The best insurance for you depends on your needs. MoneyGeek found that Erie is Wilmington’s best overall car insurance provider, the cheapest for full or minimum coverage and the best for military members. State Farm offers the least expensive coverage for teens on a family policy. Nationwide, National General and Erie are the cheapest for drivers with offenses.
Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Wilmington, NC








Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Wilmington
The most affordable car insurance companies for a minimum coverage policy in Wilmington, NC, are:
- Nationwide: $280 per year
- Erie: $332 per year
Nationwide balances affordability, customer satisfaction, claims experience and stability. Nationwide is also the cheapest car insurance company in North Carolina, with a premium of $295, slightly higher than its cost in Wilmington. The most expensive provider in Wilmington is Allstate, at $868 annually.
Minimum coverage car insurance policies in North Carolina must comply with the state's mandatory limits for bodily injury and property damage liability. Policies must include:
- $30,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability per accident
- $30,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
- $60,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident
- $25,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage per accident
To illustrate these limits: If you are responsible for a car accident, and the other driver incurs damages and medical expenses amounting to $60,000, your insurance covers the initial $50,000, while you are responsible for paying the remaining $10,000.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in Wilmington
The cheapest car insurance companies for a full coverage policy in Wilmington, North Carolina, are:
- Erie: $641 per year
- Nationwide: $680 per year
Allstate offers the city's most expensive auto insurance policy at $1,424 per year. The cheapest insurance car provider for full coverage in North Carolina is Erie. Its annual premium in the state averages $629, slightly less than the rate in Wilmington. This cost difference illustrates how location can affect car insurance rates.
A full coverage car insurance policy includes comprehensive and collision coverage.
- Comprehensive coverage protects damages caused by theft, natural disasters, vandalism, or fire.
- Collision coverage pays for damages from an accident with another car or object.
Consider your vehicle's value and budget when choosing car insurance coverage. While full coverage policies offer excellent protection, they may not be cost-effective for older, low-value cars.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Wilmington After a Driving Offense
The cheapest car insurance company after driving violations in Wilmington are:
- Speeding ticket: Nationwide ($971 per year)
- At-fault accident: Erie ($926 per year)
- DUI: National General ($1,961 per year)
The most expensive premiums come from Allstate at $5,956 per year after a DUI, $2,094 per year after a speeding ticket and $1,795 per year after an at-fault accident.
Car insurance providers calculate insurance premiums based on multiple factors, such as a driver's history of traffic violations and accidents. Drivers with poor driving records are considered riskier and usually pay higher premiums.
Citations for speeding, DUI or causing accidents can lead to higher car insurance premiums. The more serious the offense, the higher the increase. For example, Wilmington drivers will pay $469 more for car insurance after a ticket but $$2,586 more after a DUI. Although insurance rates may vary depending on location and driving history, drivers with a less-than-perfect record should still seek affordable coverage that provides sufficient protection.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Wilmington for Teens and Their Families
The most affordable car insurance providers for teens on a family policy in Wilmington, NC, are:
- State Farm: $1,267 per year for female and male teens
- Nationwide: $1,522 per year for female and male teens
GEICO offers the most expensive insurance premiums for teens on a family policy, at $4,289 per year for male and female teens. Male teenage drivers often pay higher car insurance premiums because statistics show they are more likely to get into accidents. As young male drivers become more experienced, insurance companies adjust rates to reflect a lower risk. Both male and female teenage drivers should search for cost-effective policies that meet their specific requirements.
Adding a teen to a family policy is usually more cost-effective than purchasing a separate policy. Family policies often provide better pricing and discounts, especially for households with multiple drivers and vehicles. For example, you can save an average of at least $538 per year by choosing a family policy in Wilmington. Always consider all available options and factors that affect insurance premiums when looking for cheap car insurance for teenage drivers.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Wilmington for Military Drivers
The cheapest car insurance providers for current or former military members and their families in Wilmington are:
- Erie: $641 per year
- Nationwide: $680 per year
USAA is another option and provides insurance services exclusively to active or former military personnel. The most inexpensive options for minimum coverage are Nationwide and Erie, with rates of $280 and $332, respectively.
How to Compare Cheap Wilmington Car Insurance Quotes Online
Getting an online car insurance quote in Wilmington can take more than 15 minutes per company and requires that you to input a lot of personal information. Instead, the MoneyGeek calculator can provide quick estimates with just your age, vehicle type, level of coverage and driving record.
