Fact CheckedNerdWallet’s editorial team collected data on 13 auto insurers in North Carolina and scored them for factors like customer experience, online features and discounts. GEICO is the best car insurance company in North Carolina, but plenty of other car insurers also earned high ratings.
Our April 2026 picks for the best car insurance companies in North Carolina are:
Category winner | NerdWallet Star Rating |
|---|---|
Best overall car insurance company: GEICO | |
Best runner-up: Amica | |
Best budget pick: Progressive | |
Best for making a claim: Erie | |
Best for coverage options: Farmers |
For our list of the best car insurance companies in North Carolina, we only considered insurers that achieved a minimum NerdWallet star rating of 4.5. As we continue to evaluate more insurance providers and receive fresh market data, our list of best car insurance companies may change.
NerdWallet’s editorial team considers these factors when choosing the best auto insurance companies:
Financial strength. We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims.
Consumer experience. These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). We also look at survey data from J.D. Power’s yearly national and regional studies.
Digital ease of use. This category looks at how easily consumers can interact with an insurer through its mobile app and website. This includes the quality of information offered online, mobile app scores based on Apple and Google Play store ratings, and whether a user can start and track a claim, or get a quote online.
Ways to save. We look at the kinds of discounts a company offers and the total number of discounts available.
You can read our full auto insurance methodology to learn more.
Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage.
Thorough rating guidelines for evaluating auto insurance companies.
More than 120 million rates analyzed by our team of specialists.
More than 130 insurance companies analyzed in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
You can trust the prices we show because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which includes rates from every locale in a state where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing.
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Best overall for car insurance: GEICO
Full coverage
$182 /month
Liability only
$63 /month
With nationwide availability and a raft of discounts, GEICO is a popular, and often affordable, choice for car insurance.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.
Why GEICO is the best: GEICO is the best car insurance company in North Carolina for its strong financial strength, convenient digital features and discount opportunities.
Unlike some of its competitors, GEICO supports online quotes. This means that you can get coverage without having to speak with a person. You can also file and track claims online, or by using the GEICO app. The app also enables you to take photos of your car to get an estimate of its damage, and call roadside assistance after a vehicle breakdown.
Even though GEICO’s rates aren’t lower than average for many drivers, its wide selection of auto insurance discounts could help some lower their rates. Discounts like owning a car with safety features, getting an online quote and signing up for paperless policy documents may be relatively easy to qualify for.
Don’t pick GEICO if: You’re looking for the absolute cheapest rates and you don’t qualify for many discounts. We found that, on average, other insurers may be more likely than GEICO to have cheaper rates than average in North Carolina.
How much is GEICO car insurance in North Carolina? The average cost of car insurance from GEICO for someone with a clean driving record in North Carolina is $182 per month, or $2,187 per year. That’s compared to the statewide average of $1,793 per year.
» Read the full review: GEICO auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $2,187 $754 One speeding ticket, good credit $3,264 $1,079 One at-fault crash, good credit $2,299 $796 One DUI, good credit $8,106 $2,661 Clean driving record, poor credit $2,187 $754
Best runner-up insurer: Amica
Low consumer complaints and a wide variety of policy perks and discounts make Amica a top-rated choice for good drivers.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.
Why Amica is the best: Amica is our runner-up pick for the best car insurance company in North Carolina because it has a reputation for quality customer experience and a decent range of coverage options.
Amica earns fewer complaints from its policyholders than expected for its size, according to data from the NAIC. Amica is also rated higher than average on J.D. Power’s Claims Satisfaction Study.
You can improve a standard Amica car insurance policy by adding optional types of car insurance. Some of Amica’s offerings include new car replacement, gap insurance (a potential must-have if you lease your car), full glass coverage and rideshare coverage.
Don’t pick Amica if: You haven’t gotten to compare car insurance quotes from other companies. We don’t have rates for Amica in North Carolina. Although we rated the insurer highly, you’ll want to make sure that its rates work for your budget before buying a policy.
» Read the full review: Amica auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $3,167 $1,089 One speeding ticket, good credit $4,114 $1,372 One at-fault crash, good credit $3,957 $1,505 One DUI, good credit $11,783 $3,661 Clean driving record, poor credit $9,541 $1,854
Best for shopping on a budget: Progressive
Full coverage
$98 /month
Liability only
$48 /month
Progressive offers a variety of discounts and insurance products to cater to most people, though there’s room for improvement when it comes to customer satisfaction.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.
