Auto-Owners Insurance Co ranks first overall in North Carolina. It is also the best in terms of customer service, financial stability and for homeowners with expensive homes. Travelers is first overall for affordability and State Farm for policy bundling.

Our scoring system helps determine the best home insurance companies in North Carolina for various homeowner profiles. We also explored the different coverages and discounts offered to find you the best fit.

MoneyGeek also analyzed the cheapest homeowners insurance providers in North Carolina for those more concerned with saving on their monthly bill.

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2024

The Best Homeowners Insurance in North Carolina

The Best Overall Homeowners Insurance Companies in North Carolina

MoneyGeek’s internal scoring system uses multiple criteria. We considered affordability, financial strength, claims experience and customer satisfaction rating.

Overall, the best-rated home insurance companies in North Carolina are:

  • Auto-Owners Insurance Co: MoneyGeek score of 88 out of 100
  • Heritage: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100

USAA received a MoneyGeek score of 95 out of 100. We did not include the insurer in our listing because it’s exclusive to members of the military and their families. However, USAA is the best home insurance provider in North Carolina for active-duty military or veterans.

Below, MoneyGeek explains the reasons that Auto-Owners Insurance Co and Heritage scored the highest and are the top insurers in the state. We also break down some of the unique coverage and discounts available to customers.

The Top Home Insurance Companies in North Carolina

1
Auto-Owners
Score:88

4.5/5

Affordability

4.2/5

User Satisfaction

5/5

Financial Stability

Geek Quick Take
Geek Quick Take

Auto-Owners Insurance Co scored highly across all areas, with a 4.23, a 4.52 and a 5.0 for customer satisfaction, affordability and financial strength, respectively. On average, you can purchase a policy for $1,269 annually and add optional coverages like off-premises personal property.

More About Auto-Owners

There are several add-on coverages with Auto-Owners Insurance that other insurers do not always offer. For example, service line coverage protects you from costs from damage to underground structures connecting your home to a public utility service provider. Their opt-in off-premises personal property coverage means personal items you bring with you on vacation are covered if damaged.

2
Heritage
Score:84

5/5

Affordability

4/5

User Satisfaction

3/5

Financial Stability

Geek Quick Take
Geek Quick Take

Heritage rated high on customer satisfaction and affordability, with scores of 4.0 and 4.95, respectively. The average annual premium for a home insurance policy is $979.

More About Heritage

The insurer’s basic homeowners policy includes personal liability and medical payments for your guests, and it covers the loss of use of your home during repairs in addition to personal property and valuables. You can select various add-on coverage options, including increased limits on jewelry, replacement cost on personal property, dog liability, identity theft, and personal injury.

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HOW WE DETERMINED THE BEST NORTH CAROLINA HOME INSURANCE

MoneyGeek used various data to determine the companies offering the best home insurance nationally and in North Carolina. We collected home insurance quotes from insurance companies across the country and balanced these against property claims ratings and customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power.

You may have a different experience due to your specific situation. Our methodology can provide more information.

The Best Homeowners Companies in North Carolina for Service Quality

Some homeowners value quality service above everything else. They’re willing to pay a higher premium to ensure they have the customer service and claims experiences possible. MoneyGeek’s study evaluated insurers in the state, emphasizing claims experience and user satisfaction.

The best home insurance companies in North Carolina for service quality are:

  • Auto-Owners Insurance Co: MoneyGeek score of 89 out of 100
  • State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100

If you come from a military family, USAA is your best option. Although we didn’t include it in the rankings because of its exclusive client base, the insurer placed first with a perfect MoneyGeek score of 100.

Below, MoneyGeek examines the reasons that make Auto-Owners Insurance Co and State Farm the best insurers for homeowners who want stellar service regardless of cost.

The Top Home Insurance Companies in North Carolina for Quality Service

1
Auto-Owners
Score:89

4.8/5

Claims

4/5

User Satisfaction

5/5

Financial Stability

Geek Quick Take
Geek Quick Take

Auto-Owners Insurance Co received a 4.77 for claims experience, which means customers had a highly satisfying experience while undergoing their claims process. The insurer’s customer satisfaction score is also high, at 4.01.

More About Auto-Owners

You can find several coverages with Auto-Owners Insurance that aren’t typically offered by other home insurance companies. If you have a boat, an ATV or an off-road vehicle, for example, you can protect them by adding specialty vehicle coverage to your policy. You can also opt to add equipment breakdown coverage. This can help with expenses if any electrical or mechanical failures occur — from computers to major appliances.

