North Carolina car insurance

From its stunning coastline to its stately mountains, North Carolina driving can be a pleasure. But even the quietest country road can have a fender bender waiting just around the corner. Learn more about North Carolina's car insurance requirements and a few optional coverages, and then find out how to easily get a North Carolina car insurance quote through Progressive.

3 min to read

What are North Carolina's auto insurance requirements?

North Carolina residents are required to carry car insurance coverage. Drivers in the Tar Heel State must carry auto liability coverage limits of at least:

$30,000 in bodily injury per person
$60,000 in total bodily injury per accident
$25,000 in property damage per accident

North Carolina uninsured motorist coverage

North Carolinians may also carry either uninsured motorist coverage (UM) or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). The exact requirements vary based on the liability limits you select:

UM pays for medical expenses resulting from an accident caused by an uninsured driver, as well as damage to your vehicle. This coverage is available if your bodily injury liability limits are $30,000 per person/$60,000 total per accident. UM coverage must be written on all vehicles at the same limit. However, you can purchase higher UM limits than your bodily injury liability limits. The minimum limits you need with UM coverage are:

UM bodily injury: $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident
UM property damage: $25,000

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM)

UM/UIM covers medical expenses for you and your passengers, as well as damage to your vehicle if you're hit by a driver with little or no insurance. This coverage is available if you choose bodily injury liability limits of $50,000 per person/$100,000 total per accident or greater. If you have UM/UIM, it must be written on all vehicles at the same limit. The minimum UM/UIM coverage limits are:

UM/UIM bodily injury: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
UM/UIM property damage: $25,000

Important note: Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is not available if your bodily injury liability limits are $30,000/$60,000.

These are just the minimum limits and coverages North Carolina requires. It's generally a good idea to carry higher limits or add more coverages to better protect yourself.

Learn more about uninsured motorist coverage.

Collision/other than collision coverage can protect your vehicle

If you're leasing a car or making monthly payments, you'll likely need collision/other than collision coverage since most lenders require them (other states refer to other than collision coverage as comprehensive coverage.) But even if you own your vehicle outright, these coverages can be very helpful if your car is ever damaged or stolen, so you can avoid paying for repairs or a new vehicle yourself.

Learn more about auto coverages available from Progressive.

How much does car insurance cost in North Carolina?

North Carolina had one of the lowest average expenditures for auto insurance in 2018, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Keep in mind that rates can vary based on a number of factors, such as your driving history, ZIP code, and the limits and coverages you choose.

What car insurance discounts are available for North Carolina drivers?

Progressive offers many discounts to help you get cheaper auto insurance in North Carolina. Here are a few:

Continuous insurance
Advance quote
Online quote
Five-year claim-free
Three-year safe driving
Automatic card payments (ACP)
Paperless

Plus, bundling your home and auto insurance not only saves you money, it also helps protect two of your most valuable assets. Learn more about homeowners insurance in North Carolina.

Pro tip:

Are you thinking about switching car insurance? Drivers throughout the country who switch and save with us save nearly $750 per year on average.^* Don't wait to get your car insurance quote.

Fast facts about driving & insurance in North Carolina:

North Carolina made the top 10 list for the number of hail loss claims in 2017-2019. Other than collision, or comprehensive, coverage includes vehicle repairs due to hail and other weather-related mishaps.
According to a 2018 NICB report, the Tar Heel State had the sixth-highest incidence of motorcycle theft in the country. Adding other than collision coverage to your motorcycle policy can protect you from theft — plus bundling motorcycle & auto can earn you a multi-policy discount.
If you have a need for (excessive) speed, expect to pay a steep price in North Carolina. The state has some of the strictest speeding laws in the country, with fines as high as $1,000 for first-time offenders.