Your Guide to Getting Cheap Car Insurance in North Dakota

Car insurance isn’t free. But that doesn’t mean you need to forego the peace of mind that comes with good car insurance—not to mention, break the law.

North Dakota is a great place to live, and it’s also a great place to get affordable car insurance. Keep reading for a guide to all things auto insurance in the Rough Rider State, from coverage options to average cost, and more.

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Options for Car Insurance in North Dakota

When it comes to car insurance, you’ve got your pick of coverage options in ND. There’s a coverage level to fit all drivers and budgets. Do all you have to do? Understand your options and choose what fits best for you. Here are some of the main coverage options to choose from:

Bodily Injury Liability: If you cause an accident, this helps cover medical costs for the other driver and gives you a legal defense if they sue.
Property Damage Liability: If you cause an accident, this helps cover property damage costs (such as the other driver’s car).
Collision: This covers damage to your vehicle if you’re involved in a collision with another vehicle.
Comprehensive: This covers damage to your vehicle caused by weather, theft, vandalism, hitting an animal, etc.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: If you’re involved in an accident with a driver that doesn’t have car insurance or doesn’t have enough to cover the damage, this helps cover the difference. It also comes into play during hit-and-runs.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP): This helps cover your medical bills after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. It also helps with other costs relating to the accident, like lost wages and child care.
- PIP is required coverage in North Dakota, but either way, it’s good to have. All of the other types of coverage protect your vehicle or the other driver, but not your own medical costs.

These are the main buckets of coverage North Dakotans build out their policy with, but you can also spice it up by adding even more coverage. These are called riders, or endorsements, and they vary by provider. Some common options include:

Roadside Assistance: If your vehicle breaks down by the side of the road, this covers a tow to a nearby repair shop and some minor roadside fixes.
Gap: If your leased vehicle is totalled and you owe more than you receive for the depreciated value, this helps cover the gap.
Accident Forgiveness: Your first accident is forgiven, meaning your insurance premiums won’t go up.
New Car Replacement: If you have a new car (usually under two years) and it gets totalled, this gets you a brand new car rather than a check for the depreciated value. Score!
Rideshare: If you drive for services like Uber or Lyft, you’ll need extra rideshare insurance on top of your regular car insurance to protect you.
Rental Car Reimbursement: If your vehicle is being repaired, this gets you a rental car in the meantime.

These are just some examples of common car insurance riders in North Dakota, but there are even more to be found. Use riders to supplement your coverage—or don’t! The choice is yours.

Minimum Requirements for Auto Insurance in North Dakota

Now that you have a better grasp of what’s out there in terms of coverage, let’s take a minimum to go through the minimum requirements in ND. The fact of the matter is that almost every state requires drivers to have car insurance in place, or they can face penalties.

North Dakota is no exception. Every driver needs to fulfill the following car insurance requirements before they get behind the wheel:

Bodily injury liability of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
Property damage liability of $25,000 per accident
Uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
Underinsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
PIP (also referred to as basic no-fault in North Dakota) of $30,000 per person

North Dakota is more stringent in their minimum car insurance requirements compared to many other states, but look at the silver lining: should something happen, you will have a safety net.

If you’re tempted to roll the dice and skip the minimum car insurance, you might want to think again: being caught driving without insurance can mean a fine, a license suspension, and a requirement to have an SR-22 form in place before you can drive again. This increases your insurance rates and can make it harder to find car insurance coverage.

Let’s keep each other safe on the road.

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The Average Cost of Car Insurance in North Dakota

There’s a lot that factors into your car insurance premiums. Insurers use their own formula that combines data including your age, gender, vehicle makes and model, driving history, claim history, and more to calculate your exact rates.

But there are average rates that we can share to help you get a sense of what you should budget for. Here are those costs:

The average minimum coverage costs $269 per year in North Dakota, compared to the national average of $622
Full coverage averages $1,302 per year in North Dakota, compared to the national average of $2,014

You’re getting a break on car insurance just by virtue of living in the Peace Garden State. But even where you live in the state can impact your rates: living in Grand Forks will cost you an average of $1,149 per year, while living in Bismarck and Williston will cost you $1,247 and $1,322, respectively.

Not everything that factors into your car insurance rates is within your control. But there are ways to find savings on your premiums, no matter where you live. Stay tuned for that next.

In the meantime, you can get access to quotes here, so that you know exactly what you can expect to pay for car insurance.

How to Find Cheap Car Insurance in North Dakota

Everyone can afford to save on car insurance. We pulled together our tried-and-true tips for saving up to 30% on your car insurance, because who doesn’t want that?

Here’s how to find savings on your car insurance rates:

Shop Around: You should be gathering at least three quotes from different providers before making your decision. Because each insurer calculates quotes differently, more quotes increase the likelihood that you’ll find the lowest one.
Review Your Coverage: You should know exactly what you’re paying for in your car insurance coverage. Anything that no longer serves you should be cut from the policy so that you’re not overpaying for coverage you don’t need. Do this on a yearly basis.
Raise Your Deductible: If it makes sense, you can raise your deductible to lower your monthly/annual premiums. But keep in mind, you’ll need to fork over a higher amount if you do end up submitting a claim.
Drive Safely: This is the best thing you can do for your car insurance rates. Keeping a clean driving record will help keep your premiums low over the long term. If you have something on your record, don’t despair: it will eventually drop off and your rates will go back down, as long as you don’t get any new moving violations.
Lower Your Mileage: How often you drive impacts your rates, because more frequent driving increases your risk of an accident. Use public transport or a bike when you can to decrease your mileage. If you already drive infrequently, consider a pay-per-mile policy to lower your rates.
Find Discounts: Most insurance providers offer discounts in some form. Be sure to ask for any that you’re eligible for, because these savings can really add up. Common discounts include:
- Safe driver
- Good student
- Loyal client
- New client
- Homeowner
- Multi vehicle policy
- Home/auto bundle

No one turns down savings on their car insurance. But are you willing to work a little to get those savings? These tips can save you as much as 30% on your car insurance, putting more money back in your pocket to do what you love. Whether that’s exploring the national parks, driving along the Enchanted Highway, or hunting and fishing, you deserve to save on your car insurance.

Tip: North Dakota has a small but growing presence of immigrants. If that’s you and you’re exploring your car insurance options, go ahead and grab this free insurance guide for new immigrants to the U.S. for even more helpful tips and info.

Find North Dakota Car Insurance

Now that you’re armed with all of the information you need to get quality coverage at a rate you can afford, it’s time to find your new auto insurance policy. Your first step is to shop around, because taking the first quote you get is leaving money on the table (and we can’t have that!).

This is why we made it even easier on you. Just click here and get access to free quotes fast. When it matters, we’ve got you covered.

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Jessica Fox Jessica Fox has been a freelance writer for five years, with a specialty in health, wellness, and insurance. During this time, she’s written for some of the biggest B2B and B2C brands from around the world. Jessica is also the mother of two young daughters and loves coffee, writing, and working out.