North Carolina auto insurance laws are fairly straightforward. But that's no guarantee that you've got the best policy for the premium you pay.
This guide:
Explains North Carolina car insurance regulations and requirements
Describes how North Carolina auto insurance rates are decided
Shows you how you can save money by comparing multiple quotes
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North Carolina auto insurance laws
North Carolina is a tort state, which means that drivers are financially responsible for the damage and injury they may cause during an auto accident. Liability insurance is required to fulfill this responsibility.
North Carolina auto insurance laws require liability coverage of 30/60/25. (That's $30,000 per person for injuries you cause to the other party, up to $60,000 for all, and $25,000 for damage you cause to the other party's property.)
However, these are only minimums, and higher levels of protection are strongly recommended, especially if you have assets to protect. After all, accidents can get very expensive, especially if injury is involved.
North Carolina auto insurance companies will also offer optional coverages such as medical payments, collision, comprehensive, and uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage.
You may want to consider purchasing any or all of these coverages, especially uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages. These policies help cover the cost of your injuries and property damage should you be struck by a driver with inadequate liability insurance.
Sidebar If you are a North Carolina resident, you may be able to save on your premium by visiting Electric Insurance. Their policies are available only to better drivers, whose credit and driving records could be described as being at least good.
After you check rates at ComparisonMarket, visit Electric and get a quote to see if you qualify.
How North Carolina car insurance rates are set
The price of North Carolina auto insurance is decided by the behavior of the state's drivers as a whole. North Carolina auto insurance companies take the cost of insuring North Carolina drivers (this includes what they pay out for injury and damage, legal and administrative fees, and the cost of prosecuting insurance fraud) and divide it up among the drivers.
But these costs aren't spread around evenly. Instead, North Carolina car insurance providers calculate how much a certain "category" of driver costs them, and decide premiums based on that. The "category" you're in is decided by your driving record, your age, where you live, and the kind of car you drive, among other things.
Of course, not all insurance companies use the same categories and calculations, so the same set of characteristics (yours!) will be seen very differently by different insurance companies. And they'll quote youdifferent rates.
What this means for you, as an North Carolina driver, is that you need to shop around. It's the fastest easiest way to save on an North Carolina auto insurance policy.
Where to get North Carolina auto insurance quotes
The following web sites will help you find North Carolina car insurance quotes: (these links will open in a new window)
ComparisonMarket is a great service, and an easy way to compare rates, quickly and for free. This is where you'll save up to four hundred bucks.
Netquote is particularly useful if you want a local agent to contact you, to help you sort out the details of your policy, and possibly help you save even more money.
Geico - a great service, especially for those who can't get insured elsewhere. Be sure to complete the entire quote form!
Get quotes by ZIP Code. Enter your ZIP below to get a quote from a provider right in your neighborhood:
To speed up the process, you might wish to have some information required for an online quote ready before you begin.
More NC car insurance help
If you want more help designing your NC auto insurance policy, read our guide to setting safe and reasonable car insurance coverage levels. It contains a lot of money saving advice too.
This wrebsite provides general information for educational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. We make no guarantees as to the validity of the information presented. Your particular facts and circumstances, and changes in the law, must be considered when applying insurance law. You should always consult with a competent auto insurance professional licensed in your state with respect to your particular situation.
Explains North Carolina car insurance regulations and requirements
