Personal insurance is mostly a commodity until it isn't — until you have a rental property, a boat, a teenage driver, a home worth more than the policy limit, or a claim that reveals a gap nobody explained. As an independent agency we compare across more than 25 carriers, and more usefully, we tell you what the differences actually mean.
What changed in North Carolina auto insurance
If your auto premium went up recently and you couldn't work out why, this is probably it. North Carolina raised its minimum liability limits effective July 1, 2025.
50/100/50North Carolina's minimum auto liability limits since July 1, 2025 — $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, $50,000 property damage.
30/60/25The old minimums. If your policy predates the change, your limits went up at renewal — and so did your premium.
UIM includedUnderinsured motorist coverage is now included on new and renewed policies, where minimum-limit policies previously went without.
Every policy renewing on or after that date carries the higher limits, and underinsured motorist coverage is now included where minimum-limit policies previously went without it. The coverage improved; so did the price. It is a good moment to compare carriers, because they absorbed the change at different rates.
The gaps we find most often
- Dwelling limits behind construction costs. Rebuild costs across the Charlotte region have risen sharply. A policy limit set five years ago frequently won't rebuild the house today.
- No umbrella. The cheapest coverage per dollar of protection anyone can buy, and the one most people skip until they own rental property or have a teenage driver.
- Jewelry and valuables above the sublimit. Standard homeowners policies cap theft of jewelry at a low figure — often $1,500 — regardless of the overall limit. A scheduled floater fixes it.
- Rentals on the wrong form. A house you rent out is not covered by a homeowners policy. It needs a landlord or dwelling fire policy.
- Water backup. Sewer and drain backup is excluded on standard homeowners forms and available cheaply as an endorsement.
Where we write
Licensed in five states. We write this coverage across North and South Carolina — our primary markets — as well as Tennessee, Virginia, and Florida.
North CarolinaSouth CarolinaTennesseeVirginiaFlorida
Frequently asked questions
Why did my North Carolina auto premium increase?
Most likely because the state's minimum liability limits rose to 50/100/50 on July 1, 2025, from 30/60/25, and underinsured motorist coverage is now included on new and renewed policies. Your coverage improved along with the price. Carriers absorbed the change differently, so it's a sensible time to compare.
How much homeowners coverage do I need?
Enough to rebuild your home at today's construction costs, which is different from what you paid for it and different from its tax value. Construction costs in the Charlotte region have risen substantially, so limits set several years ago are often behind. We'll run a replacement cost estimate as part of a review.
Do I need an umbrella policy?
If you own a home, have teenage drivers, own rental property, have a pool or a trampoline, or have assets worth protecting, it is usually the best value in personal insurance — typically a million dollars of additional liability protection for a few hundred dollars a year.
I rent out a house. Is it covered by my homeowners policy?
No. A property you rent to others needs a landlord or dwelling fire policy, which covers the structure, your liability as the landlord, and lost rental income. Continuing to insure it as a residence you occupy risks a denied claim.
Also written in this category. These classes don't have their own page yet — call or send a submission and we'll quote them the same way.
- Homeowners
- Landlord
- Dwelling fire
- Personal umbrella
- Personal auto
- Inland marine & jewelry
- Motorcycle
- RV & motorhome
- Boat & jet ski
- Farm
