Wilmington, NC, Cheapest Cars to Insure: 2025 Rates & Rankings

Does your car have the cheapest car insurance rates in Wilmington, NC? We compared over 700 models to rank the top 40 cars, pickups, and SUVs that tend to have the overall most affordable insurance rates.

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  • Compact SUV models like the Kia Soul, Toyota Corolla Cross, Subaru Crosstrek, and Nissan Kicks are the top picks for having the cheapest auto insurance in Wilmington.
  • Models with segment-leading car insurance rates include the Toyota GR Corolla (compact car), Subaru Crosstrek (compact SUV), Chrysler 300 (full-size car), and Mercedes-Benz CLA250 (midsize luxury car).
  • Monthly car insurance rates for a few popular models include the Ram Truck at $177, GMC Sierra at $169, and Honda Accord at $148.
  • Auto insurance quotes have significant variability from as little as $27 per month for the minimum required liability coverage to over $679 per month for high-risk drivers.
  • Wilmington auto insurance averages $10 per year more than the North Carolina state average rate and $389 per year less than the United States national average.

Which cars have the cheapest insurance rates?

The models with the cheapest insurance prices in Wilmington, NC, tend to be small SUVs and crossovers like the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Subaru Crosstrek, and Toyota Corolla Cross. Average auto insurance quotes for the models in the top 10 cost $125 or less per month to insure for full coverage in Wilmington.

Examples of other vehicles that are ranked high in our car insurance cost comparison are the Volkswagen Taos, Buick Envista, Subaru Outback, and Buick Encore. Average insurance cost is a little bit more for those models than the compact SUVs that rank near the top, but they still have an average cost of $133 or less per month in Wilmington.

The following table lists the 40 car, truck, and SUV models with the cheapest auto insurance in Wilmington, ordered by annual cost.

Top 40 Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates in Wilmington, NC
Rank Make/Model Annual Premium Cost Per Month
1Subaru Crosstrek$1,354$113
2Chevrolet Trailblazer$1,378$115
3Kia Soul$1,432$119
4Nissan Kicks$1,442$120
5Honda Passport$1,458$122
6Buick Envision$1,470$123
7Toyota Corolla Cross$1,478$123
8Hyundai Venue$1,488$124
9Mazda CX-5$1,494$125
10Ford Bronco Sport$1,500$125
11Volkswagen Tiguan$1,518$127
12Acura RDX$1,532$128
13Nissan Murano$1,540$128
14Buick Encore$1,558$130
15Honda CR-V$1,562$130
16Subaru Outback$1,562$130
17Buick Envista$1,566$131
18Volkswagen Taos$1,570$131
19Kia Niro$1,580$132
20Toyota GR Corolla$1,592$133
21Honda HR-V$1,594$133
22Subaru Ascent$1,594$133
23Nissan Leaf$1,606$134
24Chevrolet Colorado$1,616$135
25Honda Civic$1,622$135
26Lexus NX 250$1,622$135
27Volkswagen Atlas$1,626$136
28Acura Integra$1,630$136
29Subaru Forester$1,632$136
30Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport$1,632$136
31Kia Seltos$1,636$136
32GMC Terrain$1,640$137
33Nissan Rogue$1,648$137
34Hyundai Kona$1,650$138
35Mazda CX-30$1,652$138
36Cadillac XT4$1,654$138
37Ford Explorer$1,662$139
38Volkswagen ID4$1,662$139
39Toyota Highlander$1,666$139
40Ford Escape$1,670$139

Data Methodology: Rated driver is a 40-year-old married male with no driving violations or at-fault accidents in the prior three years. Uninsured Motorist (UM), Underinsured Motorist (UIM) and medical payments coverages are included. Premium is averaged for all trim levels available for each vehicle and also for all Wilmington, NC Zip Codes. Updated June 26, 2025

Top 40 cheapest vehicles to insure in Wilmington, NC with the Subaru Crosstrek ranking first at $1,354 per year
Top 40 cheapest vehicles to insure in Wilmington, NC with the Subaru Crosstrek ranking first at $1,354 per year

A few other popular models making the list of the top 40 table above include the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, the Lexus NX 250, the Chevrolet Colorado, the Kia Seltos, and the Toyota GR Corolla. Average car insurance rates for those vehicles fall between $1,594 and $1,670 per year in Wilmington.

As a comparison, some examples that have more expensive auto insurance include the Tesla Model Y which costs $169 per month, the Ram Truck which averages $177, and the Audi e-tron which costs $191.

The next section of this article goes into more detail about the average cost of car insurance for each different vehicle segment. This will give you a better understanding of the vehicle segments that have the overall least expensive Wilmington auto insurance rates.

Best types of vehicles for cheap insurance

If you’re shopping for a new vehicle, it’s important to know which categories of vehicles have more affordable car insurance rates.

As an example, you may be wondering if midsize SUVs have more affordable insurance than full-size SUVs or if sports cars cost more to insure than regular cars.

