The car, truck, or SUV that needs insurance is probably the biggest factor when comparing affordable insurance for high risk drivers. Vehicles with high performance features, poor safety features, or a high likelihood of having liability claims will cost significantly more to insure than more modest models. The information below presents car insurance premiums for a selection of the most affordable vehicles to insure in North Carolina.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $3,545 |
| Honda CR-V LX 4WD | $3,555 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $3,629 |
| Ford F-150 XL Regular Cab 2WD | $3,728 |
| Toyota Prius | $3,818 |
| Honda Odyssey EX W/Rear Entertainment | $3,992 |
| Ford Edge Limited 2WD | $3,999 |
| Toyota Tacoma 4WD | $4,014 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD | $4,022 |
| GMC Sierra SL Extended Cab 2WD | $4,032 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $4,149 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Extended Cab 4WD | $4,153 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $4,195 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Crew | $4,201 |
| Toyota RAV4 4WD | $4,195 |
| Ford Fusion Sport 4-Dr Sedan | $4,252 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LTZ AWD | $4,260 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 4WD | $4,252 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LTZ Crew Cab 2WD | $4,329 |
| Toyota Camry XLE | $4,378 |
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Data assumes single male driver age 30, two speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and North Carolina minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and homeowner. Prices do not factor in specific Raleigh, NC garaging location which can revise price quotes noticeably.
Looking at the rates, models like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Elantra, and Ford F-150 will be the less-costly vehicles to insure for high risk drivers. The cost of a car insurance policy will trend higher because there is a higher risk for high risk drivers, but overall those models will have the cheapest auto insurance rates available.
One of the many criteria that are looked at to determine the annual cost of car insurance is where your car is garaged in Raleigh. Regions with more people or even just more weather-related claims tend to have more expensive car insurance rates, whereas areas with less crime or weather claims receive better rates.
The next table rates the highest-priced areas in North Carolina for high risk drivers in which to purchase auto insurance. Raleigh comes in at #12 with an annual rate of $744 for the average policy, which is about $62 monthly.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | $896 |
| 2 | Jacksonville | $873 |
| 3 | Charlotte | $832 |
| 4 | Durham | $789 |
| 5 | Gastonia | $779 |
| 6 | Goldsboro | $765 |
| 7 | Huntersville | $764 |
| 8 | Wilmington | $758 |
| 9 | Greensboro | $756 |
| 10 | Wilson | $754 |
| 11 | Cary | $749 |
| 12 | Raleigh | $744 |
| 13 | Rocky Mount | $740 |
| 14 | High Point | $731 |
| 15 | Greenville | $730 |
| 16 | Indian Trail | $723 |
| 17 | Hickory | $718 |
| 18 | Apex | $717 |
| 19 | Winston Salem | $716 |
| 20 | Salisbury | $712 |
| 21 | Kannapolis | $697 |
| 22 | Chapel Hill | $696 |
| 23 | Burlington | $692 |
| 24 | Asheville | $681 |
| 25 | Concord | $676 |
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Prices are estimated as zip code location can decrease or increase coverage prices noticeably.
Deciphering which company offers the best car insurance rates for high risk drivers may require a little more effort than just getting one or two price quotes. Every insurance provider has a proprietary method to establish rates, so let’s look at the rankings for the most budget-friendly car insurance companies in North Carolina.
It’s a good idea to be aware that Raleigh car insurance rates are impacted by many factors that can increase the price you pay for coverage. Simply turning a year older, buying higher coverage limits, or getting a reckless driving citation can produce rate changes that can make some companies more affordable than competitors.
Compare Cheap Insurance Quotes for Risky Drivers
Progressive may have some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Raleigh at around $632 each year. This is $240 less than the average price paid by North Carolina drivers of $872. Utica National, Liberty Mutual, NC Farm Bureau, and Penn National also qualify as some of the most economical Raleigh, NC car insurance companies.
In this example, if you are insured with Utica National and switched to Progressive, you could earn savings of roughly $23. Drivers with Liberty Mutual might save as much as $68 a year, and NC Farm Bureau customers might reduce prices by as much as $77 a year.
