Car Insurance in Cary, North Carolina
Estimated full coverage in Cary runs about $1,280 a year ($107/month) — ▲ +8% versus the North Carolina average, ranking 5th most expensive of the 19 North Carolina cities we cover.
Why car insurance in Cary costs more than the North Carolina average
Insurers price by territory, and Cary's numbers explain most of the gap. With 182,659 residents on 61.0 square miles, the city's density (2,996 people per square mile) is 5.8 times the density where the typical North Carolina resident lives (521). The average commute is 22.5 minutes (North Carolina: 25.1), and 56% of workers drive alone. Together these put our location factor at 1.08× the state baseline for liability and collision.
| Factor | Cary | North Carolina ref. | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population density | 2,996 / sq mi | 521 / sq mi | More vehicles per mile of road means more fender-benders and claims. |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 25.1 min | Longer daily drives add exposure to crashes. |
| Commutes over 60 min | 3.4% | — | Long highway commutes raise mileage-based risk. |
| Drive alone to work | 56.3% | — | Share of workers commuting by car. |
| Public transit to work | 0.3% | — | Transit use lowers how much residents drive. |
| Work from home | 36.5% | — | Remote workers may qualify for low-mileage pricing. |
| Households without a car | 3.2% | — | Context for non-owner and occasional-driver policies. |
| Weather hazard score (FEMA) | 86.2 | 86.2 | Hail, wind, flood and hurricane exposure drive comprehensive claims. |
Car insurance cost by ZIP code in Cary
Rates can change from one ZIP code to the next. Across 4 Cary ZIP codes, our full-coverage estimate ranges from $1,260 in 27518 to $1,285 in 27511. Denser, longer-commute neighborhoods estimate higher. Click a column to sort.
| ZIP | Population | Density / sq mi | Commute | No car | Est. full / yr | vs. city |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27519 | 69,836 | 3,133 | 22.2 min | 2.3% | $1,280 | 0% |
| 27513 | 46,979 | 2,865 | 21.9 min | 2.4% | $1,270 | −1% |
| 27511 | 33,221 | 2,832 | 23.3 min | 5.2% | $1,285 | 0% |
| 27518 | 19,735 | 1,994 | 23.3 min | 4.6% | $1,260 | −2% |
Minimum car insurance in Cary
Cary drivers follow North Carolina's rules: at least 50/100/50 liability coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage. North Carolina is at-fault (tort). We estimate state-minimum coverage in Cary at $480 a year, and $580 for 100/300/100 limits.
| 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.
Risk factors that shape Cary premiums
Accidents
North Carolina recorded 1,619 traffic deaths, or 1.24 per 100 million vehicle miles (U.S.: 1.19), in the latest full year of federal crash data. Local crash frequency is folded into our density and commute factors.
Vehicle theft
North Carolina's vehicle theft rate is 204 per 100,000 residents (U.S.: 197). The most-stolen vehicle in the state is the Ford Pickup (Full Size) (NICB). Theft losses are paid by comprehensive coverage.
Weather
FEMA rates Wake County as relatively high for hail, relatively high for inland flooding and relatively low for strong wind, and relatively moderate for hurricanes.
Traffic & commuting
3.4% of Cary commuters spend an hour or more getting to work, and there are 1.86 vehicles per household. 36.5% work from home — worth mentioning to insurers that offer low-mileage pricing.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Score (0–100) | Insurance impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 98.5 | Comprehensive (car); roof claims (home) | |
| Tornado | 95.3 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Hurricane | 89.9 | Comprehensive; wind/hurricane deductibles (home) | |
| Inland (river) flooding | 97.7 | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Coastal flooding | — | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Strong wind | 49.3 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Winter weather | 84.6 | Collision (icy roads); frozen pipes (home) |
Scores are national percentiles of FEMA's county risk (higher means more expected loss than most other U.S. counties).
Estimated car insurance in Cary by driver profile
A clean-record driver in their 50s pays the least in our Cary model (about $1,175 for full coverage); an 18-year-old on their own policy pays about $3,520, and a DUI pushes a 30-something to $2,365.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $1,325 | $1,600 | $3,520 | $293 |
| Young adult (22) | $770 | $930 | $2,045 | $170 |
| Adult in their 30s | $480 | $580 | $1,280 | $107 |
| Adult in their 50s | $445 | $535 | $1,175 | $98 |
| Senior (72) | $540 | $650 | $1,435 | $120 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $700 | $845 | $1,855 | $155 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $890 | $1,075 | $2,365 | $197 |
Minimum vs. standard vs. full coverage in Cary
| 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. | $480 | $40 | $395–$570 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $580 | $49 | $475–$685 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $1,280 | $107 | $1,050–$1,510 |
Estimate your premium in Cary
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Cheap car insurance in Cary: how to lower your rate
The cheapest policy is the one that fits your situation. These levers are priced with Cary's own numbers:
| Change | Est. yearly savings | Good fit if… |
|---|---|---|
| Raise collision/comprehensive deductible from $500 to $1,000 | $100 | You have savings to cover a bigger out-of-pocket repair. |
| Low-mileage / usage-based pricing (under 7,500 mi) | $90 | You're among the 36.5% of Cary workers who work from home, or you rarely drive. |
| Drop collision & comprehensive on an older car | $385 | The car is paid off and worth little more than a year of premiums. |
| Standard (100/300/100) instead of full coverage | $700 | No loan or lease requires physical-damage coverage. |
| Avoid one speeding ticket | $280 | Everyone — violations typically affect rates for three to five years. |
Also ask about bundling, good-student, paid-in-full and defensive-driving discounts, and re-shop at every renewal — the same driver can be priced very differently by different insurers. We don't recommend specific companies. Common car insurance discounts.
Comparing car insurance quotes in Cary
- Use identical limits and deductibles on every quote — e.g. 100/300/100 liability with $1,000 deductibles — or prices aren't comparable.
- Get quotes from different channels: captive agents, independent agents who quote several insurers, and direct online insurers. There are 41 offices listed below.
- Check complaint records with the North Carolina Department of Insurance (complaint information) before you buy.
- Mention your ZIP code accurately — within Cary, our estimates differ by up to $25 a year between neighborhoods.
Car insurance agents near Cary, NC
We found 41 insurance offices within about 6 miles of central Cary, from open map data. Hover over a listing to show it on the map, click it to open the address in Google Maps, or tap it on a phone to start navigation. We don't sell insurance, rate these offices or receive anything from them.
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State Farm
968 High House Road, Cary, NC 27513 -
State Farm Insurance
1245 Northwest Maynard Road, , NC 27513 -
Ennis Insurance Agency
NC -
Eric Kyle - Allstate
1252 NW Maynard Rd, Cary, NC 27513 -
Brightway, The Ganim Agency
2456 Southwest Cary Parkway, Cary, NC 27513 -
Brandon Pajunen - State Farm
2454 SW Cary Parkway, Cary, NC 27513 -
Erie Insurance
2201 Candun Drive, Suite 200, Apex, NC 27523 -
Erie Insurance
280 Towerview Court, Cary, NC 27513 -
Allstate
NC -
GEICO
1200 Village Market Place, Morrisville, NC -
AAA Carolinas - American Automobile Association
9519 Chapel Hill Rd, Morrisville, NC 27560 -
Ned Clark - Allstate
301 Pinner Weald Way, Ste 101, Cary, NC 27513 -
Erie Insurance
120 New Edition Court, Cary, NC 27511 -
Erie Insurance
208 New Edition Court, Cary, NC 27511 -
Andrew Mills - Farmers Insurance
1140 Kildaire Farm Rd, #206-4, Cary, NC 27511 -
Trapp Insurance Group
1135 Kildaire Farm Road, #315, Cary, NC 27511 -
Morgan Hedderich - State Farm
1141 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary, NC 27511 -
Erie Insurance
215 E Chatham Street, Suite 120, Cary, NC 27511 -
Erie Insurance
1149 Executive Circle, Suite A, Cary, NC 27511 -
State Farm
2761 NC Highway 55, Cary, NC 27519 -
The Preston Insurance Group
1150 SE Maynard Rd, Ste 250, Cary, NC 27511 -
Jill Gibson - State Farm
1785 W Williams Street, Apex, NC 27523 -
Erie Insurance
1001 Pemberton Hill Road, Suite 101, Apex, NC 27502 -
AAA Carolinas - American Automobile Association
1101 Apex Peakway, Apex, NC 27502 -
Erie Insurance
800 W Williams Street, Suite 231h, Apex, NC 27502 -
Erie Insurance
106 N Salem Street, Apex, NC 27502 -
AAA Carolinas - American Automobile Association
401 Colonades Way, Cary, NC 27518 -
Cherie Morrison Insurance and Financial Services Inc
748 West Williams Street, Apex, NC 27502 -
Rogers Insurance Agency
512 West Williams Street, Apex, NC 27502 -
Jaclyn Lucas - Allstate
203 S Salem St, Apex, NC 27502 -
Amy Williams - State Farm
2086 Energy Drive, Apex, NC 27502 -
Glenn Slifker - Allstate
412 E Williams St, Ste C, Apex, NC 27502 -
Brittany Monsour - State Farm
1513 Walnut Street, Cary, NC 27511 -
Melvin Patrick - State Farm
6416 Tryon Road, Cary, NC 27518 -
Allstate Insurance
825 Perry Road, Apex, NC 27502 -
Moore Agency Team
1105 tryon Village Drive, #304, Cary, NC 27518 -
Cameron Martin - GEICO
8204 Tryon Woods Dr., Ste 108, Cary, NC 27518 -
Erie Insurance
3434 Kildaire Farm Road, Suite 132, Cary, NC 27518 -
John Tudor - State Farm
3490 Kildaire Farm Road, Suite 182, Cary, NC 27518 -
Krista Comstock - Allstate
1215 Jones Franklin Rd, Ste 205, Raleigh, NC 27606
Map © Google. Office list: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0) - https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright; All The Places (alltheplaces.xyz), data released under the CC-0 waiver; run 2026-09-19-13-32-18. OSM license. Listings are informational and may be out of date.
