Car insurance in North Carolina
Shown here are some statistics, facts and recent rates on car insurance for vehicle owners in the state of North Carolina. Read on and learn how to obtain lower-than-average car insurance premiums the easy way.
North Carolina Minimum Liability Coverage
According to North Carolina state law, the minimum amount of insurance coverage required for vehicle owners is 30/60/25. That’s insurance carrier shorthand for $30,000 in personal injury protection, $60,000 in multiple injury protection and $25,000 in coverage against property damage for each vehicle owned. This may seem like a lot to some of us, but experts insist that drivers should really have no less than 100/300 coverage for each owned vehicle in the United States. Uninsured Motorist Insurance (UMI) is also recommended.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in North Carolina
In North Carolina, the first such offense will result in a fifty dollar fine and a suspended license for 30 days. Subsequent offenses are met with larger fines and longer license suspensions. Other penalties include reinstatement fees, raised car insurance premiums and a lot of time wasted.
Auto Insurance Rates in North Carolina
In 2016, North Carolina had the seventh lowest average annual car insurance premiums in the nation. The average yearly premium for auto insurance in North Carolina was only $987 in 2016, as compared to the overall national average of $1,347 at that time. North Carolina has a strong economy, relatively low population density and a vast availability of insurance carriers. This would account for the low yearly rates, according to reports from Top50States.com.
Low Cost Car Insurance Programs in North Carolina
Erie Car Insurance is well known for its offers of safe driver discounts, good student discounts, senior citizen discounts, anti theft device discounts, multi auto discounts, multi policy discounts and more. Many car insurance carriers advertise discounts, partly to encourage healthy driving habits, but mostly to win you as a customer. Experts unanimously agree that the best way to cut costs on car insurance is to qualify for every possible discount. This saves many North Carolina drivers hundreds of dollars a year in premium costs.
Obtaining Auto Insurance Quotes in North Carolina
Based on consumer reviews recently posted online, the most popular car insurance carriers in North Carolina are Allstate, Encompass, Geico, Liberty Mutual, State Farm and 21st Century Insurance. Still, some North Carolina drivers opt for smaller companies who operate locally. The best of these are Direct General, Excelsior and Erie.
For more information, contact the North Carolina Insurance Center at your local DMV. To see a carrier’s complaint ratio, visit the website for the North Carolina Department of Insurance. Then call all the well reputed carriers in your area and ask about their discount opportunities. Then compare quotes. It’s that easy.
North Carolina Car Insurance
North Carolina car insurance is already some of the cheapest car insurance in the whole United States. However, North Carolina drivers who read this page can find ways to reduce their car insurance premium rates even further.
In 2016, the state of North Carolina had an estimated population of 10,146,788. This means that North Carolina is the 9th most populous state in the country.
About 16.4 percent of the population of North Carolina lives at or below the poverty income level. This is somewhat higher than the national average poverty rate of 13.5 percent. On the other hand, North Carolina’s unemployment rate is very close to the national average of 4.7 percent. The rate of uninsured drivers on North Carolina roads is about 12 percent. The median age of the people who live in North Carolina is about 38.4 years.
Many drivers in North Carolina find themselves curious about the “statewide average” annual premium for North Carolina car insurance. However, statewide averages are not much help to most North Carolina drivers. To begin with, there is just too much difference in premium rates between zip codes. Another problem is that statewide averages are based on the demographics of an “average” driver, which is merely an imaginary entity invented by the minds of the researchers.
For example, it is unlikely that you are, let’s say, a 25-year-old married female driver with a clean driving record, a full time job, pretty good credit, and a 2015 Ford F-150 XL with antilock brakes and dual airbags, which you drive less than 15,000 miles a year in the state of North Carolina. Even if your demographic fits the description, your premium rate will still be affected by your zip code.
For those who really want to know, the statewide “average” premium on an auto insurance policy in the state of North Carolina was about $987 last year, making the state of North Carolina one of the cheapest states in America to buy car insurance. This figure is obviously way lower than the national “average” annual quote for car insurance at the time, which was about $1,325.
North Carolina drivers should obtain at least a few online quotes for North Carolina car insurance, by comparing zip codes within the state of North Carolina. It’s a good idea to get free online quotes from five or more auto insurance companies. Also obtain quotes for different zip codes in your area. This will provide a more detailed view of the car insurance premium options available to you.
