North Carolina law mandates auto insurance coverage for drivers, and there are multiple ways to lower premium costs. When searching for coverage, compare quotes from multiple providers offering similar policies with the same types and coverage limits; or bundle auto and home policies together or take advantage of discounts available due to safety features on your car or driving history.
Your vehicle type also plays an important role in North Carolina auto insurance rates. Vehicles with higher statistical accident risks, less safety features or costly repair bills typically cost more to insure than lower-priced ones.
Insurance carriers rely heavily on your credit history when setting rates. Bad credit is seen by most carriers as increased risk and therefore higher premiums; drivers with poor credit can often find affordable car insurance in North Carolina by working to improve their score. You can access your report free at any time and see the impact it has on your average annual premium by viewing the table below.
An assortment of factors influence car insurance rates in North Carolina, some more easily managed than others. Acceleration rate, aggressive braking behavior and sudden lane changes all play a part in increasing insurance costs; good driver discounts often reward safe driving while installing a telematics device monitoring your driving can further lower them.
Although North Carolina only mandates minimum liability insurance requirements, it’s wise to carry as much coverage as you can afford in order to protect yourself from high-dollar lawsuits and ensure financial stability should you cause an accident. Unfortunately, many drivers opt for cheaper policies; doing so could leave them underinsured in case of an incident. NerdWallet’s North Carolina car insurance calculator can assist in calculating the optimal amount for your needs and budget.
North Carolina only requires minimum coverage that covers $30,000 in bodily injury per person and up to $100,000 total for property damage, according to NerdWallet’s estimates. To help avoid paying out-of-pocket for costly damages, they suggest carrying at least $300,000 total bodily injury and property damage liability coverage as well as comprehensive and collision coverage – this way repairs for damaged assets caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers can be covered more easily in case of an accident. In 2015, NerdWallet found 6.5 percent uninsured compared with 13 percent nationally