Cheapest Car Insurance For College Students In North Carolina 2025
GEICO is one of the best car insurance companies for college students in North Carolina. Nationwide is the cheapest provider, with an average annual rate of $1,040.
We’ve saved shoppers an average of $600 per year on their car insurance.
The average annual cost of full coverage in the state of North Carolina exceeds $2,000, a figure that gets even higher for college students given their higher risk for accidents. College students don’t have as much experience as other drivers and have a higher chance of distracted driving, not wearing seat belts, alcohol use, speeding, and driving on nights and weekends.
That said, there are ways that North Carolina college students can save on their car insurance.
Key Takeaways
Student drivers in North Carolina must have car insurance that meets the state’s minimum requirements.
Nationwide offers the cheapest insurance policy for students in North Carolina, at an average annual rate of $1,040.
There are multiple ways to reduce the cost of car insurance for students in North Carolina.
Best Car Insurance Companies For College Students In North Carolina
When selecting car insurance for college students in North Carolina, you need to consider your priorities and pick a policy that matches your needs, whether that is low rates or comprehensive coverage.
Use the table below to see our picks for the best auto insurers for students in North Carolina.
| Company | Average Rate Per Year |
| GEICO | $1,188 |
| State Farm | $1,130 |
| Nationwide | $1,040 |
| Allstate | $1,798 |
| Progressive | $1,120 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance For College Students In North Carolina
Minimum coverage policies are often an effective way to decrease overall costs, but can leave you vulnerable in an accident. These low-cost plans will only cover the state minimum insurance needed to operate a vehicle, which means paying expenses out of pocket.
Minimum coverage policies are great options for college students as they provide the insurance needed to drive legally while keeping costs low.
As you can see from the table below, Nationwide is the cheapest average option at $528 per year.
| Company | Average Rate Per Year |
| Allstate | $660 |
| Progressive | $600 |
| State Farm | $552 |
| Nationwide | $528 |
| GEICO | $588 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance For College Students In North Carolina
College students who commute to campus or routinely drive for work should consider a full coverage policy over minimum coverage. These plans offer additional protection, often including liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage.
While the full coverage policies offer more protection, they come at a higher cost. It’s essential to weigh the benefits of the additional insurance against the extra monthly cost.
North Carolina Farm Bureau is the cheapest full coverage car insurance policy for students in North Carolina, at an average annual rate of $1,404.
| Company | Average Rate Per Year |
| GEICO | $1,488 |
| Erie | $1,460 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $1,404 |
| Nationwide | $1,788 |
| State Farm | $1,584 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Cheapest Car Insurance For College Students With Low-Mileage In North Carolina
If you’re a college student who doesn’t plan on driving much throughout the school year, there’s no reason to pay for insurance you don’t need. While you’ll still need to maintain the state minimum auto insurance, most low-mileage policies offer discounted rates if you stay below a certain number of miles yearly.
The limit will vary between insurance companies but is usually around 7,500 to 10,000 miles annually.
Use the table below to view the cheapest low-mileage rates for college drivers in North Carolina.
| Company | Average Rate Per Year |
| State Farm | $900 |
| Allstate | $720 |
| GEICO | $1,020 |
| Nationwide | $780 |
| Erie | $840 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Cheapest Car Insurance For College Students With Driving Violations In North Carolina
Driving violations can significantly increase the amount a driver pays for monthly coverage, regardless of age. College students will likely experience an even more significant rate increase after an accident or ticket due to their already high-risk rating.
One way to mitigate the damage of a driving violation is to work with a company like Erie that specializes in insuring motorists with a history of tickets or accidents.
| Company | Average Rate Per Year |
| Erie | $1,375 |
| GEICO | $1,495 |
| State Farm | $2,030 |
| Progressive | $1,670 |
| North Carolina Farm Bureau | $1,440 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For College Students In North Carolina – By City
Where you live in North Carolina can have a significant impact on your car insurance premiums.
Use the table below to view average rates for different cities in North Carolina.