Why Progressive is the best: We found that, on average, Progressive often has some of the cheapest rates in North Carolina. While everyone’s car insurance costs are different, we found that Progressive may offer good drivers and those with an accident or driving violation better rates than average.
Progressive also boasts a suite of discount opportunities. And many of the discounts that Progressive offers may be fairly easy for most people to qualify for. Some of these include getting online quotes, opting for paperless documents, signing up for electronic payments and having continuous insurance coverage.
Don’t pick Progressive if: You want coverage from the insurer with the best-rated customer experience. While Progressive earns fewer complaints for its size than expected, it’s also rated below average on the J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Study.
How much is Progressive car insurance in North Carolina? The average cost of car insurance from Progressive for someone with a clean driving record in North Carolina is $98 per month, or $1,174 per year. That’s compared to the statewide average, which is $1,793 per year.
» Read the full review: Progressive auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $1,174 $572 One speeding ticket, good credit $1,745 $842 One at-fault crash, good credit $1,174 $572 One DUI, good credit $4,703 $2,239 Clean driving record, poor credit $1,174 $572
Best if you need to make a claim: Erie
Full coverage
$139 /month
Liability only
$49 /month
The company is popular with consumers but operates in only 12 states and Washington, D.C.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Close to expected
Available in: DC, IL, IN, KY, MD, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WI, & WV.
Why Erie is the best: Erie is the best car insurance company in North Carolina for when you need to make a claim. The insurer ranks at the top of the Southeast region of the J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study, as well as the nationally-focused Claims Satisfaction Study. Erie also earns close to the expected number of complaints for a company of its size.
As for its rates, Erie may be one of the cheaper car insurance companies in North Carolina for good drivers. It offers a great set of discounts, too, including savings opportunities for bundling your auto and home insurance, owning a car with safety equipment and paying off your policy all at once.
Don’t pick Erie if: You’re looking for top-rated online experience. You’ll need to speak with an agent to file a claim with Erie. The insurer also ranks below average for online service experience on the J.D. Power Digital Experience Study.
How much is Erie car insurance in North Carolina? The average cost of car insurance from Erie for someone with a clean driving record in North Carolina is $139 per month, or $1,669 per year. That’s compared to the statewide average of $1,793 per year.
» Read the full review: Erie auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $1,669 $594 One speeding ticket, good credit $2,631 $905 One at-fault crash, good credit $1,741 $616 One DUI, good credit $7,252 $2,400 Clean driving record, poor credit $1,988 $701
Best for coverage options: Farmers
Full coverage
$128 /month
Liability only
$57 /month
One of the country's largest insurers, Farmers offers a long list of discounts and plenty of ways to customize your coverage.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Close to expected
Available in: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, & WY.
Why Farmers is the best: Farmers offers a range of coverage options, including original parts coverage, rideshare and food delivery coverage, custom equipment coverage, new car replacement and gap insurance — as well as others.
Farmers’ rates could make its many coverage options more enticing to drivers. We found that, on average, Farmers car insurance may cost some North Carolina drivers less than average. Farmers also offers a great set of discounts that could lead to lower rates.
Don’t pick Farmers if: You want insurance from a company that’s consistently rated highly for its customer experience. While Farmers earns close to the expected number of complaints for its size, it’s also rated lower than average in the Southeast on the J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study, as well as the national Claims Satisfaction Study.
How much is Farmers car insurance in North Carolina? The average cost of car insurance from Farmers for someone with a clean driving record in North Carolina is $128 per month, or $1,537 per year. That’s compared to the statewide average of $1,793 per year.
» Read the full review: Farmers auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $1,537 $678 One speeding ticket, good credit $2,344 $992 One at-fault crash, good credit $1,537 $678 One DUI, good credit $6,331 $2,588 Clean driving record, poor credit $1,537 $678
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
All of the top-rated insurance companies in North Carolina
There’s not really one car insurance company in North Carolina that’s the clear best pick for every driver. While some companies may be better fits for customers who want lower rates or a quality customer service experience, your best insurance company depends on a host of personal details.
Things like the number of drivers in your family, your age, your driving record, where exactly you live and the amount of coverage that you need all can affect your best company. For this reason, we chose a few insurance companies that could be a match for different types of drivers.
Category winner | NerdWallet star rating |
|---|---|
Best overall car insurance company: GEICO | |
Best runner-up: Amica | |
Best budget pick: Progressive | |
Best for making a claim: Erie | |
Best for coverage options: Farmers | |
Best for bundling: State Farm | |
Best savings opportunities: Travelers | |
Best for senior-age drivers: The Hartford | |
Best for military families: USAA* | |
*USAA is available only to members of the military, veterans and their families. | |
Here is the full list of car insurance companies reviewed by NerdWallet. Not all insurers offer policies in every state, however.
