Car Insurance in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Estimated full coverage in Winston-Salem runs about $1,240 a year ($103/month) — ▲ +4% versus the North Carolina average, ranking 10th most expensive of the 19 North Carolina cities we cover.
Why car insurance in Winston-Salem costs more than the North Carolina average
Insurers price by territory, and Winston-Salem's numbers explain most of the gap. With 255,769 residents on 133.7 square miles, the city's density (1,913 people per square mile) is 3.7 times the density where the typical North Carolina resident lives (521). The average commute is 21.5 minutes (North Carolina: 25.1), and 72% of workers drive alone. Together these put our location factor at 1.04× the state baseline for liability and collision, and 1.05× for comprehensive once FEMA weather risk for Forsyth County is included.
| Factor | Winston-Salem | North Carolina ref. | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population density | 1,913 / sq mi | 521 / sq mi | More vehicles per mile of road means more fender-benders and claims. |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 25.1 min | Longer daily drives add exposure to crashes. |
| Commutes over 60 min | 5.1% | — | Long highway commutes raise mileage-based risk. |
| Drive alone to work | 71.7% | — | Share of workers commuting by car. |
| Public transit to work | 1.1% | — | Transit use lowers how much residents drive. |
| Work from home | 14.1% | — | 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) | 88.8 | 86.2 | Hail, wind, flood and hurricane exposure drive comprehensive claims. |
Car insurance cost by ZIP code in Winston-Salem
Rates can change from one ZIP code to the next. Across 9 Winston-Salem ZIP codes, our full-coverage estimate ranges from $1,190 in 27101 to $1,365 in 27110. Denser, longer-commute neighborhoods estimate higher. Click a column to sort.
| ZIP | Population | Density / sq mi | Commute | No car | Est. full / yr | vs. city |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27107 | 50,769 | 767 | 23.2 min | 6.1% | $1,200 | −3% |
| 27106 | 49,670 | 1,745 | 22.1 min | 6.0% | $1,240 | 0% |
| 27127 | 41,443 | 1,412 | 21.8 min | 3.6% | $1,220 | −2% |
| 27105 | 40,678 | 1,206 | 24.2 min | 15.7% | $1,235 | 0% |
| 27103 | 33,325 | 1,790 | 19.8 min | 3.6% | $1,215 | −2% |
| 27104 | 31,783 | 2,566 | 18.9 min | 8.4% | $1,230 | −1% |
| 27101 | 22,973 | 1,841 | 16.9 min | 16.3% | $1,190 | −4% |
| 27109 | 2,823 | 9,286 | 21.5 min | — | $1,340 | +8% |
| 27110 | 2,181 | 11,918 | 22.1 min | — | $1,365 | +10% |
Minimum car insurance in Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem at $465 a year, and $565 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 Winston-Salem 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 Forsyth County as relatively moderate for hail, relatively high for inland flooding and relatively high for strong wind, and relatively moderate for hurricanes.
Traffic & commuting
5.1% of Winston-Salem commuters spend an hour or more getting to work, and there are 1.69 vehicles per household. 14.1% work from home — worth mentioning to insurers that offer low-mileage pricing.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Score (0–100) | Insurance impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 85.9 | Comprehensive (car); roof claims (home) | |
| Tornado | 90.9 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Hurricane | 86.5 | Comprehensive; wind/hurricane deductibles (home) | |
| Inland (river) flooding | 94.7 | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Coastal flooding | — | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Strong wind | 85.9 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Winter weather | 91.6 | 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 Winston-Salem by driver profile
A clean-record driver in their 50s pays the least in our Winston-Salem model (about $1,140 for full coverage); an 18-year-old on their own policy pays about $3,405, and a DUI pushes a 30-something to $2,290.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $1,280 | $1,545 | $3,405 | $284 |
| Young adult (22) | $745 | $900 | $1,980 | $165 |
| Adult in their 30s | $465 | $565 | $1,240 | $103 |
| Adult in their 50s | $430 | $520 | $1,140 | $95 |
| Senior (72) | $520 | $630 | $1,385 | $115 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $675 | $815 | $1,795 | $150 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $860 | $1,040 | $2,290 | $191 |
Minimum vs. standard vs. full coverage in Winston-Salem
| 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. | $465 | $39 | $380–$550 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $565 | $47 | $460–$665 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $1,240 | $103 | $1,015–$1,460 |
Estimate your premium in Winston-Salem
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Cheap car insurance in Winston-Salem: how to lower your rate
The cheapest policy is the one that fits your situation. These levers are priced with Winston-Salem's own numbers:
| Change | Est. yearly savings | Good fit if… |
|---|---|---|
| Raise collision/comprehensive deductible from $500 to $1,000 | $95 | 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 14.1% of Winston-Salem workers who work from home, or you rarely drive. |
| Drop collision & comprehensive on an older car | $370 | The car is paid off and worth little more than a year of premiums. |
| Standard (100/300/100) instead of full coverage | $675 | 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 Winston-Salem
- 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 22 offices listed below.
