Best car insurance in North Dakota for 2024

Our 2024 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories. 

Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, average quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto and home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.

Like most other states, North Dakota drivers are required by law to carry certain amounts of insurance. In most states, this usually just includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability. However, North Dakota is a no-fault state, so its minimum insurance requirements are more layered. In addition to liability insurance, North Dakotans are also required to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection (PIP). While a North Dakota minimum insurance policy offers decent protection, many insurance experts recommend purchasing above the legal limits for more robust coverage.

If you have financed or leased your vehicle, you will likely need to comply with both your state’s and your financial lender’s insurance requirements. Usually, your financial lender will require you to carry higher liability limits in addition to comprehensive and collision coverage. In insurance-speak, this is known as a full coverage car insurance policy. Your auto lender has a vested financial interest in your vehicle, and the added coverage requirements are there to ensure that the car will be repaired if it sustains damage. While it may be optional, you might also consider adding gap insurance. This coverage can help if your vehicle is declared a total loss and you owe more than what the car is worth.

Your insurance policy should provide all of the coverage you need at a price within your budget. Many personal factors, like your age, driving history and even the kind of vehicle you drive can influence which company stands apart from the pack as the best for you. For example, if you are a young driver, a company that offers multiple discounts for drivers under 25 may be the best for you. Alternatively, if you are a driver with a less-than-perfect driving record, a carrier that writes high-risk insurance in North Dakota might be best for you. When it comes to coverage, North Dakota is unique. The state is rural, rugged and has many weather hazards — it might be difficult to get a tow or alternative transportation after an accident. As such, North Dakotans may want to consider options like emergency roadside assistance and rental reimbursement to round out their policies.

According to Bankrate’s research, American Family, USAA, Geico, Progressive and North Star Mutual offer some of the cheapest average car insurance rates in North Dakota. However, these are just average figures. Like the best car insurance company, the cheapest one will also depend on your personal circumstances. Your age, gender, credit-based insurance score, driving history, ZIP code and marital status are all common rating factors insurers use to determine the cost of your premium.

Full coverage typically means that you carry both comprehensive and collision on your policy. These coverage types help provide financial protection if you’re involved in a covered claim. For instance, if you are at fault for an accident, collision will help repair the damage to your vehicle (minus your deductible). Comprehensive, on the other hand, will help repair your car if it’s damaged due to hitting an animal, a weather-related loss, theft, fire or vandalism. Like collision, comprehensive also carries a deductible.

Insurance is required to drive legally in North Dakota, but insurance requirements aren’t enforced during the registration process. This means you may not need to prove you have current coverage to register a vehicle, but you will likely face a fine and an SR-22 requirement if caught driving uninsured. Legality aside, driving uninsured also leaves you vulnerable to hefty out-of-pocket expenses if you cause an accident.

Yes; North Dakota is one of the 12 no-fault states. This means that after an accident, each driver relies on their own insurance policy to pay out their medical bills and lost wages that result from an accident. Despite its name, fault still exists in no-fault states. The driver found at fault will usually still be responsible for the not-at-fault driver’s vehicle repairs.