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Get Cheap Car Insurance in Durham, NC

We monitor insurance prices, helping the average driver in Durham save up to 33.1% on car insurance.

 

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The Cheapest Minimum Coverage in Durham

The chart below shows the cheapest car insurance company in Durham for a driver with a good record seeking minimum coverage on a mid-grade used vehicle. Values are estimated, and premiums may be lower or higher, but should be in an accurate order for a good driver. In general, drivers with good records will get the best prices through Midvale Home & Auto, followed by Erie Insurance, Farm Bureau, and Progressive.

 
Durham Insurer Monthly Cost
Midvale Home & Auto $51
Erie Insurance $51
Farm Bureau $54
Progressive $57

Savings for Every Kind of Durham Driver

The table shows how much the average auto insurance customer in Durham might save by following our recommendations.

Based on our extensive insurance data, we know the average Durham driver will save about 19% on car insurance. This isn’t marketing: this is unbiased data with no financial influence. The best auto insurance company depends on factors such as your driving record, home location, credit score, marital status, and age. The average driver will find themselves saving $257 per year by choosing the right vehicle insurance company. Some Durham residents are paying out over $1,337 extra every year for auto insurance in Durham. That cost may be even higher if you haven’t requested a new quote as your life situation changed.

Situation
Durham, NC Savings / Yr.
Drivers with good records
$257
Drivers with accidents
$558
Drivers with speeding tickets
$407
Drivers with a DUI conviction
$1,038
Young drivers
$770
Married drivers
$310
Drivers with bad credit
$465

Durham Car Insurance vs. North Carolina

People living in Durham pay an average of 6.98% more than the typical driver in the state. The average driver in Durham can expect to pay about $801 per year, or $1,337 for full coverage.

Based on our analysis, Auto-Owners Insurance will be the cheapest provider in Durham for most people.

Car Insurance Prices by Durham Neighborhood

Durham, NC map of insurance costs by zip code and neighborhood

Insurance Prices

More expensive
Average
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Where is insurance cheapest within Durham?

The map shows insurance prices in and around Durham, with more expensive areas in red and places with cheaper car insurance in green. Insurance can vary by as much as $501 per year within the city boundaries, with insurance premiums ranging from a high of $1,681 to a low of $1,180. Insurance prices tend to be higher for those living in the East area, and lower for those with homes in the Northwest parts of Durham.

Pick the Best Car Insurance Company for You in Durham

We have analyzed insurance costs for auto insurance customers based on the major variables that impact pricing. The results of our analysis are below, including US dollar savings. What about when you meet one or more of the criteria? For example, if you have both a DUI and a speeding ticket? Simply start with the Durham insurance provider for whom we have posted the highest savings dollar figure.

The best car insurance provider for most drivers in Durham

For drivers with clean driving records and no major strikes, Auto-Owners Insurance is the best option, with annual savings of $257 over the average Durham car insurance company.

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We use the average good driver, paying $90 per month, as our baseline for pricing in Durham. Auto-Owners Insurance, Farm Bureau, and Erie Insurance are all good choices for quotes if you have a clean record. See also the best providers for married people if you are married, and look for repeated company names.

The best car insurance provider for Durham drivers with accidents on their records

In Durham getting into an accident will raise premiums an average 37% for a yearly cost of $2,133. That's $796 per year more than a driver with no at-fault crashes on their driving record might pay. To avoid paying out more than you need to, Erie Insurance, Farm Bureau, and Kemper are good choices for drivers with accidents.

In our analysis, Erie Insurance saved the average person who had been in an accident the most, with annual savings averaging $558 over the competition.

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The best car insurance company for Durham drivers with speeding tickets

>Farm Bureau gave the average person with a speeding ticket the most savings, averaging $407 better than other car insurance companies.

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Depending on the insurance company, a speeding ticket can actually raise insurance premiums more than getting in an accident. In Durham, tickets raise premiums on new quotes about $662. If you have a speeding ticket, we recommend State Farm, Farm Bureau, and Erie Insurance for savings that beat the average insurance cost of $1,999 per year.

The best auto insurance for Durham drivers with a DUI conviction

Getting a DUI can increase the cost of insurance dramatically. The average person with a DUI paid $4,035 per year in auto insurance premiums, which was $2,698 more than a driver with no major issues. Kemper, Midvale Home & Auto, and Farm Bureau penalized their customers the least for a DUI.