The chart below shows the average car insurance cost in Wilmington for each automotive segment. From an overal segment perspective, compact SUVs, vans, and midsize pickups tend to have the cheapest rates, with luxury and performance models having the highest car insurance rates.

Car insurance average cost by automotive segment in Wilmington, NC.
Figure 1: Car insurance average cost by automotive segment in Wilmington, NC. Rates updated on June 27, 2025.

Get Rates in Your AreaWhy is this important?

Data Methodology: Car insurance premium by automotive segment is based on 2024 model year vehicles. The rated driver is a 40-year-old male with no driving violations or at-fault accidents in the prior three years. Comprehensive and collision deductibles are $500 and rates are averaged for all Wilmington Zip Codes.

Car Insurance Rates by Automotive Segment in Wilmington, NC
Automotive Segment Annual Premium Cost Per Month
Compact SUV$1,686$141
Compact Car$1,810$151
Midsize SUV$1,812$151
Minivan$1,812$151
Midsize Pickup$1,852$154
Midsize Car$1,868$156
Compact Luxury SUV$1,988$166
Compact Luxury Car$2,016$168
Large SUV$2,022$169
Half-ton Pickup$2,030$169
Heavy Duty Pickup$2,108$176
Midsize Luxury SUV$2,178$182
Midsize Luxury Car$2,250$188
Sports Car$2,520$210
Large Car$2,636$220
Large Luxury SUV$2,838$237
Large Luxury Car$2,930$244

Data Methodology: Rated driver is a 40-year-old married male with no driving violations or at-fault accidents in the prior three years. Uninsured Motorist (UM), Underinsured Motorist (UIM) and medical payments coverages are included. Premium is averaged for all 2024 model year vehicles and also for all Wilmington, NC Zip Codes. Updated June 27, 2025

It’s fine to use average rates by segment just as a starting point, because more accurate decisions can be made if you look at specific models to find out which vehicles in each segment have the best rates.

For example, in the small luxury car segment, car insurance rates range from the Acura Integra at $1,630 per year for full coverage insurance to the BMW M340i at $2,238 per year.

In the small luxury SUV segment, the average cost of insurance can vary from the Acura RDX costing $1,532 per year up to the Aston Martin DBX at $3,568 per year, a difference of $2,036 within that segment.

Lastly, in the large luxury car segment, the average cost of insurance varies from the Audi A5 costing $2,180 per year to the Mercedes-Benz Maybach S680 costing $3,838 per year.

How much does car insurance cost in Wilmington?

The average car insurance expense in Wilmington is $1,832 per year, which is 19.2% less than the U.S. average rate of $2,221. The average cost of car insurance per month in Wilmington is $153 for a full coverage policy.

In the state of North Carolina, the average cost to insure a vehicle is $1,822 per year, so the average cost in Wilmington is $10 more per year.

When compared to other larger cities in North Carolina, the cost to insure a vehicle in Wilmington is approximately $134 per year cheaper than in Charlotte, $210 per year less than in Fayetteville, and $120 per year more than in Winston Salem.

The age of the rated driver is the single-largest factor that determines the cost of auto insurance. The list below details how age impacts cost by breaking down average car insurance rates in Wilmington for young, middle-age, and senior drivers.

Average cost of car insurance in Wilmington, NC, for drivers age 16 to 60

  • 16 year old – $6,528 per year or $544 per month
  • 17 year old – $6,323 per year or $527 per month
  • 18 year old – $5,668 per year or $472 per month
  • 19 year old – $5,163 per year or $430 per month
  • 20 year old – $3,686 per year or $307 per month
  • 30 year old – $1,956 per year or $163 per month
  • 40 year old – $1,832 per year or $153 per month
  • 50 year old – $1,624 per year or $135 per month
  • 60 year old – $1,522 per year or $127 per month

The next chart displays additional costs for drivers age 20 to 60 by showing a range of rates based on an assortment of driver ages, physical damage deductibles, and driver risk profiles.

Average car insurance rates in Wilmington for different driver ages and risk scenarios.
Figure 2: Average car insurance rates in Wilmington for different driver ages and risk scenarios. Rates updated on June 26, 2025.

Data Methodology: Average rates are for the 2024 model year with safe driver and claim-free discounts applied to qualifying risk profiles. Discount Rate includes all possible rate discounts including multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, and others which vary by company. Comprehensive and collision deductibles are $500 except for low and high deductible estimates which are $100 and $1,000, respectively. Average car insurance cost in Wilmington includes all Zip Codes and vehicle trim levels.

