Non-owner auto insurance in North Carolina: Which company has the cheapest rates?

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Non-owner auto insurance in North Carolina costs $989 per year, which is $636 more than the national average, according to Insure.com’s rate analysis.

In North Carolina, non-owner policies are available from companies such as Nationwide, State Farm and Erie Insurance.

Non-owner car insurance is a policy for people who don’t own a car but often borrow or rent a vehicle. It provides liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage in case you get in an accident while driving a car owned by someone else.

“Non-owner policies provide the minimum coverage required by the state, as well as some optional add-ons, but there are specific requirements by the insurance carriers to provide this coverage in lieu of a traditional auto insurance policy,” says Patti Clement, senior vice president of private client services at HUB International, a leading personal insurance brokerage.

Learn more about the various requirements, what non-owner insurance is, which companies offer it and how much it costs in North Carolina.

How much does non-owner car insurance cost in North Carolina?

Non-owner insurance is usually less expensive than full coverage auto insurance—insurance companies view non-owner policyholders as less risky because they have minimal access to a car.

On average in the U.S., it costs a driver with a clean driving record and good credit score $1,895 a year for a 100/300/100 full coverage insurance policy—$100,000 for injuries you cause in an accident, up to $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 for any damages to property. Full coverage car insurance is $1,324 in North Carolina.

On the other hand, non-owner car insurance costs $353 a year on average in the United States and $989 in North Carolina.

But actual rates are based on where in North Carolina you live, your age and driving history and other points.

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Which insurer offers the cheapest non-owner insurance rates in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, Kemper Insurance’s non-owner insurance policy is the cheapest at $283 a year.

At $1,676 a year, Progressive charges the highest rate for non-owner insurance in the state.

You should compare quotes from multiple insurers to find the best price. The cheapest non-owner policies available in North Carolina are listed below.

Cheapest non-owner insurance rates in North Carolina

How much is non-owner car insurance in North Carolina by age?

Age plays an important role in pricing because young people who haven’t been driving for a long time are seen as higher risk and are more likely to cause an accident. So older and more experienced drivers usually enjoy lower rates. On average, non-owner insurance costs $1,244 a year for a 16-year-old and $972 for a 45-year-old in North Carolina.

Average non-owner car insurance rates in North Carolina by age

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.

Which North Carolina cities have the cheapest non-owner auto insurance?

It’s common for rates to vary greatly from ZIP code to ZIP code. When insurance companies set rates, they consider the frequency of thefts, collisions and vandalism in an area.

The tables below show which cities in North Carolina have the lowest and highest non-owner car insurance rates.

The 20 North Carolina cities with the lowest non-owner car insurance rates

The 20 North Carolina cities with the highest non-owner auto insurance rates

How much is non-owner auto insurance in North Carolina’s 10 biggest cities?

The most populous cities in North Carolina have different non-owner insurance rates. The cost of non-owner insurance in Charlotte is the highest at $1,286, while Burnsville and Crumpler have the cheapest rates of the largest cities in the state at $807.

Non-owner car rates in North Carolina’s 10 largest cities

How non-owner insurance rates in North Carolina compare to rates in other states

Non-owner auto insurance rates also differ from state to state. North Carolina’s average non-owner insurance rate is $989 a year, more than the $353 average nationally. At $170 per year, South Dakota is the cheapest, followed by Idaho at an average of $190 per year. Iowa is the third most affordable at $193 annually.

Non-owner car insurance rates in the 10 most populous states

What does non-owner auto insurance cover? 

Non-owner auto insurance provides coverage when you are driving a vehicle you don’t own. “If someone with non-owner auto insurance is involved in an accident while driving a rental car or a friend’s car, the policy typically covers liability for damages and injuries to others,” says Golnoush Goharzad, a personal injury attorney in California. 

 An important caveat is these policies don’t cover damage to the car you are driving. “That would be covered under the car owner’s policy or possibly through optional insurance purchased from the rental agency,” Goharzad says.  

Goharzad adds that non-owner auto insurance policies may provide extra coverage. “Non-owner policies may also provide supplementary liability over and above what the car owner’s policy covers, filling in gaps if the primary policy’s limits are exhausted.” 

How to get non-owner car insurance in North Carolina

To get a non-owner policy, you need your driver’s license number and a credit or debit card.

To purchase a policy, follow these steps:

1. Contact an auto insurance agent about the coverage
2. Supply your basic driving history
3. Review the information you receive on the insurers and rates
4. Choose the policy that best meets your needs
5. Put down a payment to begin coverage

Often, you’ll receive proof of insurance very quickly.

For a quote on a non-owner insurance policy, don’t go online and call your insurer instead.

“Before you buy, phone several insurers and request free car insurance quotes to make sure you pay the lowest price,” says Bruce Mohr, senior investment advisor and credit consultant at Fair Credit, a consumer-credit service and consulting company.

Below are some insurers with contact numbers to call for a non-owner insurance quote.

• State Farm: 800-782-8332
• Geico: 800-207-7847
• Progressive: 888-671-4405
• Allstate: 800-726-6033
• USAA: 800-531-8722

Methodology

Insure.com in 2023 compiled non-owner insurance rates from Quadrant Information Services for a 40-year-old male with a good driving record looking for a state minimum, liability-only policy.

What our expert says

Q: Does a non-owner policy cover damage to your car?

Golnoush GoharzadPersonal injury attorney, California.

These policies don’t cover damage to the car you are driving, Goharzad says. “That would be covered under the car owner’s policy or possibly through optional insurance purchased from the rental agency.”

Explore other insurance options in North-Carolina

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Leslie Kasperowicz

Managing Editor

 

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Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at Insurance.com.