Learn everything you need to know to buy the best car insurance policy in Durham for your particular situation. See which carriers are rated as the best car insurance companies for customer satisfaction and the average car insurance rates for your neighborhood.
You’ll also discover how much you can save from knowing how to make intelligent choices about coverage. And, find out how rates for Durham drivers are affected by tickets, accidents and adding teen drivers.
- The average car insurance cost in Durham, NC for a full coverage policy is $1,326 a year, according to CarInsurance.com research.
- Kemper Independence Ins Co has the cheapest full coverage car insurance quotes in Durham among all the carriers analyzed.
- By comparing price quotes from different carriers, you can save an average of $1,241 per year on a full coverage policy in Durham.
- In North Carolina, comprehensive insurance costs an average of $178 and collision coverage is $606 per year, based on CarInsurance.com rate analysis.
Who has the best car insurance in Durham, NC?
Deciding who has the best car insurance to suit your needs depends on what is most important to you. For some it may be price, while others may value customer service the most. Still others may be looking for the convenience of mobile apps, or a company that offers the most car insurance discounts.
Below we list car insurance companies in Durham, and who they are the best at serving, based on CarInsurance.com’s customer satisfaction survey of current policyholders and rate data analysis.
| Best for | Company |
|---|---|
| Claims | Hartford |
| Value/Price | USAA |
| Customer Service | USAA |
| Websites/Apps | USAA |
| Recommend | USAA |
| 2+ Years Insured With Company | State Farm Mutual Auto |
| 7+ Days Advanced Purchase | Allstate P&C |
| Bundle | Allstate P&C |
| Paid in Full | Allstate P&C |
Cheap car insurance in Durham, North Carolina
Find the cheapest car insurance rates in Durham, based on our rate analysis for three different coverage levels. The driver profile is for age 30, with good credit and a clean driving record. You can see how significant insurers rank for price in the chart below.
| Company | Liability Only – State Minimum BI/PD | Liability Only – 50/100/50 BI/PD | Full Coverage – 100/300/100 BI/PD – 500 Comp/Coll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide Ins Co of Am | $282 | $316 | $1,066 |
| Erie Ins Exchange | $328 | $361 | $997 |
| State Farm Mutl Automobile Ins | $365 | $404 | $1,142 |
| NC Farm Bureau Mutual Ins Co | $377 | $417 | $1,193 |
| Government Employees Ins Co | $405 | $419 | $1,097 |
| Integon National Ins Co | $446 | $476 | $1,438 |
| Kemper Independence Ins Co | $450 | $494 | $959 |
| Metropolitan P&C Ins Co | $524 | $577 | $1,733 |
| Progressive Premier Ins Co | $539 | $593 | $1,753 |
| Allstate P&C Ins Co | $574 | $628 | $1,880 |
Car insurance coverage – how much car insurance do I need in Durham?
Below we’ll explain what coverage you need to drive legally, which is your state-required minimum liability limits, and what types of car insurance you may need to be truly protected.
Minimum car insurance requirements in Durham
North Carolina car insurance laws require only that you insure yourself against bodily injury and property damage liability, so it’s your choice whether to add coverage for yourself, your passengers, and your vehicle.
If you have a newer car, getting comprehensive insurance and collision coverage makes sense. In North Carolina, comprehensive costs $178 and collision costs $606, on an average per year, according to a rate data analysis done by CarInsurance.com.
These optional coverages come with a deductible. That’s the amount you pay before your insurance company pays. Typical deductibles are $1,000, $500 and $250 – you choose which one you want. The higher the deductible is, the lower your rate will be.
The best car insurance coverage usually isn’t the cheapest. You may be used if you’re in an accident and your insurance doesn’t cover all the damages. That means your home or savings could be in jeopardy.
To protect your assets, you should buy liability insurance in the following amounts:
- $1,00,000 to pay for others’ medical bills
- $3,00,000 to pay for injuries to others in an accident you cause
- $1,00,000 to pay for damage to others’ property
You should also consider buying these optional coverages:
- Comprehensive, which replaces stolen cars and covers damage to your car from floods, fire, hail and vandalism.
- Collision, which pays for damage to your car from accidents.
Average car insurance rates in Durham
According to our rate analysis, the average rate for Durham drivers for a year of minimum coverage is $429. If you increase your coverage to 50/100/50, you would pay just about $3.25 more monthly, or $39 more a year.
You can get full coverage (100/300/100) by paying $74.75 more a month, or an additional $897 a year more than minimum-level coverage.
Durham average for:
- Minimum coverage: $429
- 50/100/50: $468
- 100/300/100: $1,326
Compare car insurance quotes in Durham – how to save on Insurance
You can save an average of $1,241 annually on a full coverage policy in Durham by comparing car insurance quotes, according to CarInsurance.com’s rate analysis. While savings will depend on your particular circumstances, this significantly benefits shopping your policy.
Durham car insurance FAQs
How much does insurance go up after a speeding ticket in Durham?
A speeding ticket in Durham will hike your car insurance rates by an average of 53%, or about $762 yearly. CarInsurance.com’s rate analysis shows how much more drivers in Durham can expect to pay, on average, for speeding and other common violations.
Minor traffic violations, such as speeding, typically stay on your record for about three years, and you can expect to see the rate increase upon your policy renewal date. More severe infractions like DUI stay on your record much longer.
How much does insurance go up for tickets in Durham?
Durham drivers can expect to see a hike in their rates in the range of 44% for minor moving violations such as tailgating or blowing through a stop sign, 187% for more severe infractions such as DUI.
Below, you’ll see how much rates increase, on average, for ordinary traffic violations.
Remember that because insurance companies assess risk differently, you can save by comparison shopping. One carrier may ding you a lot for a citation, while another may spike your rate by much less.
| Violation | Average rate | Rate after violation | $ Increase | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 speeding tickets 11 mph or over | $1,438 | $2,641 | $1,203 | 84% |
| Careless driving | $1,438 | $1,997 | $559 | 39% |
| Distracted driving ticket | $1,438 | $1,997 | $559 | 39% |
| Driving without a license or permit | $1,438 | $1,924 | $486 | 34% |
| Driving without insurance | $1,438 | $1,798 | $360 | 25% |
| DUI/DWI first offense | $1,438 | $5,799 | $4,361 | 303% |
| DUI/DWI second offense | $1,438 | $5,943 | $4,505 | 313% |
| Failure to stop | $1,438 | $1,997 | $559 | 39% |
| Failure to yield | $1,438 | $1,997 | $559 | 39% |
| Following too closely | $1,438 | $2,190 | $752 | 52% |
| Improper turn | $1,438 | $1,997 | $559 | 39% |
| Improper/illegal pass | $1,438 | $2,190 | $752 | 52% |
| Operating a vehicle in a race (highway racing) | $1,438 | $6,189 | $4,751 | 330% |
| Reckless driving | $1,438 | $2,624 | $1,186 | 82% |
| Seatbelt infraction | $1,438 | $1,790 | $352 | 24% |
| Talking on cellphone ticket | $1,438 | $1,924 | $486 | 34% |
| Texting ticket | $1,438 | $1,924 | $486 | 34% |
How much does it cost to add a teen driver to your insurance?
In Durham, adding a 16-year-old daughter to your policy will hike your rates by $1,820 annually or 137%, and it’s more for boys. Insuring your 16-year-old son will increase your yearly rate by $1,820 or 137% according to CarInsurance.com rate data.
According to CDC research, teen drivers are inexperienced and involved in more accidents than older drivers. Insurance companies categorize them as high-risk drivers, so they cost more to insure.
If you’re insuring a teen driver of any age, you can get expert tips, rate data by age and details in this parents’ guide to insuring a teen driver.
How much is SR-22 insurance in Durham?
CarInsurance.com data show that for drivers in Durham, your rate will go up by an average of $2,224 or 155%. If you’re convicted of a serious offense, such as DUI or reckless driving, you may be required to have your insurance company file an SR-22 form on your behalf.
An SR-22 is a car insurance company’s guarantee to the state that you are carrying the legally mandated coverage. If you are required to have an SR-22 filed, your car insurance rates will increase.
— Les Masterson contributed to this story
Ask the Insurance Expert
Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
Ask the Insurance Expert
John McCormick
Editorial Director
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Leslie Kasperowicz
Executive Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Nupur Gambhir
Managing Editor
Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.
Guide to car insurance (with rates) in cities of North Carolina