2
State Farm
Score:81

3.8/5

Claims

4.1/5

User Satisfaction

5/5

Financial Stability

Geek Quick Take
Geek Quick Take

State Farm has a 4.09 satisfaction rating, which isn’t surprising. Although the insurer’s score for claims is slightly lower, the insurer is regarded as having high quality policy offerings and processes.

More About State Farm

One optional coverage you can select protects your home against damage from fungus or mold for up to $20,000. Another is loss assessment, which can benefit you if you belong to a Homeowners Association. If your HOA assesses a loss to all members, this add-on covers your portion.

The Best Homeowners Companies in North Carolina on a Budget

Realistically, most homeowners work within a budget. MoneyGeek’s study identifies which insurance companies provide stellar service but also allow you to save money on your home insurance costs.

In North Carolina, the companies with the best home insurance for homeowners on a budget are:

  • Auto-Owners Insurance Co: MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100
  • Travelers: MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100

Auto-Owners Insurance Co offers a home insurance policy for an annual average rate of $1,269. Travelers has a lower premium at $1,006 per year on average.

With a MoneyGeek score of 91 out of 100, USAA is the best home insurance company in North Carolina. However, it is excluded from our rankings since it provides its services solely to homeowners who are members of the military.

Below, MoneyGeek looks at why Auto-Owners Insurance Co is the top insurer for buyers on a budget. We also explored the unique coverage and discounts it offers.

The Top Home Insurance Companies in North Carolina on a Budget
Auto-Owners

pros

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Offers home insurance for an affordable rate of $1,269 per year on average

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Discounts such as pay-in-full, protective device and claims-free

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MoneyGeek score for satisfaction is 4.23

cons

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Does not offer standard discounts, such as new home or home renovation

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Even though Auto-Owners Insurance Co has a slightly higher premium than Travelers, we rated it as the best home insurance company in North Carolina because of its much higher customer satisfaction score. It’s also possible to lower your premium by applying some of the discounts offered. For instance, if you have burglar or fire alarms installed in your home, you’ll be eligible for the protective device discount. Staying claims-free and bundling your home insurance with auto and life insurance policies can also provide savings.

Auto-Owners Insurance Co offers several rare discounts connected to their payment process. Going for paperless billing and paying your premium in full and on time can lower your rate. If your home is mortgage-free, you may also get a discount.

The Best Homeowners Companies in North Carolina for Expensive Homes

Houses that cost more to rebuild tend to have different insurance requirements. In this section, MoneyGeek weighs the cost of insuring a home that would cost $2 million to replace against customer satisfaction.

The best-rated home insurance companies in North Carolina if you have a luxury home are:

  • Auto-Owners Insurance Co: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100
  • Erie: MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100

For homeowners from military families, USAA is the best home insurance option. It has a MoneyGeek score of 98 out of 100. However, we opted not to list it because its policies aren’t widely available.

MoneyGeek looks at the reasons why Auto-Owners Insurance Co is the best company for those with expensive homes who need a lot of coverage. The insurer offers unique services that may benefit those homeowners.

The Top Home Insurance Companies in North Carolina for High-Value Homes
Auto-Owners

pros

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A high MoneyGeek affordability score of 4.53 out of 5 for expensive homes

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MoneyGeek satisfaction rating of 4.01

cons

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It doesn’t offer contents replacement cost coverage

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Auto-Owners Insurance Co received a high score for customer satisfaction at 4.01. At approximately $7,148 per year, it’s one of the more affordable insurance companies in MoneyGeek’s study for those with expensive homes.

The insurer also has coverages that tend to be suitable for high-value homeowners. These include add-ons such as cyber event/ID theft coverage (which protects you up to $15,000 to restore your identity) and scheduled personal property (which is good to have if you own jewelry and quality art pieces).

The Best Homeowners Companies in North Carolina for Veterans

MoneyGeek also evaluated insurers to find the best home insurance companies in North Carolina for homeowners with a military background. Our analysis shows that USAA is the best insurer for military members and their families, with a MoneyGeek score of 95 out of 100. You can purchase a policy from them for an average annual premium of $1,464.

One of the reasons why USAA ranks high is because they tailor their services to the insurance needs of those in the military.

