Car Insurance in Wilmington, North Carolina
Estimated full coverage in Wilmington runs about $1,210 a year ($101/month) — ▲ +2% versus the North Carolina average, ranking 13th most expensive of the 19 North Carolina cities we cover.
Why car insurance in Wilmington costs more than the North Carolina average
Insurers price by territory, and Wilmington's numbers explain most of the gap. With 125,284 residents on 51.4 square miles, the city's density (2,439 people per square mile) is 4.7 times the density where the typical North Carolina resident lives (521). The average commute is 18.5 minutes (North Carolina: 25.1), and 70% of workers drive alone. Together these put our location factor at 1.02× the state baseline for liability and collision, and 0.99× for comprehensive once FEMA weather risk for New Hanover County is included.
| Factor | Wilmington | North Carolina ref. | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population density | 2,439 / sq mi | 521 / sq mi | More vehicles per mile of road means more fender-benders and claims. |
| Average commute | 18.5 min | 25.1 min | Longer daily drives add exposure to crashes. |
| Commutes over 60 min | 3.1% | — | Long highway commutes raise mileage-based risk. |
| Drive alone to work | 69.6% | — | Share of workers commuting by car. |
| Public transit to work | 0.3% | — | Transit use lowers how much residents drive. |
| Work from home | 19.2% | — | Remote workers may qualify for low-mileage pricing. |
| Households without a car | 8.2% | — | Context for non-owner and occasional-driver policies. |
| Weather hazard score (FEMA) | 74.0 | 86.2 | Hail, wind, flood and hurricane exposure drive comprehensive claims. |
Car insurance cost by ZIP code in Wilmington
Rates can change from one ZIP code to the next. Across 5 Wilmington ZIP codes, our full-coverage estimate ranges from $1,130 in 28401 to $1,225 in 28412. Denser, longer-commute neighborhoods estimate higher. Click a column to sort.
| ZIP | Population | Density / sq mi | Commute | No car | Est. full / yr | vs. city |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28412 | 44,166 | 1,986 | 21.3 min | 3.8% | $1,225 | +1% |
| 28403 | 40,319 | 2,874 | 17.6 min | 9.2% | $1,215 | 0% |
| 28409 | 36,163 | 1,615 | 20.8 min | 2.6% | $1,210 | 0% |
| 28405 | 35,467 | 1,506 | 21.4 min | 5.2% | $1,210 | 0% |
| 28401 | 22,007 | 710 | 17.4 min | 15.2% | $1,130 | −7% |
Minimum car insurance in Wilmington
Wilmington 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 Wilmington at $460 a year, and $555 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 Wilmington 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 New Hanover County as very low for hail, relatively moderate for inland flooding and relatively moderate for strong wind, and very high for hurricanes.
Traffic & commuting
3.1% of Wilmington commuters spend an hour or more getting to work, and there are 1.64 vehicles per household. 19.2% work from home — worth mentioning to insurers that offer low-mileage pricing.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Score (0–100) | Insurance impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 21.1 | Comprehensive (car); roof claims (home) | |
| Tornado | 90.4 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Hurricane | 99.1 | Comprehensive; wind/hurricane deductibles (home) | |
| Inland (river) flooding | 89.9 | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Coastal flooding | 89.2 | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Strong wind | 54.6 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Winter weather | 96.1 | 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 Wilmington by driver profile
A clean-record driver in their 50s pays the least in our Wilmington model (about $1,115 for full coverage); an 18-year-old on their own policy pays about $3,335, and a DUI pushes a 30-something to $2,240.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $1,260 | $1,525 | $3,335 | $278 |
| Young adult (22) | $735 | $885 | $1,940 | $162 |
| Adult in their 30s | $460 | $555 | $1,210 | $101 |
| Adult in their 50s | $420 | $510 | $1,115 | $93 |
| Senior (72) | $515 | $620 | $1,355 | $113 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $665 | $805 | $1,755 | $146 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $850 | $1,025 | $2,240 | $187 |
Minimum vs. standard vs. full coverage in Wilmington
| 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. | $460 | $38 | $375–$540 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $555 | $46 | $455–$655 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $1,210 | $101 | $995–$1,430 |
Estimate your premium in Wilmington
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Cheap car insurance in Wilmington: how to lower your rate
The cheapest policy is the one that fits your situation. These levers are priced with Wilmington's own numbers:
| Change | Est. yearly savings | Good fit if… |
|---|---|---|
| Raise collision/comprehensive deductible from $500 to $1,000 | $90 | You have savings to cover a bigger out-of-pocket repair. |
| Low-mileage / usage-based pricing (under 7,500 mi) | $85 | You're among the 19.2% of Wilmington workers who work from home, or you rarely drive. |
| Drop collision & comprehensive on an older car | $360 | The car is paid off and worth little more than a year of premiums. |
| Standard (100/300/100) instead of full coverage | $655 | No loan or lease requires physical-damage coverage. |
| Avoid one speeding ticket | $270 | 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 Wilmington
- 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 14 offices listed below.
