Average Cost of Car Insurance in North Dakota for 2026

Your premium depends on your coverage level, the company you choose, your age and where you live. North Dakota offers affordable options for drivers who compare rates across multiple insurers.

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• State Rates vs. National Average
• Is North Dakota Car Insurance Expensive?
• Cheapest Companies in North Dakota
• Cost by City
• Cost by Age and Gender
• Cost by Driving Record
• Cost by Credit Score
• Cost by Coverage Level
• Cost by Vehicle

Drivers in North Dakota pay $90 per month for full coverage car insurance and $40 per month for minimum coverage. Both coverage types cost less than the national average, making North Dakota an affordable state for car insurance.

North Dakota drivers pay $415 less per year than the national average for full coverage and $251 less for minimum coverage. Only nine states offer more affordable full coverage, placing North Dakota 10th out of 50 states and Washington, D.C., for affordability.

North Dakota ranks 10th out of 51 states for full coverage affordability, placing it well within the more affordable half nationwide. North Dakota beats 41 other states on average rates, making it a relatively budget-friendly option for drivers.

The state's car insurance costs result from severe weather events, such as hailstorms and harsh winter conditions, which lead to frequent claims. 

Fargo, the state's largest city with over 125,000 residents, drives up statewide averages as urban areas see higher theft and accident rates than rural communities (see rates by city).

Vermont claims the cheapest full coverage rates at $75 per month, while Virginia tops the expensive list at $97 per month. North Dakota sits between Wisconsin at ninth place and Iowa at 11th place in the national affordability rankings.

At $28 per month for minimum coverage and $61 per month for full coverage, GEICO offers North Dakota drivers the state's most affordable car insurance rates at 35% less than the state average. North Star Insurance ranks second for the cheapest coverage, followed by American Family as the third most affordable option.

Comparing multiple insurers is the most effective strategy for securing lower premiums. Each insurance company applies its own formula when calculating rates, which means identical driver profiles can receive different quotes across different insurers.

Read more: Cheapest and Best Car Insurance Companies in North Dakota

Your location within North Dakota directly impacts what you'll pay for car insurance coverage. Bismarck and Mandan tie as the most expensive large cities at $85 per month for full coverage, while West Fargo offers the most affordable rates at $78 per month. Jamestown rounds out the cheaper options at $80 per month among the state's 10 largest metros.

Bismarck's higher rates stem from its role as the state capital, which brings heavier government worker traffic and greater exposure to North Dakota's harsh winter weather patterns. West Fargo benefits from its newer suburban development with less congested roads and lower property crime rates compared to older urban centers. The gap between the most and least expensive of North Dakota's 10 most populous cities is $7 per month, or $84 per year.

Young drivers in North Dakota can save $2,905 per year by staying on family policies instead of getting individual coverage, with 16-year-old males paying $3,835 annually when added to their parents' plan. Female drivers of the same age cost $3,408 per year on family policies, and both figures represent roughly three times the typical adult rate. Age and gender most strongly affect car insurance rates for teens, but costs drop steadily through the early 20s and level off around age 25.

The table displays average annual premiums when adding a young driver to a household policy shared with two 50-year-old parents. Toggle between male and female rates using the dropdown menu to compare costs by gender. A 16-year-old male driver experiences $6,740 per year for individual coverage compared to $3,835 on a family policy, creating savings for North Dakota families who keep their teens on existing plans.

A clean driving record keeps full coverage premiums at $96 per month in North Dakota. A DUI, the most severe violation, adds $90 per month to premiums — a 94% increase over a clean record. Even a speeding ticket raises rates by 20%, making any violation costly for North Dakota drivers.

Car insurance companies in North Dakota evaluate your driving violations to determine how likely you are to file a claim in the future. Drivers with tickets or accidents on their record experience higher premiums because insurers price that added risk directly into your coverage costs.

Drivers with bad credit pay $336 per month for full coverage in North Dakota, nearly four times the $85 that drivers with good credit pay. The state allows insurers to use credit-based insurance scores when setting premiums. This credit-based pricing creates one of the largest cost gaps drivers experience when shopping for coverage.

North Dakota drivers with poor credit scores can reduce their car insurance premiums by working to improve their credit rating over time. The state allows insurers to factor credit scores into rate calculations, meaning better credit results in lower insurance costs for North Dakota residents.

North Dakota drivers pay $55 more per month when upgrading from basic minimum liability to comprehensive full coverage protection. State minimum liability costs $43 per month, while a high-limit 300/500/300 policy with comprehensive and collision runs $98 per month.

A Tesla Model Y costs $174 per month to insure in North Dakota compared to $98 for a Ford F-150, a 78% difference that shows how vehicle choice affects your premium. Both models rank among the country's best-selling vehicles, making this comparison relevant for most drivers. The Tesla's higher repair costs and advanced technology drive up insurance rates, while the F-150's widespread availability keeps costs lower. These popular models illustrate the range you might see, but your rate will depend on your vehicle.

A Tesla Model Y costs $174 per month for full coverage in North Dakota compared to $98 for a Ford F-150, creating a $76 monthly difference. Electric vehicles carry higher premiums because specialized parts, battery replacement costs and complex repair requirements drive up claim severity when accidents occur. Drivers prioritizing affordable coverage can choose a Honda Civic or Toyota Camry instead, saving roughly $66 per month compared to the Model Y.

North Dakota drivers often find their rates vary widely between rural areas and cities like Fargo and Bismarck. These are the questions we hear most about what affects your premium in North Dakota.

We used this profile to determine auto insurance costs across all available ZIP codes and cities in the state.

• 40 years old
• Clean driving record
• Good credit
• 2012 Toyota Camry LE

Sections covering costs by age and driving record rely on rates for those driver profiles, keeping all other factors the same.

Minimum coverage represents a state's minimum liability coverage requirements. Full coverage includes a policy with 100/300/100 liability limits plus a $1,000 deductible for both comprehensive and collision coverage.