Compare Auto Insurance Quotes in North Carolina to Get the Best Rates

Compare Auto Insurance Quotes in North Carolina to Get the Best Rates

Tuesday, August 15 2017 By Steve Bowen

North Carolinians are no stranger to cars or driving -- after all, North Carolina is home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. However, even a big time motorhead might not know the ins and outs of their state’s insurance laws. That’s where QuoteWizard comes in.

This page will show you which types of coverage are legally required in North Carolina, provide information about the cost of driving, and share some insights about insurance risk to help you protect you and your family.

Average North Carolina Car Insurance Rates

North Carolina residents should be pleased to learn that for many drivers, average car insurance rates here are lower than the national average. Premiums will vary depending on your zip code, local crime, and the number of claims filed.

The average cost of auto insurance in North Carolina is $643.84 a year. The national average annual cost of auto coverage is $866.31.

North Carolina Average Annual Car Insurance Rates

Coverage	Rates
Liability	$358.56
Collision	$279.35
Comprehensive	$130.37
Total Cost Per Year	$643.84
Price Per Month	$53.65

Shopping for car insurance in North Carolina can seem like a lot of work. From researching companies to comparing rates, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

Let QuoteWizard help. Fill out our easy to use (and understand) form and you’ll be well on your way to finding affordable car insurance. How? We’ll put you in touch with top insurance companies so you can compare quotes and get the best rates.

Last year, 94,418 people used QuoteWizard to get an auto insurance quotes comparison in North Carolina from top companies and find the cheapest rates.

Top 10 Vehicles in North Carolina

These are the most common vehicles owned by North Carolina drivers requesting car insurance quotes through QuoteWizard in the past year.

Best Car Insurance Companies in North Carolina

Last year, these were the most common car insurance companies reported by QuoteWizard users living in the state of North Carolina. Out of the 94,418 North Carolina drivers that used QuoteWizard to request insurance quotes last year, 8,549 had no car insurance.

North Carolina State Auto Insurance Laws

Car Insurance Minimum Coverage

Legally, almost all US drivers are required to carry a minimum level of car insurance, but the minimum required coverage varies from state to state. In North Carolina, drivers need to follow what is known as the 30/60/25 rule when it comes to their insurance policies.

This means that any policy must include the following:

• $30,000 of coverage for bodily injury liability per person
• $60,000 of coverage for bodily injury liability per incident
• $25,000 of coverage for property damage liability per incident
• $30,000 of uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person
• $60,000 of uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per incident
• $25,000 of uninsured property damage liability coverage per incident

Remember, you can purchase more inclusive plans that cover more, but if you want the bare required minimum to keep you legal on the road, make sure your policy has the above protection.

Required Proof of Car Insurance

Any time you drive in North Carolina, you must be prepared to show your car insurance identification card to law enforcement upon request. You will get this identification card from your car insurance company when you buy a policy.

The card must include all of the following:

• Name of the insurance company
• Policy number
• Effective date of the policy
• Expiration date of the policy
• Description of the year, make, and/or model of the insured vehicles, or the name of the insured driver

Penalties

Failing to maintain proof of insurance is punishable by a fine and/or jail time. You will also likely have your driver’s license suspended.

SR-22 Requirements

North Carolina is unusual in that doesn't require drivers convicted of DWIs or other major traffic violations to file an SR-22 to prove that they have legally adequate car insurance. However, moving to North Carolina does not end your requirement to file an SR-22 in your previous state of residence.

State of North Carolina Traffic Safety Laws

Distracted Driving Laws

North Carolina prohibits drivers under the age of 18 as well as school bus drivers from using cell phones while driving. All drivers are prohibited from using cell phones to send or receive text messages while driving.

Implied Consent Law

North Carolina's Implied Consent law requires that any driver submit to testing to determine the alcohol or drug content of their blood or breath when arrested by law enforcement for suspicion of driving while impaired (DWI) by alcohol or drugs.

Refuse to take the test, and you will lose your driver license for 1 year.

DWI Law

If you drive or operate a motor vehicle in the State of North Carolina with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, you are guilty of Driving While Impaired (DWI).

Child Passenger Safety Laws

In order to protect children on its roadways, North Carolina follows strict rules for protecting kids while they are in a moving vehicle:

• A properly used car seat or booster seat is required for children younger than 8 years old, and weighing less than 80 pounds.
• Once a child reaches age 8 or weighs 80 pounds, whichever comes first, a properly fitted seat belt may be used in place of a car seat or booster seat. Booster seats can only be used with lap and shoulder seat belts, never just a lap belt.

The maximum fine for failing to properly restrain a child is $25 + $188 in court costs and points on your driving record.

Graduated Driver’s License Program

North Carolina has implemented a 3-tier graduated driver’s license program beginning with a learner’s permit and ending with full driver privileges once all conditions are met.

