Low-cost car insurance in North Carolina

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Drivers in North Carolina can find the cheapest average premium with Progressive, at $1,460 per year. By comparison, the statewide average monthly cost is $220. Keep in mind that rates vary for each driver depending on factors like driving record, ZIP code, and vehicle type.

Since auto insurance laws differ by state, North Carolina requires drivers to carry at least $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $100,000 for property damage liability.

For broader protection, full coverage may be a smart option. It combines liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance, giving you coverage not only for other drivers but also for your own vehicle if it’s damaged in a crash, stolen, or affected by severe weather.

Here’s how different insurers stack up for drivers in North Carolina, depending on your situation.

Key Takeaways

Progressive offers the lowest car insurance rates in North Carolina, at $1,460 per year, which is about $1,178 the state average.
Progressive has the lowest car insurance rates for drivers with a history of at-fault accidents, with an average annual cost of $2,091.
The ZIP code 27110 has the low-cost car insurance rates in North Carolina, at an average annual rate of $2,156.

Low-cost car insurance companies in North Carolina

Among all insurers in North Carolina, Progressive comes in lowest at $1,460 per year – $1,178 less than the statewide average. Keep in mind that your actual premium depends on factors like age, driving history, ZIP code, and the type of car you drive.

Comparing quotes from multiple companies is the best way to make sure you’re getting a competitive rate.

Below are the annual premiums from the cheapest car insurance companies in North Carolina.

Company	Average annual rates
Progressive	$1,460
State Farm	$1,653
Nationwide	$2,486
Penn National Insurance	$2,713
North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance	$2,719
GEICO	$3,111
Allstate	$4,342

How we choose low-cost car insurance companies in North Carolina

195+

Carriers reviewed

65M+

Quotes analysed

34K+

ZIP codes examined

ZIP codes with the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina

In North Carolina, drivers living in the 27110 ZIP code enjoy the lowest average annual premium at $2,156. Check the table below to see which other ZIP codes in the state have more affordable rates.

Zipcode	City	Average annual rates
27110	Winston-Salem	$2,156
27157	Winston-Salem	$2,249
28531	Harkers Island	$2,264
28575	Salter Path	$2,269
28512	Atlantic Beach	$2,277
27517	Chapel Hill	$2,279
28460	Sneads Ferry	$2,282
28594	Emerald Isle	$2,284
28445	Holly Ridge	$2,285
28528	Gloucester	$2,286

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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.

Car insurance rates in North Carolina by city

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Low-cost car insurance in North Carolina by age

Teen drivers in North Carolina pay higher insurance rates than adult drivers because they are more likely to get into accidents and file claims. For example, our data shows that a 16-year-old driver pays $5,313 more than a 40-year-old driver in North Carolina.

The table below shows low-cost car insurance rates for drivers of different ages.

Age group	Full coverage annual premiums
Teens (16-19)	$6,136
Young Adults (20-24)	$2,946
Adults (25-60)	$2,530
Seniors (65-75)	$2,634

Low-cost car insurance in North Carolina by driver history

Insurers weigh your driving record heavily when setting premiums. You can expect your rates to rise if you’re ticketed or at fault in an accident. On the other hand, drivers with clean records are considered lower risk and usually qualify for cheaper coverage.

Low-cost car insurance after a speeding ticket in North Carolina

A single speeding ticket in North Carolina can push your rates up by 47%, or about $1,245. Along with the fine, that makes speeding a costly mistake. Here are a few insurers that still provide lower-priced coverage after a ticket.

Company	Average annual premium	New rate after accident	% Increase	$ Increase
Progressive	$1,460	$2,034	39%	$574
State Farm	$1,653	$2,315	40%	$662
Nationwide	$2,486	$3,500	41%	$1,014
Penn National Insurance	$2,713	$3,822	41%	$1,109
North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance	$2,719	$3,829	41%	$1,110
GEICO	$3,111	$5,253	69%	$2,142
Allstate	$4,342	$6,641	53%	$2,299

Low-cost car insurance after an accident in North Carolina

Being at fault in an accident will drive your premiums up, but some insurers remain more affordable than others. Progressive is the lowest-cost option for these drivers, with an average annual premium of $2,091.

