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North Carolina has some of the lowest car insurance premiums in the country. Even with low rates, customers still have to shop for the coverage that best suits their needs. We’ve assessed several providers to help you make your decision.
For the best auto insurance in North Carolina, we’ve chosen Erie Insurance for its affordable prices and money-saving options. To choose the top carriers, we looked at the largest companies by market share in the state. We then analyzed their financial strength and customer ratings, average rates, and offerings.
The 5 Best Car Insurance Companies in North Carolina
| Erie Insurance | State Farm | GEICO | Nationwide | Progressive | |
| Our review | Our review | Our review | Our review | ||
| A.M Best Financial Strength Rating | A+ | A++ | A++ | A+ | A+ |
| J.D. Power 2019 Overall Customer Satisfaction Score(Southeast Region) | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Avg. Annual Premium | $547 | $553 | $353 | $883 | $371 |
Quadrant car insurance rate data as of 04/16/2020
Erie Insurance
Best North Carolina Car Insurance
Pros
- Erie Rate Lock
- Diminishing deductible option
Cons
- Limited online capabilities
Erie Insurance offers drivers several ways to save money. Aside from being one of the cheapest auto insurance companies, Erie Insurance provides Erie Rate Lock and diminishing deductibles.
Erie Rate Lock allows customers to pay the same premium year after year. Even after making a claim, your rates don’t change unless the vehicle or driver on the policy changes. Diminishing deductible is available through Erie Auto Plus. The cost of this add-on is the cheapest in North Carolina.
Erie Insurance may not be right for customers who prefer to handle things digitally. You can pay bills online, but the only claim that you can file online is for glass repair. Everything else needs to go directly through an agent.
State Farm
Best North Carolina Car Insurance
Pros
- Several discount programs
- Online resources
Cons
- Missing some common add-ons
State Farm has several possible discounts for North Carolina drivers. It offers good driving discounts, accident-free discounts, airbag discounts, and more. It also provides drivers with a resource library to help with vehicle ownership, safety, and lots of other useful topics.
On the other hand, State Farm lacks optional coverage that’s common with other companies. For example, it doesn’t offer gap coverage or new car replacement.
GEICO
Best North Carolina Car Insurance
Pros
- Very affordable
- Helpful mobile app
Cons
- Can be challenging to find a local agent
Out of all the companies we looked at, GEICO has the cheapest annual premium. Customers also appreciate the company’s mobile app. It lets you access your information, pay bills, submit accident photos, and much more.
One downfall to the company’s focus on mobile and internet service is that it can be difficult to find someone to deal with in person. Its agent network is smaller than what some other companies offer, so it might be hard for customers to find someone locally in North Carolina.
Nationwide
Best North Carolina Car Insurance
Pros
- Several possible discounts
- Helpful online quote tool
Cons
- Expensive rates
Nationwide is one of the top three most expensive providers that we examined. It does, however, offer many possible discounts for North Carolina car owners. This includes deductions for safe driving and anti-theft devices, among other things.
Customers can use the online quote tool to find both pre-built insurance quotes and customized quotes. That way, you can better adjust coverage to reflect your needs and actual cost.
Progressive
Best North Carolina Car Insurance
Pros
- Affordable rates
- Name Your Price Tool
Cons
- Low customer satisfaction rating
Progressive is one of the most affordable providers we examined, and the Name Your Price Tool helps with that. With this tool, North Carolina drivers can input their budget, answer some questions, and receive a variety of options that fit their price range.
The company’s overall customer satisfaction rating with J.D. Power is lower than average. If you can sacrifice a less-than-stellar customer service experience when filing claims or handling issues, you’ll get some of the lowest rates around.
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in North Carolina
| Largest Companies by Market Share in North Carolina | Average Annual Premium |
| GEICO | $353 |
| Progressive | $371 |
| Erie Insurance | $547 |
| State Farm | $553 |
| Travelers | $596 |
| Allstate | $722 |
| Travelers | $723 |
| Metropolitan Insurance | $731 |
| Allied Insurance | $743 |
| Nationwide | $883 |
Car Insurance by Credit Rating
| Credit Rating tier | Average Annual Premium |
| Poor | $916 |
| Below Fair | $782 |
| Fair | $720 |
| Average | $648 |
| Good | $594 |
| Excellent | $541 |
| Average Across Credit Rating Tiers | $700 |
Top 3 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in North Carolina
- GEICO – $353
- Progressive – $371
- Erie Insurance – $547
Top 3 Most Expensive Car Insurance Companies in North Carolina
- Nationwide – $883
- Allied Insurance – $743
- Metropolitan Insurance – $731
The cheapest car insurance companies in North Carolina are GEICO, Progressive, and Erie Insurance. The most expensive companies are Nationwide, Allied Insurance, and Metropolitan Insurance.
We used general profiles to get our rates. Factors such as age, location, gender, or even marital status can determine your auto insurance rate. To find the best prices for your coverage needs, we recommend requesting personalized quotes from each company.
Guide to Car Insurance in North Carolina
Minimum Coverage Requirements for North Carolina
The minimum liability requirements are different for every state. Minimum liability refers to the minimum amount of coverage you can have to drive a car legally. Auto insurance includes two main types of liability: bodily injury and property damage. If there’s an accident where you’re at fault, liability insurance helps cover the other party’s medical costs and vehicle repair.
North Carolina’s minimum liability coverage is:
- $30,000 for bodily injury coverage per person
- $60,000 for bodily injury coverage per accident
- $25,000 for property damage coverage per accident
You commonly see this information in shorthand, written as 30/60/25.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Along with minimum liability insurance, North Carolina requires drivers to have uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage protects you in accidents with uninsured drivers. With this policy, the vehicle’s owner is covered, along with their family, other drivers, and all passengers.
How We Found the Best North Carolina Car Insurance Companies
To find the best car insurance providers in North Carolina, we started with the largest companies in the state by market share. We took note of their financial standings with companies like AM Best, S&P, and Moody’s to verify they’re stable enough to pay out claims. From there, we looked at overall customer satisfaction using J.D. Power ratings to ensure quality service.
We worked with Quadrant Information Services to provide data on auto insurance rates by company and credit score. Quadrant makes this information available using rate data that insurers are required to file with the state Department of Insurance. Rates are based on sample profiles created by Reviews.com for comparative purposes.
North Carolina Car Insurance Companies FAQ
Can you drive without car insurance in North Carolina?
You’re not permitted to drive without car insurance in North Carolina. Uninsured drivers can face fees of up to $150.
What are average auto insurance rates in North Carolina?
Average auto insurance rates in North Carolina are about $838. This is lower than the national average of about $1,333.
About the Authors
Lorraine Roberte is a South Florida-based personal finance writer. Her work has been published on sites such as Thrive Global, Elephant Journal, Red Tricycle and Tweak Your Biz.
