How to find the cheapest car insurance in Durham
On average, auto insurance in Durham costs about $76 per month for minimum coverage liability insurance, and about $150 per month for full coverage insurance. Durham drivers pay 18% less than the North Carolina average.
Each month, Jerry helps thousands of wise car insurance shoppers in Durham compare and buy car insurance easily and efficiently. Here are some of the cheapest Durham car insurance quotes we found.
|
Insurance Company
|
Premium (monthly)
|
Age
|
Zip Code
|
Car
|
Liability Limits
|
Has Full Coverage
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $63 | 33 | 27703 | Nissan Altima | State Minimum | No |
| National General | $132 | 19 | 27707 | Volkswagen Beetle | State Minimum | Yes |
| Progressive | $372 | 18 | 27703 | Honda Civic Lx | State Minimum | No |
| Safeco | $214 | 62 | 27707 | Nissan Sentra S | 100/300 | Yes |
| Progressive | $117 | 26 | 27713 | Honda Cr-V Ex | State Minimum | Yes |
Average cost of car insurance in Durham
After working with thousands of auto insurance policyholders in Durham, we’ve found that the average cost of minimum liability coverage is $76 per month or $912 per year. The average cost of full coverage insurance in Durham is $150 per month or $1,800 per year. That said, costs can vary hundreds of dollars based on each driver’s specific profile.
Average car insurance expenses can help you estimate potential insurance costs—but each driver’s insurance premium will be different. Your coverage type, driving history, zip code, vehicle make and model, age, and claims history will all impact your rate.
Best car insurance companies in Durham
To find out which insurance company offers the cheapest car insurance rates in Durham (and throughout the country), Jerry surveyed 15,000 policyholders—the largest insurance shopping survey in the nation.
Here’s what we found -there isn’t a single provider that offers the best rates for every driver, which makes sense considering the plethora of factors and formulas that make car insurance rates vary person-to-person and insurer to insurer.
The best way to pin down the most affordable car insurance rates is to shop around and compare quotes from multiple providers. Rates aren’t all there are to consider either—claims handling and customer service practices matter, too!
State Farm, GEICO, Progressive, Allstate, USAA, and Liberty Mutual are each popular insurers in Durham. But the right insurer for you will depend on both personal preferences and details like your age and driving history. Here’s a look at how Durham drivers rated some popular insurers on a scale of 0 to 5.
| Insurance company | Overall rating | Price | Claims Experience | Customer Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | 4.4 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 4.4 |
| USAA | 4.3 | 3.7 | 4.8 | 4.3 |
| State Farm | 4.2 | 3.3 | 4.7 | 4.3 |
| Geico | 4.1 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 4.2 |
| Liberty Mutual | 3.9 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 3.8 |
How’d we get these scores?
Jerry’s experts conducted one of the largest car insurance surveys in the United States. We surveyed 15,000 policyholders, in all 50 states, over the span of 18 months. These policyholders hold insurance policies with 87 different insurance companies. We surveyed policyholders to gauge their satisfaction with their insurance carriers in: policy cost, customer service, buying and renewal experience, as well as claim experience. These scores were all reported by real customers of the insurance companies.
Car insurance quotes in Durham by rating factors
Insurance companies in Durham use multiple factors to determine your car insurance rate:
- Your driving record and claims history: Safe drivers with clean driving records and zero insurance claims are typically quoted the lowest rates.
- Where you keep and drive your car: Rates are usually higher for those who live in areas with higher crime rates and more claims filed. This can vary by zip code within the same city.
- The kind of car you have: Minimum liability insurance and full coverage are more costly for high-tech, luxury, high-performance, and sports cars.
- How you use your car: If you only use your vehicle for leisurely driving, your car insurance rates will be lower than if you drive to and from work daily.
- Your credit score: A higher credit score can bring down your rates.
Cheap car insurance quotes in Durham by age
Young drivers with minimal driving experience tend to pay higher premiums, even with a clean driving record. Senior drivers in their mid-70s also face higher insurance rates.
