North Dakota Auto Insurance [Rates + Cheap Coverage Guide]

Looking to settle in a place with wide open spaces? You’re probably looking to settle in North Dakota then! This northern midwest state is the nineteenth largest state but is also the fourth smallest by population. It is well known for its agricultural wealth, famous for its farms and ranches.

So if you’re looking for some peace and quiet, and some beautiful landscapes, then this might be the place for you! In such a rural state, traveling the roads can seem picture perfect. Not so picture perfect is you having to worry about what kind of auto insurance you should get in this state.

We don’t want you to waste all of your precious time and energy digging through the piles of auto insurance company research and information to find the best coverage. That’s what we’re here for! We’ve put together this comprehensive guide for North Dakota citizens!

In this guide, we will cover everything you’ll need to know to arm you with the knowledge you’ll need to select the optimal auto insurance coverage for yourself.

Want to get started with comparing your rates? Use our FREE online tool above to start comparing today!

North Dakota Auto Insurance Coverage and Rates

Who wants to pay thousands of dollars for an auto insurance plan you don’t even understand? North Dakota, like all states in the nation, requires that all drivers have auto insurance.

Picking out that insurance can feel extremely overwhelming, so understanding what your options are will optimize the best decision for you! You need to know what you’re getting, just as much as how much you need to pay for it.

In this section, we’ll break down some of the different requirements and coverage types that you can have. We’ll discuss everything from what the minimum coverage for auto insurance in North Dakota all the way to what rates you can expect to pay by city and ZIP code.

Strap your metaphorical seat belts in and get ready to cruise through North Dakota’s insurance coverage and rates!

North Dakota Minimum Coverage

Each state in the nation requires something known as minimum liability coverage for auto insurance. This means that every driver is required to have at least this minimum coverage for their auto insurance in order to be a legal driver on the road.

Every state varies in what the particular minimum coverage is, based upon each state’s own unique roads and terrains. In North Dakota, the minimum liability coverage follows a 25/50/25 minimum liability coverage. Below, we’ve broken up exactly what that means for you.

• 25 = $25,000 for the bodily injury/death of ONE person
• 50 = $50,000 for the bodily injury/death of TWO OR MORE people
• 25 = $25,000 for property damages

These amounts ensure that should anyone in North Dakota be in an accident, the drivers are able to pay off the costs of that accident.

North Dakota is one of a few states that is a no-fault state. This term will be further elaborated in a later section, but what are the basics of what this means?

“No-fault” means that every driver in an accident has to make a claim with their own insurance provider after an accident. Regardless of who was at fault for the accident.

Due to this, any driver in a no-fault state, such as North Dakota, is required to purchase Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in addition to their minimum liability coverage.

In North Dakota, this means that drivers ALSO have to have Uninsured motorists’ coverage of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident as well as Personal Injury Protection (PIP) of $30,000 per person.

Keep in mind, however, this all of this is just the MINIMUM amount that is required to legally drive in North Dakota. Since this state is a no-fault state, these amounts can very quickly run out in an accident. It is smart to purchase more than the minimum auto insurance, so as to give you the best protection possible!

Forms of Financial Responsibility

So you found the perfect insurance policy to meet your needs, now what? Well in order to legally drive a vehicle in North Dakota, you will need to carry some form of financial responsibility (also commonly known as proof of insurance) with you while operating a vehicle.

The following are acceptable forms of financial responsibility in North Dakota:

• Valid/Current insurance ID Card (both paper copy and electronic)
• Copy of your current insurance policy
• A certified letter stating coverage under the North Dakota Automobile Insurance Plan
• Certificate of self-insurance (deposit of money or securities worth $25,000 to the Bank of North Dakota)

You must carry at least ONE form of financial responsibility on you at all times while operating a vehicle. The reason for this being that if you are ever pulled over by a law enforcement officer (for a traffic stop/accident), they will require that you provide proof of insurance.