Getting a quote from Kemper may cost the average person with a DUI about $1,038 less each year.

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The least expensive car insurance company for new and young drivers in Durham

In Durham, State Farm costs young drivers $770 less each year versus the average auto insurance bill.

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Teen drivers account for more than their share of accidents, and thus end up paying about 56% more for insurance than more mature drivers in Durham. With an average cost of $3,030 per year (for young drivers who aren't on a parent's plan), car insurance for inexperienced drivers can’t ever be called "cheap." A few companies like State Farm, Farm Bureau, and Erie Insurance try to attract these younger drivers with lower prices in the hopes that they will stay with the company.

The best marriage discounts for vehicle insurance in Durham

Not everything is an excuse for the auto insurance companies to charge you more. Getting married provides an average discount of $19. State Farm, Erie Insurance, and Farm Bureau provided the largest discounts to couples living in Durham.

Erie Insurance gave the largest car insurance discounts to married couples, averaging $310 saved each year compared to an average Durham couple's premiums.

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The cheapest car insurance in Durham for drivers with bad credit

People with poor credit saved an average of $465 with Erie Insurance.

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Many people are surprised that their poor credit score can cost them an average of $634 every year. Premiums for people with poor credit were about $1,972 in Durham. However, some insurance companies do not take credit score into account. If you have a credit score below 575, get quotes from Progressive, Erie Insurance, and Dairyland.

The best Durham car insurance company for customer service

Many car insurance companies over the years have struggled with customer service. In Durham, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) ranks Nationwide as the best. Another valuable metric: JD Power ranks Erie Insurance as the best provider in Durham.

Nationwide was the best company for customer service in Durham according to the NAIC.

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Recent price drops

Due to improvements in our tracking and methodology, we are unable to show price change data for the most recent year. This data will return next year (2023).

In 2020, at the peak of the global pandemic, {{top1_2020pricedrop_company}} changed their average price {{top1_2020pricedrop_company_percentage}}% in Durham, which was better than other insurers.

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During the Covid-19 pandemic a few insurance companies realized people were driving less and struggling overall. They proactively lowered their rates for many customers in Durham. We think helping communities in a time of need deserves special attention. Many insurance companies have advertisements telling us how much they care: we prefer to look at their actions.

The cheapest large national provider in Durham

Many customers have informed us that they prefer to work with large national brands. Maybe they're one of the 43% of Durham residents who are renting, and don't plan to be in the city or state for very long. Or maybe national recognition and funds make people feel more secure with a large provider. Regardless, Geico tends to have the lowest prices for most drivers.

For customers who prefer to work with large national providers, we recommend Geico for pricing. The average Durham driver can expect to pay about $87 per month.

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What About USAA?

JD power consistently ranks USAA as the top car insurance company in the United States. We don’t compare their rates because most people can’t sign up. USAA only allows active military members and their spouses and children to apply. In Durham, USAA has the best prices for none of the categories above.
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Auto Insurance Prices in and Around Durham

What Influences the Cost of Car Insurance in Durham?

On average, car insurance in Durham is more expensive than the rest of the state. These high prices are no mystery to us. Coverage Watch tracks car insurance costs and uses a complex AI that finds related variables, and has determined car insurance prices in the city are influenced by the following factors:

  • The average commute time in Durham is 28 minutes, which is a little less than average for a driver in the state.
  • North Carolina state insurance regulations may allow for lower prices.
  • An average of 0 weeks with snow on the ground, which impacts accident rates.
  • Marriage rates in Durham are among the lowest in the state, and marriage often results in car insurance discounts.
  • Vehicle theft rates in the area are high, with a Vehicle Theft Crime Grade of C according to CrimeGrade.org.
  • Durham is one of the most densely populated areas in the state. The city’s density could result in a price increase for drivers.

As a result of these and other factors, the average cost of car insurance in Durham is $67 per month for minimum coverage and $111 per month for full coverage. Costs vary widely based on your situation, and will likely be lower if you have a clean driving record and follow our insurance company research to find the best car insurance company for you.

Car Insurance in Nearby Cities

Cities with Similar Populations

* Who is the average Durham driver? Based on national demographic data provided by BestNeighborhood, we took a single unmarried man living in central Durham with good (but not perfect) credit driving a used midsized sedan. Data sources: proprietary data collection and analysis, unique to CoverageWatch.org All content copyright CoverageWatch.org. Journalists and other websites are free to cite any data with attribution.