Cheapest car insurance in Durham for young drivers
Teen drivers from ages 16 to 19 typically pay the highest rates for car insurance in Durham. This is because teen drivers are more likely to get into accidents due to their limited driving experience.
It’s therefore a good idea to ensure teen drivers have the protection of full coverage insurance—especially if they’re driving a newer vehicle. To keep those teen car insurance rates lower, consider keeping young drivers on a parent or guardian’s policy.
Cheapest car insurance in Durham for senior drivers
Although they have a wider range of driving experience, senior drivers are more likely to get into car accidents that result in serious injuries and high medical bills. For this reason, older drivers may see a rise in their insurance rates once they reach 70 to 75 years old.
Cheap car insurance quotes in Durham based on insurance history
Whether you are currently insured—and have been consistently insured over time—can impact your car insurance rates. Any lapse in your insurance coverage can lead to higher premiums.
Jerry sends helpful payment reminders to qualifying customers to ensure on-time payments and avoid coverage lapses.
Cheap car insurance quotes in Durham for popular cars
Insurance providers take your vehicle’s make and model into account when determining your car insurance rate. High-tech features, safety technology, pricey parts, and the likelihood of theft will contribute to either raising or lowering your premium.
Popular car models in Durham include:
- Ford F-150
- Chevy Silverado
- Honda CR-V
- Toyota Camry
- Dodge RAM 1500
Check out real quotes drivers found with some of the most popular cars in the state.
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Popular Car
|
Insurance Company
|
Premium (monthly)
|
Age
|
Zip Code
|
Liability Limits
|
Has Full Coverage
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry Xse | Progressive | $46 | 31 | 27703 | 50/100 | Yes |
| Toyota Camry Xse | Progressive | $114 | 22 | 27707 | State Minimum | No |
| Toyota Camry Trd | Dairyland | $327 | 22 | 27704 | State Minimum | Yes |
| Toyota Camry Xle | Dairyland | $161 | 42 | 27704 | State Minimum | Yes |
| Toyota Camry Le | National General | $397 | 32 | 27705 | 50/100 | Yes |
Learn more: How to get car insurance before buying a car
Cheap car insurance quotes in Durham for drivers with poor credit
In North Carolina, insurance companies use credit scores as a risk predictor for policyholders. While your credit rating isn’t a direct indicator of your driving habits, statistics show that individuals with low credit scores are more likely to file claims than those with high credit scores.
Jerry’s data shows that the average car insurance rate for drivers with credit scores over 750 is lower than rates for drivers with credit scores below 550.
Here’s how drivers with low credit scores saved with Jerry.
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Credit Score
|
Insurance Company
|
Monthly Quote
|
Age
|
Zip Code
|
Car Make Model Trim
|
Liability Limits
|
Has Full Coverage
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 660-750 | Progressive | $381 | 27 | 27713 | Toyota Corolla Le | State Minimum | Yes |
| 750+ | Progressive | $46 | 31 | 27703 | Toyota Camry Xse | 50/100 | Yes |
| 550-659 | Dairyland | $300 | 27 | 27704 | Bmw 320I | 100/300 | Yes |
| 660-750 | Progressive | $42 | 29 | 27712 | Honda Fit | State Minimum | Yes |
| <550 | Progressive | $312 | 64 | 27704 | Nissan Quest Le | State Minimum | Yes |
Cheap car insurance quotes in Durham after driving violations
Your driving history—including any tickets or accidents—will impact your auto insurance premium. A history of violations or at-fault accidents can indicate a higher risk level, which will result in higher rates. Some typical traffic violations that can impact your rates include:
- Speeding
- DUIs
- At fault accidents
- Reckless driving
- Driving with a suspended license
Cheapest car insurance in Durham after speeding ticket
Not all speeding violations are the same; after all, driving 20 mph over the speed limit is more serious than 6 mph over the speed limit.
While having a speeding ticket on your record will usually leave you with a more expensive premium, shopping around for auto insurance quotes can still help you find the best rates for your situation.
Jerry has helped many Durham drivers find cheaper rates on car insurance—even with tickets on their records!
