The easiest way to get around Charlotte, NC is by car. In order to drive in Charlotte, you’ll need at least the minimum amount of car insurance. If you are looking for cheap car insurance in Charlotte, look no further. BravoPolicy has analyzed millions of car insurance rates to find the cheapest car insurance companies in Charlotte for a variety of drivers: of different age groups and with different driving records.
Cheapest car insurance companies in Charlotte, North Carolina
For the analysis of the cheapest car insurance companies in Charlotte, North Carolina, we get public rate filings of the companies making up the majority of car insurance market share in the city for a full coverage car insurance policy of 50/100/50, which also includes comprehensive and collision coverages.
Nationwide has the cheapest car insurance rate in Charlotte, North Carolina with the average cost of $51 per month, or $614 per year. State Farm offers the second cheapest rate at $58 per month. Below are the 5 cheapest car insurance companies in Charlotte, North Carolina and their average rates.
| Companies | Average monthly premiums | Average annual premiums |
| Nationwide | $51 | $614 |
| State Farm | $58 | $692 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $69 | $826 |
| Erie | $74 | $893 |
| Geico | $82 | $982 |
You should keep in mind that car insurance rates are determined individually taking several personal factors into consideration, so these may not be your cheapest rate. It is always important to shop around with a few companies to find the cheapest rate for you.
Average car insurance cost in Charlotte, North Carolina
The average car insurance cost for different coverage limits in Charlotte, North Carolina are as follows:
| Coverage limits | Average monthly premiums | Average annual premiums |
| Minimum coverage | $42 | $502 |
| 50/100/50 | $65 | $781 |
| 100/300/100 | $86 | $1,027 |
We should note that the average cost of car insurance with 100/300/100 coverage limits in North Carolina is about $69 a month.
Average cost of car insurance in Charlotte’s top zip codes
Below are the average car insurance costs in top zip codes in Charlotte, North Carolina.
| Zip code | Average monthly rate |
| 28202 | $85 |
| 28203 | $78 |
| 28204 | $73 |
| 28205 | $102 |
| 28206 | $103 |
| 28207 | $83 |
| 28208 | $95 |
| 28209 | $75 |
| 28210 | $83 |
| 28211 | $78 |
Cheapest car insurance for minimum coverage in Charlotte, NC
The cheapest average policy quote for minimum coverage in Charlotte is about $316 a year, from Erie. Here are the 5 cheapest car insurance companies for minimum coverage in Charlotte, NC.
Minimum coverage required in Charlotte NC are as follows:
- $30,000 Bodily injury for each person, $60,000 total bodily injury for all persons in an accident;
- $25,000 for property damage.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists coverage is also required
| Companies | Average monthly premiums | Average annual premiums |
| Erie | $26 | $316 |
| Nationwide | $32 | $384 |
| Geico | $39 | $462 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $47 | $564 |
| State Farm | $52 | $620 |
Cheapest car insurance for full coverage in Charlotte, NC
Nationwide offers the cheapest rate on full coverage car insurance, with a quote of $692 a year, but depending on your circumstances, Erie also has competitive rates, at about $792 a year, which is still cheaper than the average.
Below are full coverage limits we used to analyzed the rates below:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person.
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident.
- $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.
- $300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.
| Companies | Average monthly premiums | Average annual premiums |
| Nationwide | $58 | $692 |
| Erie | $66 | $792 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $78 | $937 |
| Geico | $86 | $1,027 |
| State Farm | $93 | $1,116 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Charlotte, NC
Having a DUI on your record can raise your premiums by about $1,085 a year. If you have a DUI on your record, try Nationwide: they have average quotes of about $949 a year for those with a DUI. North Carolina Farm Bureau is the second cheapest, at about $1,027 a year.
| Companies | Average monthly premiums | Average annual premiums |
| Nationwide | $79 | $949 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $86 | $1,027 |
| Erie | $95 | $1,138 |
| Progressive | $107 | $1,283 |
| Geico | $115 | $1,384 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident in Charlotte, NC
Erie and Nationwide are both worth a look if you’ve been in one at-fault accident in Charlotte, NC. Erie can offer you a policy for about $848 and Nationwide rates are about $982 a year.