Teens are allowed to apply for a learner’s permit once they’re 15 years old. Drivers in the learner’s permit stage are required to drive 60 hours under supervision, with 10 of those hours being at night. Drivers with a learner's permit are only allowed to drive under the supervision of a parent or guardian with a valid driver's license, and are forbidden to drive between 9:00 pm and 5:00 am for their first six months. Once these conditions are satisfied, and the driver has reached at least the age of 16, they can take the driver’s test. If they pass the test, a limited provisional license is issued.

Once a driver has a limited provisional license, they are required to drive a further 12 hours under supervision, with 6 of those hours being at night. They are still not allowed to drive between the hours of 9 pm and 5 am. They are also not allowed to have more than one passenger under the age of 21 in their vehicle during the intermediate stage. If the under-21 passenger is a family member, no other under-21 passengers are permitted in the vehicle. Drivers are eligible for their full provisional license, and may drive without restrictions once they complete the above requirements and turn 16 1/2.

Senior Drivers in North Carolina

All drivers are required to renew their driver’s license every 8 years, except for drivers aged 66 or older, who must renew their license every five years. Drivers age 60 or older are not required to complete the parallel parking portion of the road test.

Seat Belt Laws

North Carolina requires everyone age 16 or older in a vehicle to wear a seat belt. Children are required to use approved child seats as mentioned above. The maximum penalty for failing to wear a seat belt is $25.50 + $135.50 in court costs ($10 + no court costs for rear seats).

Vehicles Registered in Another State

When you drive a vehicle in North Carolina that is required to be registered in another state, you must have the type of insurance required by that state. You must be able to provide proof of this insurance to law enforcement upon request.

The Cost of Driving in North Carolina

Average North Carolina Car Insurance Rates

The average cost of car insurance in North Carolina in 2014, the most recent year for which data was available, was $643.84 compared to a national average of $866.31. North Carolina ranks 45th among US states for car insurance expense, far below the national average.

Fuel Taxes

All drivers are subject to both a federal and state gas tax every time they visit the pump. The state of North Carolina taxes gasoline and diesel fuel at 35.25 cents per gallon. This is in addition to the Federal fuel tax of 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline, and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel. The total tax on regular gasoline is 53.65 cents per gallon; the total tax on diesel is 59.65 cents per gallon.

Car Insurance Risk in North Carolina

Traffic Fatalities

In 2014, there were 1,284 traffic fatalities in North Carolina, a 5% decrease from the state’s 1,290 traffic fatalities in 2013.

Vehicle Thefts in North Carolina

North Carolina had 13,630 vehicle thefts reported in 2014, a 5.4% decrease compared to 2013. In 2014, the vehicle theft rate was 137.1 per 100,000, a 6.3% decrease from 2013.

The vehicle theft rate in North Carolina is significantly lower than the overall US vehicle theft rate, which was 216 per 100,000 in 2014.

Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in North Carolina

Some cars are more prone to theft than others, so be sure to check the list below to see if your car is a target on the streets.

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau - Hot Wheels Report 2014

1. 1996 Honda Accord
2. 2006 Ford Pick-Up (Full Size)
3. 2000 Honda Civic
4. 1999 Chevrolet Pick-Up (Full Size)
5. 2013 Toyota Camry
6. 1997 Chevrolet Pick-Up (Small Size)
7. 2006 Nissan Altima
8. 1999 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
9. 2002 Ford Explorer
10. 2014 Chevrolet Impala

Uninsured Drivers

The percentage of North Carolina residents estimated to be driving without insurance is 9.1%. That ranks North Carolina as #35 among US states and the District of Columbia, significantly better than average.

North Carolina Private Passenger Auto Insurance Market Share

Source: Insurance Information Institute

Rank	Market Share	Company
1	16.6%	Nationwide Mutual Group
2	9.5%	NC Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.
3	9%	Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
4	8.9%	Allstate
5	7.4%	Integon National Insurance Company
6	7.3%	United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
7	4.8%	Progressive Corp.
8	3.4%	Liberty Mutual
9	3.4%	Erie Insurance Group

North Carolina Division of Insurance

Website:

http://www.ncdoi.com/

Director of Insurance:

Wayne Goodwin

Phone:

(855) 408-1212

File a Consumer Insurance Complaint

Website:

Services for Consumers

Sources:

• FBI Uniform Crime Report
• NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System
• Insurance Information Institute – Minimum Coverage Levels by State
• American Petroleum Institute
• National Insurance Crime Bureau
• Governors Highway Safety Association
• Insurance Information Institute – Insurance Expenditures by State
• North Carolina DMV - Division of Motor Vehicles
• North Carolina Auto Insurance Market Share

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