Read on for facts and figures pertaining to North Carolina car insurance. This page features descriptions of both the cheapest and the priciest zip codes in North Carolina to purchase auto insurance. Also included is a list of the most popular auto insurance carriers in North Carolina, the largest auto insurance carriers in North Carolina, the types and amounts of auto insurance North Carolina drivers need, some antiquated North Carolina state traffic laws, and other interesting info pertaining to North Carolina car insurance.
Best Car Insurance Companies in North Carolina
Recently, a group of researchers determined the top ten auto insurance companies in America, based on total revenue. They are Allstate Insurance, State Farm Insurance, Geico, Progressive Insurance, Nationwide Group, AAA, Liberty Mutual Insurance, 21st Century Insurance, GMAC, and AIG, in that order. This study ranked car insurance companies by the dollar amount of written premiums, which indicates their market share.
In a separate study, policyholders from every state, including North Carolina, were asked to rank car insurance carriers based on customer care, claims processing, and premium rates. The results of this study showed that the most popular North Carolina car insurance companies for customer service are USAA, State Farm Insurance, Allstate Insurance, Nationwide Group, and Geico, in that order. For claims service, the North Carolina favorites are USAA, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Geico, Progressive Insurance, and State Farm, in that order. In terms of value for the price, the majority of North Carolina drivers select USAA, The General, Erie Insurance, Progressive Insurance, and State Farm Insurance, in that order.
Here is a list of the biggest auto insurance providers in North Carolina, based on market share:
Rank | Company | Premiums ($) | Market Share (%) |
1 | Nationwide Group | $819,201 | 15.9 |
2 | State Farm Group | $758,819 | 14.7 |
3 | Geico | $485,922 | 9.4 |
4 | North Carolina FB Insurance | $478,891 | 9.3 |
5 | Allstate Insurance Group | $476,543 | 9.2 |
6 | USAA Group | $383,217 | 7.4 |
7 | National General | $380,031 | 7.4 |
8 | Progressive Insurance Group | $248,828 | 4.8 |
9 | Erie Insurance Group | $183,987 | 3.6 |
10 | Liberty Mutual Insurance | $169,098 | 3.3 |
Drivers in North Carolina should definitely read consumer reviews of at least a few major North Carolina auto insurance companies, as well as reviews of some of the smaller, regional carriers. North Carolina car insurance company reviews can be found on websites such as reviews.com, expertinsurancereviews.com, consumerreviews.com, pissedconsumer.com, and yelp.com, among others. You might also visit the websites of A.M. Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB), to check on the financial strength and integrity of car insurance companies.
Remember that there is really no such thing as a The One Best North Carolina Car Insurance Company. Each auto insurance company is different. No auto insurance company is perfect. All auto insurance companies receive their share of complaints. This is not surprising, considering that there must be at least 50 million auto insurance policyholders in the United States.
Drivers in North Carolina need to compare North Carolina car insurance quotes in order to save even more money on auto insurance premiums.
What Types Of Car Insurance Do North Carolina Drivers Need?
The state-mandated minimum liability coverage for each vehicle owned in North Carolina is $30,000 in personal injury protection, $60,000 in bodily injury liability, and $25,000 in property damage liability.
However, this is not enough to cover the costs associated with most accidents. That’s why insurance experts recommend that drivers in North Carolina (not to mention every other U.S. state) purchase above the minimum amount of auto insurance coverage required by state law. The suggested coverage amounts for all drivers in the United States are $100,000 for personal injury protection, $300,000 in liability for injury to others, and at least $50,000 insurance against property damage.
Also recommended is uninsured / underinsured motorist insurance (UMI), as roughly 12 percent (about one out of eight) drivers in North Carolina is operating an uninsured vehicle. What’s worse, many other North Carolina drivers are underinsured, due to the state-mandated liability minimums not being high enough to cover the costs of real accidents.
For optimal vehicle protection, drivers in North Carolina should consider buying a bigger premium package that includes comprehensive and collision coverage. This will cover the cost of accidents, as well as other vehicular concerns, such as weather damage, car theft, vandalism, fire, falling objects, and animal collisions, to name just a few.
Outdated North Carolina Traffic Laws
- It is illegal in Dunn, North Carolina to take a joyride in a car through a city cemetery.
- Also in Dunn, there exists a written law against driving a car on a sidewalk.
- In Elon College, North Carolina, it is illegal to go rollerblading on roads during daylight hours.