The Top Home Insurance Companies in North Carolina for Veterans
USAA

pros

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Offers policies suited to the needs of military families

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MoneyGeek satisfaction score of 5.0

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MoneyGeek score of 4.22 for affordability

cons

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Policies are only available to present or former members of the military

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

USAA scores well in both affordability and customer satisfaction. It received ratings of 4.22 and 5.0 for those criteria, respectively.

A USAA home insurance policy automatically comes with contents replacement cost coverage. It means that if your personal items are damaged, USAA prices them at today’s replacement cost, not their depreciated value. Optional home rental coverage isn’t something all insurers offer. If you choose to add this to your policy, the coverage helps protect you and your guests whether you’re renting just one room or your entire house.

The Best Homeowners Companies in North Carolina for Bundling

If you’re on the lookout for the best home insurance companies in North Carolina, you might want to explore the possibility of getting car insurance from the same insurer. MoneyGeek’s study determined which providers offer the best bundles.

The companies that balance the best home insurance with the best auto insurance in North Carolina are:

  • State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100
  • Nationwide: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100

Purchasing your home and car insurance policies from a single insurer provides several advantages. One is that it makes you eligible for lower rates. Another benefit is the convenience factor; you won’t have to deal with multiple insurance companies.

The Top Home Insurance Companies in North Carolina for Bundling
State Farm

pros

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MoneyGeek score for auto insurance is 4.29

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Offers a 30% discount for bundling

cons

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MoneyGeek score for home insurance is 3.81

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

State Farm rates better for auto insurance than home insurance, with MoneyGeek scores of 4.29 and 3.81, respectively. It ranks highest due to the 30% discount for homeowners who bundle their car and home insurance policies with them.

The insurer has rideshare insurance as an optional add-on, which isn’t offered frequently. This coverage makes sure that medical, emergency roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement in your personal auto policy remains in effect when you’re working for a ridesharing company. It also puts your personal policy deductible into effect.

There are unique coverage options that you may want to add to your home insurance policy too. The energy efficiency upgrade means State Farm will cover up to 150% of the expense of having an air conditioner or water heater repaired if you upgrade to more energy-efficient alternatives.

How to Find the Best Home Insurance in North Carolina

Finding the best home insurance companies in North Carolina means looking for those that balance cost, customer service quality, claims ratings and financial stability. MoneyGeek’s study already provides all this information, but you can also do your own research.

1

Research Customer Service Reputations in North Carolina

MoneyGeek analyzed the customer satisfaction ratings of various North Carolina home insurance providers. You can see these at J.D. Power and find the complaint ratios at the NAIC. If you want to do more research, visit the North Carolina Department of Insurance website.

2

Compare Quotes for Yourself

You can determine affordability by collecting and comparing insurance quotes from several companies. It will give you an idea of how much a home insurance policy costs in your area of North Carolina. Remember, MoneyGeek’s rates used a sample homeowner profile in the state. You may get different results when you use your personal information.

3

Make Sure the Company Has Coverages You Want in North Carolina

The home insurance company you're considering should be able to provide you with the type of coverages and discounts you want. It’s important to verify this because sometimes these features aren’t extended to every state.

4

Double-Check Financial Stability Ratings

Check the insurers’ financial stability ratings. You can tap several companies to get this information, such as A.M. Best or Standard & Poor’s. The financial strength of an insurance company is directly related to its claims pay-outs. Larger home insurance companies tend to be more financially stable than smaller regional insurers.

FAQs About the Best Home Insurance in North Carolina

Depending on your insurance needs and preferences, the best home insurance company in North Carolina for you may vary. You can find more information by looking at these commonly asked questions.

Methodology

MoneyGeek scores for homeowners insurance in North Carolina were calculated by using a scaled and weighted average of J.D. Power Property Claims and Customer Satisfaction Scores, real homeowners insurance quotes and financial stability ratings from A.M. Best. Our scoring system weighted J.D. Power scores 60%, affordability 30% and financial stability 10%, adjusting weightings in the sections focused on affordability and service experience specifically.

MoneyGeek analyzed homeowners insurance quotes from the top insurance companies in North Carolina that were provided in partnership with Quadrant. Our analysis includes quotes from ZIP codes across North Carolina. Quotes were gathered with an average home profile of 2,500 square feet, built in 2000, with an average dwelling coverage value of $250,000, liability coverage of $100,000 and personal property coverage of $100,000.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick has analyzed the property and casualty insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. Currently, he leads P&C insurance content production at MoneyGeek. Fitzpatrick has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.


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