North Carolina car insurance
Whether making your way through Charlotte, Raleigh or Greensboro, North Carolina driving can be a pleasure. Learn about North Carolina's car insurance requirements and a few optional coverages. You'll also discover how to easily get a quote from Progressive for North Carolina car insurance.
Explore Progressive Answers' auto editorial guidelines to find out why you can trust the car insurance information you find here.
What are North Carolina's minimum auto insurance requirements?
Drivers in North Carolina are required to have auto liability coverage (BI liability and PD liability), and either uninsured motorist (UM) coverage OR uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage at the following minimum car insurance limits:
| Coverage | What it covers | Minimum amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | What it coversInjuries you cause to others in an accident | Minimum amount$30,000 per person $60,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | What it coversDamage you cause to other people's property in an accident | Minimum amount$25,000 per accident |
North Carolina uninsured motorist coverage
North Carolinians must 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.
MedPay in North Carolina
North Carolina also requires insurers to offer medical payments coverage (MedPay), though you may reject these coverages via a signed form if you do not want them.
| Coverage | What it covers | Minimum amount |
|---|---|---|
| Medical payments coverage (MedPay) | What it coversYour medical costs due to an accident, plus lost wages, and death benefits, regardless of who's at fault. | Minimum amount$1,000 |
While these are North Carolina's minimum required car insurance limits, higher coverage amounts may better protect your family's financial wellbeing. Learn how much car insurance you may need based on your circumstances and preferences.
Is North Carolina a no-fault state?
No. North Carolina is an at-fault state, which means the party responsible for an accident must cover the injuries of the other driver and their passengers. Learn more about what happens if you're at fault in an accident.
How much is car insurance in North Carolina?
For a liability-only policy from Progressive, car insurance costs an average of $79.83 per month in low-cost states like North Carolina.* And using data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the Insurance Information Institute cited in 2023 that North Carolina was the ninth-least expensive state for auto insurance.
That said, your rate will depend on many car insurance cost factors like where you live, your driving history, and the limits and coverages you choose.
Ready to make the switch? Drivers nationwide who switch and save with Progressive save over $800 on average.† Get an auto insurance quote today.
What is the best car insurance in North Carolina?
To find the best North Carolina car insurance, compare quotes with equal coverages, limits, deductibles, and discounts. As the #1 combined personal and commercial auto insurance company,** Progressive has plenty of incentives to help drivers in North Carolina get the best car insurance. For instance, our auto insurance customers earn an average of seven discounts.
If you're looking for the cheapest car insurance in North Carolina, here's how much drivers nationwide saved on average after switching to Progressive compared to their previous auto insurer:
- Allstate customers who switch and save with Progressive save $775 on average††
- GEICO customers who switch and save with Progressive save $740 on average§
- State Farm customers who switch and save with Progressive save $565 on average‡
How do I lower my car insurance cost in North Carolina?
To lower your car insurance cost in North Carolina, you may qualify for the following discounts through Progressive:
- Multi-car
- Paperless
- Online quote
- Automatic payment
- Automatic card payments (ACP)
- Five-year accident-free
- Homeowner
- Multi-policy
- Pay in full
See all our auto insurance discounts.
Pro tip:
Save when you bundle! One way to get cheap car insurance in North Carolina is to combine your auto and home policies with Progressive — new customers who save bundling home and auto insurance save over 20% on average nationwide.†
Additional car insurance coverages to consider
If you're leasing or financing a vehicle, most lenders require you to carry comprehensive auto coverage and collision coverage in addition to North Carolina's state-required coverages. Comprehensive and collision pay to repair or replace your car regardless of fault, if it's in an accident, gets stolen, or is otherwise damaged due to a covered claim. It also makes sense to add these physical damage coverages if you're not sure you can afford a new car or major repairs after an accident.
Explore all our car insurance coverages, and our car insurance calculator to find which ones are recommended for you.
North Carolina driving resources
From Durham to Winston-Salem, get to know North Carolina's driving laws and resources. These resources apply to Wilmington, Rocky Mount, and everywhere in between. Local municipalities may have additional laws and resources.
- North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles: You can renew your NC driver license or non-driver ID, upgrade a full provisional license, request driving records, and more.
- North Carolina Highway Safety Tips: Learn about NC highway safety and traffic regulations.
- North Carolina REAL ID FAQs: Get answers to common NC DMV questions about REAL ID, title and registration, programs, and services.
- Car insurance resource center: Learn more about how car insurance works, from terms and definitions to savings tips.
How to get car insurance in North Carolina
Call a rep
Talk with a licensed representative who can guide you through the process.
Call 1-866-749-7436
Quote car insurance online or give us a call
Learn more about car insurance policies.