Be aware that those premium estimates are averages for all drivers and vehicles and do not factor in an exact zip code location for high risk drivers. So the insurer that has the cheapest price for you may not even be in the list above. That helps illustrate why you need to get rate quotes from many companies using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
Full coverage rates compared to liability only
Lowering the price of car insurance is the goal of the majority of drivers, and one of the fastest ways to reduce the cost of insurance for high risk drivers is to not pay for full coverage. The chart below shows the difference between insurance rates when comparing full coverage to liability only. The information is based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, single marital status, and no policy discounts are applied.
If we average the cost for ages 20 through 70, physical damage insurance costs an extra $1,053 per year more than insuring for liability only. That proposes the question if buying full coverage is a good investment. There is no definitive rule to stop buying physical damage insurance, but there is a general school of thought. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than around 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
There are some circumstances where eliminating full coverage is not in your best interest. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to keep full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should keep full coverage.
Choosing the best auto insurance company can be challenging considering how many choices drivers have in North Carolina. The company information in the lists below may help you analyze which companies to look at when comparing auto insurance rates for high risk drivers. These rankings only include companies who write in the majority of U.S. states, so companies that focus mainly on North Carolina business are not taken into consideration for this list.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelers | 93 | 98 | 99 | 88% | A++ | 95.1 |
| USAA | 83 | 99 | 100 | 91% | A++ | 94.1 |
| AAA Insurance | 91 | 95 | 92 | 90% | A | 93.3 |
| Nationwide | 85 | 95 | 97 | 89% | A+ | 92.4 |
| Allstate | 77 | 100 | 97 | 88% | A+ | 90.7 |
| State Farm | 80 | 94 | 96 | 88% | A++ | 90.6 |
| The Hartford | 88 | 93 | 91 | 87% | A+ | 90.4 |
| Safeco Insurance | 91 | 95 | 85 | 88% | A | 90.2 |
| Progressive | 88 | 94 | 83 | 88% | A+ | 90.1 |
| American Family | 91 | 86 | 95 | 83% | A | 89.7 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
The agents shown below can help you make a decision which insurance coverage you need, as many consumers aren’t sure which coverage to buy and prefer to have a consultation when shopping around for cheaper insurance for high risk drivers. It can be hard to find the cheapest rate yourself, so insurance agents licensed in the state of North Carolina can bring satisfaction knowing your coverage gives you enough coverage if you have a claim. To find an agent closest to you, click the button following the list or click here to compare price quotes now.
J. Miller Lawson Agency – Nationwide Insurance
9360 Falls of Neuse Rd #201 – Raleigh, NC 27615 – (919) 676-5695
Blackmon Insurance
3416 Poole Rd # 110 – Raleigh, NC 27610 – (919) 231-8131
Snipes Insurance Services Inc
617 Oberlin Rd – Raleigh, NC 27605 – (919) 571-4335
Matt Roberts Agency, Inc.
1151 Falls River Avenue, Suite 105-A – Raleigh, NC 27614 – (919) 845-2999
Carmen Ritz – State Farm Insurance Agent
1814 Oberlin Rd #101 – Raleigh, NC 27608 – (919) 783-8722
View map of Raleigh, NC insurance agents
How to find more affordable insurance for high risk drivers
The list below shows some money-saving suggestions that can help you quote cheap coverage.
- Drop full coverage on older vehicles
- Bundle car and home insurance and save money
- Better credit rating means better rates
- Choose a safer vehicle and pay lower rates
- Frequent claims will increase rates
- Higher comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles will save money
- Keep rates low by shopping around frequently
The last suggestion is remarkably vital, as we hit on in this write-up. Coverage rates in Raleigh adjust often, so drivers shouldn’t be resistant to change to a new company if a lower-cost policy is available. Many drivers have brand loyalty and that’s fine, but it’s not a good idea if that dedication is costing a wad of cash every year. It only takes a couple minutes to compare prices to find cheaper insurance for high risk drivers.