North Dakota car insurance companies made sure that drivers have a lot of different and affordable coverage options. But that created another problem — which one to choose. Insurance quotes are very personalized, and there is no universal best for everyone.
It’s a bright idea to do some research on ND car insurance and shop around. Unfortunately, that’s not always easy, as you have to juggle and compare many numbers. So, many people avoid it by going straight to one insurer, which can be a costly mistake.
To help you pick the best option, we’ve reviewed the leading car insurance providers in North Dakota. You can also take a look at the list of best insurers for different driver categories and cities.
North Dakota Auto Insurance — The Best Options
- Progressive: Overall Winner
- GEICO: Runner-Up
- American Family: Cheapest Option
- GEICO: Best for Optional Coverages and Number of Discounts
- NODAK: Best for Young Drivers
- Amica Mutual: Best for Dividend Policies
Overall Winner: Progressive
Progressive is the undisputed champion among North Dakota insurance companies, providing almost a fifth (18.4%) of all car policies. The position is well-deserved due to its affordable prices, a wide selection of discounts, and attractive online tools.
The company is not the cheapest option on the market — surpassed by American Family and NODAK, in that regard — but its rates are still affordable. Customer satisfaction ratings, however, are nothing to be proud of, as the J.D. Power regional list shows only average opinions.
Progressive’s auto insurance in North Dakota does stand out when it comes to online tools. It has an excellent website and apps and some additional exciting features. For example, the “Name Your Price” tool allows agents to offer the most comprehensive package for your budget.
Another strong positive for Progressive is its financial strength. It has an A+ (Superior) rating, confirming the company can pay its clients’ claims.
Although there is some room for improvement, the comprehensive approach makes Progressive the best option for car insurance in ND.
Customer Service
Discounts & Optional Coverages
Financial Strength
Prices
Choose Progressive if you are looking for the best overall service.
Look elsewhere if you want top-notch customer support.
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Runner-Up: GEICO
GEICO is one of the largest car insurers in the US, but surprisingly, its market share in North Dakota is substantially smaller than the national average. Nonetheless, the company offers affordable prices, various discounts, good coverage, and excellent customer service.
It ranks first on the J.D. Power 2020 regional list, with an impressive score of 851/1,000 for customer service. GEICO car insurance also has an exceptionally low NAIC complaint ratio (0.62), and it’s rated A++, or Superior, for its financial strength.
GEICO’s prices are balanced — not the cheapest for every driver category, but still affordable. People with bad credit, DUI, and other driving offenses, however, are not eligible for low quotes from the company. As a result, it’s one of the priciest options on the market for them.
The list of optional coverages is very long, and the various discounts will ensure you don’t overpay. We can conclude that GEICO is a sound choice for car insurance in North Dakota.
Customer Service
Discounts & Optional Coverages
Financial Strength
Prices
Choose GEICO if you want good customer service, mid-range prices, and various discounts.
Look elsewhere if you have bad credit or driving offenses on your record.
4.75
Cheapest Option: American Family
American Family offers the cheapest car insurance in North Dakota. It also has one of the largest selections of discounts on the market, further reducing the final price.
These are not the only positive things about American Family. The company has an A (Excellent) A.M. Best rating — it’s financially stable and capable of handling its customers’ claims.
Even though it has the lowest available prices on the ND insurance market, it’s not the cheapest for every driver category. For instance, young drivers may be better off choosing NODAK if the price is their main criteria.
American Family doesn’t exactly shine in the customer service department and has below-average results in the J.D. Power customer satisfaction study for 2020.
Customer Service
Discounts & Optional Coverages
Financial Strength
Prices
Choose American Family if you are looking for the lowest prices on the North Dakota insurance market and a large number of discounts.
Look elsewhere if you are a young driver or if you want excellent customer service.
4
Best for Young Drivers: NODAK
NODAK serves as the Farm Bureau affiliated insurance company in North Dakota, and with almost 9% of the market, it’s one of the best-sellers. That’s hardly surprising, given its affordable prices, a decent number of optional coverages, and list of discounts.
In addition, NODAK insurance company’s financial stability is rated as A, or Excellent, by A.M. Best, confirming the company can pay its clients’ claims.
What makes this company great for youngsters is the affordable prices and some interesting programs. NODAK is the best option for people in their 20s, regardless if they are safe drivers or have some offenses on their record.
Teens, considered safe drivers, are eligible for student discounts and can win $500 if they complete the “Route 1,000” safe driving course.
While NODAK car insurance is the best option for young people, the truth is that it is also a good choice for everyone. You should definitely check it out if you don’t mind the lack of rideshare insurance and outdated websites and apps.
Customer Service
Discounts & Optional Coverages
Financial Strength
Prices
Choose NODAK if you are a young driver or if you are looking for low prices and decent coverage options.
Look elsewhere if you need rideshare insurance or want good online tools and modern apps.