Insurance cost of popular cars in Cary
| Model | Segment | Est. full coverage / yr | vs. average car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $950 | −26% |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $950 | −26% |
| Tesla Model 3 | Midsize car | $1,375 | +7% |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $935 | −27% |
| Honda Civic | Compact car | $1,455 | +14% |
| Toyota Corolla | Compact car | $1,350 | +5% |
| Jeep Wrangler | Midsize SUV | $1,010 | −21% |
| Mazda CX-5 | Small SUV | $1,070 | −16% |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $965 | −25% |
| Tesla Model Y | Midsize SUV | $1,235 | −4% |
Car insurance in nearby North Carolina cities
- Raleigh $1,290/yr · 11 mi
- Durham $1,270/yr · 14 mi
- Burlington $1,260/yr · 41 mi
- Fayetteville $1,180/yr · 49 mi
- Rocky Mount $1,190/yr · 58 mi
- Greensboro $1,250/yr · 60 mi
- High Point $1,235/yr · 67 mi
- Greenville $1,220/yr · 82 mi
- Winston-Salem $1,240/yr · 83 mi
- Concord $1,285/yr · 105 mi
- Jacksonville $1,140/yr · 109 mi
- Mooresville $1,270/yr · 113 mi
All North Carolina cities and state rules · Homeowners insurance in Cary
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in Cary, NC?
We estimate full coverage in Cary at about $1,280 a year ($107 a month) for a driver in their 30s with a clean record, and about $480 for North Carolina's minimum liability coverage. Real quotes vary by insurer, driver and vehicle.
Why is car insurance in Cary more expensive than the North Carolina average?
Our Cary estimate is 8% higher than the statewide figure. The model reflects a population density of 2,996 people per square mile (the typical North Carolina resident lives at about 521) and an average commute of 22.5 minutes versus 25.1 statewide. Denser traffic and longer drives mean more claims, which insurers price into local rates.
What car insurance is required in Cary?
Drivers in Cary follow North Carolina law: at least 50/100/50 liability coverage and uninsured motorist coverage.
Which ZIP code in Cary has the cheapest car insurance?
Among Cary's 4 ZIP codes, 27518 has the lowest estimate (about $1,260 a year for full coverage) and 27511 the highest (about $1,285), mainly because of differences in density and commute times.
How much is car insurance for a teenager in Cary?
An 18-year-old with their own full-coverage policy would pay around $3,520 a year in Cary by our estimate ($1,325 for minimum coverage). Adding a teen to a parent's policy is usually cheaper.
Does weather affect car insurance in Cary?
Yes. FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wake County for hail (relatively high), inland (river) flooding (relatively high), and tornado (relatively high) risk. Weather mainly affects the comprehensive part of a policy, which pays for hail, flood and wind damage.
Are there car insurance agents near me in Cary?
We list 41 insurance offices in and around Cary, with addresses, phone numbers where published, and directions. We don't sell insurance or rank these offices.
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, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (Cary and ZIP code tabulation areas)
- U.S. Census Bureau population estimates and Gazetteer files
- FEMA National Risk Index (county hazard ratings)
- Insurance office locations: OpenStreetMap contributors and All The Places