What to know about car insurance in North Carolina
For the most part, car insurance works similarly in North Carolina as it does in other states. Having an idea of what your policy covers will give you some idea of what to expect if you’re involved in an accident with another driver.
North Carolina requires drivers to have these types of car insurance:
Bodily injury liability insurance. Liability insurance helps pay for the injuries that you cause to other people in a covered accident.
Property damage liability insurance. This type of coverage helps pay for the property damage that you cause, including other drivers’ damaged vehicles.
Uninsured motorist coverage: This type of coverage helps to pay for your injuries if you’re involved in a crash with someone who doesn’t have insurance.
Most drivers in North Carolina need more insurance than what the state requires, since a policy with minimum coverage wouldn’t pay to repair your own car after an at-fault accident. You’d need comprehensive and collision coverage, which helps to pay for damage to your car in most situations.
The average cost of car insurance in North Carolina is $1,793, but it depends on how much coverage you have and your driving record, as well as other details like your age, where you live, your car and your insurance company.
You might not know that the cost of car insurance changes with your location. While costs vary from state to state, they also depend on where in a state or city you live. For this reason, it’s a good idea to estimate your car insurance costs while you’re shopping for a policy.
Estimate full coverage rates by ZIP codeEnter your ZIP code to find the average monthly car insurance rate for your area. Rates are for policies that include full coverage for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record.
Average monthly car insurance rate in your ZIP code:
$0The North Carolina Reinsurance Facility (NCRF) may be able to help you if you’ve been unable to get car insurance on your own. The NCRF isn’t a company. Instead, it’s a way to make sure that all drivers in North Carolina get enough insurance to legally drive, even if their driving records make insurers wary of covering them.
How to get the best auto insurance in North Carolina
North Carolina has many more car insurance companies than the ones we’ve called out here. If you’re still unsure which one is the best for you, or you just want the chance to do some research on your own, try following these steps to narrow a list of insurers down to the best ones for you.
Understand the coverage you need. While NerdWallet thinks most people need more insurance than what North Carolina requires, make sure you don’t get so much that you’re stuck paying for insurance you don’t need.
Know the type of company that you’re looking for. Your preferences matter. Some insurers are best suited to drivers looking for cheap rates; others work better for drivers who want robust coverage options or consistently reliable service.
Consider other factors. One detail can change which insurer is the best for you. Your list of top companies may change if you work from home and almost never drive, want to bundle policies or need coverage for a new driver in your family.
Shop around at least once a year. The cost of car insurance changes regularly. Before you buy a policy, shop around and compare rates from a few car insurance companies to be sure that yours is still the best choice for your budget.
Don’t shy away from smaller insurers. A small, regional insurance company in North Carolina may line up best with your coverage needs and budget. An agent or broker could help you find local insurance companies in your area.
We nerd out on car insurance
Our goal is to give you what you need to make smart decisions about your car insurance.
Here’s why you can trust NerdWallet:
We do our homework. We regularly evaluate and review many of the insurance companies we write about. And all of our content is fact-checked before publication. This means the star ratings you see on our reviews are accurate and up-to-date.
We analyze the data. We update our average car insurance rates every month. To do that, we analyze more than 500 million rates from across the country. These rates are provided by Quadrant Information Services.
We are unbiased. NerdWallet’s content is never influenced by our business partners and advertisers. Learn more about how we write in our editorial guidelines.
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. Accessed Mar 25, 2026.
- 2.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. Accessed Mar 25, 2026.
- 3.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study. Accessed Mar 25, 2026.
Auto insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance.
Here’s how we evaluated each car insurance company and the weights we placed on each category:
Financial strength (30%).
Consumer complaints (30%).
Ease of use (20%).
Affordability (20%).
The best auto insurers excel at all of these categories. They provide the information people need to make a purchase without any surprises along the way. They offer insurance at a fair price and provide more than one way to buy and manage a policy. They're financially strong and able to keep their customers happy throughout the relationship.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Average rates methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for men and women for all ZIP codes in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.
In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.
These are median rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.
Sample drivers had the following coverage limits:
$100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.
$50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.
$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.
Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.
In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:
For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect only the minimum coverage required by law in the state.
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken-driving violation.
For drivers with a ticket, we added a single speeding violation for driving 16 mph over the speed limit.
We used a 2023 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven. We analyzed rates for 35-year-old drivers.
These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