2024 Average Car Insurance Cost in Wilmington, NC
Driver Risk Profile Annual Premium Cost Per Month
High Risk Driver Age 30$4,212$351
Safe Driver Age 20$3,686$307
At-fault Accidents Age 40$2,596$216
Low Deductibles Age 40$2,398$200
Safe Driver Age 30$1,956$163
Safe Driver Age 40$1,832$153
Safe Driver Age 50$1,624$135
High Deductibles Age 40$1,540$128
Discount Rate Age 40$1,524$127
Safe Driver Age 60$1,522$127

Data Methodology: Comprehensive and collision deductibles are $500 except for low and high deductible estimates which are $100 and $1,000, respectively. Discount Rate includes all possible rate discounts including multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, and others which vary by company. Updated June 26, 2025

Average car insurance rates in the chart range from $1,524 per year for a 40-year-old driver who qualifies for many discounts to $4,212 per year for a 30-year-old driver with a lot of violations and accidents.

When the rates shown in the chart are converted to monthly figures, the average cost of car insurance per month in Wilmington ranges from $127 to $351.

Wilmington car insurance rates can have a wide range and are impacted by a lot of factors. Due to the high likelihood of rate variability, this increases the need to get accurate auto insurance quotes when shopping online for the cheapest Wilmington car insurance.

The car insurance rates mentioned previously consist of an average based on every 2024 vehicle model, which is suitable for making overall comparisons such as the average cost difference by driver age or location. Average auto insurance rates are good for getting the answer to questions like “are car insurance rates in Wilmington cheaper than in Durham?” or “is car insurance cheaper in North Carolina or Florida?”.

But for more useful price comparisons, we should perform a rate analysis for the exact vehicle being insured. Every model has it’s own exposure profile for liability and physical damage claims, and this data enables cost comparisons.

The following chart details average insurance cost in Wilmington for some of the most popular cars, trucks, and SUVs.

Average cost to insure popular 2024 model year vehicles in Wilmington.
Figure 3: Average cost to insure popular 2024 model year vehicles in Wilmington. Rates updated on June 26, 2025.

Data Methodology: Average car insurance cost is based on 2024 model year vehicles with safe driver and claim-free discounts applied. Comprehensive and collision deductibles are $500 and UM/UIM and medical payments coverages are included. Rates are averaged for all Wilmington Zip Codes.

Average Car Insurance Quotes in Wilmington, NC
Make/Model Annual Premium Cost Per Month
Mazda CX-5$1,494$125
Honda CR-V$1,562$130
Honda HR-V$1,594$133
Honda Civic$1,622$135
Nissan Rogue$1,648$137
Ford Explorer$1,662$139
Ford Escape$1,670$139
Chevrolet Equinox$1,686$141
Toyota RAV4$1,690$141
Toyota Corolla$1,788$149
Jeep Grand Cherokee$1,832$153
Toyota Camry$1,970$164
Chevrolet Silverado$2,026$169
Ford F150$2,050$171

Data Methodology: Rated driver is a 40-year-old married male with no driving violations or at-fault accidents in the prior three years. Uninsured Motorist (UM), Underinsured Motorist (UIM) and medical payments coverages are included. Premium is averaged for all trim levels available for each vehicle for the 2024 model year and also for all Wilmington, NC Zip Codes. Updated June 26, 2025

Vehicles that are popular in Wilmington tend to be small or midsize sedans like the Volkswagen Jetta, Toyota Corolla, and Honda Accord and compact or midsize SUVs like the Nissan Rogue, Chevy Equinox, and Subaru Outback.

Additional popular models from different automotive segments include luxury models like the BMW 530i, Infiniti QX60, and Lexus RX 350 and sports cars like the Audi TT, Nissan GT-R, and Ford Mustang.

If you check to see which of the popular vehicles are in the prior list of the 40 models with the cheapest average auto insurance quotes, the majority do not rank on the list.

Expensive insurance could be due to buying a vehicle with a high MSRP, like a GMC Yukon which has an average cost of $59,295 or a Tesla Model Y with an average MSRP of $31,890. Another possible cause could be higher liability or medical insurance cost like a GMC Yukon XL or a GMC Sierra 2500 pickup.

Summary of key concepts

We covered a lot of data in this article, so here is a recap of some of the key concepts plus some additional information.

  • Teenage female drivers have cheaper rates than teenage males – Teenage female drivers age 16 to 19 pay $802 to $431 less per year than their male counterparts.
  • Insurance rates drop significantly from age 20 to 30 – The average 30-year-old Wilmington, North Carolina, driver will pay $1,730 less annually than a 20-year-old driver, $1,956 compared to $3,686.
  • Cost per month ranges from $127 to $544 – That is the average car insurance price range for drivers age 16 to 60 in Wilmington, North Carolina.
  • Wilmington car insurance prices are more expensive than the North Carolina state average – $1,832 (Wilmington average) versus $1,822 (North Carolina average)
  • Car insurance is generally cheaper as you age – Auto insurance rates for a 50-year-old driver in Wilmington are $2,062 per year cheaper than for a 20-year-old driver.
  • Wilmington, North Carolina, average car insurance cost is less than the U.S. average – $1,832 (Wilmington average) versus $2,221 (U.S. average)