The Old North State is a prime location for those who enjoy golf, beaches and great-tasting wine. What's more is it's also a pretty reasonable place to insure your vehicle. According to the Insurance Information Institute, North Carolinians paid an average of $200 less on their car insurance than the rest of the nation in 2007. With that being said, it wouldn't hurt a bit to check out your insurance company's competition in terms of high-quality North Carolina auto insurance coverage. Here are some things to consider on your search.

Weather Permitting
To drive legally in The Tar Heel State you must purchase a minimum liability insurance policy that includes $30,000 for bodily injury for one person, $60,000 for bodily injury for two or more people and $25,000 for property damage. However, you may opt to increase your coverage if you're worried your vehicle could be damaged or lost from blizzards, hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical cyclones, hail or flash flooding. According to the State Climate Office of North Carolina, the coast of North Carolina can expect to receive a tropical storm or hurricane once every four years, and a tropical cyclone affects the state every 1.3 years. Comprehensive coverage does damage control on your vehicle if it is damaged from one of these weather systems, and will cover the cost to replace your car if it is destroyed.

What's Driving Your North Carolina Auto Insurance Rates?
Your driving record obviously affects your North Carolina auto insurance rates; the worse your driving record, the higher your premium, and vice versa. But factors like your age and sex will influence your policy, too. Statistics have shown that young men tend to drive more and speed more often than women. Therefore, a 24-year-old male will generally pay more for his auto insurance than his female counterpart. But the type of car you drive, where you drive and your credit history can make all the difference. If you live or work in a congested area like Raleigh, Greensboro or Charlotte, your North Carolina auto insurance agent will consider your vehicle to be at risk seeing as congested cities tend to have more car accidents, vandalism and vehicle thefts than smaller towns. Case and point: The FBI's Crime in the United States report revealed 5,266 motor vehicle thefts in Charlotte-Mecklenburg in 2008 whereas nearby neighbor Stanley had 10. If you drive a sports car, SUV or a "hot" vehicle, expect a higher premium. In 2008, the top three most stolen vehicles in North Carolina were the 1996 Honda Accord, the 1995 Honda Civic and the 2004 Ford F150 Pickup, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau's Hot Wheels report.

Your Hole-In-One Alternative
Some North Carolina auto insurance rates just don't par up to your needs. By comparing your current rates with competing companies you can rest assured knowing you're getting premium coverage at the best price. Head out and hit the green while LocalInsurance searches to save you some green by scouting out competitors' North Carolina auto insurance rates.

By comparing rates at LocalInsurance, you can save money and feel at ease knowing that your vehicle has the proper protection it deserves.

To find more information on the auto insurance requirements in North Carolina, visit these useful links: