How much is car insurance per month in North Carolina?
North Carolina Car Insurance: Cost
Cheapest Full Coverage Insurance North Carolina | Estimated Monthly Cost | Estimated Annual Cost |
---|---|---|
Penn National Insurance | $135 | $1,621 |
National General Insurance | $139 | $1,665 |
Progressive | $147 | $1,758 |
Allstate | $231 | $2,770 |
The minimum coverage requirements are $30,000 Bodily Injury for each person, $60,000 total Bodily Injury for all persons in an accident and $25,000 for Property Damage. Motor Vehicle Law also requires Uninsured/ Underinsured Motorists coverage.
Full coverage insurance in North Carolina is usually defined as a policy that provides more than the state's minimum liability coverage, which is $30,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, up to $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage coverage.
Insurance Company | Average monthly premium | Savings vs state avg. for min coverage |
---|---|---|
State Farm | $82 | - $734 |
Progressive | $86 | - $684 |
Erie | $109 | - $408 |
Geico | $143 | + $8 |
The average car insurance premium in North Carolina is $865 per year — less than the nationwide average by 39.4%. Your car insurance rates are dictated by factors other than state lines. Auto insurance rates price based on myriad factors, such as your age, gender, marital status, credit, and driving history.
Minimum coverage in North Carolina is $502 per year on average, but we found you can likely get a cheaper policy. For example, Erie offers the cheapest rates in North Carolina at $364 per year, on average, for minimum coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record.
North Carolina takes the requirement of having automobile insurance very seriously. If you are caught driving without it, you will not receive a minor traffic ticket. Instead, you will be charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor offense and will have a permanent criminal record if convicted.
Age | Average Annual Premium |
---|---|
16 | $3,192 per year |
17 | $2,647 per year ... |
In North Carolina, you can expect to pay approximately $2,219 per year for full coverage car insurance or $735 per year for minimum coverage. Car insurance in North Carolina is less expensive than the national average, which is around $2,000 annually for full coverage and about $700 per year for minimum coverage.
Why is car insurance so expensive in North Carolina?
“In recent years, we've seen some rate increases due to more accidents and fatalities in North Carolina. This can be attributed to factors such as excessive speeding and driving under the influence.” He said, however, that distracted driving is the number one cause of accidents and, thus, the rate increases.
If you are caught driving without insurance, North Carolina assesses fines that could total $100–$200. While some drivers may be tempted to forego insurance due to cost, the fines assessed for doing so would be in addition to other penalties such as license and vehicle registration suspension.
North Carolina is a “fault” or tort-based state, meaning that if you were hurt in a car accident you can recover from the driver who caused the accident, or was “at fault.” (“Fault” states are discussed in comparison to “no-fault” states in which an injured party recovers from their insurance company, regardless of who ...
Car insurance is the cheapest for drivers between the ages of 35 and 55. Car insurance is very expensive for teens because they have a high risk of accidents, and then it decreases sharply as drivers age into their 20s and develop more reliable driving habits.
- #1 State Farm: Editor's Choice. 9.4/10. Learn More. ...
- #2 Geico: Affordable for Most Drivers. 9.1/10. Learn More. ...
- #3 Erie Insurance: Affordable for Basic Coverage. 9.4/10. Learn More. ...
- #4 Nationwide. 8.7/10. Learn More. ...
- #5 North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance. 9/10.
Based on our analysis, and using rates sourced from Quadrant Information Services, we found Geico, State Farm, Nationwide, Allstate and North Carolina Farm Bureau to be among the best car insurance companies in North Carolina.
In North Carolina, liability insurance follows the car, not the driver. Essentially, this means that if someone borrows a car and causes an accident, the vehicle owner's policy would be the first coverage pursued for compensation.
Insurance Company | Average monthly premium | Average annual premium |
---|---|---|
Mercury | $44 | $527 |
CSE | $45 | $539 |
Progressive | $45 | $544 |
State Farm | $50 | $594 |
Yes, car insurance in North Carolina is cheaper than in South Carolina. North Carolina car insurance rates are an average of $966 per year cheaper than South Carolina, in part because North Carolina is typically less risky for drivers due to lower rate of car accidents and weather-related vehicle damage.
If you are struck by an uninsured at-fault driver, your claims will be paid by uninsured motorist coverage. In most cases, this is your own insurance policy. Please be aware that in these cases, the adjuster WILL seek to minimize your injury claims, and they actually represent the uninsured driver.
What happens if you get pulled over without a license in North Carolina?
Driving Without a License as a Class 3 Misdemeanor
You may be charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor if you have never held a valid license or if you violated any restrictions on your license. If convicted, you could face up to 20 days in jail and a $200 fine.
The average cost of full coverage car insurance in North Carolina is $1,713 per year or $143 per month. Minimum coverage is $498 per year or $41 per month. On average, North Carolina drivers pay 26 percent less for full coverage car insurance compared to the national average.
However, a different option (if your insurance carrier allows it) might be to purchase a separate policy for your teen driver, if they have their own car titled in their name. (Under North Carolina law, anyone with a valid driver's license can own a car—even 16 and 17-year-olds.)
Yes, a 16 year-old can purchase their own car insurance policy. However, along with it being more expensive, there will likely be an extra step in the process. They'll probably need to have a parent approve or cosign the agreement, as minors can't sign legally binding contracts.
Insurance for a new driver in North Carolina costs roughly $1,230 to $3,419 annually.
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