Direct Answer
North Carolina requires all registered vehicles to carry at least 30/60/25 liability coverage — $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. NC also requires uninsured motorist coverage at the same limits. These are legal minimums, not recommendations — they're often insufficient to cover a serious accident.
Key Takeaways
- NC minimum liability: $30,000/$60,000 bodily injury, $25,000 property damage
- NC also requires uninsured motorist coverage at the same minimum limits
- Driving without insurance can result in license and registration suspension
- Minimums can be exhausted by a single emergency room visit
- Most financial advisors recommend at least 100/300/100 for drivers with assets to protect
- Lenders require comprehensive and collision in addition to liability on financed vehicles
The NC minimum requirements
Under NC General Statute 20-279.21, every motor vehicle registered in North Carolina must be covered by a liability policy with at least these limits:
- **$30,000** bodily injury per person
- **$60,000** bodily injury per accident
- **$25,000** property damage per accident
North Carolina also requires uninsured motorist (UM) coverage at the same limits — $30,000/$60,000/$25,000. This is what pays your bills if you're hit by a driver with no insurance.
What happens if you drive without insurance in NC
The NC Division of Motor Vehicles receives electronic notification when a policy is cancelled or lapses. If your insurance ends and isn't replaced within 10 days, the DMV can suspend your registration and driver's license. Reinstatement requires proof of insurance and a fee.
Driving with a suspended registration or license carries additional fines and can result in your vehicle being impounded.
Why minimums aren't enough for most people
A single emergency room visit after a serious accident regularly exceeds $30,000. If you cause an accident that injures multiple people, $60,000 total gets divided among everyone you hurt. Once your policy limit is exhausted, any judgment beyond that amount comes from your personal assets — savings, income, home equity.
Most insurance professionals recommend 100/300/100 as a baseline for anyone who owns a home or has meaningful savings. If your net worth is higher, an umbrella policy can add $1 million or more in liability coverage for a few hundred dollars a year.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
NC requires UM coverage, but underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage — which pays when the at-fault driver has insurance but not enough — is optional. It's worth adding. According to the Insurance Research Council, roughly 1 in 8 drivers nationally carries no insurance, and many more carry only minimum limits.
What's not required but often worth having
- **Collision** — covers your vehicle after an at-fault accident
- **Comprehensive** — covers theft, vandalism, hail, animals
- **Medical payments** — covers your own medical bills regardless of fault
- **Rental reimbursement** — pays for a rental while your car is repaired
Lenders require comprehensive and collision on financed vehicles. Once a car is paid off, these become optional.