4
Best for Dividend Policies: Amica Mutual
While Amica Mutual does not have a prominent presence on the ND auto insurance market, it’s a good company with great optional coverages, a wide array of discounts, and excellent dividend options.
Clients are also shareholders — by purchasing an insurance policy, you become a part of the profit-sharing programs. You can decide whether you want a check or a reduced premium. The amount can be between 5% and 20% of your insurance policy value.
Dividends are not the only reason to choose Amica Mutual when looking for auto insurance in North Dakota. It has helpful services like “Identity Fraud Monitoring”, which keeps an eye on any misuse of your personal info. You even get $1,000 reserved for bail bonds. Most of the company’s discounts, however, are reserved for people who drive safely.
The downside is that if you want all of these perks, you will have to pay more — Amica car insurance rates for North Dakota are not the cheapest.
The company is financially stable as A.M. Best rated Amica as A+ (Superior). It also does well in the customer satisfaction department, with one of the lowest NAIC complaint indexes on the market (0.46).
Customer Service
Discounts & Optional Coverages
Financial Strength
Prices
Choose Amica Mutual if you want excellent customer service and dividend policies.
Look elsewhere if low price is your priority.
4
Cheapest Car Insurance in North Dakota (By City)
To compare prices among the major cities in ND, we’ve requested quotes for a 30-year-old male driving a 2012 four-door sedan, Honda Accord EX. He has a clean record, good credit, and operates 15,000 miles per year. These are the results:
Fargo
Fargo is world-famous because of the Academy Award-winning movie and highly successful TV show named after it.
The cheapest car insurance in Fargo, ND, is American Family, followed by NODAK and GEICO. Since the latter two have better user satisfaction ratings and the price difference is not substantial, we recommend both.
Bismarck
Bismarck is the capital of North Dakota and the only US capital named after a foreign politician. One of the places to visit is the fantastic Bismark Air Museum, which features Mustangs, Zeros, and all kinds of astonishing pieces of airplane history.
The prices of car insurance quotes in Bismarck, ND, are close to the state’s average. The cheapest insurer is State Farm, followed by NODAK and American Family. The companies have similar prices and customer satisfaction ratings, so it’s up to your personal preferences.
Grand Forks
Grand Forks is home to the Grand Forks Air Force Base — one of the essential national drone bases. The city gave the US one of its many unsung heroes, Charles W. Lindberg. He was the marine who raised the first flag on Iwo Jima but only later got the credit for it.
There are plenty of good options for car insurance in Grand Forks, ND, and your best bet is GEICO. It is one of the most affordable options and has good coverage and discounts for government and military employees, who represent a large percentage of the workforce there.
If you are looking for the cheapest option, American Family or State Farm will be the best for you.
Minot
Minot is often called the “Magic City” because it sprang up overnight in 1886. Almost 40% of the residents are of Nordic origin, and the famous actor Boris Karloff, who played Frankenstein’s monster in the original movie, lived and performed here.
American Family offers the cheapest minimum liability car insurance in Minot, ND, and you can get the most affordable full coverage from State Farm.
Progressive, GEICO, and NODAK are slightly pricier. Considering that all of these companies offer similar service quality, it’s up to you to choose based on your preferences.
Devils Lake
This charming town owes its name to a bad translation. The colonists poorly translated the way Native Americans called the nearby lake, and “Spirit” became “Bad Spirit” and “Devils” later on.
Despite the somewhat ominous name, the town is safe, and North Dakota car insurance prices are low. The most affordable insurer is State Farm, closely followed by American Family, NODAK, and Progressive.
The prices are similar, but State Farm has the best customer satisfaction ratings. If you want the best customer service, you should go with GEICO.
North Dakota Car Insurance Laws
North Dakota Automobile Insurance Plan (NDAIP)
Drivers, deemed as risky, aren’t able to get car insurance through regular channels.
The NDAIP makes sure those drivers get coverage by connecting them to companies that are part of the program. All insurers participate analogously to their market share.
What the driver has to do is prove they’ve been declined insurance in the last six months.
North Dakota Auto Insurance Requirements
North Dakota law requires drivers to have at least minimum liability car insurance that includes:
- $25,000 coverage for bodily injury per person
- $50,000 coverage for bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability
- $25,000/$50,000 coverage for uninsured motorist bodily injury
- $25,000/$50,000 coverage for underinsured motorist
- $150 per week/$30,000 PIP (Personal Injury Protection)
SR22 Certificate in North Dakota
The North Dakota insurance department states that drivers, who are uninsured, lost their license because of recurrent violations, or were caught DUI, have to file an SR22 insurance form with the local DMV.
This form is proof that the driver has the minimum liability insurance required by the state.
No-Fault Laws in North Dakota
North Dakota is one of the 12 no-fault states. That policy requires each accident participant to use their own insurance to cover the medical costs and damages they’ve suffered, regardless of who caused the incident.
On the bright side, that means faster payouts because you don’t have to wait for the police and the court to determine fault. The downside is that it’s much harder to sue the guilty party.
North Dakota Car Insurance for New Residents
If you move to North Dakota, you will have 30 days to register and insure your vehicle through a state-licensed company.
Price Optimization in North Dakota
Price optimization is a business practice that allows insurance companies to use personal data unrelated to risk factors to determine the services’ price. That means they give you the highest premium possible without offering you better options.
This practice has been declared illegal by 18 states, but the North Dakota Department of Insurance and the Insurance Commissioner remain silent on this subject. One NGO filed a lawsuit against this practice, but it is a lengthy trial, and the court hasn’t ruled yet.
So, even if you don’t plan to switch insurance providers — make complaints, shop around, etc. It will probably lower your price, or you may find a better deal.
How to Get Cheap Car Insurance in North Dakota
Check Car Insurance Reviews
There are many insurers on the market, and requesting quotes from all of them can prove to be an overwhelming task. Some companies may try to bombard you with information and sales pitches for plans you don’t need.
An excellent way to avoid that commotion is to go through individual and professional reviews, choose around five or six candidates, and then request quotes.
To save you some time and effort, we’ve gathered reviews of all the major insurers in the US. You can get informed on their coverage, features, prices and choose your favorites.
Compare Auto Insurance Quotes in North Dakota
You should request quotes from several car insurers to see how different they can be.
Also, since price optimization is legal in North Dakota, you should request quotes even if you are not planning on switching insurance. Your actions may alert your insurer, and the company might offer you a better price if it suspects you might leave.
See Who Provides the Highest Discounts
Discounts can significantly reduce the final price. North Dakota auto insurance companies have long lists of available discounts, and most clients can qualify for several of them.
Furthermore, some companies also offer cost reductions for specific user groups. For instance, GEICO has price reductions for army members, government employees, etc.
Some companies will require you to purchase a club membership (AARP, AAA, etc.). It’s best to look around, read reviews, and make an estimate. Sometimes a company with higher prices can turn out to be cheaper when all discounts are applied.
Most of the discounts are reserved for safe drivers, so you should check your North Dakota driving record at the Department of Transportation before applying.
Conclusion
North Dakota has a relatively low percentage of uninsured drivers — 7.4% — less than the national average of 12.8%. It’s partly due to the good and affordable coverage plans, which also cost less than the national average.
With every company fighting to get its share of the market and claiming to be the best car insurance in North Dakota, it’s easy to get confused about choosing the one for you.
It would help if you decided what coverage you need and how much you are willing to pay for it. Then, after picking your favorite companies, request quotes, and don’t forget to check out the discounts they offer.
It may take some time, but you’ll end up with good coverage that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
People Also Ask
How much is car insurance in North Dakota?
Car insurance prices in North Dakota are slightly lower than the national average — $278 for an average minimum liability policy and $1,264 for full coverage.
The price you will pay may differ significantly, as it depends on many factors, such as your age, marital status, credit, driving record, type of car, etc.
Which type of insurance coverage is required by the state of North Dakota?
North Dakota laws state that the driver must carry at least the minimum liability policy. It covers:
- $25,000 coverage for bodily injury per person
- $50,000 coverage for bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability
- $25,000/$50,000 coverage for uninsured motorist bodily injury
- $25,000/$50,000 coverage for underinsured motorist
- $150 per week/$30,000 PIP (Personal Injury Protection)
Do you have to have car insurance in North Dakota?
Yes, car insurance is mandatory in North Dakota. The law states that the driver must have at least minimum liability insurance, which covers:
- $25,000 for bodily injury per person
- $50,000 for bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability
- $25,000/$50,000 for uninsured motorist bodily injury
- $25,000/$50,000 for underinsured motorist
- $150 per week/$30,000 PIP (Personal Injury Protection)
Who really has the cheapest car insurance?
If you are looking for the cheapest car insurance in North Dakota, USAA is your best pick. Unfortunately, it’s only available to active army members, veterans, and their families.
As far as the non-exclusive companies are concerned, American Family offers the cheapest insurance in ND. When choosing a plan, you should consider the companies’ available discounts because they can significantly reduce the price.
Can you live in one state and have car insurance in another?
If you move to another state, you should switch your insurance. Usually, you will have up to 90 days to change your insurance and register your car in the new state.
North Dakota is a bit stricter and gives new residents only 30 days to make the change. But, you should always do that as the minimum liability coverages vary among states, and your old coverage might not be sufficient.
Is North Dakota a no-fault state?
North Dakota is a no-fault state, meaning that accident partakers use their own insurances to cover the medical bills and property damages they’ve suffered, no matter whose fault it was.
That results in much faster claim payments from the insurance companies. Suing the guilty party, however, becomes very complex. Since you would have to pay for your damages in case of an accident, consider getting the highest coverage possible when buying your next North Dakota car insurance policy.