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Speeding Type
|
Insurance Company
|
Premium (monthly)
|
Age
|
Zip Code
|
Car
|
Liability Limits
|
Has Full Coverage
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speeding Violation-Major | Dairyland | $356 | 30 | 27701 | Chevrolet Malibu Lt | State Minimum | Yes |
| Speeding Violation-Major | National General | $135 | 23 | 27707 | Ford Fusion S | State Minimum | No |
| Speeding 1-5 | Progressive | $134 | 54 | 27713 | Hyundai Sonata Se | State Minimum | Yes |
| Speeding Violation-Minor | National General | $52 | 27 | 27703 | Dodge Charger Se | State Minimum | No |
| Speeding 1-5 | National General | $54 | 26 | 27703 | Kia Optima Lx | State Minimum | No |
Cheapest car insurance in Durham after DUI
With a DUI on your driving record, most insurance companies in Durham will quote you higher-than-average rates. To secure the best rate after a DUI offense, it’s important to gather quotes from various providers.
Cheapest car insurance in Durham after an at-fault accident
Insurance companies use your history of at-fault accidents to assess your risk level. Recent at-fault accidents or numerous claims can significantly raise your premiums.
North Carolina is an at-fault state. If you were deemed at-fault in a collision, your car insurance rates could skyrocket by as much as 15%—possibly more.
Jerry has still helped Durham drivers save on car insurance with at-fault accidents on their driving record.
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Accident type
|
Insurance Company
|
Premium (monthly)
|
Age
|
Zip Code
|
Car
|
Liability Limits
|
Has Full Coverage
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not At Fault | Progressive | $117 | 26 | 27713 | Honda Cr-V Ex | State Minimum | Yes |
| At Fault With No Injury | Progressive | $381 | 27 | 27713 | Toyota Corolla Le | State Minimum | Yes |
| Not At Fault | Dairyland | $300 | 27 | 27704 | Bmw 320I | 100/300 | Yes |
| Not At Fault | Progressive | $312 | 64 | 27704 | Nissan Quest Le | State Minimum | Yes |
| At Fault With Injury | Progressive | $113 | 34 | 27704 | Honda Civic Ex | State Minimum | Yes |
Cheapest car insurance in Durham after other driving violations
Speeding tickets and DUIs are serious, but they aren’t the only violations that can increase your car insurance premiums. Reckless or careless driving, driving without insurance, or driving without a valid license can all hike up your car insurance rates in Durham, too.
Browse the table below to see how Jerry has helped drivers save on their car insurance after serious violations.
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Violation
|
Insurance Company
|
Premium (monthly)
|
Age
|
Zip Code
|
Car
|
Liability Limits
|
Has Full Coverage
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defective Equipment | National General | $52 | 45 | 27704 | Nissan Maxima Se | State Minimum | No |
| Other Minor | Dairyland | $205 | 24 | 27703 | Honda Accord Ex | State Minimum | Yes |
| Suspension | Progressive | $200 | 22 | 27705 | Honda Hr-V Ex | State Minimum | No |
| Suspension | Progressive | $323 | 37 | 27703 | Honda Accord Lx | State Minimum | No |
| Suspension | National General | $328 | 55 | 27701 | Chevrolet Equinox Ls | State Minimum | Yes |
Best cheap car insurance quotes in Durham
As per North Carolina’s insurance laws, all drivers in Durham must carry the state’s minimum liability coverage along with uninsured motorist coverage. In an at-fault state like NC, full coverage can help better financially protect your vehicle from damage.
Cheap minimum liability insurance quotes in Durham
To legally drive and register a vehicle in Durham, you must purchase North Carolina’s minimum liability coverage requirements—at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, plus $25,000 in property damage liability per accident.
This sequence of coverage is commonly referred to as 30/60/25 and will cover you up to those limits if you’re at fault for another driver’s injuries or property damage in an accident.
Do you need more than minimum coverage in Durham?
North Carolina’s minimum liability coverage is fairly low, so Durham drivers may want to consider higher limits or additional coverage.
It’s not uncommon for another driver’s medical expenses or a totaled car to result in costs of more than $40,000 after an accident—which can easily exceed that 30/60/25 limit.