If you do not have insurance or do not have your proof of insurance with you, even a first offense will lead you to some hefty penalties.

• Fines: $150 to $1,000
• License suspension: Suspended until proof of insurance shown
• License Reinstatement Fee: $50
• Other Fees: $10 for retaking the driver’s license test; $20 court fee
• SR-22: required to file for it and have it for at least 1 year

All of this for your FIRST offense!

An additional form of financial responsibility is an SR-22. For some drivers, it may be required due to a variety of reasons and can be purchased through any motor vehicle insurance provider. You may be required to file for SR-22 insurance due to any of the following reasons:

• Conviction of driving under the influence
• Conviction for actual physical control
• Conviction for driving under revocation
• Conviction for driving under suspension when the length of the suspension period of for 91 days or more
• For any crash where no insurance was in effect at the time of the crash
• For a civil judgment arising from the operation of a motor vehicle crash
• Conviction of manslaughter in which a motor vehicle is used
• Conviction for negligent homicide in which a motor vehicle is used
• Conviction for a felony in which a motor vehicle is used

If you are to be required to file for SR-22 insurance, you must keep this file on you for 1 year from the date driving privileges are reinstated, the date a TRL (temporary restricted license)is issued, and/or the date of the motor vehicle crash in which there was no insurance in effect at the time of the crash.

Moral of the story? Make sure you have your required proof of insurance with you at all times while you are driving your car, like in the video below!

Premiums as a Percentage of Income

What kind of income you make plays a factor in the auto insurance rates and premiums you’ll see. There’s a term known as the per capita disposable income, which is essentially the income you have to spend after taxes are paid. We found a three-year trend between the disposable income North Dakotas have versus the cost of a full coverage auto insurance policy.

From the data above, you can see that while the cost of full coverage insurance has risen, so has the annual disposable income. If we were to compare the cost of the 2014 full coverage insurance costs to that of what New York citizens pay, for example, North Dakota citizens are paying approximately $559.73 LESS than the more populated state.

In contrast, North Dakota’s southern neighbor, South Dakota, paid an average of $744.28 for their insurance. The difference, however, is that South Dakota’s disposable income was also less than North Dakota’s by $9,486!

Each state varies across the nation in what their average disposable income is as well as what they pay annually for a full coverage auto insurance plan.

The more populated states tend to pay more for their insurance coverage, which can be easily demonstrated through Nevada, as they had an average disposable income in 2014 of $36,477 yet paid an average of $1,083.42 for their full coverage insurance.

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Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates in ND (Liability, Collision, Comprehensive)

The data below was taken from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, a leading source on the matter of insurance.

Keep in mind that these rates may likely be higher for 2019 and on.

In this no-fault state, getting additional coverage could save your wallet in the future. If there is an accident, you’ll thank your past self for getting that extra coverage!

Additional Liability

In a previous section, we touched on the additional liability coverage that North Dakota citizens are required to have, in addition to their minimum liability coverage. MedPay (Personal Injury Protection/PIP) and Uninsured/Underinsured Coverage is required in the state of North Dakota. But what exactly do these types of coverage cover?

• MedPay (Personal Injury Protection/PIP) Coverage = Coverage for your medical expenses after an accident
• Uninsured/Underinsured Coverage = Protection for yourself if you are in an accident with an uninsured/underinsured driver

Below, we’ve listed the loss ratio for these coverage types, as well as an explanation for what exactly that means for you.

So what exactly do the numbers above mean?

• High Loss Ratio = A company with a high loss ratio, over 100 percent, is paying out TOO MANY claims and are at risk of going bankrupt
• Low Loss Ratio = A company with too low of a loss ratio is paying out TOO FEW claims to their customers

So you can see in the above data that while the MedPay loss ratio looks good, the Uninsured/Underinsured loss ratios are not as good. This means that while MedPay is hitting the sweet spot for how much it is paying out in claims, Uninsured/Underinsured coverages aren’t paying out enough claims.

