Cheapest Auto Insurance in Wilmington, North Carolina (2025)

Drivers in Wilmington pay an overall average of $79 per month for car insurance. The city’s rates are similar to North Carolina’s monthly average of $76 but less than the national average of $140 per month.

A midsize coastal city in North Carolina, Wilmington is a college town and travel destination. With a population of more than 117,000, it’s the eighth-largest city in the state.1 Wilmington's higher car insurance costs are likely due to its average vehicle crime rate and severe weather risk from its coastal location.

3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Wilmington

Car insurance costs vary based on your driving record, credit history, location, and numerous other rating factors. Every insurer weighs these categories differently, meaning the cheapest option can vary from one driver to the next.

Drivers in Wilmington can find the best rates from Erie, Direct Auto, and GEICO. Coverage from other large national insurers, like State Farm and Progressive, is also available but tends to cost more.

Best insurer for affordability: Erie

Best insurer for discounts: GEICO

Best insurer for high-risk drivers: Direct Auto

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Wilmington

Car insurance companies determine rates based on driver characteristics, including age, driving record, credit history, vehicle type, and location. Even though you can’t control some of those factors, you can still take steps to lower costs.

Here’s how to find cheap car insurance in Wilmington:

• Ask about discounts. Most insurers offer various discounts that help reduce coverage costs. You might, for example, qualify for a good driver discount, loyalty discount, or mature driver discount. Ask insurance companies about qualification requirements as you shop for quotes.

• Bundle your home and auto insurance. If you bundle your car insurance with homeowners, renters, or even life insurance, you could land a discount on your coverage.

• Compare quotes. You can find the best rate when comparing quotes from multiple insurers. Knowing whether you’re getting a good deal is easier if you have numerous quotes.

• Increase your deductible. The deductible is the amount you’re responsible for paying when you file a claim under your policy's collision or comprehensive coverages. Higher collision and comprehensive deductibles equate to lower premiums, which can lower costs for car insurance. It’s essential to ensure you can still afford your deductible, though.

• Keep a clean driving record. Drivers with clean driving records pay the lowest premiums. Do your best to drive safely and avoid traffic violations.

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Wilmington: Erie

Liability car insurance meets North Carolina’s mandated insurance requirements. The policy covers the cost of vehicle repairs and medical expenses for the other driver and their passengers when you cause an accident. But it doesn’t pay for your own expenses.

Liability insurance in Wilmington costs an average of $67 per month. The following insurers offer the best liability-only insurance in Wilmington.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Wilmington: Progressive

Full-coverage car insurance typically includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverages. If you cause an accident, it helps pay for vehicle repairs for you and the other driver. It also provides coverage for theft and most natural disasters.

Wilmington drivers pay a monthly average of $91 for full coverage. Here are the best full-coverage car insurance companies in Wilmington.

Car insurance requirements in North Carolina

Drivers in North Carolina must have liability insurance, including bodily injury and property damage coverage, as well as uninsured motorist coverage in the same amounts. Drivers must also be able to show proof of insurance.

The specific coverage limits required in the state increase on July 1, 2025. The table below reflects the change in requirements:2

Drivers can also add extra coverage if they want more thorough protection. Here are some policies you may want to consider:

North Carolina’s Safe Driver Incentive Plan

North Carolina’s Safe Driver Incentive Plan (SDIP) creates a point system for reckless driving that correlates to insurance premium increases. Points are assigned to violations, equating to a percentage increase in insurance premiums.3

For example, drivers are given four points for passing a stopped school bus, and insurance premiums increase by 90%. An at-fault accident is worth one point and causes premiums to increase by 40%. The program aims to discourage unsafe driving and incentivize drivers to follow traffic laws.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident

Your driving record affects how much you pay for car insurance. Drivers with incidents like driving under the influence violations, speeding tickets, and at-fault accidents pay more for coverage in the form of premium surcharges. Insurers charge more because incidents signify drivers are more likely to file a claim, which costs insurers money.

Even though car insurance rates typically increase after an incident, some insurers still offer affordable coverage. You’ll likely need to shop around and compare quotes from various companies to find these cheap rates. Here’s what you need to know about car insurance coverage with an incident in Wilmington.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket

If you get a speeding ticket, your car insurance costs will likely increase for three to five years. Insurers view speeding tickets as unsafe driving indicators, and because you’re more likely to cost insurers more money, they increase your rates.

Drivers in Wilmington with a speeding ticket pay an average of $94 per month for liability coverage and $128 per month for full coverage. The table below shows how liability car insurance rates for drivers with a clean record compare to rates for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident

If you hit another vehicle and cause an accident, it’s considered an at-fault accident. The violation signifies reckless driving habits and a higher likelihood of future claims. As a result, your insurer will typically raise your insurance rates.

Liability insurance for Wilmington drivers with an accident costs an average of $100 per month. The following insurance companies offer the best liability-only rates in the city for drivers with this incident.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DWI

In North Carolina, insurance costs can increase by 340% after a DWI. Depending on the circumstances of the offense, you can also face a mid-term policy cancellation or non-renewal at the end of your current policy term.4 If you need car insurance after a DWI, try working with an insurer specializing in high-risk coverage.

Wilmington drivers with a DWI pay an average of $130 per month for minimum coverage. The average increases to $176 per month for full coverage. Here are the best liability insurance options for drivers with a DWI in Wilmington.

Cheapest car insurance for seniors

Your age affects how much you pay for car insurance, with rates decreasing steadily starting around age 25 as drivers gain experience. But costs increase slight around age 70 due to an increased accident risk.

Liability insurance for senior drivers in Wilmington costs $60 per month, on average. The following insurers offer the cheapest car insurance for seniors in Wilmington.

Cheapest car insurance for teens

Due to reckless driving and inexperience that leads to high accident rates, teenage drivers pay higher rates for car insurance than any other age group. Teen drivers in Wilmington with their own insurance policies pay monthly averages of $136 for liability coverage and $185 for full coverage. Minor teens can't buy their own policy without written approval from a parent or guardian.

Parents of teen drivers should prepare for increased costs, but you can take steps to get the best deal.

If your teenager only drives a car occasionally, let your insurer know since it might lead to lower rates. Similarly, ask about good student discounts and encourage your teen to stay on your policy as long as possible.

Below are the best insurance options with the lowest quotes for teen drivers in Wilmington.

Wilmington car insurance quotes by credit tier

Insurance companies in North Carolina can use credit history when determining car insurance rates. Insurers consider drivers with bad credit to be more likely to file claims and, as a result, charge them more for coverage than drivers with excellent or good credit.4

Here’s how much Wilmington drivers pay, on average, based on their credit tier.

Is car insurance more expensive in Wilmington?

Wilmington drivers pay an overall average of $79 per month for car insurance, slightly less than the national average of $140 and similar to the state average of $76.

Thanks to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and exposure to tropical cyclones, Wilmington boasts some of the most expensive real estate in North Carolina, and auto insurance costs follow suit.5 Drivers in Wilmington pay more than drivers in nearby cities like Greenville.

More cities in North Carolina

See how car insurance rates in Wilmington compare to some other North Carolina cities in the table below.

Wilmington car insurance FAQs