The bottom line: To keep yourself and your wallet protected, you should consider full coverage insurance, 50/100/50 liability coverage, or 100/300/100 liability coverage.
Cheap full coverage car insurance quotes in Durham
To protect yourself from the costs of repairing or replacing your car in the event of an at-fault accident, full coverage car insurance is your best—and only—option.
Full coverage includes comprehensive and collision coverage:
- Collision coverage deals with the cost of fixing or replacing your car after an accident
- Comprehensive coverage kicks in if your car is stolen or damaged by a non-collision incident
Lenders typically require collision and comprehensive coverage for a leased vehicle.
The table below shows some recent examples of the cheapest full coverage policies that Jerry’s agents helped our Durham customers obtain.
|
Liability Limits
|
Has Full Coverage
|
Insurance Company
|
Premium (monthly)
|
Age
|
Zip Code
|
Car
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Minimum | No | Progressive | $63 | 33 | 27703 | Nissan Altima |
| State Minimum | Yes | National General | $132 | 19 | 27707 | Volkswagen Beetle |
| State Minimum | No | Progressive | $372 | 18 | 27703 | Honda Civic Lx |
| 100/300 | Yes | Safeco | $214 | 62 | 27707 | Nissan Sentra S |
| State Minimum | Yes | Progressive | $117 | 26 | 27713 | Honda Cr-V Ex |
The best way to find the coverage you need at the best price in Durham is to compare rates from multiple companies. Jerry, a top insurance agency, offers a free app that streamlines this process, delivering quick quote comparisons and support from a network of over 100 licensed insurance agents.
How to lower car insurance costs in Durham
1. Shop around and compare quotes
Each insurance company uses different methods to calculate your premium—methods that shift and change with time, too! Because of this, the best strategy for securing the most affordable rates is to compare quotes from at least three different insurers and shop for new quotes every six months.
Luckily, Jerry can take all the hard work out of this process. In just 45 seconds, Jerry analyzes quotes from a pool of over 55 top insurers to pinpoint the best premiums available to you. Even better: Jerry provides this service completely free of charge!
2. Hunt for car insurance discounts
You can also shop for car insurance discounts as you shop for car insurance quotes. Most insurers have several discounts available, the most common of which include:
- Bundling home and auto insurance: You can usually take a percentage off multiple insurance types by purchasing policies through the same insurer. This also typically works with auto and renters insurance.
- Good student discounts: Drivers who are full-time students in high school or college with a B average or better may luck out with lower car insurance rates.
- Telematics discounts: Some insurers use telematics apps to track your driving practices and offer discounts for safe driving—or even just signing up!
- Defensive driver discounts: If you’re over 55, you can often cut costs on your premiums by completing a state-approved defensive driver course.
Learn more: 11 ways to lower car insurance
3. Increase your deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage
To make your monthly payments more manageable, it may make sense to increase your deductibles for your comprehensive and collision coverage. This is especially true if you tend to drive safely or if your personal savings could accommodate higher out-of-pocket repair costs.
FAQ
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Kianna Walpole is an insurance writer and editor with a comprehensive background in consumer behavior and online publishing. With experience in car insurance, maintenance, and repair, she is dedicated to building informative content that helps customers reduce costs while achieving the best service. Prior to joining the Jerry editorial team, Kianna worked as a junior editor in the content marketing industry, using consumer data and key insights to create and edit content for an array of large-scale clients in the real estate, cybersecurity, and healthcare industries.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
As Vice President of Insurance Operations at Jerry, Josh Damico leads teams across product development, operations and carrier relations, integrating Jerry’s smart and fast car insurance customer experience with that of traditional carriers to help customers find savings and coverage. Josh’s nearly 20 years of insurance-industry experience and knowledge generate partnerships with more than 55 name-brand and specialty insurance partners that enable Jerry to serve customers with all types of vehicle and policy needs.
Previously, Josh held executive roles at Geico, where he had vast regional oversight and leadership opportunities. In his most recent role as director of sales, servicing, and underwriting, Josh developed and executed profit and growth strategy for the New England states and New Jersey.
Josh holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Medaille College.
