Car Insurance in North Dakota

North Dakota Car Insurance

North Dakota requires drivers to purchase car insurance policies. This is to help protect drivers from significant financial losses in the unfortunate event of an accident.

Car Insurance Requirements in North Dakota

As a North Dakota driver, you must have all of the following as part of your car insurance policy:

  • Liability coverage.
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
  • No-fault coverage.

Liability Insurance

Your liability car insurance will help you with the costs of injuries or property damage you cause to others in a car accident.

In North Dakota, your car insurance policy must contain liability coverages of at least the following minimums per accident:

  • $25,000 for bodily injury, per person.
  • $50,000 for total bodily injury when multiple people are injured.
  • $25,000 for property damage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist

Your North Dakota car insurance policy must also include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

Uninsured motorist coverage will help pay for your injuries incurred in a car accident with a driver who doesn't have liability coverage.

Underinsured motorist coverage will help pay for your injuries resulting from an accident caused by a driver whose liability coverage is less than your underinsured coverage.

Both your uninsured and underinsured coverages must meet the following minimums per accident:

  • $25,000 for bodily injury, per person.
  • $50,000 for total bodily injury if your passengers were also injured.

No-Fault/PIP Insurance

North Dakota is a no-fault state.

This does not mean that fault is not considered in car accidents. Instead, with no-fault coverage, also known as Personal Injury Protection (PIP), your injuries will be covered in a car accident, up to your policy's limits, no matter who caused the accident.

Your no-fault coverage must meet the minimum of $30,000 per person in an accident.

Optional Car Insurance

Many drivers might find that simply meeting North Dakota's car insurance requirements does not provide adequate financial protection. This can ring especially true when you consider that all of the required coverage types do not help with damages to your car.

When shopping for car insurance, consider these common optional coverage types:

  • Collision – This coverage will help you with the costs related to damages to your car after a traffic accident.
  • Comprehensive – This coverage will help you with damages to your car from non accident-related events, such as vandalism or extreme weather.
  • Towing and labor.
  • Rental reimbursement.

NOTE: Collision and comprehensive coverages are often required as part of a car loan or lease agreement.

Car Insurance Violations

If you are caught violating North Dakota's car insurance laws, you face:

  • A class B misdemeanor charge.
  • A minimum fine of $150.
  • 14 points against your driver's license if you are involved in an accident and are uninsured.

SR-22

Under certain circumstances, the state may require you to file an SR-22 with the State Drivers License Division.

An SR-22 Financial Responsibility filing, sometimes referred to as “SR-22 insurance", is a type of proof of insurance that certifies that you will maintain your car insurance for 1 year.

Your insurance company must file an SR-22 for you.

North Dakota Automobile Insurance Plan

Drivers who have had many tickets, accidents, or otherwise poor driving histories may find it difficult to obtain car insurance through standard carriers.

The North Dakota Automobile Insurance Plan helps these high-risk drivers obtain insurance by assigning them to a North Dakota car insurance company.

All North Dakota car insurance companies must participate in the plan. You can apply for insurance through the plan, or with any North Dakota licensed car insurance agent or company. Do note, however, that when you apply through the plan, you should expect to pay higher car insurance rates.

Other Car Insurance Issues

The North Dakota Insurance Department (NDID) can help you with issues concerning car insurance, such as consumer complaints or insurance fraud.

Consumer Complaints

Before filing a complaint with the NDID, you should first make every effort to settle the dispute directly with your car insurance company.

If you cannot resolve a problem with your car insurance company, you can file a complaint by printing and completing a Complaint Questionnaire (Form SFN 18956) and mailing it to:

North Dakota Insurance Department
600 East Blvd Ave
Bismarck, ND 58505

You can also submit your complaint online or via e-mail to insurance@nd.gov.

Car Insurance Fraud

Every year, car insurance companies lose a large amount of money due to insurance fraud. This affects you through increases in premiums.

Car insurance fraud can involve:

  • Staging car accidents.
  • Lying about injuries.
  • Lying about property damage.

If you suspect car insurance fraud, you can report it by:

  • Contacting the NDID at (701) 328-2440.
  • Reporting it online through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Determining Your ND Car Insurance Rates

There are several factors that affect your car insurance rates in North Dakota.

When comparing car insurance quotes, consider that the following may factor into your premium:

  • Your driving record.
  • Your:
    • Age.
    • Gender.
    • Marital status.
  • Where you live.
  • Your credit history.
  • Your insurance claims history.
  • Deductibles:
    • This is what you have to pay towards your claim before your insurance starts paying.
    • A higher deductible means a lower premium, and vice versa.

Car Insurance Discounts

One great way to save on ND car insurance is to take advantage of discounts.

Many car insurance companies offer the following discounts:

  • Accident-free discount.
  • Anti-theft device discount.
  • Multi-car discount.
  • Safety-device discount.
  • Good student discount.

Discounts can help you get cheap car insurance rates, but the best way to obtain and maintain a low-cost insurance policy is to drive safely to keep a good driving record.

Most Stolen Cars in North Dakota

Owning a car that is highly targeted for theft can lead to higher car insurance rates.

The following is a list of the most stolen cars in North Dakota for 2013, according to www.nicb.org:

  1. Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size).
  2. Ford Pickup (Full Size).
  3. Dodge Pickup (Full Size).
  4. GMC Pickup (Full Size).
  5. Ford Explorer.
  6. Honda Civic.
  7. Chevrolet Impala.
  8. Chevrolet Malibu.
  9. Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee.
  10. Pontiac Grand Prix.
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