| Companies | Average monthly premiums | Average annual premiums |
| Erie | $71 | $848 |
| Nationwide | $82 | $982 |
| State Farm | $87 | $1,049 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $102 | $1,228 |
| Geico | $115 | $1,384 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Charlotte, NC
Erie can offer you car insurance after a speeding ticket that’s about 50% cheaper than the average rate. Erie is about $74 a month or $893 a year. State Farm is about $$86 a month, or $1,027 a year—almost $1,000 more.
| Companies | Average monthly premiums | Average annual premiums |
| Erie | $74 | $893 |
| State Farm | $86 | $1,027 |
| Nationwide | $93 | $1,116 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $109 | $1,306 |
| Metlife | $116 | $1,395 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Charlotte, NC
While some states have moved to prohibit insurance companies from using your credit score to set your car insurance rates, North Carolina is not one of them. Drivers with poor credit might want to look at either Erie (with an average rate of $77 a month) or Nationwide with an average rate of $71 a month.
| Companies | Average monthly premiums | Average annual premiums |
| Nationwide | $71 | $846 |
| Erie | $77 | $925 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $88 | $1,060 |
| State Farm | $100 | $1,196 |
| Progressive | $113 | $1,354 |
Cheapest car insurance for 20 years old with good driving record in Charlotte, NC
The cheapest rate we could find for a 20-year-old driver in Charlotte, NC was Erie insurance at $98.
| Companies | Average monthly premiums | Average annual premiums |
| Erie | $98 | $1,172 |
| Geico | $104 | $1,250 |
| Nationwide | $115 | $1,384 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $132 | $1,585 |
| State Farm | $140 | $1,674 |
Cheapest car insurance for 30 years old with good driving record in Charlotte, NC
The cheapest rate we could find for a 30-year-old in Charlotte, NC was from Nationwide at $80 a month.
| Companies | Average monthly premiums | Average annual premiums |
| Nationwide | $80 | $960 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $87 | $1,049 |
| Erie | $99 | $1,183 |
| Geico | $106 | $1,272 |
| State Farm | $113 | $1,362 |
Cheapest car insurance for 40 years old with good driving record in Charlotte, NC
Erie was also cheapest for 40-year-olds in Charlotte, at $70 a month.
| Companies | Average monthly premiums | Average annual premiums |
| Erie | $70 | $837 |
| Nationwide | $80 | $960 |
| Metlife | $91 | $1,094 |
| State Farm | $98 | $1,172 |
| Progressive | $110 | $1,317 |
Cheapest car insurance for 50 years old with good driving record in Charlotte, NC
One of the great things about turning 50 is that your car insurance rates go down. The best rate we could find for a 50-year-old was also from Erie, and the average rate is $74 a month.
| Companies | Average monthly premiums | Average annual premiums |
| Erie | $74 | $893 |
| Nationwide | $82 | $982 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $87 | $1,049 |
| Geico | $95 | $1,138 |
| State Farm | $114 | $1,373 |
Cheapest car insurance for 60 years old with good driving record in Charlotte, NC
If you’re in your 60s, you should consider either State Farm or Erie. State Farm can get you a rate of $80 while Erie can offer you a quote of $91 a month.
| Companies | Average monthly premiums | Average annual premiums |
| State Farm | $80 | $960 |
| Erie | $91 | $1,094 |
| Nationwide | $102 | $1,228 |
| Geico | $106 | $1,272 |
| State Farm | $121 | $1,451 |
What factors impact car insurance cost in Charlotte, NC?
You may be surprised if you call one of these companies and get a dramatically different quote than is listed here. The reason for that is that car insurance rates vary by a number of factors:
- Age
- Driving history: one speeding ticket can increase your rates by 24%!
- Zip code: some zip codes have higher property crime than others
- Car make and model: some cars are likely to be stolen, and that hot-rod you’ve been eyeing will definitely cost more to insure than an average, run-of-the-mill sedan with good safety features
- Mileage: the more you drive, the higher your rates. Insurance companies see it as the more time you spend on the road, the more likely it is that you’ll be in an accident
- Credit history: only California, Massachusetts and Hawaii have dismissed credit history as a factor in car insurance
- Marital status: married people pay less because statistically, they are in 50% fewer accidents than their single counterparts.
