Cheapest Auto Insurance in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (2024)
Erie offers the cheapest rates for Chapel Hill drivers, starting at $33 per month.
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Written byErin Gobler
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5+ years of finance writing experience
Certificate of financial planning from Boston University
Erin is a personal finance writer and journalist with work featured in major publications. Her writing explores investing, credit cards, mortgages, insurance, and more.
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Edited byCourtney Mikulski
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Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
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Updated November 21, 2024
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Table of contents
Drivers in Chapel Hill pay an overall average insurance premium of $60 per month, which is considerably lower than the national average of $154 per month and slightly lower than the North Carolina average of $75 per month. Chapel Hill’s relatively cheap car insurance could be because it’s a small, walkable college town with a lower population compared to nearby cities like Raleigh or Durham.[1]
Keep in mind that this figure is just an average — your premiums could be different depending on your unique situation. But you can compare quotes to find the cheapest car insurance companies for your coverage needs.
Quick Facts
Car insurance in Chapel Hill costs an average of $44 per month for liability insurance and $77 per month for full coverage.
Erie is the cheapest car insurance company for full coverage, with a monthly rate of $51.
North Carolina’s contributory negligence laws mean that anyone partly at fault for an accident can’t seek financial recovery from the other driver.[2]
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Chapel Hill
When you’re shopping for car insurance in Chapel Hill, you have plenty of affordable and highly rated companies to choose from. But a few stand out from the rest as offering the best insurance coverage for Chapel Hill drivers. Here are three of the best car insurance companies based on average rates, coverages, discounts, and more.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Best For ▲▼ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midvale Home & Auto | 8.0 | $68 | $35 | Liability coverage |
| Erie | 9.0 | $64 | $41 | Full coverage |
| Nationwide | 8.7 | $64 | $41 | Usage-based insurance |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Best insurer for liability coverage: Midvale Home & Auto
| A.M. Best A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor). | A |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 3.2 /10 |
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
NRNAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
NRA.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
AWhy we picked this company
Midvale Home & Auto is a regional insurance company under the American Family Insurance group of companies. It’s an excellent option for Chapel Hill drivers and students who want one of the cheapest liability insurance companies without a ton of bells and whistles.
Pros
Lower average rates than many competitors
Student-centric discounts for local college students
Cons
Fewer discounts than many competitors
Online quotes aren’t available
Best insurer for full coverage: Erie
| User Reviews | 4.1 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.0 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $33/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $51/mo |
4.1
Best choiceBased on 240 verified guest reviews and ratings
How drivers feel about Erie Insurance
Drivers appreciate the excellent customer service, fair pricing, and responsive assistance. However, some are unhappy with unexpected rate increases and policy cancellations.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
High customer satisfaction
Competitive rates
Optional coverages
How drivers feel about Erie Insurance
Drivers appreciate the excellent customer service, fair pricing, and responsive assistance. However, some are unhappy with unexpected rate increases and policy cancellations.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
High customer satisfaction
Competitive rates
Optional coverages
Reviews (126)
Lana
November 10, 2024
Verified Review
Erie Insurance
The policy is difficult to understand. The rates are too high.
George
November 6, 2024
Verified Review
Good People
They handled my claim quickly.
Judie
November 4, 2024
Verified Review
Great Coverage
The coverage is excellent, but I am looking for a cheaper rate.
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
870NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
0.49A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A+Why we picked this company
Erie is one of the best options for someone who wants a full-coverage policy at an affordable rate. First, Erie offers the best rates on full-coverage insurance and some of the best coverage options. In addition to standard coverages you would expect with any insurer, Erie also offers new-car replacement, windshield repair, travel costs, and more.
Pros
Highly rated J.D. Power customer and claims satisfaction
Erie Rate Lock can prevent rate increases
Cons
Below-average J.D. Power digital experience satisfaction rating
No usage-based insurance
Best insurer for usage-based insurance: Nationwide
| User Reviews | 4.4 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.7 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $33/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $51/mo |
4.4
Best choiceBased on 782 verified guest reviews and ratings
How drivers feel about Nationwide
Drivers appreciate the excellent coverage, reliable claims process, and good initial rates but dislike the frequent price increases.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Usage-based savings
Accident forgiveness
Recreational vehicle coverage
How drivers feel about Nationwide
Drivers appreciate the excellent coverage, reliable claims process, and good initial rates but dislike the frequent price increases.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Usage-based savings
Accident forgiveness
Recreational vehicle coverage
Reviews (441)
Richard
November 7, 2024
Verified Review
Excellent Company
Nationwide appears to be an excellent company. I have recommended this company to several of my friends. My daughter and her husband have also taken out policies and are very satisfied with this company. Thank you.