| City | Average Monthly Cost |
| Charlotte | $142 |
| Raleigh | $123 |
| Greensboro | $115 |
| Durham | $117 |
| Asheville | $106 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 18-Year-Old College Students In North Carolina
State Farm offers the cheapest rates for 18-year-old college drivers in North Carolina, at an average monthly cost of $102.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| GEICO | $180 |
| State Farm | $102 |
| Nationwide | $134 |
| Allstate | $279 |
| Progressive | $184 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 19-Year-Old College Students In North Carolina
Progressive provides the cheapest policy for 19-year-old college students in North Carolina, averaging $92 per month.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| GEICO | $106 |
| State Farm | $98 |
| Progressive | $92 |
| Nationwide | $111 |
| Auto Owners | $175 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 20-Year-Old College Students In North Carolina
The cheapest auto insurance rates for a 20-year-old college driver can be found with State Farm, averaging $92 per month.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| Nationwide | $99 |
| State Farm | $92 |
| Progressive | $95 |
| GEICO | $104 |
| Allstate | $172 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 21-Year-Old College Students In North Carolina
The most affordable college student car insurance policy for a 21-year-old can be found at GEICO, with an average monthly cost of $78.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| GEICO | $78 |
| State Farm | $94 |
| Nationwide | $86 |
| Allstate | $149 |
| Progressive | $93 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 22-Year-Old College Students In North Carolina
22-year-old student car insurance can be found from $76 per month, with a GEICO auto policy.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| GEICO | $76 |
| State Farm | $92 |
| Nationwide | $83 |
| Allstate | $142 |
| Progressive | $94 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 23-Year-Old College Students In North Carolina
23-year-old college drivers can find affordable insurance from Nationwide at an average monthly cost of $75.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| GEICO | $94 |
| State Farm | $87 |
| Progressive | $93 |
| Nationwide | $75 |
| Allstate | $141 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 24-Year-Old College Students In North Carolina
The cheapest car insurance policy for a 24-year-old college student is $71 per month, which can be found with GEICO.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| State Farm | $86 |
| Nationwide | $72 |
| GEICO | $71 |
| Progressive | $93 |
| Allstate | $135 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 25-Year-Old College Students In North Carolina
Nationwide offers the cheapest auto policies for 25-year-old college students in North Carolina at $65 per month.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost |
| State Farm | $80 |
| Allstate | $125 |
| GEICO | $71 |
| Progressive | $92 |
| Nationwide | $65 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Average Cost Of Car Insurance On Family Policy Vs. Individual Policy
| Insurance Company | Family Policy | Individual Student Policy |
| GEICO | $76 | $99 |
| State Farm | $87 | $92 |
| Nationwide | $80 | $83 |
| Allstate | $127 | $142 |
| Progressive | $94 | $101 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
How Can College Students Save Money On Car Insurance In North Carolina
If you are attending college in North Carolina, you might find that your average car insurance premiums are significantly higher than those for drivers just a few years older.
Getting on a parent or guardian policy can save you money, but if that isn’t an option, you will need ways to lower your monthly premiums.
The table below summarizes the potential savings based on types of discounts in North Carolina:
| Discount Type | Eligibility | Potential Savings |
| Customer Loyalty | Once you have been with the same company for 3-5 years, you can get a loyalty discount, ideal for college students who have had the same provider in high school | Up to 10% |
| Good Driver | Once you maintain a clean driver history with no at-fault accidents or insurance claims for 3-5 years, you can get a discount | Between 10% and 30% |
| Continual Insurance | Keeping the same insurance policy for 6 months or longer | Between 5% and 25% |
| Billing | If you set up automatic payments or paperless billing | Between 2% and 20% |
| Good Student | If you keep a B average | Between 5% and 20% |
| Safety Features | If you install safety features like daytime running lights, car alarms, anti-theft features, or anti-lock brakes | Between 2% and 30% |
Below are some things to consider:
Student Discounts
The most common student discounts for college car insurance in North Carolina relate to grades. College students in North Carolina can get anywhere between 5% and 20% off their car insurance by maintaining a B average or higher.
Other options include discounts for completing a special driver’s education in North Carolina or attending college more than 100 miles from home.
Affiliation Discounts
Some car insurance providers like GEICO offer quotes between 2% and 5% for those who participate in eligible partner organizations, and this can include sororities, fraternities, and other charitable organizations.
Used vs. New
The make, model, and age of your vehicle will influence your premiums.
So, while you might be thinking that a newer car is a great present or investment because it saves on gas, it typically comes with higher insurance costs.
This is because insurance providers decide on premiums based on the vehicle accident risk for the driver and how the vehicle influences driving behavior.
Consider that adding features to a new car, even high-tech safety features or a more powerful engine, might seem like a good investment, but car insurance providers see a bigger engine as a risk factor for increasing speed and accidents, and high-tech safety equipment as a more costly repair in the event of a claim.
Car Security And Safety Improvements
Research has indicated that anti-lock brakes can help vehicles stop when braking at a shorter distance or under heavy braking. Long-term data from the US Department of Transportation has found that passenger vehicles with anti-lock brakes provided a reduction in accidents across 17% of drivers.
For these reasons, having anti-lock brakes on a vehicle can get college students in North Carolina discounts of around 5%-10%.
Common Auto Insurance Claims In North Carolina
Generally, North Carolina auto insurance claims fall into four common categories, including:
- Property Damage Claims (3.36 claims per 100 years of vehicle use)
- Comprehensive Claims (2.81 claims per 100 years of vehicle use)
- Collision Claims (5.8 claims per 100 years of vehicle use)
- Bodily Injury Claims (0.95 claims per 100 years of vehicle use)
Parking lot accidents and rear-end collisions are the cause of the higher rate of collision claims in North Carolina, with the higher rate of property damage from things like basic repairs and comprehensive damage from things like vandalism and theft.
Do College Students Need Their Own Insurance, or Can They Stay On A Parent’s?
In North Carolina, college students can typically stay on a parent’s policy if a parent’s home remains their permanent residence.
Students who are away at school can take advantage of a way to school discount, especially if the vehicle they use remains at home.
