This would be a real easy article to write if we could simply give you the name of the company that is cheapest in North Carolina. It’s not that simple, unfortunately, as there are a whole slew of unknowns like what your desired deductibles are, the performance level of your vehicle, and your credit history, that all go into determining the rate you pay. We will try to teach you about some of these criteria and will hopefully give you a good beginning to your quest for cheaper car insurance.
For infrequent drivers, one of the big things that are looked at to help calculate insurance cost is your zip code in Charlotte. Larger areas tend to have more expensive car insurance rates, whereas areas with fewer weather claims and lower vehicle theft rates profit from lower rates.
The information below lists the most expensive places in North Carolina for low mileage drivers to purchase auto insurance in. Charlotte is ranked at #3 with an annual cost of $832 on average, which is about $69 per month.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | $932 |
| 2 | Jacksonville | $873 |
| 3 | Charlotte | $832 |
| 4 | Gastonia | $811 |
| 5 | Wilmington | $781 |
| 6 | Durham | $765 |
| 7 | Goldsboro | $765 |
| 8 | Greensboro | $763 |
| 9 | Raleigh | $760 |
| 10 | High Point | $753 |
| 11 | Cary | $742 |
| 12 | Hickory | $740 |
| 13 | Apex | $739 |
| 14 | Huntersville | $734 |
| 15 | Wilson | $732 |
| 16 | Greenville | $730 |
| 17 | Rocky Mount | $726 |
| 18 | Indian Trail | $723 |
| 19 | Chapel Hill | $717 |
| 20 | Burlington | $692 |
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Prices are comparative as the specific garaging location can change prices noticeably.
The vehicle driven is probably the most important factor when comparing quotes for the lowest-priced coverage for low mileage drivers. Vehicles with lower performance, modern passenger safety features, or a low likelihood of liability claims will cost much less to insure than fast, unsafe models. The next list ranks car insurance rates for a number of the more affordable automobiles to buy insurance for.
| Insured Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V LX 4WD | $1,324 |
| Ford Explorer XLT AWD | $1,356 |
| Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $1,363 |
| Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T Station Wagon | $1,421 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $1,433 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Crew | $1,461 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport Islander Package 4WD 4-Dr | $1,478 |
| Honda Civic LX 4-Dr Sedan | $1,483 |
| Toyota Corolla S | $1,510 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,515 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Regular Cab 4WD | $1,538 |
| Ford Edge SEL 2WD | $1,543 |
| Honda Odyssey EX | $1,538 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LTZ AWD | $1,548 |
| Nissan Altima 3.5 SR 4-Dr Sedan | $1,538 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Extended Cab 2WD | $1,547 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 2WD | $1,570 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $1,575 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $1,570 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,577 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT Crew Cab 4WD | $1,614 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | $1,642 |
| Hyundai Elantra Blue 4-Dr Sedan | $1,652 |
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Data based on single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Premium costs do not factor in garaging location in Charlotte, NC which can change prices substantially.
Based upon the table data, we can conclude that cars like the Honda CR-V, Ford Explorer, and Ford Escape will definitely be a few of the more affordable vehicles to insure for infrequent drivers.
Deciphering which company quotes the best car insurance rates for low mileage drivers calls for a little more effort in order to find the most economical policy. Each insurance company has their own formula for setting prices, so let’s take a look at the car insurance companies with the overall best prices in Charlotte, NC.
Cheap Insurance Rates in North Carolina
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Progressive | $658 |
| 2 | Utica National | $662 |
| 3 | Penn National | $717 |
| 4 | GEICO | $720 |
| 5 | Liberty Mutual | $721 |
| 6 | Titan | $737 |
| 7 | NC Farm Bureau | $737 |
| 8 | State Farm | $772 |
| 9 | Auto-Owners | $852 |
| 10 | Travelers | $900 |
| 11 | National General | $908 |
| 12 | Allied | $919 |
| 13 | Erie | $931 |
| 14 | Peerless | $972 |
| 15 | MetLife | $1,007 |
| 16 | Nationwide | $1,011 |
| 17 | Encompass | $1,031 |
| 18 | Unitrin | $1,042 |
| 19 | Allstate | $1,064 |
| 20 | Safeco | $1,066 |
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Progressive may offer some of the lowest car insurance rates in Charlotte at around $658 per year. This is $214 less than the average policy premium paid by North Carolina drivers of $872. Utica National, Penn National, GEICO, and Liberty Mutual would also make the list of some of the cheaper Charlotte, NC insurance companies.
As shown in the table above, if you have coverage with GEICO and switched to Progressive, you may realize a yearly savings of roughly $62. North Carolina drivers with Liberty Mutual could save as much as $63 a year, and Titan insureds might cut rates by $79 a year.
Bear in mind that those premiums are averaged across all types of insureds and vehicles and do not take into consideration a vehicle location for low mileage drivers. So the insurer that has the cheapest price for you may not even be in the top 20 companies shown above. That’s why you need to quote rates from as many companies as possible using your own driver and vehicle profiles.
Car insurance rates are higher with tickets and accidents
The obvious way to find the most affordable car insurance rates in Charlotte for infrequent drivers is to be a cautious driver and avoid accidents and traffic violations. The diagram below shows how violations and accident claims impact auto insurance costs for different age groups. Data assumes a single male driver, full coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
In the chart above, the average cost of car insurance in Charlotte per year with no accidents or violations is $1,453. Get written up for two speeding tickets and the average cost jumps to $1,926, an increase of $473 each year. Then add in two accidents along with the two speeding tickets and the annual cost of car insurance for low mileage drivers jumps again to an average of $3,593. That’s an increase of $2,140, or $178 per month, just for a couple of infractions!
Finding the highest-rated insurance provider can be a challenge considering how many companies sell coverage in Charlotte. The information below can help you analyze which companies you want to consider when shopping your coverage around.
The ratings below include large, nationwide insurance companies, so smaller regional companies are not included in these rankings. If you wish to compare rates from the most competitive companies in North Carolina, click here.
Top 10 Major Auto Insurance Providers in Charlotte Ranked by Claims Service
- Travelers
- Nationwide
- Allstate
- State Farm
- Liberty Mutual
- GEICO
- American Family
- Esurance
- Titan Insurance
- AAA Insurance
Tips to find budget-friendly car insurance for low mileage drivers
Lowering your rates is not difficult, and here are some of the better penny-pinching solutions that can help you get more affordable auto insurance.
- Do not pay for full coverage if not needed
- Raise deductibles to save money
- You will pay more if you get tickets or have at-fault accidents
- Maintain a safe distance and avoid accidents
- Better credit scores save money
- Vehicles with safetly features generally cost less to insure
- Compare rate quotes often
The last item on the list is especially important, as we discussed in the prior information. Car insurance rates change frequently, so drivers shouldn’t be reluctant to buy from a different company if a cheaper rate is available. We understand brand loyalty, but it isn’t a good idea if that loyalty results in overpaying major coinage every year. In just a couple of minutes you could shop around to find cheaper auto insurance for low mileage drivers in Charlotte.