If you’ve had an accident, comparing quotes can help you avoid overpaying. See the table below for the cheapest companies after one at-fault accident.

Company	Average annual premium	New rate after accident	% Increase	$ Increase
Progressive	$1,460	$2,091	43%	$631
State Farm	$1,653	$2,382	44%	$729
Nationwide	$2,486	$3,591	44%	$1,105
Penn National Insurance	$2,713	$3,933	45%	$1,220
North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance	$2,719	$3,941	45%	$1,222
GEICO	$3,111	$7,343	136%	$4,232
Allstate	$4,342	$8,405	94%	$4,063

Low-cost car insurance after a DUI in North Carolina

Being labeled a high-risk driver after a DUI usually means paying much more for car insurance. However, some insurers are less expensive than others. The table below shows which companies in North Carolina offer the most affordable rates after a DUI conviction.

Company	Average annual premium	New rate after accident	% Increase	$ Increase
Progressive	$1,460	$5,359	267%	$3,899
State Farm	$1,653	$6,167	273%	$4,514
Nationwide	$2,486	$9,443	280%	$6,957
Penn National Insurance	$2,713	$10,248	278%	$7,535
GEICO	$3,111	$14,834	377%	$11,723
North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance	$2,719	$15,799	481%	$13,080
Allstate	$4,342	$18,068	316%	$13,726

Average cost of car insurance North Carolina

Full coverage insurance costs more than minimum liability insurance, but the extra cost is worth it for most drivers. That’s because minimum liability only pays for injuries or damage you cause to others, leaving you to cover repairs or replacement of your own car out of pocket. Full coverage, on the other hand, includes collision and comprehensive insurance, so your vehicle is protected in situations like accidents, theft, storms, or vandalism.

The average cost of full coverage car insurance in North Carolina is $60 more than the national average car insurance rates in the U.S.

We recommend that you carry at least coverage limits of 100/300/100 – that’s $100,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 in property damage coverage. These limits provide a better safety net if you’re involved in a serious accident where costs could quickly exceed minimum requirements.

What is full coverage car insurance?

Full coverage refers to liability insurance plus both collision and comprehensive. Collision pays for damage to your vehicle after an accident, while comprehensive covers non-collision events like theft, fire, or hail damage.

If you lease or finance your vehicle in North Carolina, your lender may require collision and comprehensive insurance on top of the state’s liability minimums.

The bottom line on saving and staying protected

Everyone wants to save on car insurance, but skimping on coverage can leave you with big bills after an accident.

The best approach is to balance affordability with protection. Always compare quotes from at least three companies to find the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina.

Methodology

Insure.com gathered data from Quadrant Information Services to get car insurance rates in North Carolina. The rates are based on a sample profile of a 40-year-old male and female driving a Honda Accord LX with a good insurance score and no violation on record for a full coverage insurance policy with limits 100/300/100 and $500 comprehensive and collision deductibles.

We analyzed 65,756,440 insurance quotes from 195 insurance companies across 34,595 ZIP codes nationwide.

To determine car insurance rates for high-risk drivers with a history of traffic violations, we used a sample profile of a 40-year-old male and female driver who own a Honda Accord LX.

We also used sample profiles of drivers from different age groups: Teen drivers (Age 16-19), young drivers (Age 20-24), adult drivers (Age 25-60) and senior drivers (Age 65-75)

We determined the premiums for a high-risk driver with the following incidents applied

1 At-fault property damage accident over $2K
1 At-fault property damage accident under $2K
At-fault bodily injury accident
Poor credit
DUI/DWI first offense
Speeding 30+ over limit
Speeding ticket 1-10 MPH over limit
Speeding ticket 11-29 MPH over the limit

These are sample rates, and your exact rates may vary.

Read more about our research standards and methodology.

Shivani Gite

Contributing Writer

Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions.