Car Insurance in North Carolina
North Carolina drivers spend an average of $925 a year on auto insurance according to the NAIC — ▼ −28% versus the national average of $1,282, ranking 44th most expensive of 51. The state requires 50/100/50 liability coverage and follows an at-fault system.
Average car insurance cost in North Carolina
The NAIC average expenditure is what insured drivers actually paid on average, including people who carry only liability. For those who buy each coverage, the average premium was $448 for liability, $441 for collision and $208 for comprehensive ($1,097 combined, versus $1,439 nationally). That average expenditure is 10% higher than the NAIC's previous data year ($839).
Minimum car insurance requirements in North Carolina
North Carolina's minimum is written as 50/100/50: $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $50,000 in property damage liability. Moving up to 100/300/100 limits would cost about $90 more a year by our estimate.
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Yes | $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident | Injuries you cause to other people |
| Property damage liability | Yes | $50,000 | Damage you cause to other vehicles and property |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | No | — North Carolina does not require personal injury protection. | Your own medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Yes | 50/100/50 Uninsured motorist coverage of at least 50/100 bodily injury and $50,000 property damage is required on every policy. | Your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | Yes | 50/100 Underinsured motorist coverage is now included in all new and renewed policies. | The gap when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | No | — Medical payments coverage is optional. | Medical bills for you and your passengers |
Insurers must notify NCDMV when liability coverage lapses; owners must keep coverage until the license plate is surrendered.
Minimums were raised recently from 30/60/25, and underinsured motorist coverage became mandatory on all policies.
Compare with another state
Is North Carolina a no-fault state?
No — North Carolina is an at-fault (tort) state. North Carolina is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver responsible for a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other party's injuries and property damage. Injured people can claim against the at-fault driver's insurer, use their own coverage, or sue.
Uninsured drivers in North Carolina
The Insurance Research Council estimates 11.8% of North Carolina drivers are uninsured — 29th highest in the country, compared with 15.4% nationally. That's roughly one uninsured driver in every 8 on the road. North Carolina requires uninsured motorist coverage, which pays your injury costs when the at-fault driver has no insurance.
SR-22 requirements in North Carolina
North Carolina does not use the SR-22 form. NCDMV accepts proof of liability insurance such as the DL-123 form from a North Carolina-licensed insurer; the SR-22 is not among the documents it lists.
By our model, a driver in their 30s with a DUI would pay about $855 a year for minimum coverage in North Carolina, versus $450 with a clean record. What is SR-22 insurance?
Estimate your premium in North Carolina
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Car insurance by city in North Carolina
We cover 19 North Carolina cities. Estimates are for full coverage for a driver in their 30s with a clean record; hover a city to find it on the map. The lowest estimate is in Jacksonville ($1,140) and the highest in Charlotte ($1,310).
- CharlottePop. 943,476 · Mecklenburg County$1,310+10% vs state
- RaleighPop. 499,825 · Wake County$1,290+8% vs state
- GreensboroPop. 307,381 · Guilford County$1,250+5% vs state
- DurhamPop. 301,870 · Durham County$1,270+7% vs state
- Winston-SalemPop. 255,769 · Forsyth County$1,240+4% vs state
- FayettevillePop. 209,496 · Cumberland County$1,180−1% vs state
- CaryPop. 182,659 · Wake County$1,280+8% vs state
- WilmingtonPop. 125,284 · New Hanover County$1,210+2% vs state
- High PointPop. 118,601 · Guilford County$1,235+4% vs state
- ConcordPop. 112,395 · Cabarrus County$1,285+8% vs state
- GreenvillePop. 95,138 · Pitt County$1,220+3% vs state
- AshevillePop. 94,992 · Buncombe County$1,200+1% vs state
- GastoniaPop. 85,535 · Gaston County$1,285+8% vs state
- JacksonvillePop. 70,840 · Onslow County$1,140−4% vs state
- BurlingtonPop. 61,365 · Alamance County$1,260+6% vs state
- Rocky MountPop. 54,541 · Nash County$1,1900% vs state
- MooresvillePop. 52,884 · Iredell County$1,270+7% vs state
- HickoryPop. 45,081 · Catawba County$1,205+1% vs state
- HendersonvillePop. 15,656 · Henderson County$1,210+2% vs state
Estimated cost by driver profile in North Carolina
Age and driving record move premiums more than almost anything else. A teen on their own policy pays about 2.7× what a driver in their 30s pays for the same full coverage in North Carolina.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $1,230 | $1,490 | $3,270 | $273 |
| Young adult (22) | $715 | $865 | $1,905 | $159 |
| Adult in their 30s | $450 | $540 | $1,190 | $99 |
| Adult in their 50s | $410 | $500 | $1,095 | $91 |
| Senior (72) | $500 | $605 | $1,335 | $111 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $650 | $785 | $1,725 | $144 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $830 | $1,000 | $2,200 | $183 |
By coverage level
| Coverage level | What it includes | Per year | Per month | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State minimum liability | Only the liability (and PIP/UM where required) limits your state mandates. No coverage for your own car. | $450 | $37 | $365–$530 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $540 | $45 | $445–$640 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $1,190 | $99 | $975–$1,405 |
Cheapest and most expensive cars to insure in North Carolina
Full-coverage estimates for current models, using HLDI insurance-loss data where available. Vehicle choice alone can swing the premium by more than $2,760 a year here.
| Model | Segment | Est. / year |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Traverse | Midsize SUV | $780 |
| GMC Acadia | Midsize SUV | $800 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | Small SUV | $865 |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $870 |
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $885 |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $885 |
| Honda Pilot | Midsize SUV | $885 |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $895 |
| Ford Bronco | Midsize SUV | $915 |
| Jeep Wrangler | Midsize SUV | $940 |
| Model | Segment | Est. / year |
|---|---|---|
| BMW M4 | Luxury sports car | $3,540 |
| BMW M3 | Luxury car | $3,540 |
| Lamborghini Urus | Luxury SUV | $3,450 |
| BMW 7 Series | Luxury car | $3,040 |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class | Luxury car | $2,485 |
| Lucid Air | Luxury car | $2,325 |
| Mercedes-Benz G-Class | Luxury SUV | $2,085 |
| Audi RS 7 | Luxury car | $2,050 |
| Porsche Taycan | Luxury sports car | $1,935 |
| Mercedes-Benz SL-Class | Luxury sports car | $1,915 |
Cheap car insurance in North Carolina: how to lower your rate
- Raise your deductible. Going from $500 to $1,000 on collision and comprehensive saves about $90 a year on a typical North Carolina full-coverage policy.
- Match coverage to your car's value. On a 10-year-old car, dropping collision and comprehensive could cut the bill from about $900 to $540.
- Drive less, pay less. Low-mileage and usage-based programs can save around $85 a year if you drive under 7,500 miles.
- Protect your record. A single speeding ticket adds roughly $260 a year in our model; an at-fault accident adds much more.
- Shop at renewal. Rates for the same driver differ widely between insurers. Compare identical limits and deductibles.
- Ask about discounts — bundling home and auto, good student, safe-driver, paid-in-full and defensive-driving course discounts. See common discounts.
Complaints and help: North Carolina Department of Insurance
The North Carolina Department of Insurance licenses insurers and agents, reviews rates and handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and billing — free of charge.
- Website
- www.ncdoi.gov
- File a complaint
- Consumer complaint page
- Consumer helpline
- 1-855-408-1212
North Carolina vs. neighboring states
| State | NAIC avg. | Minimums | System | Uninsured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $925 | 50/100/50 | At-fault (tort) | 11.8% |
| Georgia | $1,555 | 25/50/25 | At-fault (tort) | 19.0% |
| South Carolina | $1,367 | 25/50/25 | At-fault (tort) | 10.3% |
| Tennessee | $1,050 | 25/50/25 | At-fault (tort) | 21.3% |
| Virginia | $1,114 | 50/100/25 | At-fault (tort) | 12.9% |
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in North Carolina?
NAIC data puts the average North Carolina auto insurance expenditure at $925 a year, 28% less than the national average of $1,282 (rank 44 of 51, where 1 is the most expensive). Our estimate for full coverage for a driver in their 30s with a clean record is about $1,190 a year ($99 a month); state-minimum liability is about $450.
What is the minimum car insurance required in North Carolina?
North Carolina requires at least 50/100/50 liability coverage: $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $50,000 for property damage, plus uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage.
Is North Carolina a no-fault state?
No. North Carolina is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver responsible for a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other party's injuries and property damage.
How many drivers in North Carolina are uninsured?
The Insurance Research Council estimates that about 11.8% of North Carolina drivers are uninsured, ranking 29th in the nation (national estimate: 15.4%).
Does North Carolina require SR-22 insurance?
North Carolina does not use the SR-22 form. NCDMV accepts proof of liability insurance such as the DL-123 form from a North Carolina-licensed insurer; the SR-22 is not among the documents it lists.
Which North Carolina city has the cheapest car insurance?
Among the 19 cities we cover, Jacksonville has the lowest full-coverage estimate at about $1,140 a year, while Charlotte is the highest at about $1,310. Differences come from population density, commute length and local weather risk.
How much does car insurance cost for a teen driver in North Carolina?
An 18-year-old on their own full-coverage policy would pay roughly $3,270 a year in North Carolina by our estimate, or about $1,230 for minimum coverage. Joining a parent's policy usually costs less.
How do I file a complaint against a car insurance company in North Carolina?
Contact the North Carolina Department of Insurance (consumer line 1-855-408-1212). It handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and rates at no cost.
How we estimate this
We start from the state's average liability, collision and comprehensive premiums published by the NAIC, then apply a location factor (population density and commute time from the Census ACS, weather hazard scores from FEMA's National Risk Index), a vehicle factor (HLDI insurance-loss data where available, otherwise vehicle segment), and a driver-profile multiplier. Results are rounded ranges for comparison, not quotes. Read the full methodology.
- NCDMV: Vehicle Insurance Requirements
- NCDOI: Changes to the Rating of Automobile Insurance Policies
- N.C.G.S. 20-279.21 (motor vehicle liability policy)
- NCDMV: Proving Liability Insurance
- NCDOI: Assistance or File a Complaint
- NAIC 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report
- NAIC Homeowners Insurance Report: Data for 2023
- Insurance Research Council uninsured motorist estimates (via Triple-I)
- IIHS Fatality Facts: state by state
- FBI Crime Data Explorer: Crime in the United States 2025 (Table 4)
- NICB 2022 Vehicle Theft Data: top 10 stolen vehicles by state
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table DL-1C (licensed drivers)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table MV-1 (registrations)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-2 (vehicle-miles traveled)
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau: population estimates and American Community Survey
- FEMA National Risk Index