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Full coverage car insurance in North Carolina runs about $220 a month, or $2,638 a year, for the average driver. If you stick to your state’s minimum required liability coverage instead, that average drops to $57 a month, or $681 a year. Keep in mind these are statewide averages – your personal rate could be higher or lower.

Your actual premium depends on several factors – where you live, your age, your driving history, your credit score, and the type of vehicle you drive. Insurers also factor in state-level risks, such as accident frequency, repair and medical costs, theft rates, and weather patterns. That’s part of why drivers in busy cities pay more than drivers in rural areas.

Not everything is out of your hands. Keeping a clean driving record, building your credit score, bundling your policies, or shopping around for quotes can all help bring your rate down.

Average annual cost
$2,638

Average per month cost
$220

Average cost for state minimum coverage
$681 / Year

Cheapest car insurance company
Progressive

$1,460 / Year

Average cost for young drivers
$2,946 / Year

Average cost for Senior drivers
$2,634 / Year

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How much does car insurance cost in North Carolina?

Full coverage in North Carolina costs drivers $220 a month, or $2,638 a year, on average, while state minimum coverage averages $57 a month, or $681 a year.

Check the table below for a breakdown of average rates in North Carolina, based on different coverage levels. Since these numbers are statewide averages, your own premium may differ.

Liability onlyFull coverageNon-owner state minimum liabilityState minimum liability-only
$681$2,638$681$681
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What does each coverage type include?

  • State minimum coverage: Meets your state’s legal requirements, covering liability only. It’s the cheapest option, but leaves you with minimal protection in a serious accident.
  • Liability only: Covers damage and injuries you cause to others, but not your own vehicle or injuries.
  • Comprehensive coverage: Pays for damage to your car from non-collision events, like theft, fire, or weather.
  • Collision coverage: Pays to repair or replace your car after an accident, regardless of who’s at fault.
  • Full coverage: Combines liability with comprehensive and collision coverage, protecting your own vehicle too. It costs more, but offers the most complete protection.
  • Non owners: Made for drivers without a vehicle of their own who borrow cars now and then and need liability coverage in place.

See what you’d actually pay

Averages are a starting point, not your actual rate. Follow these four steps to get closer to your real number:

  1. Enter your vehicle’s year
  2. Select your state
  3. Choose your vehicle’s make
  4. Choose your vehicle’s model

You’ll get instant estimates covering state minimum, liability only, and full coverage.

Data last refreshed in 2026
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Ways to bring your rate down in North Carolina:

  • Shop at least three insurers before deciding, since the first quote rarely turns out to be the best one
  • Combine your home and auto coverage with one insurer to often unlock savings
  • Ask about every discount you might be eligible for
  • Stay violation-free, since a clean record signals lower risk and keeps premiums in check
  • Pay out of pocket for minor damage instead of filing a claim, which helps protect your rate from rising

How much car insurance coverage do you need in North Carolina?

Drivers in North Carolina must carry at least the state’s minimum liability coverage. This covers damage you cause to others, but not your own car or medical bills – if you’re at fault in a crash, you’d pay those costs yourself unless you have more coverage.

Minimum liability breaks down into two parts:

  • Bodily injury liability pays for others’ medical costs if you injure them. The “per person” limit caps what’s paid for one individual; the “per accident” limit caps the total for everyone.
  • Property damage liability pays to repair or replace others’ property, like their car or a fence.

Many drivers choose full coverage instead, which adds comprehensive and collision on top. It costs more, but protects your own vehicle too – from accidents, theft, or weather. If you’re financing or leasing, your lender likely requires it.

CoverageMinimum required

Bodily injury liability (per person)

$50,000

Bodily injury liability (per accident)

$100,000

Property damage liability

$50,000

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Who has the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina?

Progressive offers the lowest rates in North Carolina, averaging $1,460 a year, or $122 a month, for a full coverage policy with 100/300/100 limits and $500 collision and comprehensive deductibles.

State Farm is also worth a look for its competitive pricing, averaging $138 a month, or $1,653 a year.

These insurers post some of the lowest average rates in North Carolina, but your own premium could differ. Comparing quotes is still the best way to land on the right price.

Affordable car insurance providers in North Carolina

Graph
Table
Company GroupAvg. Annual PremiumAvg. Monthly Premium
Progressive$1,460$122
State Farm$1,653$138
Nationwide$2,486$207
Penn National Insurance$2,713$226
North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance$2,719$227
GEICO$3,111$259
Allstate$4,342$362
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How much does car insurance cost by city in North Carolina?

Car insurance rates in North Carolina vary by city – drivers in Cary and Wilmington pay $2,351 to $2,398 a year, while those in Fayetteville, Charlotte and Concord pay significantly more.

Location affects your rate because insurers price risk differently by area. Cities with heavier traffic, higher accident rates, and more theft or vandalism tend to have higher premiums, while areas with lower population density and fewer claims generally see lower rates.

CityAverage annual cost
Cary$2,351
Wilmington$2,398
Winston-Salem$2,399
Raleigh$2,578
Durham$2,606
High Point$2,634
Greensboro$2,675
Concord$2,701
Charlotte$2,833
Fayetteville$2,844
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Auto insurance premiums vary significantly from city to city, so drivers need to be sure they’re getting the best deal. Insure.com has done the research for you. Get more information on auto insurance rates by city below.

How does age affect car insurance rates in North Carolina?