- Gender: men pay about 6% less, unless you’re a teenage male, in which case you pay about 14% more than a teenage girl
- Homeownership: If you are a homeowner, carriers seem to offer you a better rate than renters.
- And many more other factors. Each carrier has their own set of factors that they consider in their proprietary underwriting models to provide you with a rate.
Some of these things you can control, and others you can’t do anything about.
How to find cheap car insurance in Charlotte, NC?
The good news is that there are ways to save money on your car insurance, including:
- Bundle one or more policies, such as your home and auto insurance with the same company. Usually, you can get a 5% o 10% discount, and maybe as much as a 20% discount.
- If you’re over 55, ask AARP about special rates
- If you’re a student, you can qualify for the good student discount with a B average or better and save 10%
- Work to improve your credit score. People with better credit pay less for car insurance.
- Ask about pay in full, ETF, auto pay and other discounts.
- Drive safely!
Charlotte, North Carolina SR-22
An SR-22 is a legal document you need to get if you have a violation like a DUI or multiple traffic violations on your record. You can also be required to have an SR-22 if you get caught driving without insurance or with a suspended license. An SR-22 is not insurance, it’s a form your insurance company files with the state of North Carolina to ensure you remain insured.
If you are not insured already and need an SR-22, you might have to pay a fee and you’ll pay higher rates because of your high-risk driving. Some carriers won’t insure you at all, but some will offer you a policy—at an inflated rate, of course.
If you already have insurance, you’ll contact your insurance company to request that they file an SR-22 for you. They might refuse to cover you, but you can obtain new insurance.
What are the minimum car insurance coverage requirements in Charlotte, North Carolina?
You’ll need the minimum car insurance coverage to operate a car in Charlotte, North Carolina:
- $30,000 Bodily injury for each person, $60,000 total bodily injury for all persons in an accident;
- $25,000 for property damage.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists coverage is also required
What is car insurance full coverage in Charlotte, NC?
Full coverage car insurance means that you have collision and comprehensive insurance added on to your policy. If you have a loan, the lender will require this coverage.
Below are the coverages we used to analyze car insurance cost for full coverage in Charlotte, NC:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person.
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident.
- $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.
- $300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.
What does car insurance cover?
North Carolina requires Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL). You need a minimum of $10,000 each to register a car in North Carolina.
However, these limits are the bare minimum. One visit to an emergency department could cost you over $10,000, so higher limits are a good idea. You’ll also want to consider:
Bodily injury liability: Covers medical expenses of another driver or pedestrian when you’re in an at-fault accident. It’s not required in North Carolina but going without it can leave you vulnerable to costly lawsuits.
Property damage liability: Damage to another person’s property. This could be their car, the contents of their car, their fence, their home, or whatever else you manage to hit. At least $10,000 in PDL is required in North Carolina, but that amount won’t go very far.
Uninsured motorist: covers your medical expenses if you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver.
Underinsured motorist: covers your medical expenses if you’re in an accident with someone who doesn’t have enough liability insurance to cover your medical bills.
Collision: covers the costs of repairing your own vehicle if you’re in an accident.
Comprehensive: covers damage to your vehicle due to vandalism, theft, or weather. If you have a loan or a lease, your lender will require both of these coverages.
Our methodology
For all profiles in the analysis, BravoPolicy analysts included 5-15 largest insurance companies in each city and state. Wherever available, we included rates from smaller companies as well.
For each city and each driver profile, we included rates for the selected 10-20 zip codes in the city and averaged for the carrier’s rate in the city of the analysis.
For the cheapest company overall, the cheapest company for minimum coverage, and the cheapest company for full coverage, we analyzed rates for 30-year-old drivers with good credit.
For full coverage policies, we used the following coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person.
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident.
- $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.
- $300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.
- Collision coverage with a $500 deductible.
- Comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible.
We used a 2020 Toyota Camry L for all drivers and assumed 10,000 annual miles driven.
We analyzed rates for drivers 20 to 60 years old in ten-year increments.
We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:
- For drivers with minimum coverage, we used the minimum required coverage by law in the state.
- For drivers with one at-fault crash, we included rates for drivers with one at-fault crash that happened in the past six months.
- For drivers with a DUI, we included rates for drivers that had a drunken driving violation that happened in the past 6 months
These are the average rates based on the rates filling of the insurance companies. Your rates will be different.