- Check complaint records with the North Carolina Department of Insurance (complaint information) before you buy.
- Mention your ZIP code accurately — within Winston-Salem, our estimates differ by up to $175 a year between neighborhoods.
Car insurance agents near Winston-Salem, NC
We found 22 insurance offices within about 9 miles of central Winston-Salem, 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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Nick Jitima - State Farm
710 Coliseum Dr., Ste 70, Winston Salem, NC 27106 -
AAA Carolinas - American Automobile Association
606 S Stratford Rd, Winston Salem, NC 27103 -
Stef Hamilton - State Farm
1624 S Hawthorne Road, Winston Salem, NC 27103 -
Local Life Insurance Specialist: Meet KELLY DIRISIO
2200 Silas Creek Pkwy, Ste 6a, Winston Salem, NC 27103 -
Tara Wustner - State Farm
2641 Reynolda Rd., Winston Salem, NC 27106 -
Rick Babusiak - State Farm
3516 Vest Mill Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 -
Nationwide
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Allstate
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Brett Lindquist - State Farm
4012 Country Club Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27104 -
David Norman - State Farm
2040 S Stratford Road, Winston Salem, NC 27103 -
Anant Venkataraman - GEICO
1031 Hanes Mall Blvd, Winston Salem, NC 27103 -
Debbie Sowell-Cromartie - Allstate
5199A Country Club Rd, Winston Salem, NC 27104 -
Leavitt Group
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Julie Wolfe - Allstate
4375 Styers Ferry Rd, Winston Salem, NC 27104 -
Holly Bourgeois - State Farm
4670 Yadkinville Rd, Suite C, Pfafftown, NC 27040 -
NC Farm Bureau Insurance
1455 River Ridge Drive, Clemmons, NC 27012 -
State Farm
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Mature Market Advisors
6000 Meadowbrook Mall Court, #6B, Clemmons, NC 27012 -
Whitley-Reavis Insurance
6201 Towncenter Drive, #110, Clemmons, NC 27012 -
Erie Insurance
2513 Neudorf Road, Clemmons, NC 27012 -
Erie Insurance
6380 Shallowford Road, Lewisville, NC 27023 -
Andy Scott - State Farm
1533 Union Cross Road, Kernersville, NC 27284
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 Winston-Salem
| Model | Segment | Est. full coverage / yr | vs. average car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $920 | −26% |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $920 | −26% |
| Tesla Model 3 | Midsize car | $1,330 | +7% |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $905 | −27% |
| Honda Civic | Compact car | $1,405 | +13% |
| Toyota Corolla | Compact car | $1,305 | +5% |
| Jeep Wrangler | Midsize SUV | $980 | −21% |
| Mazda CX-5 | Small SUV | $1,035 | −17% |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $930 | −25% |
| Tesla Model Y | Midsize SUV | $1,195 | −4% |
Car insurance in nearby North Carolina cities
- High Point $1,235/yr · 17 mi
- Greensboro $1,250/yr · 24 mi
- Burlington $1,260/yr · 44 mi
- Mooresville $1,270/yr · 48 mi
- Concord $1,285/yr · 53 mi
- Hickory $1,205/yr · 64 mi
- Charlotte $1,310/yr · 70 mi
- Durham $1,270/yr · 77 mi
- Gastonia $1,285/yr · 79 mi
- Cary $1,280/yr · 83 mi
- Raleigh $1,290/yr · 92 mi
- Fayetteville $1,180/yr · 101 mi
All North Carolina cities and state rules · Homeowners insurance in Winston-Salem
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in Winston-Salem, NC?
We estimate full coverage in Winston-Salem at about $1,240 a year ($103 a month) for a driver in their 30s with a clean record, and about $465 for North Carolina's minimum liability coverage. Real quotes vary by insurer, driver and vehicle.
Why is car insurance in Winston-Salem more expensive than the North Carolina average?
Our Winston-Salem estimate is 4% higher than the statewide figure. The model reflects a population density of 1,913 people per square mile (the typical North Carolina resident lives at about 521) and an average commute of 21.5 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 Winston-Salem?
Drivers in Winston-Salem follow North Carolina law: at least 50/100/50 liability coverage and uninsured motorist coverage.
Which ZIP code in Winston-Salem has the cheapest car insurance?
Among Winston-Salem's 9 ZIP codes, 27101 has the lowest estimate (about $1,190 a year for full coverage) and 27110 the highest (about $1,365), mainly because of differences in density and commute times.
How much is car insurance for a teenager in Winston-Salem?
An 18-year-old with their own full-coverage policy would pay around $3,405 a year in Winston-Salem by our estimate ($1,280 for minimum coverage). Adding a teen to a parent's policy is usually cheaper.
Does weather affect car insurance in Winston-Salem?
Yes. FEMA's National Risk Index rates Forsyth County for 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 Winston-Salem?
We list 22 insurance offices in and around Winston-Salem, 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 (Winston-Salem 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