The average North Carolina driver pays $2,889 per year for minimum liability coverage. A full coverage policy in North Carolina, which includes comprehensive coverage and collision coverage, costs an average of $3,153 per year.
Average car insurance rates are high in North Carolina
. But while cost is important, it’s not the only thing that matters when you’re shopping for car insurance. To help you find the best rates (and right fit), here’s a review of the best car insurance providers in North Carolina that touches on claims satisfaction ratings, customer service feedback, financial stability rankings, and more.
Travelers: Excellent service, stable company
Overall Jerry rating in North Carolina: 4.8
JD Power customer satisfaction: 818/1000
AM Best financial strength: A++
NAIC complaint index (June 2023): Much less than expected
Since the mid-1800s, Travelers has offered insurance ranging from car insurance to accident insurance for space flights! Today, Travelers is known for data-based pricing, innovative technology, and great customer service. Add-ons are easy, too.
In Jerry’s survey, drivers reported excellent responses from the claims processing team and the customer service team. In terms of cost, Travelers policyholders were extremely happy with the car insurance rates—although slightly less happy than Safeco customers.
Safeco: Great for custom coverage
Overall Jerry rating in North Carolina: 4.8
JD Power customer satisfaction: 829/1000
AM Best financial strength: A
NAIC complaint index (June 2023): Slightly more than expected
Safeco offers a variety of custom coverage options, plus a healthy menu of discounts. It’s available in all 50 states and you can contact a customer service agent 24/7. Middle-aged, rideshare, and good drivers might be especially pleased with Safeco’s car insurance costs.
Jerry drivers in North Carolina gave top ratings to Safeco for customer service. Even though Safeco gets a few more complaints than expected, it’s still better rated than most other providers. That makes it one of the best companies for car insurance in North Carolina.
Nationwide: Good for infrequent drivers
Overall Jerry rating in North Carolina: 4.7
JD Power customer satisfaction: 834/1000
AM Best financial strength: A+
NAIC complaint index (June 2023): Slightly more than expected
Nationwide offers a wide range of discounts, plus usage-based insurance to help infrequent drivers save money. The company offers a ton of coverage options, and North Carolina drivers with speeding tickets and at-fault accidents may find better-than-average prices with Nationwide than with other insurers.
Nationwide earns top ratings for claims processing, but it doesn’t impress policyholders when it comes to cost. However, with only slightly more complaints than expected and strong financial strength, Nationwide could be a good choice for many North Carolina drivers—especially those who only need state minimum coverage.
How to save on your North Carolina auto insurance
The truth is that there’s no single car insurance company that will work best for every driver.
You could need certain kinds of coverage, for instance, or perhaps your Charlotte zip code and clean driving history will unlock better prices at some companies but not others. Good credit and poor credit drivers will probably get affordable rates at different companies, just like 20 year-old drivers and their parents.
Overall, you’ll need to shop around to find the right fit. But it’s easier than you think!
Jerry
is an insurance comparison app
that simplifies the shopping process. Use it free from your phone and compare custom car insurance quotes from top companies in your area. Best of all, you can tap to sign up and Jerry does all the hard work to find a policy that meets your insurance requirements.Don’t forget about car insurance discounts
! If you’re a North Carolina student, homeowner, or renter, you could be eligible for some sweet cost-savings deals by getting good grades or bundling home insurance with auto coverage. Safe driving can unlock a healthy discount, too. Cutting corners on your North Carolina car insurance can leave you vulnerable
You can indeed save money on your car insurance premiums by cutting your coverage down to the minimum coverage mandated by North Carolina
. This is not a good idea, simply because the costs you’ll incur in a serious accident are almost guaranteed to exceed the minimum liability car insurance limits. If you drive a newer car, you should also consider comprehensive and collision coverage to ensure that you and your vehicle are protected, too.
Additional coverages add to your monthly fee, but the protection is well worth it. Consider:
Jerry’s content editors analyzed 23 of the top insurers in North Carolina and chose the best based on a combination of scores from JD Power, AM Best, NAIC, and Jerry’s own nationwide carrier survey.
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FAQs
That’s impossible to answer! Every driver is different. A safe driver with no accidents on record who lives in a neighborhood with low accident rates will get the cheapest rates, as opposed to someone who has a DUI and lives in a highly-trafficked zip code. Your credit score, clean driving record, and deductible amount matter, too.
To find cheap car insurance, shop around and ask your insurance agent about discounts. We didn’t include GEICO, USAA, State Farm, or Erie in this article, but you might find cheaper rates at these companies due to your unique driver profile. The only way to know is to shop around.
$1156 is the average cost of minimum coverage in NC, which includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability. With full coverage car insurance, the average annual cost goes up to $2093 per year. Young drivers and teen drivers tend to pay higher-than-average auto insurance rates—and that’s true in every state.
