The Best Home Insurance in North Carolina for 2024

Chubb and Erie are among the best home insurance companies in North Carolina, according to our analysis.

We analyzed data from more than 30 insurance companies to help you find the best home insurance in North Carolina. Below are the insurers that earned 4.5 stars or more in our analysis. Rates are based on a sample homeowner with good credit, $300,000 of dwelling coverage, $300,000 of liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible.

Note: Some insurance companies included in this article may have made changes in their underwriting practices and no longer issue new policies in your state.

» MORE: The best homeowners insurance

Amica stands out for its customer service and broad range of coverage options. The company has drawn far fewer consumer complaints to state regulators than expected for an insurer of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

You can customize your policy with extra coverage above your dwelling limit, in case your house costs more to rebuild than expected. You may also want to add coverage for damage from water backups or recovery from identity theft.

» READ MORE: Amica homeowners insurance review

Auto-Owners has been in business for more than a century. Its homeowners policies include all the basics, but you can also add coverage for things like identity theft or the failure of major appliances. Guaranteed replacement cost coverage is another optional add-on, enabling you to rebuild your home after a total loss even if your dwelling coverage limit is too low.

Auto-Owners sells homeowners insurance through independent agents.

» READ MORE: Auto-Owners home insurance review

Chubb caters to owners of high-value homes and draws far fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size, according to the NAIC. Its home insurance policies come with some great perks, including extended replacement cost coverage in case it costs more than your dwelling limit to rebuild your home after a disaster.

Chubb policyholders may also be able to take advantage of the company’s HomeScan service, which uses infrared cameras to look for problems behind the walls of your home.

» READ MORE: Chubb homeowners insurance review

Erie offers guaranteed replacement cost coverage for the structure of your home. With this coverage, the company will pay to rebuild your home completely after a disaster, even if the amount exceeds your dwelling limit.

Got a car to insure, too? If you bundle your home and auto insurance with Erie, you could get a discount of 16% or more. You may also be able to save if your home has certain safety and security features such as smoke alarms or sprinkler systems.

» READ MORE: Erie homeowners insurance review

Allstate is one of the largest home insurance companies in the U.S. The company offers many ways to customize your policy, including replacement cost coverage for your personal property and coverage for water damage caused by backed-up drains. Other, less common options may include home-sharing coverage and reimbursement for replacing damaged items with energy-efficient versions.

You may also be able to upgrade your policy with the Enhanced Package. One benefit of this package is Deductible Rewards, which takes $100 off your deductible for signing up, plus an additional $100 off for each year you go claim-free. And if you do file a claim, your rates won’t go up.

» READ MORE: Allstate homeowners insurance review

Auto Club Group is one of several companies selling AAA-branded homeowners insurance policies. Options may include coverage for underground utility lines that serve your home, major appliances that break down or flood damage in lower-risk areas.

You may be able to save on your premiums by bundling home and auto insurance. However, you’ll want to weigh the savings against the cost of AAA membership, which may be required in order to buy a policy.

» READ MORE: AAA homeowners insurance review

Cincinnati Insurance sells homeowners policies through independent agents, with various options for standard and high-value homes. You may be able to add coverage for things like identity theft, personal cyber attacks or certain types of water damage.

Cincinnati may offer you a discount for bundling home and auto insurance, having a newer home or installing a centrally monitored alarm system.

» READ MORE: Cincinnati Insurance homeowners insurance review

Farmers stands out for its lengthy list of discounts, including ones for installing protective systems like fire alarms and sprinklers, not smoking for the past two years, and paying your premium on time.

You may be able to customize your policy with a declining deductible, which will reduce your deductible by $50 each year you have your policy. You can also add claims forgiveness, which means your rates won’t go up because of a claim if you’ve been claim-free for a certain amount of time.

» READ MORE: Farmers home insurance review

Nationwide’s standard homeowners policies include ordinance or law coverage, which pays to bring your home up to the latest building codes after a covered claim. They also include coverage for unauthorized credit or debit transactions. For an extra cost, you may be able to add coverage for things like water backup, identity theft and stronger materials to replace your roof.

Depending on how much personal assistance you need, you can get a quote for homeowners insurance on the Nationwide website or work with a local agent instead. You can also use the website to pay bills, file claims or check claim status.