Irene
November 4, 2024
Verified Review
Sorry to be leaving you, Nationwide.
I used Nationwide for 32 years. I understand that insurance prices are going up, however, due to my limited income, I can no longer afford to stay with Nationwide.
Sara
November 1, 2024
Verified Review
Very Good!
The customer service is very good. They explain things well and make it easy to understand.
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
815NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
0.64A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A+Why we picked this company
Nationwide has some of the best rates for both liability and full-coverage insurance for Chapel Hill drivers. Additionally, it offers two usage-based insurance programs to help drivers save. Its SmartRide program offers savings of up to 40% for safe drivers. Meanwhile, its SmartMiles program is a pay-as-you-drive program, allowing low-mileage drivers to save on insurance by paying for only the miles they drive.
Pros
Savings with usage-based programs
Plenty of coverage options available
Cons
Below-average J.D. Power customer and claims satisfaction ratings
Fewer discounts than some competitors
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Chapel Hill
Various factors can affect car insurance rates, including a driver’s age, gender, location, credit, driving history, and more. While not all of those factors are within someone’s control, plenty are. Here are several steps you can take when shopping for insurance to get the cheapest rates:
Shop around for quotes. The best way to find the cheapest car insurance coverage for your situation is to shop around for car insurance quotes from multiple companies. That way, you’ll be able to see which company offers the best rates based on your personal circumstances.
Bundle your policies. If you already have other insurance products, such as homeowners insurance, renters insurance, or even life insurance, you can save on your premiums by bundling your auto policy with your existing ones.
Save with discounts. You may be able to lower your rates if you’re eligible for one or more car insurance discounts your insurer offers. For example, you could get a discount for paying your premium up front or going a certain amount of time with no claims.
Choose the right coverage limits. Though most states dictate minimum coverage requirements, drivers should choose coverage limits that fit their insurance needs. Make sure you choose adequate coverage to protect you in a car accident, but not so much that you’re overpaying for your insurance.
Increase your deductible. One of the simplest ways to lower your premium is to raise your deductible, which is the amount you pay out of pocket when you file a claim. Though the average collision and comprehensive deductible is $500, you can save money by increasing it.
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Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Chapel Hill: Erie
Nearly every state requires drivers to carry liability insurance, which pays for other drivers’ damages and injuries when you’re responsible for an accident. A liability-only policy is the cheapest type of insurance you can get, but that’s because it doesn’t provide any protection for your vehicle.
Liability-only car insurance in Chapel Hill costs an average of $44 per month. The table below breaks down the average rate from the cheapest liability car insurance companies in Chapel Hill.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Friday, November 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
|---|---|
| Erie | $33 |
| Nationwide | $33 |
| GEICO | $38 |
| Travelers | $42 |
| Dairyland | $43 |
| Direct Auto | $44 |
| Safeco | $44 |
| Allstate | $45 |
| Progressive | $46 |
| Liberty Mutual | $47 |
| National General | $50 |
| State Farm | $54 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Chapel Hill: Erie
Full-coverage insurance, though there’s no formal definition for it, typically includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages. Full coverage is more expensive, but it pays to repair or replace your vehicle after a covered incident, which liability insurance won’t do.
Full coverage is a good idea for people who drive newer, high-value vehicles and people who can’t or don’t want to pay out of pocket to replace their car. Lenders and lessors may require collision and comprehensive coverage if you finance or lease your vehicle.
The average monthly cost of full-coverage insurance in Chapel Hill is $77, but the table below shows the cheapest companies to start your search.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Friday, November 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
|---|---|
| Erie | $51 |
| Nationwide | $51 |
| GEICO | $58 |
| Travelers | $65 |
| Allstate | $70 |
| Progressive | $71 |
| Direct Auto | $79 |
| State Farm | $84 |
| Safeco | $87 |
| National General | $88 |
| Liberty Mutual | $146 |
| Dairyland | $211 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest recent rates near Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Recent Chapel Hill, North Carolina car insurance prices for Honda, Ford, Hyundai , and more.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Chapel Hill, North Carolina within the last 10 days. Last updated on November 21, 2024
Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from November 21, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Chapel Hill, North Carolina within the last 10 days. Last updated on November 21, 2024
Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from November 21, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
Car insurance requirements in North Carolina
Like nearly every other state, North Carolina requires drivers to carry both bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. North Carolina is a fault state, which means that the driver responsible for the accident is responsible for paying for injured parties’ medical expenses and property damage.
The table below breaks down the coverage limits North Carolina law requires:[3]
Coverage ▲▼ | Minimum Requirements ▲▼ |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $30,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist coverage | $30,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
Keep in mind that these figures show only the state-minimum requirements. You can purchase more coverage and higher limits to better protect your finances after an accident or fender bender.