The top companies in the nation typically have loss ratios ranging from 94 to 112 percent.

What is the take away from this section? MedPay and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage are REQUIRED in North Dakota, so make sure you steer clear of any companies that have too high or too low loss ratios.

Add-Ons, Endorsements, and Riders

We’ve gone over why the minimum coverage in this no-fault state is just not enough. That said, what should you add to your plan? There is a staggering number of options that can be overwhelming to have to sort through. Especially considered that they are additional expenses you’ll have to account for.

We wanted to help you out by collecting a list of some of the types of coverage that is the most affordable auto insurance options to add to your plan. These options are cost-effective and can be helpful not only during an accident but other daily occurrences you normally wouldn’t think about.

Click on any of the additional coverage options to learn more about them:

• Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)
• Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP)
• Rental Reimbursement
• Emergency Roadside Assitance
• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
• Non-Owner Auto Insurance
• Modified Auto Insurance Coverage
• Classic Auto Insurance
• Low-Mileage Discount

Definitely consider adding one (or more) of these coverage options to your policy.

Average Auto Insurance Rates by Age & Gender in ND

Demographic information plays a factor in what your insurance rates may be. We’ve taken a look at factors such as gender, age, and marital status to see what the differences between some of the most popular insurance companies in North Dakota are.

You can see that generally, females in North Dakota tend to pay less than their male counterparts. Some companies are starting to catch onto the gender bias this presents and offers the same rates to both spouses such as American Family Mutual and State Farm Mutual Auto.

The younger you are, however, the more you tend to pay for your insurance policy. This tends to be a trend across the nation, as most companies see younger drivers as more reckless than their older counterparts.

Teen males are hit the hardest in North Dakota with this, seeing rates that are thousands of dollars extra than the rest of the other demographic areas. This trend can be easily seen in the data below, in which we ranked the most expensive demographics below.

Ouch, poor teen males!

Rates by ZIP Code and City

As with gender and age, where exactly you live in North Dakota can affect what you pay. We’ve done the hard part for you and collected the data for what the average cost of insurance is per city and ZIP code.

Check out the list above to see if your city and ZIP code has the most affordable rates in the state!

If you find your ZIP code in the table above, you can expect to pay the highest rates in North Dakota.

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North Dakota Auto Insurance Companies

It’s a jungle out there with all the countless insurance providers out there. All of them clamoring for your business. It can be extremely hard trying to pick out which provider is going to give you the best coverage for the best rates.

We don’t want you wasting money you’ve worked so hard for on something that won’t give you the absolute best coverage for your needs. To help you with this, we took a look at the biggest auto insurance companies in North Dakota. We want to arm you with the knowledge you need! In this section, we’ll cover company ratings, who have the most complaints, and much more.

Keep reading to learn more about the auto insurance companies in North Dakota!

Largest Companies Financial Rating

Do you remember getting graded when you were in school? The higher your grade, the better you did? This concept applies to auto insurance companies as well, with their rating being measured by something known as an A.M. Best Rating.

This rating is able to measure the financial strength of a company. Below, we’ve listed all of the A.M. Best Ratings for the largest insurance companies in North Dakota.

Rank	Company Name	AM Best Rating	Direct Premiums Written	Loss Ratio	Market Share
1	State Farm Group	A	$620,489	59.83%	21.28%
2	Progressive Group	A+	$370,678	62.08%	12.71%
3	Farmers Insurance Group	A	$275,252	54.10%	9.44%
4	Liberty Mutual Group	A	$261,291	67.77%	8.96%
5	Geico	A++	$260,828	70.56%	8.95%
6	Allstate Insurance Group	A+	$237,418	54.12%	8.14%
7	USAA Group	A++	$164,064	77.08%	5.63%
8	Country Insurance & Financial Service Group	C	$104,849	58.75%	3.60%
9	American Family Insurance Group	A	$91,870	66.64%	3.15%
10	Nationwide Corp Group	A+	$68,651	71.56%	2.35%
Get Your Rates Quote Now						#blank#	#blank#	#blank#	#blank#	#blank#

Ideally, as we discussed in a previous section, a company shouldn’t have a high OR low loss ratio. Most of the companies in North Dakota have decent loss ratios, some more than others. The bright side is that none of the above companies are at risk of going bankrupt due to high loss ratios!