Few factors influence your premium as much as age. Premiums tend to run highest for teens, drop once drivers hit 25, remain fairly flat through adulthood, and shoot back up in the early 70s. That pattern reflects how insurers assess risk – younger drivers lack experience, while older drivers may face slower reaction times and changes in vision.

Below is a closer look at what North Carolina drivers might pay by age and gender.

Car insurance rates for young drivers in North Carolina

If you’re a young driver, expect to pay more than average – insurers see less experience behind the wheel as more risk, and price accordingly.

For example, a 20-year-old male driver in North Carolina pays $3,722 a year, while a 20-year-old female driver pays $3,722. That changes by age 25, when average rates fall to $2,483 a year for men and $2,483 for women.

Age of driverAverage annual cost for Male driversAverage annual cost for Female drivers
20$3,722$3,722
21$2,953$2,953
22$2,764$2,764
23$2,671$2,671
24$2,509$2,509
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Car insurance rates for adults in North Carolina

In North Carolina, the average adult male driver pays $2,530 a year, or $211 a month, for full coverage, while adult female drivers average $2,530 a year, or $211 a month. Adults typically land lower rates than teens, who lack experience, and seniors, who may face slower reaction times, since insurers view them as the lower-risk group.

That said, individual rates can vary quite a bit, so it pays to compare quotes and find the best deal for your vehicle.

Age of driverAverage annual cost for Male driversAverage annual cost for Female drivers
25$2,483$2,483
30$2,492$2,492
35$2,663$2,663
40$2,638$2,638
45$2,567$2,567
50$2,545$2,545
55$2,416$2,416
60$2,426$2,426
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Car insurance rates for senior drivers in North Carolina

Senior drivers typically see their premiums rise with age, since insurers consider older drivers higher risk – slower reaction times and vision changes can both increase accident risk.

Men pay about $2,477 a year on average at 65, compared to $2,477 for women. That climbs to $2,677 for men and $2,677 for women by 70, and further still by 75, to $2,748 for men and $2,748 for women.

Rates rising doesn’t mean you’re out of options – a clean driving record and senior discounts can both help offset the increase.

Age of driverAverage annual cost for Male driversAverage annual cost for Female drivers
65$2,477$2,477
70$2,677$2,677
75$2,748$2,748
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Which cars are the cheapest and most expensive to insure in North Carolina?

Jeep Wrangler is the most affordable vehicle to insure in North Carolina, at $1,603 a year, while BMW M8 Gran Coupe tops the list as the priciest, at $5,520 a year. The vehicle you drive plays a major role in your premium – strong safety ratings, cheaper repairs, and fewer claims all bring costs down, while frequent theft, high repair bills, or higher accident rates push costs up.

Cheapest cars to insure in North Carolina

Topping the list for affordability is Jeep Wrangler, averaging $1,603 a year, followed closely by Jeep Gladiator at $1,713 a year. Here’s a look at the cheapest cars to insure in North Carolina and their average annual premiums:

Make ModelAvg. Annual Premium
Jeep Wrangler$1,603
Jeep Gladiator$1,713
Jeep Wrangler 4xe Hybrid$1,793
Subaru Outback$1,921
Subaru Crosstrek$1,962
Honda CR-V$1,972
Volkswagen Tiguan$1,994
Acura RDX$2,005
Honda Ridgeline$2,011
Honda Passport$2,037
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Most expensive cars to insure in North Carolina

No vehicle costs more to insure in North Carolina than BMW M8 Gran Coupe, which averages $5,520 a year. Here’s a look at the priciest vehicles to insure and their average annual premiums:

Make ModelAvg. Annual Premium
BMW M8 Gran Coupe$5,520
BMW M8$5,499
BMW M5 Touring$5,241
Audi RS7$5,241
Mercedes-AMG EQS$5,241
Audi RS6$5,205
Audi S8$5,163
BMW M5$5,045
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo$4,893
Mercedes-Benz S-Class$4,872
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Methodology

To determine average premiums, Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services for 2026 car insurance data. Our team of data analysts and editors analyzed quotes from 195 insurance companies across 34,595 ZIP codes.

Rates are based on a sample profile of 40-year-old male and female drivers driving a Honda Accord LX with a clean driving record and a good insurance score. We gathered quotes across three coverage levels:

  • Full coverage: limits of $100,000 per person for bodily injury, $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 for property damage per accident.
  • State minimum: the lowest coverage your state legally allows.
  • Liability only: limits of $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident, and $100,000 for property damage per accident.

Additionally, we collected average rates for drivers across four age groups:

  • Teen drivers (16-19)
  • Young drivers (20-24)
  • Adult drivers (25-26)
  • Senior drivers (65-75)

To compare costs across vehicles, we also analyzed rates for 1,549 make and model combinations, based on a 40-year-old male driver with the same coverage level (100/300/100 limits with a $500 collision/comprehensive deductible), a 12-mile commute, and 10,000 annual mileage.

The national average comes to $2,578. These rates are for comparison purposes, and your own rates may vary.

65.7M

Quotes reviewed

195

No. of carriers analyzed

34.5K

ZIP codes analyzed

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Alisha Ambre

 
  

Alisha Ambre holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours in English Literature and Media Studies. She focuses on crafting clear, engaging content that makes complex information feel practical and approachable for everyday readers. When she’s not writing, she’s likely on the volleyball court or immersed in a good video game.

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