Because prices can vary dramatically from one company to the next, shopping around is key to finding cheap car insurance in North Dakota. Rates also depend on personal factors such as your age, accident history and credit.

To help you pinpoint the best deal for your circumstances, NerdWallet analyzed quotes from the eight largest insurers in the state and found the three most affordable options for these motorist types:

Good drivers

Young drivers

Drivers with one at-fault crash

Drivers with poor credit

Retired drivers

Also in this article

Minimum car insurance requirements in North Dakota

Alternative car insurance for high-risk drivers

» FIND YOUR MATCH: Who’s the cheapest carrier for you?

Cheapest for good drivers

For drivers with no at-fault crashes, DUIs or moving violations.

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Among the three cheapest companies, the average rate for good drivers was about $833 per year, which is roughly $69 a month. Nodak Mutual had the lowest price overall at just $625 per year, followed by industry titans State Farm and American Family.

Cheapest for young drivers

For drivers in their early 20s.

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Drivers in their early 20s typically face higher rates than middle-aged motorists if they select the same amount of coverage. However, young policyholders tend to have less to lose financially in a crash lawsuit and can choose leaner policies as a way to save, which we took into account.

We looked at rates for young drivers carrying the minimum required coverage by the state. Nodak Mutual had best deal at $287 per year — $338 less than the lowest price we found for 30-year-old good drivers carrying fuller coverage. All three of the companies above notched average rates under $35 a month.

Cheapest for drivers with one at-fault crash

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Causing a crash usually triggers a rate increase when you renew your policy or if you decide to shop for a new policy. But comparing a variety of estimates is still a good way to steer clear of the steepest rates out there.

State Farm and Nodak Mutual were the two cheapest options for this group and had pretty similar rates. Allstate rounded out the list of the most affordable companies, with an average price $220 higher a year than State Farm’s.

Cheapest for drivers with poor credit

For drivers placed in the “poor credit” tier.

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Car insurance companies can use applicants’ credit-based insurance score as a factor when setting their auto insurance rates. Drivers with poor credit tend to pay more than many other motorists, and in North Dakota the added cost is significant.

For example, the lowest average rate we found for this group was $1,407 per year from Nodak Mutual. That’s $782 higher than the cheapest rate for good drivers with no credit problems, and $380 higher than the best deal for drivers who have caused a crash.

Cheapest for retired drivers

For drivers in their mid- to late 60s who no longer use their car for commuting.

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Giving up the daily grind can really pay off when it comes to auto coverage. Looking at rates for retirees who drove half as many miles in a year as other groups, we found comparatively cheap car insurance in North Dakota.

Nodak Mutual had the lowest average rate at $473 per year. That’s $152 less than the cheapest price for 30-year-old good drivers who have a daily commute. Retirees in North Dakota can also qualify for a discount on rates by completing an approved safety course. Visit the state’s official website for a list of approved courses.

Minimum car insurance requirements in North Dakota

North Dakota car insurance policies must include liability insurance, uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage and personal injury protection.

Here are the minimum coverage limits you must select for each:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $50,000 bodily injury liability per crash
• $25,000 property damage liability per crash
• $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury per crash
• $30,000 personal injury protection

Although choosing the bare minimum will allow you drive legally, it may not be enough to pay for damages if you cause an accident. Check out NerdWallet’s guide to minimum car insurance requirements by state for more detail about coverage options for your North Dakota auto policy.

Alternative car insurance for high-risk drivers

If you’ve been denied car insurance because of bad credit, multiple at-fault crashes or other factors, you can apply for coverage through the North Dakota Automobile Insurance Plan.

For more help finding cheap car insurance in North Dakota, try NerdWallet’s car insurance comparison tool.

Here’s a summary of where you’ll find the cheapest insurance, by category:

We used a 2013 Toyota Camry in all cases. Our sample retired driver was age 67 and drove 50% fewer annual miles than motorists in other groups. Our sample young driver was age 22 and carried the minimum required coverage levels. These are sample rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.