Companies with Best Ratings

Do you know the phrase ‘happy wife, happy life’? Insurance companies follow this model, but instead of ‘wife’, replace that with ‘customer’. If a customer isn’t happy with the services they’re being provided, they’ll take their business elsewhere.

That is why most insurance providers take a lot of pride in what their customer satisfaction ratings are. J.D. Power released a 2018 study in which they ranked the overall customer satisfaction index for the top insurance providers in a region. Check out the best-rated companies in Oregon’s region below.

Companies with Most Complaints in North Dakota

While there is good, there is also the not-so-good. We’ll now take a look at the companies in North Dakota with the most complaints.

Keep in mind, however, that complaints aren’t necessarily indicative of a bad company. Instead, it allows you to see how a company is going to address customer satisfaction and complaints.

Cheapest Companies in North Dakota

What is your best way to save money on insurance? Shop around! Everyone is going to offer you rates and coverage that is going to sound pleasing to the ear. But if you don’t shop around and compare rates between companies, you could be paying thousands of dollars extra for the same plan!

So you can see from the data above that if you were to choose a plan with State Farm Mutual Auto, you could be paying $1,644.59 LESS than the state average. Meanwhile, you would be paying SAFECO $8,647.71 MORE than the state average!

Commute Rates by Companies

Do you have a long commute to work every day? Depending on which company you choose, you could be paying extra for that commute.

From the data above, there are a few companies that charge the same rate no matter what commute you have. There are a few others, however, that charge hundreds of dollars more depending on your commute, such as State Farm. Did we mention that you should shop around?

Cover Level Rates by Companies

While it can be enticing to purchase a low coverage plan simply because it costs less, a higher level coverage plan would protect you significantly more. Not only that but if you aren’t comparing rates across the board, you could actually be paying more for a lower coverage plan than for a higher coverage one.

A low coverage plan with Liberty Mutual costs thousands of dollars MORE than most of the other high coverage plans from the other companies in the table above. That aside, even a high coverage plan with USAA costs a few hundred dollars less than a low coverage plan with State Farm.

What should you take away from this section? If you shop around, you could find a high coverage plan that will protect you the most, while still managing to save some cash!

Credit History Rates by Companies

The quality of your credit score can impact what your insurance rates will be. The bottom line for these insurance companies is that they want to offer you the protection you need. But they still need to ensure you’re going to pay them at the end of the day.

The average credit score in North Dakota is 697. To put this into perspective, the national credit score is 675. This means that on average, North Dakota citizens have a BETTER credit score than most other states. Go North Dakota!

The best part of this news? This means that North Dakota will have a better chance of getting the best rates, as they are (on average) above the national average for credit scores.

You can see from the data above just how much of a difference your credit score could be in terms of cost. If you were to have a poor credit history with Liberty Mutual, you would be paying almost $10,000 MORE than if you had a good credit history. Improving your credit score would not only help you down the road but would help you improve your insurance bills!

Check out the video below to see how insurance companies use your credit score to give you your insurance rates!

Driving Record Rates by Companies

The absolute best way to save money on auto insurance, besides shopping around? Having a clean driving record. The safer of a driver you are, the less that insurance providers have to worry about you.

Just one accident, speeding violation, or DUI could significantly increase your rates. For instance, from the data above, just one accident with Allstate means you would be paying $378.66 MORE than if you had a clean driving record. So if you’re looking to save a few bucks on insurance, make sure to be a safe driver!