In addition to the required coverages, here are some of the most common add-on options:
Collision coverage
Collision insurance pays to repair or replace your car after hitting a stationary object or another vehicle, regardless of fault.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance covers repairing or replacing your vehicle after an incident other than a crash, including vandalism, theft, severe weather, falling objects, and more.
Gap insurance
Also called guaranteed asset protection, this pays the difference between your auto loan and insurance settlement in the event of a total loss.
Roadside assistance
Roadside assistance — or towing and labor coverage — helps pay for services like towing, tire changes, jump-starts, and more.
Rental reimbursement
This covers the cost of a rental car while your car is in the shop for repairs after a covered claim.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Having any sort of incident on your driving record — including a speeding ticket, at-fault accident, driving under the influence (DUI), or other moving violations — can increase your insurance premiums. The amount your rate increases depends on several factors, including the type and severity of the violation. For example, Chapel Hill drivers with a speeding ticket on their record pay an average of $68 per month for liability coverage. But a DUI increases this average rate to $80 per month for liability coverage.
Here are the cheapest Chapel Hill car insurance companies by driving history.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Friday, November 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With Speeding Ticket ▲▼ | With At-Fault Accident ▲▼ | With DUI ▲▼ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | $33 | $46 | $49 | $57 |
| Nationwide | $33 | $46 | $48 | $57 |
| GEICO | $38 | $52 | $55 | $66 |
| Travelers | $42 | $58 | $62 | $73 |
| Dairyland | $43 | $59 | $62 | $74 |
| Direct Auto | $44 | $61 | $65 | $76 |
| Safeco | $44 | $61 | $64 | $71 |
| Allstate | $45 | $62 | $66 | $78 |
| Progressive | $46 | $63 | $67 | $80 |
| Liberty Mutual | $47 | $69 | $73 | $81 |
| National General | $50 | $69 | $73 | $87 |
| State Farm | $54 | $74 | $78 | $94 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Average cost of car insurance by age
Young drivers, including teen drivers and drivers in their early 20s, pay the highest premiums because of their lack of experience and higher risk of an accident.[4] But as you get older and gain more experience, your car insurance rates will decrease as long as you have a clean driving record. Senior drivers’ rates can spike again around 70 years old as age-related health issues can affect driving ability.
Here’s how Chapel Hill’s average car insurance rates change based on driver age.
Age ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
|---|---|
| Teens | $161 |
| 20s | $112 |
| 30s | $95 |
| 40s | $94 |
| 50s | $90 |
| 60s | $85 |
| 70s | $85 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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Chapel Hill car insurance quotes by credit tier
Insurance companies believe that a driver’s credit history is an indication of their risk of filing a claim. So drivers with poor credit pay more expensive insurance rates than drivers with good credit.
The chart below breaks down the average insurance premium for drivers of each credit profile in Chapel Hill.
Rates by Credit Tier
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Chapel Hill car insurance FAQs
Learn about rideshare insurance in North Carolina, and read the answers to common questions about Chapel Hill auto coverage below.
How much is car insurance in Chapel Hill?
The average cost of car insurance in Chapel Hill is $44 per month for liability insurance and $77 per month for full coverage.
What companies have the cheapest car insurance in Chapel Hill?
Erie, Nationwide, and GEICO are some of the cheapest liability car insurance companies in Chapel Hill, with rates starting at $33, $33, and $38 per month, respectively.
But the best way to find the cheapest rates for you is to compare quotes from at least three companies. You can use an online quote-comparison tool to see rates from multiple companies at once to help you better compare prices.
What are the best car insurance companies in Chapel Hill?
Some of the best car insurance companies in Chapel Hill that Insurify found are Erie, Nationwide, and Midvale Home & Auto. These insurers have good IQ Scores, solid customer satisfaction ratings, and low average rates.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Related articles
More cities in North Carolina
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau. "QuickFacts: Durham city, North Carolina; Raleigh city, North Carolina; Chapel Hill town, North Carolina."
- Nolo. "North Carolina Auto Accident Laws."
- North Carolina Department of Transportation. "Insurance Requirements."
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Teen Drivers and Passengers: Get the Facts."
)
Erin Gobler
Erin Gobler is a personal finance writer and journalist based in Madison, Wisconsin. With more than five years of experience, Erin has covered topics such as investing, credit cards, mortgages, insurance, and more. Her work has been featured in major publications like Business Insider, Fox Business, and Time. Erin received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2013, studying journalism and political science. She also received a certificate of financial planning from Boston University in 2022.
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
Featured in
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