Auto Insurance Calculator
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Best Car Insurance in Wilmington: Summary
The best insurance for you will depend on your needs, budget, available coverage options and the quality of customer service. MoneyGeek identified the top companies in Wilmington, NC, for several of these categories as follows:
- Best overall: Erie (MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100)
- Best for service: Erie (MoneyGeek score of 70 out of 100)
- Best cheap: Erie (MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100)
A company’s overall MoneyGeek score can vary based on how we weigh certain factors in each category. Erie is also the best car insurance provider in North Carolina.
Best Overall Car Insurance in Wilmington
The best car insurance companies in Wilmington are:
- Erie: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100 ($641 per year)
- North Carolina Farm Bureau: MoneyGeek score of 77 out of 100 ($730 per year)
Erie balances affordability, customer service and claims experience. North Carolina Farm Bureau gets a perfect score for claims handling and provides affordable policies and good customer service.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
Excellent customer service rating
Ranks first for affordability
Rental car/travel reimbursement
New car replacement coverage
Glass deductible modification coverage
cons
Low coverage rating
No roadside assistance
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Erie is the best overall car insurance provider in Wilmington, North Carolina, offering competitive rates and exceptional customer service. Erie offers rental car expense coverage, which pays for transportation if an accident puts your vehicle in the shop.
This insurer also offers new car replacement coverage. Called Auto Security, it replaces your new car with the latest model year if it gets totaled and you have owned it for less than two years. If your vehicle is over two years old, you will receive a model that is two years newer.
Erie's comprehensive coverage offers Glass Repair, which waives the deductible for glass repairs. The company also provides personal property insurance, which covers property in your car, like luggage and clothing, for up to $350.
Best Car Insurance in Wilmington for Customer Service
Not considering cost, the best companies for customer service in Wilmington are:
- Erie: MoneyGeek score of 70 out of 100 ($641 per year)
- North Carolina Farm Bureau: MoneyGeek score of 68 out of 100 ($730 per year)
Erie provides excellent customer service and claims satisfaction. While North Carolina Farm Bureau Car has a perfect score for claims, Erie edges it out with a higher customer satisfaction score.
Insurance companies that prioritize customer service by investing in staff training and additional resources usually charge higher premiums. This is not the case in Wilmington, where Erie provides the best customer service and is the cheapest option.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
Excellent customer service rating
High claims experience rating
Offers personal property insurance coverage
cons
Low coverage rating
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Erie provides excellent customer service in Wilmington, North Carolina, with high ratings for customer satisfaction and claims experience.
With Erie's rental car expense coverage, you'll have access to transportation while your car is repaired after an accident. The company also offers personal property insurance coverage, which protects against loss of personal belongings inside the vehicle, up to $350. If your pet is injured in an accident, pet coverage pays for vet costs of $500 per pet, up to $1,000.
The company's Auto Security coverage replaces your totaled car with the newest model if your vehicle is less than two years old. If your car is older, you get a model two years newer. Other coverages include pet gap insurance, accident forgiveness, locked vehicle and deductible modification.
Best Cheap Car Insurance in Wilmington
MoneyGeek evaluated North Carolina car insurance providers based on their affordability and ability to meet the state's minimum insurance requirements while providing quality service.
We found the best companies offering minimum coverage in Wilmington are:
- Erie: MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100 ($332 per year)
- Nationwide: MoneyGeek score of 77 out of 100 ($280 per year)
Minimum coverage policies have lower insurance rates but offer limited liability protection and no coverage for your vehicle in the event of an accident.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
The most affordable minimum coverage policy, at $332 per year
Excellent customer satisfaction rating
High claims score
cons
Low coverage rating
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Erie is the best cheap car insurance provider in Wilmington, offering affordable rates without compromising the quality of service or coverage options. This insurer is first in affordability and provides discounts that help lower premiums even further.
Safe drivers benefit from discounts, as do those with anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, airbags, anti-theft systems and honing devices. The company gives a discount to policyholders who complete a defensive driving or accident prevention course and to young drivers who complete driver's training.
Drivers with their VIN etched on a window can save on premiums. If you pay in full, insure multiple cars, bundle policies or sign up for automatic payments, you qualify for discounts. And, you'll save if you are a senior driver or a safe young driver.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Wilmington
The average cost of auto insurance in Wilmington for full coverage is $846 per year (as of October 2022), which includes:
$100,000 in bodily injury liability per person $300,000 in bodily injury liability per accident $100,000 in property damage liability per accident
The city’s average car insurance cost is $14 less than the average full coverage cost in North Carolina. The national average car insurance premium costs $1,265 annually. When determining insurance costs, car insurance providers consider your location.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
