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Kristine Lee

Insurance Analyst

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • 4+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry

Kristine is a licensed insurance agent who joined The Zebra in 2019 as an in-house content researcher and writer. Before joining The Zebra, she was a…

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Renata Balasco

Senior Content Strategist

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

Renata joined The Zebra in 2020 as a Customer Experience Agent. Since 2021, she has worked as licensed insurance professional and content strategist.…

Car insurance is affordable in North Carolina. The average car insurance premium in North Carolina is $865 per year — less than the nationwide average by 39.4%.

Your car insurance rates are dictated by factors other than state lines. Auto insurance rates price based on myriad factors, such as your age, gender, marital status, credit, and driving history.

We examined mean North Carolina car insurance rates by all of the major rating factors. Read on to learn how much car insurance runs in each US state — or enter your zip code to receive personalized prices from top car insurance companies.

 

Average North Carolina car insurance rates by:

  1. Age
  2. Gender
  3. Marital status
  4. Credit score
  5. Driving violations
  6. Coverage level

 

Mean Car Insurance Rates in North Carolina by Age

It’s a fact of life: as you age, your auto insurance rates shift. Generally speaking, auto insurance is more costly for young drivers, as car insurance companies consider inexperienced motorists as less responsible.

In North Carolina, car coverage costs $2,650 per year for a 16-year-old motorist and only $842 yearly for a driver in their 50s.

 
NORTH CAROLINA AUTO INSURANCE COSTS BY AGE
Age Average Annual Premium
16 $2,649.93
17 $2,062.91
18 $1,816.06
19 $924.79
20s $875.07
30s $858.96
40s $849.97
50s $842.29
60s $857.75
70s $895.77

If you're shopping for car insurance for a teen driver, North Carolina is the 2nd cheapest state in which to buy auto insurance for a 16-year-old.




 

Average Car Insurance Premiums in North Carolina by Gender

While gender does not make as large an impact on auto insurance prices as location or age, it is used as a rating factor by underwriters.

 
NORTH CAROLINA AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR MEN VS. WOMEN
Gender Average Yearly Rate
Male $859.45
Female $863.11

If you're worried about getting the best value for your money with your current auto insurer, the best option is to shop around.




 

Mean Auto Insurance Rates in North Carolina by Marital Status

One benefit of wedlock — in addition to the honeymoon — is the price cut you typically receive on your car insurance policy. In North Carolina, married drivers save $7 annually on car insurance policies. This is a smaller discount than the national post-nuptial discount of $76.

 
NORTH CAROLINA AUTO INSURANCE RATES BY MARITAL STATUS
Marital Status Average Annual Premium
Single $859.45
Married $865.99
Divorced $859.45
Widowed $859.45

Auto insurance coverage for divorced drivers in North Carolina is the absolute cheapest in the nation. If you are paying too much for your policy, shop around. You could find some serious savings!

 
 

 

Average Car Insurance Prices in North Carolina by Credit

Car insurance companies use credit score to predict how reliable a customer will be. Trended data show drivers who carry exceptional credit are usually more insurable car insurance clients: they less commonly file claims covered by insurance companies.

In the state of North Carolina, a driver with excellent credit can save $171.49 per year in car insurance premiums, contrasted with a driver with a less-favorable credit score. Read more about how credit score may impact auto insurance costs:

 
NORTH CAROLINA AUTO INSURANCE COSTS BY CREDIT
Credit Tier Average Annual Rate
Very Poor (300-579) $1,006.36
Fair (580-669) $983.54
Good (670-739) $935.89
Very Good (740-799) $867.17
Exceptional (800-850) $834.87

Finding affordable car insurance if you have bad credit is sometimes hard. But The Zebra is here to help. Check out our guide to getting car insurance with bad credit and learn how to save!

 

 

Average Car Insurance Prices for High-Risk Drivers in North Carolina

If you’re determined to be at fault in an accident or convicted of a vehicular violation, your insurance rates are bound to grow. The more infractions you amass, the more costly your auto insurance gets.

In North Carolina, your first minor at-fault crash results in an additional $311.77 annually in auto insurance premiums. A DUI — among the most serious driving infractions — will lift your yearly insurance rates in North Carolina by an average of $792.25.

 
NORTH CAROLINA CAR INSURANCE PRICES WITH VIOLATIONS
Violation Average Annual Rate
DUI or DWI $1,657.53
Reckless Driving $3,635.90
At-Fault Accident (<$1,000) $1,177.06
At-Fault Accident ($1,000-$2,000) $2,750.30
At-Fault Accident (>$2,000) $1,301.59
Open Container $2,509.97
Speeding (21-25 MPH > limit) $2,268.49
Speeding (16-20 MPH > limit) $2,251.38

If you're in need of affordable auto insurance, think about shopping policies to get affordable coverage that covers your vehicle appropriately.




 

Average Car Insurance Premiums by Coverage Amount in North Carolina

How much you pay every month for car insurance depends on the tier of protection you select. Liability-only coverage normally costs less, while low-deductible comprehensive coverage usually costs more. In North Carolina, the rate gap between liability-only coverage and full coverage with a $500 deductible is $404.

 
NORTH CAROLINA AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUMS BY COVERAGE TYPE
Coverage Level Average Yearly Rate
$100K/$300K/$100K Bodily Injury/Property Damage — Liability Only $460
$100K/$300K/$100K Bodily Injury/Property Damage — $1,000 Comprehensive/Collision $808
$100K/$300K/$100K Bodily Injury/Property Damage — $500 Comprehensive/Collision $866
$50K/$100K/$50K Bodily Injury/Property Damage — Liability Only $394
$50K/$100K/$50K Bodily Injury/Property Damage — $1,000 Comprehensive/Collision $741
$50K/$100K/$50K Bodily Injury/Property Damage — $500 Comprehensive/Collision $798
State Minimum — Liability Only $351
State Minimum — $1,000 Comprehensive/Collision $697
State Minimum — $500 Comprehensive/Collision $755

If you are looking for a better deal on auto insurance, it's worth policy shopping to discover affordable coverage that fits your budget.

 

Compare leading insurers now!

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About The Zebra

The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.

  • The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
  • The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
  • The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
  • The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.