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- North Carolina drivers will typically see fairly affordable car insurance premiums, but there are still some ways to save.
- Shopping around for your auto insurance coverage is the best way to save and get the best coverage for your money.
- USAA generally offers the best rates, but requires military service for eligibility.
- Check out our partner Savvy — a free tool that lets you compare car insurance quotes in minutes »
Car insurance in North Carolina is fairly affordable. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average driver spends about $700 per year on premiums. That's much less than the national average of $935 per year.
But, North Carolina drivers have a big opportunity to save if they're willing to shop around. Auto insurance costs can vary widely from person to person, and there are many factors that go into them.
Things like your age, gender, and your credit score can all influence your premium, or the amount you'll pay for coverage. Each company uses a different formula to consider these factors into your price, so you'll want to get a few different quotes to see which company offers you the best price.
That said, there are a few companies that offer excellent rates in North Carolina. Here are a few to help you start your search.
The most popular car insurance companies in North Carolina
The following are the most popular car insurance companies in North Carolina, based on the percentage of insured North Carolina drivers who use them:
| Company | Market share (%) |
| State Farm | 14.14 |
| GEICO | 12.86 |
| National General | 10.28 |
| Nationwide | 9.98 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | 9.73 |
| Allstate | 8.03 |
| USAA* | 7.77 |
| Progressive | 7.3 |
| Erie Insurance | 4.07 |
| Liberty Mutual | 2.84 |
| Sentry | 1.61 |
| Travelers | 1.48 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | 1.45 |
| MetLife | 1.29 |
| Amica | 0.76 |
| Auto Club Insurance Association | 0.75 |
| Discovery Insurance Co. | 0.72 |
| Kemper | 0.65 |
| Penn National Insurance | 0.65 |
| The Cincinnati Insurance Co | 0.57 |
*USAA is only for active military, veterans, and their families.
Data from S&P Global Intelligence
The best car insurance in North Carolina based on customer satisfaction
Customer satisfaction with car insurance providers may factor into your decision. According to J.D. Power, a consumer research company that surveys customers, these are the top car insurance companies in the Southeast region (which includes North Carolina):
- Farm Bureau Insurance TN
- Erie Insurance
- Alfa Insurance
- GEICO
- Auto-Owners Insurance
- North Carolina Farm Bureau
- Kentucky Farm Bureau
- Region Average
- Progressive
- Allstate
- Safeco
- State Farm
- Farmers
- National General
- Nationwide
- Travelers
- Liberty Mutual
- MetLife
The best cheap car insurance in North Carolina based on credit score
Consumer Reports compiled a list of all car insurance pricing formulas from all companies in every state. It used an average single adult driver to find the best pricing in each state, and found that three companies came out on top for three different credit levels. Here are the three best companies and their average price for coverage:
Drivers with excellent credit, FICO score 800-850, will see some of the best average rates on car insurance.
- GEICO Government Employees car insurance: $591 per year
- USAA car insurance: $685 per year
- North Carolina Farm Bureau car insurance: $740 per year
Drivers with good credit, FICO score 670-739, will see the best coverage from these three companies, on average:
- GEICO Government Employees car insurance: $623 per year
- USAA car insurance: $773 per year
- North Carolina Farm Bureau car insurance: $864 per year
Those with poor credit, FICO score 300-579, will pay more for their car insurance, on average.
- GEICO Government Employees car insurance: $842 per year
- USAA car insurance: $1,233 per year
- Nationwide Mutual car insurance: $1,274 per year
The best car insurance for drivers with a clean record
For a driver in North Carolina age 25 or older with no accidents and one vehicle, the following companies provide the best average rates:
| Company | Average monthly insurance premium |
| Nationwide | $97 |
| Liberty Mutual | $106 |
| Progressive | $108 |
| Allstate | $111 |
| GEICO | $117 |
| Travelers | $129 |
| State Farm | $130 |
| USAA* | $134 |
| Esurance | $149 |
*USAA is only for active military, veterans, and their families.
Above data obtained from Savvy, based on 5,248 policyholders in the state of North Carolina
Best car insurance for one or more accidents on record
For a driver in North Carolina age 25 or older, with one or more accidents and one vehicle, the following companies provide the best average rates:
| Company | Average monthly insurance premium |
| GEICO | $113 |
| Allstate | $142 |
| Progressive | $149 |
| Esurance | $199 |
Above data obtained from Savvy, based on 5,248 policyholders in the state of North Carolina
North Carolina car insurance rates by city
Below is the estimated average annual premium of auto insurance policies per household in North Carolina's most populous cities:
| City | Average annual insurance premium |
| Charlotte | $1,443 |
| Raleigh | $1,453 |
| Greensboro | $1,311 |
| Durham | $1,364 |
| Winston-Salem | $1,307 |
| Fayetteville | $1,275 |
| Cary | $1,619 |
| Wilmington | $1,294 |
| High Point | $1,323 |
| Concord | $1,480 |
| Greenville | $1,275 |
| Asheville | $1,349 |
| Gastonia | $1,343 |
| Jacksonville | $1,322 |
| Chapel Hill | $1,430 |
| Huntersville | $1,629 |
| Rocky Mount | $1,251 |
| Burlington | $1,292 |
| Kannapolis | $1,393 |
| Wilson | $1,265 |
| Apex | $1,661 |
| Mooresville | $1,475 |
| Hickory | $1,341 |
| Indian Trail | $1,558 |
| Wake Forest | $1,564 |
| Goldsboro | $1,226 |
| Holly Springs | $1,691 |
| Monroe | $1,367 |
| Salisbury | $1,300 |
| Cornelius | $1,583 |
| Matthews | $1,547 |
| New Bern | $1,317 |
| Sanford | $1,303 |
| Garner | $1,441 |
| Fuquay-Varina | $1,532 |
| Mint Hill | $1,509 |
| Thomasville | $1,278 |
| Statesville | $1,282 |
| Asheboro | $1,246 |
| Kernersville | $1,351 |
Data from S&P Global Intelligence
Who gets the best cheap car insurance in North Carolina?
As the data above shows, your credit score is one of the bigger influences on the price you'll pay for coverage. But, there are many other factors that play into your premium, too. With every company considering them differently, it's critical to shop around.
If you want to get the best rate for you, you'll need to start by getting quotes from several different insurance companies. Once you have a few different quotes, you'll want to compare them and look for the policy that gives you the most coverage for your money by giving the most coverage types and the highest limits. Also look at the deductible, or the amount you'll pay out-of-pocket if you get into an accident.
The driver who gets the best deal in North Carolina is the one who shops around for their coverage. Compare quotes and look beyond the premium to find the best-priced coverage for you.