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Best car insurance in North Carolina for 2024

Updated Mar 15, 2024
Geico, State Farm, Nationwide, Allstate and North Carolina Farm Bureau offer the best car insurance in North Carolina based on Bankrate's in-depth research.

Best car insurance companies in North Carolina

Bankrate’s insurance editorial team examined premium data, customer satisfaction from the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, average rates, coverage types, discounts and other important metrics for the largest auto companies by market share. Based on our analysis, and using rates sourced from Quadrant Information Services, we found Geico, State Farm, Nationwide, Allstate and North Carolina Farm Bureau to be among the best car insurance companies in North Carolina.

It's important to note that the average rates for these companies may fluctuate and are subject to change monthly. Therefore, while some may generally provide rates lower than the state averages of $1,702 for full coverage and $491 for minimum coverage, this isn't always a constant.  The companies we reviewed also offer robust coverage options, a variety of potential discounts and other perks we’ll discuss more in depth below. When shopping for the best car insurance in NC,  drivers might want to get quotes from these companies:

Insurance company
Bankrate score
Info
Average full coverage rate Average min coverage rate
4.4
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
$1,718
$504
4.3
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
$958
$300
4.0
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
$2,192
$634
3.9
Rating: 3.9 stars out of 5
$2,132
$545
North Carolina Farm Bureau
3.7
Rating: 3.7 stars out of 5
$2,182
$613

Geico

Geico

4.4

Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5

Avg. full coverage premium

$143/mo

Avg. full coverage premium

$1,718/yr

Customer satisfaction

828/1,000

State Farm

State Farm

4.3

Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5

Avg. full coverage premium

$80/mo

Avg. full coverage premium

$958/yr

Customer satisfaction

847/1,000

Nationwide

Nationwide

4

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Avg. full coverage premium

$183/mo

Avg. full coverage premium

$2,192/yr

Customer satisfaction

834/1,000

Allstate

Allstate

3.9

Rating: 3.9 stars out of 5

Avg. full coverage premium

$178/mo

Avg. full coverage premium

$2,132/yr

Customer satisfaction

832/1,000

North Carolina Farm Bureau

North Carolina Farm Bureau

3.7

Rating: 3.7 stars out of 5

Avg. full coverage premium

$182/mo

Avg. full coverage premium

$2,182/yr

Customer satisfaction

842/1,000

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How Bankrate chose the best car insurance companies in North Carolina

To find the best car insurance companies in North Carolina, we developed a proprietary Bankrate Score system that takes several metrics into account. Our insurance editorial team analyzed average car insurance premiums from Quadrant Information Services and reviewed coverage options, discounts, policy features, customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power and financial strength ratings from AM Best for each company. We also looked at accessibility and ease of use for policy management through online and mobile resources.

Insurance companies are then graded on a weighted scale of 5.0 points, with a score closer to 5.0 indicating strong performance across these categories. If you are shopping for the best auto insurance in North Carolina, our research might help you find a carrier that fits your needs.

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Why you can trust Bankrate

Read our full methodology

To help North Carolina drivers find the best car insurance, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team reviewed some of the largest insurers by market share. We based our picks on a well-rounded analysis of several metrics related to each company.

46

years of industry expertise

122

carriers reviewed

20.7K

ZIP codes examined

1.2M

quotes analyzed

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How to find the best car insurance in North Carolina

The best auto insurance in NC may be different for everyone. Since each insurance company has a unique rating system, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all when it comes to car insurance policies. Insurers determine your premium based on numerous characteristics such as age and gender (in most states), driving records, vehicle make and model and other factors. When you are searching for North Carolina auto insurance, these considerations may help you narrow down whether a carrier could be right for you.

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This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

New

In North Carolina, auto and motorcycle insurance rates have increased, effective from December 1, 2023. Auto insurance rates will rise by 4.5 percent, and motorcycle liability by 2.3 percent. This increase applies to new and renewed policies. NC Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey initially faced a proposed increase of 28.4 percent for auto and 4.7 percent for motorcycle insurance.

The settlement, which has been seen as a compromise, avoids a lengthy legal process. However, it's been criticized by David Wheeler, a candidate for insurance commissioner, as politically motivated. Despite these increases, North Carolina still ranks relatively low on the national scale in annual automobile insurance costs.

How much is car insurance in North Carolina?

The average cost of car insurance in North Carolina is $1,702 for full coverage and $491 for minimum coverage. These are both below the national averages of $2,545 and $741, respectively. This is roughly in line with what North Carolina's neighboring states pay. Virginia, for example, has an average rate of $1,990 for full coverage and $677 for minimum; while South Carolina's averages are $1,886 and $657. All average premium data was gathered from Quadrant Information Services.

Car insurance in NC may be cheaper than the national average for several reasons. Parts of the state are at risk for severe weather damage, including hurricanes, but many areas are shielded from the storms, which may help keep full coverage rates down. Although some parts of the state experience heavy tourism, the areas that have less traffic and therefore a lower risk of accidents might offset the busier areas. Rates vary by location within a state though, so areas closer to the coast, where tourism is likely heavier and roadways are more crowded, may have higher premiums.

City Avg. annual full coverage premium Avg. savings vs. state average

Estimate your car insurance cost in North Carolina

The more data you have at hand when you begin your search for affordable coverage, the easier it will be to find a policy that works for your wallet. For that reason, Bankrate created this handy calculator to help you estimate what your likely cost will be for your policy. Just input a few key facts, and you will have a number that you can use as a benchmark figure when asking for quotes from insurers.

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This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

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Why we're asking
Methodology

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Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2024 rates for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $50,000 property damage liability per accident
  • $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
  • $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
  • $500 collision deductible
  • $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2022 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

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46
years of industry expertise
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122
carriers reviewed
Location
20.7K
ZIP codes examined
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1.2M
quotes analyzed
Written by
Mary Van Keuren
Contributor, Insurance

Mary Van Keuren has written for insurance domains such as Bankrate, Coverage.com, and The Simple Dollar for the past five years, specializing in home and auto insurance. She has also written extensively for consumer websites including Reviews.com and Slumber Yard. Prior to that, she worked as a writer in academia for several decades.

Edited by Senior Editor, Insurance