However, if the vehicle is titled to the student and the student has their own permanent residence where that vehicle remains, then they need to take out their own policy.
Note: If you are a college student and you are leasing or financing your vehicle, you will likely need to add collision and comprehensive coverage, and this can cause your policy to increase, whether or not you are on a parent’s policy. However, once your vehicle is paid off, you might be able to drop one or both and reduce those costs.
How To Buy Car Insurance As A College Student In North Carolina
When you are ready to purchase your own car insurance policy as a college student in North Carolina, use platforms like Insuranceopedia to make the car insurance shopping experience straightforward and pleasant.
With these platforms, you can enter the same personal information once and generate dozens of results based on providers in the area, comparing and contrasting the same type of policy with all available carrier-provided discounts applicable to your situation.
Before you get started, take some time to figure out not only the minimum requirement for coverage in North Carolina but also how much you prefer to carry beyond that, as well as what you are comfortable paying for premiums and deductibles.
Gather all of your important information, including your driving record, policyholder data from a previous policy, vehicle details, and personal information like your driver’s license and Social Security number.
From there, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Choose whether to buy insurance online or from an agent.
- Step 2: Compare quotes from at least three different insurers.
- Step 3: Buy your policy, pay your first premium, and get your insurance information in the mail.
Note: If you are switching policies, inform your previous insurance provider.
How To Get Discounts in North Carolina
As a college student, getting discounts on your car insurance policy can be very simple. Remember that each provider has various discounts for policyholders, and you can compare options available to you before buying your plan. These can include the following:
- Vehicle safety devices
- Anti-theft device
- Affiliates
- Paid in full
- Multi-vehicle
- Multi-policy
- Military
- Student away
- Good student
- Safe driver
- Defensive driving
- Low mileage
- Accident-free
North Carolina Car Insurance Laws To Know
All drivers must be continuously insured with minimum requirements of $30,000 for bodily injury for each person under the policy, $60,000 for total bodily injury for all persons in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
Drivers in North Carolina must also include uninsured motorist coverage, which provides protection in the event that you are injured by a driver who doesn’t carry insurance.
You can add underinsured motorist coverage if you want as a separate policy to protect when individuals with whom you have an accident do not have adequate insurance.
In addition to the minimum insurance requirements it is imperative that college students know North Carolina does not accept out of state policies. That means if you are going to college in North Carolina but you are from another state you will need to get new coverage offered by a company licensed in North carolina.
Liability coverage in North Carolina applies to anyone living in the household of the policyholder, so if you are under your parents’ policy, their liability coverage will apply to you, but if you are the primary policyholder, your liability coverage will extend to anyone living in your household. Similarly, your car insurance goes with your vehicle, not you as the driver, and that means letting a friend borrow your car, which means that they are also borrowing the insurance policy you have.
License plates in North Carolina will not be provided to drivers until they have proof of sufficient liability insurance. Failure to keep insurance can result in fines and similar penalties.
Compare College Student Rates To Other U.S. States
| State | Average Annual Premium |
| Alabama | $3,460 |
| Alaska | $3,276 |
| Arizona | $3,412 |
| Arkansas | $3,557 |
| California | $4,016 |
| Colorado | $3,937 |
| Connecticut | $3,325 |
| Delaware | $3,663 |
| Florida | $4,294 |
| Georgia | $3,570 |
| Hawaii | $3,117 |
| Idaho | $3,028 |
| Illinois | $3,132 |
| Indiana | $3,115 |
| Iowa | $3,230 |
| Kansas | $3,500 |
| Kentucky | $3,828 |
| Louisiana | $4,483 |
| Maine | $2,775 |
| Maryland | $3,346 |
| Massachusetts | $3,326 |
| Michigan | $3,952 |
| Minnesota | $3,511 |
| Mississippi | $3,608 |
| Missouri | $3,582 |
| Montana | $3,793 |
| Nebraska | $3,502 |
| Nevada | $3,660 |
| New Hampshire | $2,865 |
| New Jersey | $3,502 |
| New Mexico | $3,649 |
| New York | $3,470 |
| North Carolina | $3,341 |
| North Dakota | $3,265 |
| Ohio | $3,017 |
| Oklahoma | $3,738 |
| Oregon | $3,278 |
| Pennsylvania | $3,472 |
| Rhode Island | $3,661 |
| South Carolina | $3,422 |
| South Dakota | $3,880 |
| Tennessee | $3,277 |
| Texas | $3,643 |
| Utah | $3,425 |
| Vermont | $2,919 |
| Virginia | $3,069 |
| Washington | $3,208 |
| West Virginia | $3,605 |
| Wisconsin | $3,264 |
| Wyoming | $3,358 |
* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.
Our Methodology
To find the cheapest car insurance rates for college students in North Carolina, we analyzed findings from numerous insurance rating sites, some of which analyzed rates from public filings obtained by Quadrant Information Services. We also utilize the combined 25 years of experience from our team of insurance experts to evaluate each carrier.
It’s important to note that even though the rates listed in this guide are accurate, premiums shift daily and can fluctuate based on each driver.