Number of Insurers

North Dakota has only 12 domestic insurers, while they have 786 foreign insurers. What is the difference, and what does this mean for you? In all honesty, the difference is minor.

• Domestic Provider = provider that is formed under North Dakota’s state laws ONLY (such as a local insurance chain ONLY located in North Dakota)
• Foreign Provider = provider that is formed under ANY state law (such as the larger insurance providers such as Allstate, Geico, etc.)

What does this mean for you then? For you, all it means is that if have a foreign provider that you ensure your insurance policy meets all the minimum coverage liability requirements.

North Dakota State Laws

Each state is unique, from the landscape all the way to its demographics, so, therefore, each state has its own laws specific to that state. You wouldn’t be driving in California with the same state laws as you would in North Dakota.

These laws can be a little confusing, especially for any new-comers. You need to familiarize yourself with North Dakota’s laws in order to start legally driving.

The absolute last thing we want for you is to get a ticket for a law you didn’t even know existed! Never fear though! We’ve put together a list of all the most important driving laws you absolutely need to know.

Buckle in, because in this section we’ll go over everything from specific auto insurance laws to vehicle licensing laws, and more!

Auto insurance Laws

We’ve discussed in an earlier section about the requirements of auto insurance for North Dakota citizens. We’ll further break down how these state laws are determined, what types of other coverage are available, and more.

How State Laws for Insurance are Determined

According to the NAIC, in North Dakota:

“Regarding rate filing, a rate/ rule filing of less than 5 percent for personal auto policy may be use-and-file once per calendar year per company. Otherwise, the filing must meet the prior approval standard.”

Windshield Coverage

Accidents and damage to your vehicle happen. Sometimes other vehicles on the road kick up rocks that crack your windshield. Things happen, but they can still come at a cost. Luckily, there is no requirement that you have windshield coverage on your insurance policy as per the North Dakota windshield insurance coverage laws. It can, however, be very useful should you ever have any damage to it for any reason.

If anything were to happen to your windshield and you need to repair/replace it, insurers are allowed to use aftermarket parts as long as “the quality is comparable to the manufacturer’js parts” according to the North Dakota Insurance Department.

High-Risk Insurance

Are you considered a high-risk driver? As in you’ve had numerous traffic violations/DUI convictions/accidents? If so, you may have an extremely hard time finding an insurance provider who is willing to provide you with an insurance plan.

But you are still required to have auto insurance in order to drive in North Dakota, so what do you do? Well, North Dakota has a plan designed to help these high-risk drivers, known as the North Dakota Automobile Insurance Plan (ND AIP).

This plan, which is referred to in the state as “the assigned risk plan”, assigns these drivers to insurance providers in the state. How are they able to do this? For an insurance provider to be able to provide insurance in North Dakota, they must agree to be a participant in the program.

How are you able to qualify for this plan?

• You are a resident of North Dakota
• Your vehicle is registered in North Dakota
• Possess a valid and current North Dakota driver’s license
• No unpaid automobile insurance premiums in the last 12 months

They recommend that this plan be your absolute last resort. Why? Once assigned to an insurance provider, the cost of coverage is typically much higher than the regular market value. This means that the insurance provider is able to charge you whatever rates they deem appropriate for you.

Make sure you shop around for providers’ BEFORE turning to the ND AIP. If you are able to find a provider who is willing to give you coverage, even if the price is a little higher, you should highly consider taking that coverage. As if you do not, the new rate you are charged is likely to be much higher than even that.

Low-Cost Insurance

If you are in need of low-cost insurance due to income, there is, unfortunately, no government-sponsored program in North Dakota to assist you. Don’t let this get you down though! There are still plenty of ways to drive down the cost of insurance so you can keep a few bucks in your pocket.

What are just a few common ways to save on insurance?