- In Southern Shores, it is against the law to rollerblade on a state highway.
- In Forest City, a driver must stop and phone City Hall before entering town in an automobile.
Best And Worst Zip Codes For North Carolina Car Insurance
Auto insurance premium rates in North Carolina are affected by factors such as population density, weather conditions, and crime rates in each zip code.
Here is a list of the four most expensive zip codes in North Carolina to buy car insurance. In certain North Carolina zip codes, annual premium rates can reach up to $1,250 per vehicle. However, this amount is quite low compared to most other U.S. States.
Zip Code | Pop Density | Unemployed % | Poverty % |
28311 (Fayetteville) | 916 | 12.30% | 15.90% |
Although the poverty rate in this zip code is a bit below the state average of 16.4 percent. Unemployment is nearly three times the state (and national) average. Still, the population density is light. All four of these “most expensive” North Carolina zip codes seem to have the same average annual rate on car insurance. Quotes in these zip codes may seem high to a lot of North Carolina drivers, but it’s breath of fresh air compared to many other states.
Zip Code | Pop Density | Unemployed % | Poverty % |
28314 (Fayetteville) | 2,347 | 12.40% | 15.20% |
Unemployment in this zip code is also almost three times the state average, and the poverty rate is again below the state average. The population density is in the mid range.
Zip Code | Pop Density | Unemployed % | Poverty % |
28348 (Hope Mills) | 759 | 9.90% | 12.10% |
The town of Hope Mills, located just south of Fayetteville, has a population of more than 33,000. This zip code is about 85 percent urban and about 15 percent rural. Poverty is well below the state average, although unemployment is still slightly high here.
Zip Code | Pop Density | Unemployed % | Poverty % |
28356 (Linden) | 90 | 9.70% | 18.00% |
Poverty and unemployment are above the state average in this extremely rural zip code in Cumberland County, about 20 miles northeast of Fayetteville. Population density is light.
The least expensive zip codes for North Carolina car insurance are listed below. Annual premium rates seem to range from around $450 to about $950.
Zip Code | Pop Density | Unemployed % | Poverty % |
28704 (Arden) | 619 | 5.50% | 11.10% |
Unemployment in this zip code is approaching the state and national average, and the poverty rate is well below the state average of 16.4 percent. A light population density allows for cheap rates on North Carolina car insurance.
According to a study, this zip code is the 2nd cheapest zip code in the whole United States to buy car insurance. The 10 cheapest zip codes in America are 44836 (Green Springs, OH), 28704 (Arden, NC), 04072 (Saco, ME), 24073 (Christiansburg, VA), 83706 (Boise, ID), 86403 (Lake Havasu City, AZ), 47907 (West Lafayette, IN), 54302 (Allouez, WI), 03303 (Concord, NH), and 61761 (Normal, IL), in that order.
Zip Code | Pop Density | Unemployed % | Poverty % |
27283 (Julian) | 106 | 6.90% | 5.90% |
Julian is an unincorporated community located less than 20 miles southeast of Greensboro. In this zip code, the poverty rate is extremely low, and unemployment is only slightly high. The population density is also low here, and so are the North Carolina car insurance premiums.
Zip Code | Pop Density | Unemployed % | Poverty % |
27360 (Thomasville) | 529 | 12.50% | 18.70% |
Thomasville is a town of more than 46,000 people, situated just a few miles southwest of High Point. Poverty and unemployment in this zip code are above both the state and national average, but the population density is low.
Zip Code | Pop Density | Unemployed % | Poverty % |
27358 (Summerfield) | 277 | 3.90% | 2.50% |
Summerfield is a town in Guilford County, located about 10 miles north of Greensboro. This zip code features a nice light population density and extremely low poverty and unemployment rates. In fact, it would seem that this zip code should have cheaper auto insurance premium rates than the above mentioned three, but again, the rates are about the same.
All in all, the state of North Carolina is home to 1,080 zip codes in 760 cities spread out over 100 counties, from Aberdeen to Zebulon and every place in between. Annual rates on car insurance in North Carolina are not as volatile as they are in other states. Still, premium rates can vary by more than $300 between the cheapest zip code and the priciest zip code in the state of North Carolina.
This information should help drivers in North Carolina research the cost of car insurance premiums in their zip codes. To learn more about your own North Carolina car insurance premium options, enter your demographic info as prompted, and compare a few online quotes.
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