Car insurance in Charlotte: Cheapest insurance and average rates

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Car insurance in Charlotte costs $1,824 per year for full coverage – $152 monthly. Erie Insurance offers the cheapest car insurance policy at $100 per month, according to the most recent data.

Charlotte is a city of nearly 800,000 people, making it the largest city in North Carolina and one of the 25 biggest in the U.S. It is home to more than 10 Fortune 1000 companies. It has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation in recent decades. 

If you are moving to Charlotte — or already live there — it is important to find the right car insurance policy. Fortunately, there are ways to get cheap car insurance in Charlotte that will provide the coverage you need. 

How to find the best car insurance in Charlotte

With the right tools and a little work, you can find the best car insurance policy in Charlotte that marries the coverage you need with a cost you can afford. 

Before shopping for car insurance, determine the type of policy you need, including the amount of coverage necessary to protect yourself. Make sure you get quotes from at least three companies comparing similar coverage limits and options and ask about any discounts you qualify for. It’s always best to buy as much coverage as you can afford.

Cheapest car insurance company in Charlotte

Erie Insurance provides the cheapest car insurance in Charlotte, according to recent data. It costs an average of $1,203 annually to purchase a full-coverage policy from the insurer.  The next cheapest car insurance companies are North Carolina Farm Bureau and State Farm.

See other cheap car insurance rates in Charlotte in the table below.

Average annual rates from insurers in Charlotte

How much is car insurance in Charlotte per month?

Charlotte residents can expect to pay an average of $152 per month in full coverage car insurance costs, or $50 per month for the state minimum coverage.

Of course, some drivers pay less than this average, while others pay more. Factors determining how much you pay for car insurance include the insurance company you choose and the coverage you need. 

Other factors — including your age and gender, car type, and history of accidents and violations — also influence car insurance costs.  

Monthly rates for car insurance in Charlotte, North Carolina

How do rates in Charlotte compare to other large cities in the U.S.?

The cost of coverage in Charlotte compares favorably to other major cities. Charlotte drivers pay more than other North Carolina drivers – the statewide rate is $1,741 annually, compared with Charlotte’s $1,824.

See how much you can expect to pay for car insurance in several major U.S. cities in the table below.

Full-coverage car insurance costs in major U.S. metropolitan areas

Here’s what you need to know when driving in Charlotte

For a city its size, Charlotte’s traffic problems are relatively manageable. However, it still ranks as the 35th most-congested city in the U.S., according to INRIX, which looks at traffic patterns.

In 2022, drivers in Charlotte lost an average of 25 hours in traffic, according to INRIX.

If you are driving in the Charlotte area during rush hour, you can expect to spend an extra 14.5 minutes in traffic, according to the website CoPilot. That places Charlotte at No. 40 among all cities in the nation when it comes to losing time due to rush hour. 

Other things to remember when driving around Charlotte:

• Speed limits in Charlotte are typically 35 mph in residential areas and 65 mph on urban freeways. Variations on these limits should be posted on roads where other speed limits apply.
• Charlotte has a toll road known as the Monroe Expressway that is located southeast of the city. The city also has I-77 Express Lanes that are intended to ease congestion between Charlotte and Mooresville.
• Charlotte drivers must use headlights from sunset to sunrise, when visibility is restricted to 400 feet or less due to light conditions, and when using windshield wipers during stormy weather. 

How much car insurance do I need in Charlotte?

North Carolina law requires you to purchase a minimum amount of liability car insurance coverage. These amounts are: 

• $30,000 per person for bodily injury liability
• $60,000 per accident for bodily injury
• $25,000 of coverage for property damage

This is often referred to as “30/60/25 coverage.”

However, these minimum levels of coverage will not be adequate for most drivers. 

“The minimum amount of insurance required by the state you live in may be insufficient to pay for all damages caused in an accident,” says Rick Kautzer, director of personal lines product management for Dairyland Insurance. 

Many drivers will prefer to carry much higher levels of liability coverage so they are better protected financially. In addition, liability insurance does not cover you or your car. 

“Minimum state requirements may not include coverage for damages to your own car or injury to you,” Kautzer says.  

That means drivers also might be interested in going beyond the minimums and protecting their own vehicles by purchasing insurance beyond the minimum, such as comprehensive and collision coverage. 

Average cost of car insurance in Charlotte

The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in Charlotte is $1,824 annually. That compares to a statewide average of $1,741 and a nationwide average of $1,895. 

Annual average rates in Charlotte for state minimum coverage and full coverage

How much does car insurance in Charlotte cost with violations?

Moving violations on your driving record are likely to push your car insurance rates higher. Violations such as speeding tickets often cause a significant but manageable rise in rates. 

Other types of violations can make rates climb much higher. This is particularly true if you are convicted of a DUI. 

See rate increases in Charlotte in the table below by violation.

Cheapest car insurance in Charlotte by age

Your age will impact how much you pay for car insurance. The youngest drivers tend to pay the highest rates. Older drivers also are likely to pay more. See how much you can expect to pay by age in the table below.

Annual rates for state minimum and full coverage car insurance in Charlotte, by age

Compare auto insurance rates in Charlotte by ZIP code 

Where you live also plays a role in how much you pay for car insurance. Here are the Charlotte area ZIP codes with the cheapest and most expensive car insurance rates. 

See the tables below for the cheapest and most expensive ZIP codes for car insurance in Charlotte. 

Cheapest annual car insurance rates in Charlotte, by ZIP code 

Most expensive annual car insurance rates in Charlotte, by ZIP code 

Our recommendations: Car insurance for drivers in Charlotte

If low prices are your top focus when shopping for car insurance, Erie Insurance might be your best choice. It has the lowest average rates in our survey. 

However, it’s often a mistake to shop by price alone. It is crucial to ensure you have the coverage you need, even if you have to pay a little more for it. 

Shopping around and gathering quotes from several insurance companies is the best way to get the coverage you need at the best price. 

A full coverage insurance policy with liability limits of 100/300/100 is the best option for most drivers. Consider increasing your liability limits as you accumulate wealth and your net worth increases. Purchasing as much car insurance as you can afford will give you peace of mind as you navigate the roads of Charlotte.

Resources & Methodology

Methodology

In 2024, Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to pull rates for a 40-year-old who has a 12-mile commute and drives a 2023 Honda Accord LX 10k miles annually. The hypothetical driver has full coverage, carrying policy limits of 100/300/100 with $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverages. We analyzed 51,088,003 insurance quotes from 167 companies across 34,588 ZIP codes in every state and Washington, D.C.

Chris Kissell

Contributing Researcher

 

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Chris Kissell is a Denver-based writer and editor with work featured on U.S. News & World Report, MSN Money, Fox Business, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, Money Talks News and more.