North Dakota has one of the lowest car insurance rates and the percentage of uninsured drivers is at 9%, which is well below the average of 14% across the country. Although it is one of the least populated states with around a million people, it has one of the highest auto ownership ratios with one car per head. This is consistent with other scarcely occupied areas in the country where people may have to make private arrangements to solve transportation problems. So, automobiles and insurance are clearly an important part of life here.
North Dakota Auto Insurance Requirements
It has No-Fault rules, which operate on a threshold basis. People can claim small injuries through their own policies but they can sue for larger amounts. It is mandatory to have basic liability coverage like most others. Here are the minimum Requirements;
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death per person.
- $50,000 total for bodily injury or death per accident.
- $25,000 for property damage.
And also you must have below limits for Uninsured Motorists and Personal Injury Protection to comply with no-fault requirements.
- $25,000/$50,000 in uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage
- $30,000 in personal injury protection
The state website has further valuable information, guidance and advice. They can help you fight against unjust practices in the market and find coverage if you are struggling to get anything affordable. Commissioners are there to implement the laws, supervise the participants and help drivers in many ways, including directing them to helpful resources.
Although average rates are reasonable, motorists can get even better rates by shopping around. For example, a vehicle owner with a clean accident and driving history and good credit score can get full coverage auto insurance for under $600, which is half the state average from companies like GEICO and State Farm.
This should motivate many motorists to compare rates and save money. Most national automobile insurers are present in this state even though it is relatively less populated. This helps in having a competitive marketplace and that in turn helps keep premiums cheaper.
Better Priced Auto Insurers in North Dakota
You could start getting quotes from these below carriers that are known to offer lower rates in The Peace Garden State. Premiums can be as much as 80% different between the lowest and highest providers. That could easily mean a couple of thousand dollars savings for a student or high risk driver. That is why it is highly recommended that you search well and never buy vehicle insurance without shopping.
- Allied, $792
- Nodak Mutual, $823
- State Farm, $861
You may want to stay away from Dairyland since ValuePenguin found the company to be quoting 2.5 times higher rates than the local average. You can afford to overlook one or two of them when there are so many other providers to consider. Liberty Mutual and North Star are the other two most expensive auto insurers to give a miss. Many people may think that they are all similar but that cannot be any further than the truth. Each insurer has its own underwriting rules, claim experience, and corporate and shareholder structure that it is natural to see price fluctuations in the marketplace.
The median premium expenditure figures hold across the state where there is no one city that is deviating notably from them. So, it doesn’t really matter which city you are from. Also, those 3 cheapest companies remain the same across all cities.
Average Premiums in North Dakota
The state has one of the lowest average minimum liability coverage car insurance with only $270 against the national figure of $622. Full coverage average is one of the lowest as well at $1,300. But the premium gap between the basic state required minimum and full coverage is pretty high at nearly five times.
There may be many other reasons for cheap vehicle insurance rates here. Usually, the number of accidents and claims play a major role in premium calculations. The Peace Garden State with Great Plains appears to be a perfect example of low countryside rates due to fewer accidents. Auto repair costs and theft numbers are lower compared to more densely populated regions.
Where you live does affect premiums. But there are more influential factors like traffic history, recent claims, credit score and type of the car. One of the simplest rules is that you need to find as many discounts as you can if you really want the lowest rates possible.