Car insurance · North Carolina
Car insurance requirements in North Carolina
Liability 50/100/50 plus uninsured and underinsured motorist. Claims system: fault-based claims.
Verified summaryAll North Carolina insurance topics
Requirements
Minimum car insurance requirements in North Carolina
| Coverage | Requirement in North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident (policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025) |
| Property damage liability | $50,000 per accident (policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025) |
| Injury protection | Not listed as required |
| Uninsured / underinsured motorist | Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage required on all policies |
What the law requires you to carry
- Bodily injury: at least $50,000 for one person and $100,000 for two or more people
- Property damage: at least $50,000
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on all policies, even those above the minimum limits
- Continuous liability insurance on every vehicle with a valid North Carolina registration
Uninsured drivers
Uninsured motorist coverage in North Carolina
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage required on all policies.
- The Department of Insurance states that underinsured motorist coverage is included on all new or renewed policies beginning July 1, 2025, and that the law changed how underinsured motorist coverage is determined.
Optional coverage
Coverage you can add in North Carolina
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Higher liability limits
- Medical payments
- Rental reimbursement
Penalties
Penalties for driving without insurance in North Carolina
North Carolina strictly enforces continuous liability insurance. Failing to respond to an NCDMV notice may result in plate revocation and civil penalties. Restoring a vehicle after a lapse costs a $50, $100 or $150 civil penalty depending on prior lapses within three years, plus a $50 restoration fee, according to NCDMV.
Good to know
Other things to know in North Carolina
- North Carolina raised its minimum limits for policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025. Before then, the minimums were $30,000, $60,000 and $25,000. Many websites still show the old numbers, and a declarations page may show them until renewal.
- NCDMV does not accept out-of-state policies for vehicles registered in North Carolina. Coverage must come from a company licensed to do business in North Carolina.
- Cancel insurance only after you turn in your license plate to NCDMV. Canceling first results in a fine for failing to maintain continuous coverage.
- Starting October 1, 2026, a registered owner has 30 days, instead of 10, to respond to an NCDMV liability insurance termination notice.
General information only. It is not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the official sources listed below.
Contacts
Who to contact in North Carolina
- North Carolina Department of Insurance
- Website: ncdoi.gov
- Phone: 855-408-1212 (Consumer Services Division, select Option 3 for auto insurance, per NCDMV)
- NAIC directory of state insurance departments
Sources
Where this summary comes from
Reviewed 2026-10. Check each source for the current rule.
Keep reading
Guides that explain these coverages
- Minimum car insurance requirements by state
- Which States Require Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
- No-Fault vs. At-Fault Car Insurance: Which States Use Which
- States That Raised Minimum Car Insurance Limits Since 2018
- Liability coverage explained
- Collision vs. comprehensive coverage
- What affects your car insurance rate
- After an accident: what to do and what to expect
More about North Carolina.
Home insurance resources and the health marketplace for North Carolina are on its overview page.