Best Car Insurance in North Dakota

Last Updated on November 13, 2022

Drivers in North Dakota pay cheaper rates than drivers in the rest of the United States. On average, a driver in North Dakota pays around $1,252 per year for full coverage car insurance, or around $200 per year less than the nationwide average of $1,450 – and nearly $400 less per year than drivers in neighboring South Dakota.

However, many North Dakota drivers are able to save even more by taking advantage of discounts and shopping around. With so many options available, it’s easier than ever to find the perfect car insurance company for your needs in North Dakota.

Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies in North Dakota

Shopping for car insurance in North Dakota doesn’t need to be difficult. In fact, you can compare dozens of quotes from small and large insurers within minutes from home. Here are some of the best companies in North Dakota based on pricing, value, claims satisfaction, and overall customer experience, according to quotes provided to our average model driver profiles:

1. USAA

USAA is generally the cheapest car insurance company in each state, although it’s excluded from many rankings because of its restricted membership policy. USAA only does business with military personnel and qualifying family members. If you qualify for USAA membership in North Dakota, then you could pay as little as $911 per year for full coverage car insurance, hundreds of dollars less than the statewide average.

2. State Farm

State Farm writes more property and casualty insurance policies than any other insurer in the country. In North Dakota, State Farm charges particularly cheap rates for car insurance. The average State Farm policyholder in North Dakota pays around $1,022 per year for full coverage car insurance, according to the average rates provided across our model driver profiles.

3. Nodak

North Dakota-based Nodak is a popular insurance company available across the state. The company is not just popular because it’s based nearby: it’s also popular for its competitive rates. The average Nodak policyholder pays around $1,049 per year for full coverage car insurance in North Dakota.

4. GEICO

GEICO is often the cheapest option in many states, and that lesson holds true with North Dakota. North Dakota drivers can save hundreds per year with GEICO. The company charges average annual premiums of around $1,074 for full coverage car insurance.

5. Nationwide

Nationwide is one of America’s largest insurance companies, although the company is rarely the cheapest insurer in any state. In North Dakota, however, Nationwide offers surprisingly competitive prices compared to other companies listed here. Drivers pay around $1,079 per year for full coverage car insurance with Nationwide in North Dakota.

6. American Family

American Family offers effective car insurance coverage in rural and urban communities across North Dakota. The average American Family policyholder pays around $1,092 per year for full coverage car insurance in North Dakota, according to rates provided to our average driver profiles.

7. Progressive

As America’s third-largest car insurance company, Progressive charges competitive rates while covering drivers across the country. In North Dakota, Progressive has cheap car insurance premiums and average claims satisfaction ratings, making them similar to other insurers listed here. Expect to pay around $1,111 per year with Progressive in North Dakota.

8. North Star Mutual

North Star Mutual, like Nodak, is a mutual insurance company, which means it’s owned by policyholders instead of shareholders. Today, North Star Mutual has strong ratings for customer service and claims satisfaction, and many appreciate the regionally-based company’s commitment to providing fair insurance coverage. Expect to pay around $1,143 per year for full coverage car insurance with North Star Mutual.

9. Auto-Owners

Auto-Owners is one of the largest insurance companies in the United States, and the company insures drivers in all corners of North Dakota. Expect to pay roughly $1,211 per year with Auto-Owners.

10. AAA

AAA and its affiliated insurance companies have a strong presence in North Dakota, and the company is known for offering competitive prices across the state. Expect to pay around $1,239 per year with AAA in North Dakota.

North Dakota Insurance Requirements

The North Dakota Insurance Department requires drivers to carry a specific minimum amount of insurance to legally drive on public roads. Failure to carry that minimum amount of coverage can lead to fines, penalties, and jail time. It also exposes you to liability.

North Dakota is also one of several states that require drivers to carry uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

Drivers in North Dakota must also carry basic no-fault protection, which covers medical expenses and accidental injuries. Most states refer to basic no-fault protection as personal injury protection (PIP).

According to state law, drivers in North Dakota must carry the following minimum amount of car insurance:

  • $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person and $50,000 of coverage per accident
  • $25,000 of property damage liability coverage per accident
  • $25,000 of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage per person and $50,000 of coverage per accident
  • $30,000 of basic no-fault coverage per person (also known as personal injury protection coverage or PIP)

If you lease or finance your vehicle, then you may need to buy collision and comprehensive coverage to comply with the terms of your loan. Lenders require this coverage to protect your vehicle, which is the collateral for the loan. If you are not leasing or financing your vehicle, then full coverage car insurance (which includes collision and comprehensive coverage), is optional, although many drivers carry it for peace of mind.

Driving Without Insurance in North Dakota

Driving without car insurance in North Dakota is a class B misdemeanor. If you are caught driving without the minimum insurance liability limits listed above, then you could face punishment.

Law enforcement officers can check your car insurance at the scene of an accident or during a traffic stop.