- Check complaint records with the North Carolina Department of Insurance (complaint information) before you buy.
- Mention your ZIP code accurately — within Wilmington, our estimates differ by up to $95 a year between neighborhoods.
Car insurance agents near Wilmington, NC
We found 14 insurance offices within about 5 miles of central Wilmington, 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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Greg Ochipa - State Farm
1006 S. Kerr Ave, Wilmington, NC 28403 -
State Farm
2816-A South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28412 -
AAA Carolinas - American Automobile Association
3501 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 -
Jimi Woodruff - State Farm
4910 Randall Parkway, Wilmington, NC 28403 -
Tammy McNeill - Allstate
413 S College Rd, Ste 7, Wilmington, NC 28403 -
Lynn Bullard - State Farm
3600 S College Rd, Ste D Pine Valley Shopping Ctr, Wilmington, NC 28412 -
David Ward - State Farm
4818 New Centre Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 -
Morgan Scheibel - Allstate
3710 S College Rd, Unit 135, Wilmington, NC 28412 -
Amerilife
NC -
State Farm
NC -
AAA Carolinas - American Automobile Association
1520 Military Cutoff Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403 -
Wells Insurance
NC -
David Ager - Allstate
4837 Carolina Beach Rd, Ste 101, Wilmington, NC 28412 -
State Farm
NC
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 Wilmington
| Model | Segment | Est. full coverage / yr | vs. average car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $900 | −26% |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $900 | −26% |
| Tesla Model 3 | Midsize car | $1,305 | +8% |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $885 | −27% |
| Honda Civic | Compact car | $1,380 | +14% |
| Toyota Corolla | Compact car | $1,280 | +6% |
| Jeep Wrangler | Midsize SUV | $960 | −21% |
| Mazda CX-5 | Small SUV | $1,015 | −16% |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $910 | −25% |
| Tesla Model Y | Midsize SUV | $1,175 | −3% |
Car insurance in nearby North Carolina cities
- Jacksonville $1,140/yr · 46 mi
- Fayetteville $1,180/yr · 86 mi
- Greenville $1,220/yr · 100 mi
- Raleigh $1,290/yr · 120 mi
- Cary $1,280/yr · 121 mi
- Rocky Mount $1,190/yr · 122 mi
- Durham $1,270/yr · 135 mi
- Burlington $1,260/yr · 157 mi
- Greensboro $1,250/yr · 170 mi
- High Point $1,235/yr · 171 mi
- Concord $1,285/yr · 176 mi
- Charlotte $1,310/yr · 181 mi
All North Carolina cities and state rules · Homeowners insurance in Wilmington
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in Wilmington, NC?
We estimate full coverage in Wilmington at about $1,210 a year ($101 a month) for a driver in their 30s with a clean record, and about $460 for North Carolina's minimum liability coverage. Real quotes vary by insurer, driver and vehicle.
Why is car insurance in Wilmington more expensive than the North Carolina average?
Our Wilmington estimate is 2% higher than the statewide figure. The model reflects a population density of 2,439 people per square mile (the typical North Carolina resident lives at about 521) and an average commute of 18.5 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 Wilmington?
Drivers in Wilmington follow North Carolina law: at least 50/100/50 liability coverage and uninsured motorist coverage.
Which ZIP code in Wilmington has the cheapest car insurance?
Among Wilmington's 5 ZIP codes, 28401 has the lowest estimate (about $1,130 a year for full coverage) and 28412 the highest (about $1,225), mainly because of differences in density and commute times.
How much is car insurance for a teenager in Wilmington?
An 18-year-old with their own full-coverage policy would pay around $3,335 a year in Wilmington by our estimate ($1,260 for minimum coverage). Adding a teen to a parent's policy is usually cheaper.
Does weather affect car insurance in Wilmington?
Yes. FEMA's National Risk Index rates New Hanover County for hurricane (very 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 Wilmington?
We list 14 insurance offices in and around Wilmington, 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 (Wilmington 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