» READ MORE: Nationwide homeowners insurance review

State Farm is a great choice for homeowners who like to work directly with a representative, as the company sells policies through a wide network of agents. And its attention to customer service has paid off; the company has fewer customer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size.

One useful endorsement you may be able to add to a State Farm policy is an inflation guard rider, which automatically increases your policy limits to make sure your coverage doesn’t fall short.

» READ MORE: State Farm homeowners insurance review

Travelers offers a robust online experience. You can use the website to get a homeowners insurance quote, file and track claims, make payments, and learn about insurance basics.

Its coverage offerings are similarly strong. For example, you may be able to add extra coverage in case the dwelling limit on your home isn’t enough to rebuild your house after a disaster. One unique option is Travelers’ green home coverage, which pays extra if you want to use eco-friendly materials when repairing or rebuilding your home after a covered claim.

» READ MORE: Travelers homeowners insurance review

USAA sells homeowners insurance to veterans, active military members and their families. If that description fits you, you may want to consider a USAA policy. That’s because the company’s homeowners insurance has certain features that other insurers may charge extra for.

For example, USAA automatically covers your personal belongings on a replacement cost basis. Many companies pay out only what your items are worth at the time of the claim, which means you may not get much for older items. USAA pays enough for you to buy brand-new replacements for your stuff.

» READ MORE: USAA homeowners insurance review

How much does homeowners insurance cost in North Carolina?

The average annual cost of home insurance in North Carolina is $1,975. That’s close to the national average of $1,915.

In most U.S. states, including North Carolina, many insurers use your credit-based insurance score to help set rates. Your insurance score is similar but not identical to your traditional credit score.

In North Carolina, those with poor credit pay an average of $4,195 per year for homeowners insurance, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s 80% more than those with good credit.

» MORE: How your credit score affects homeowners insurance

Average cost of homeowners insurance in North Carolina by city

How much you pay for home insurance in North Carolina depends on where you live within the state. For example, the average cost of homeowners insurance in Charlotte is $1,950 per year, on average, but homeowners in the coastal city of Wilmington pay an average of $6,700 per year.

» MORE: What’s the average cost of homeowners insurance?

The cheapest homeowners insurance in North Carolina

The companies above aren’t your only options. Below are the insurers we found with average annual rates below the North Carolina average of $1,975.

» MORE: The cheapest homeowners insurance

Common risks for North Carolina homeowners

Here are a few things to keep in mind when evaluating home insurance options in North Carolina.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricanes can cause wind and flood damage, and a standard homeowners policy may not cover you completely — or at all.

Homeowners insurance doesn’t typically cover flood damage, so you'll likely need a separate flood insurance policy. This is an especially good idea if you live along the coast or in an area prone to flooding.

To assess your flood risk, look up your address on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood maps. However, FEMA’s maps don’t always capture all types of flood risk, so you may also want to check the website of the nonprofit First Street Foundation, which models climate risks. Enter your address in the top left corner to see your home’s flood risk rating on a scale of 1 to 10.

Homeowners insurance usually does cover damage caused by wind, but in North Carolina, you may pay a separate insurance deductible for wind or hail damage. Depending on where you live, your insurer may decline to provide wind and hail coverage as part of your homeowners insurance policy. Should that happen, you can purchase separate windstorm insurance from a private insurer or the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association.

» MORE: Complete guide to hurricane insurance

Tornadoes

In most parts of North Carolina, your homeowners insurance policy will likely cover your home for the wind damage that tornadoes can cause. But if you live near the coast, your homeowners insurer may not cover wind damage due to hurricane risk — and that means you won’t be covered for tornado damage, either.

As noted above, separate windstorm insurance is available through private insurers or the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association.

» MORE: Does homeowners insurance cover tornado damage?

Winter storms

A standard homeowners policy covers many types of winter storm damage. For example, if a pipe freezes and bursts or a heavy snowfall knocks a tree onto your roof, your insurer will usually pay for the damage. However, if you don’t take appropriate precautions to protect your home, your insurance company may not pay for repairs.

North Carolina Department of Insurance

Confused about your coverage, or have a complaint about your insurance company? The North Carolina Department of Insurance may be able to help. The agency oversees the insurance industry in North Carolina and provides information and resources to consumers. You can get assistance online or by calling 855-408-1212.