Unlike other states, North Dakota does not technically increase the penalties when caught driving without insurance multiple times. North Dakota also has comparatively light penalties compared to other states.

Penalties for getting caught driving without insurance include:

  • Class B misdemeanor
  • Mandatory minimum fine of $150
  • 14 points against your driver’s license and suspension of your license (if involved in an accident while uninsured)

Drivers who are caught without insurance at the scene of an accident could also face SR-22 requirements and additional penalties. You may need to file an SR-22 certificate to reinstate your driving privileges.

If you are caught driving without insurance multiple times, then you could pay higher fines. However, North Dakota only mandates a minimum fine of $150. They don’t use the scaling fine system like other states.

Car Insurance in North Dakota with DUI

Getting a DUI in North Dakota is a guaranteed way to raise car insurance premiums. Your car insurance premiums could rise by 50% to 100% after a single DUI or DWI conviction, even if you have a clean driving record.

However, some companies continue to offer cheap rates after a DUI conviction. Even if your rates rise by 50% to 100%, you could continue to pay cheap rates with the following providers with a DUI in North Dakota:

  1. USAA: $1,493 per year
  2. GEICO: $1,571 per year
  3. State Farm: $1,621 per year
  4. Progressive: $1,634 per year
  5. Nodak: $1,923 per year

Car Insurance in North Dakota with At-Fault Accidents

If you have an at-fault accident on your driving record in North Dakota, then you’ll pay higher insurance premiums. Most insurers will raise rates by 30% to 60% after a single at-fault accident. Drivers with multiple at-fault accidents could pay significantly higher premiums.

By shopping around for car insurance, you could continue paying competitive rates even with an at-fault accident on your North Dakota driving record.

  1. USAA: $1,357 per year
  2. GEICO: $1,426 per year
  3. Nodak: $1,513 per year
  4. Progressive: $1,609 per year
  5. Allstate: $1,638 per year

Car Insurance in North Dakota with Speeding Tickets

It’s easy to speed on the wide-open roads of North Dakota. However, it’s also illegal. If you have one or more speeding tickets on your record, then insurers could consider you to be a high-risk driver. A single minor speeding ticket is unlikely to raise rates, although multiple speeding tickets or a single serious ticket could cause rates to skyrocket.

The best car insurance companies in North Dakota for drivers with one or more speeding tickets include:

  1. USAA: $1,137 per year
  2. GEICO: $1,161 per year
  3. Nodak: $1,241 per year
  4. North Star Mutual: $1,319 per year
  5. State Farm: $1,332 per year

Car Insurance in North Dakota for Young Drivers

In North Dakota and most other states, drivers under 25 are the riskiest drivers to insure. They cause more accidents – and more serious accidents – than drivers in any other age group. Even if you’re the world’s safest 16-year old driver, insurers err on the side of caution by charging higher rates.

Fortunately, some North Dakota insurance companies cater to younger drivers, charging comparatively cheap rates as a way to balance the insurance pool:

  1. USAA: $1,642 per year
  2. GEICO: $1,715 per year
  3. American Family Insurance: $1,854 per year
  4. Nodak: $1,951 per year
  5. North Star Mutual: $2,001 per year

Car Insurance in North Dakota with Poor Credit

Insurance companies check your credit-based insurance score prior to assigning a policy. Your credit-based insurance score is technically different from your credit score. However, drivers with a low credit score tend to have a low credit-based insurance score.

If you have poor credit or no credit, then your insurance premiums could double. Consider requesting a quote from the following insurers to save money in North Dakota with poor credit:

  1. GEICO: $1,862 per year
  2. State Farm: $2,014 per year
  3. Allstate: $2,034 per year
  4. Nodak: $2,121 per year
  5. North Star Mutual: $2,143 per year

SR-22 Insurance in North Dakota

North Dakota uses an SR-22 system to manage high-risk drivers. If you have let car insurance lapse, or if you have multiple at-fault accidents or other incidents on your driving record, then you may need to submit an SR-22 certificate to reinstate your license.

Your insurance company will submit an SR-22 certificate on your behalf. The SR-22 certificate verifies you meet minimum North Dakota car insurance requirements. It’s also known as a certificate of financial responsibility.

You may need to file an SR-22 if you caused a serious accident, if you were caught driving without insurance, or if you have multiple incidents on your driving record. Drivers who accumulate more than 12 points on their driving record will also have their driving record suspended, and drivers with more points may need to file an SR-22.

Most insurance companies in North Dakota charge a filing fee of $15 to $25. If you are a high-risk driver, then you may need to buy car insurance from a high-risk car insurance company. Otherwise, most drivers can buy car insurance from ordinary car insurance companies.

Conclusion: How to Find the Best Auto Insurance in North Dakota

Drivers in North Dakota have many options for car insurance, including smaller companies, independent agencies, local providers, and nationwide firms.

By shopping around for car insurance, comparing quotes, and verifying your insurer matches your unique needs, you can obtain the best car insurance at the cheapest prices customized to your unique needs in North Dakota.