit at the age of 15 through the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NC DMV). Once the teen reaches 16 years old and has completed a driving course, he or she can receive a limited provisional license. With this license, the young driver may not operate a vehicle from 9:00 PM through 5:00 AM EST. In addition, there can’t be more than one passenger in the vehicle under the age of 21, unless the occupants are family members.

If you're looking for cheap car insurance in North Carolina, we recommend checking out Geico, USAA, and Erie for the best coverage. Car insurance prices vary depending on many factors, so compare multiple quotes to find the best option.

Enter your zip code below to compare rates for car insurance in North Carolina.

In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of auto insurance providers to formulate rankings of the best insurers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.

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