• Shopping around and comparing insurance rates amongst different providers
• Having a clean driving record
• Having a good credit history

In addition, there are discounts a lot of providers are willing to give you should you qualify for them. Make sure to ask your provider about some of the following discounts:

• Employee discounts (some companies provide their employees with insurance to other businesses, such as insurance providers)
• Good Driver Discount
• Low Mileage Discount
• Homeowners Discount
• Bundled Discounts (if you use the same insurance provider for other insurance such as health insurance or home insurance)
• Multi-Car Discount
• Emergency Roadside Assistance Discount
• Accident-Free Discount
• Drivers Education Discount
• Green/Hybrid Discount (if you opt for a paperless policy/if you own a hybrid vehicle)
• Anti-Theft Discount
• Auto-Pay Discount (if you set up an automatic payment system with the provider)

So as you can see, there are a variety of ways that you can save yourself some money while still getting the insurance you need!

Automobile Insurance Fraud in North Dakota

It will likely not come as a shock that automobile insurance fraud is a crime in North Dakota. It’s a crime in every state in the nation. But did you know just how significant of a problem it is in the United States? It’s estimated by the Insurance Information Institute (III) that over $30 billion is stolen due to fraudulent claims EVERY YEAR. That is a ton of money!

How exactly does one commit insurance fraud?

There are two main ways that insurance fraud can be committed:

• Faking an accident or creating a claim for damages/injuries that NEVER happened
• Adding on “extra” costs to a legitimate claim

Committing such a crime can lead to some significant penalties such as community service, fines, and even jail time. Avoid having this happen to you by avoiding committing insurance fraud. It’s really just not worth it!

Statute of Limitations

Let’s say that you have been in an accident. Did you know that you have a limited amount of time to submit a claim for this accident? Don’t worry, it’s not like you have to run down the street to your provider’s office to submit it ASAP. But it is definitely something to consider and keep in mind as you deal with the repercussions of the accident.

In North Dakota, you have six years to submit a claim for both Personal Injuries as well as for Property Damage.

This is a pretty generous amount of time, as North Dakota wants to make sure citizens are able to get the payment they need to pay for this type of thing. Don’t delay, however, as this amount of time can dwindle away when you’re dealing with the damages from the accident (such as hospital time if you were injured).

North Dakota Unfair Claims Settlement Practice

North Dakota requires that all insurance providers are to fully disclose any and all policy information to their clients. Why would they require this? North Dakota wants to prevent insurers from ‘accidentally forgetting’ about benefits in your policy at the time of claim. In addition, it helps to prevent an insurer from completely ignoring your claim as well.

The best way to avoid this altogether is to make sure you know your insurance policy inside and out.

Vehicle Licensing Laws

What do you need to know for getting your vehicle license in North Dakota? In this section, we’ll cover topics regarding particular laws you’ll need to follow for vehicle licensing. We’ll go over everything from the penalties you would be facing for driving without your insurance, to teen driver laws, and more.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance

Since it is required in North Dakota to carry some form of financial responsibility on you while operating a vehicle, there are obviously some strict penalties for not having it.

Just your FIRST offense could mean thousands of dollars in fines, 14 points against your license PLUS suspension, and even possible jail time!

Teen Driver Laws

In North Dakota, teens as young as 14 years old are allowed to get their learners license! It’s important to know all of the laws regarding teen drivers, as these rules were put into place in order to help keep teens safe as they learn the ways of the road.

Driver’s education is required for license applicants younger than 16 years old.

In addition, teen drivers must follow the following restrictions during the intermediate restricted license stage:

Older Driver License Renewal Procedures

Older residents in North Dakota are required to follow special guidelines in order to get their license renewed.

Unfortunately, all of this means that those North Dakota citizens 65 years and older have to jump through a few hoops to get their license renewed. They must go into the DMV in person to get their license renewed, as well as making an appointment with the eye doctor prior to the DMV visit to provide proof of adequate vision. The good news to all of this? They only need to do this every four years (if they are 78 years or older) or every six years until they are 78 years old.

New Residents

Thinking of calling North Dakota home? If you are, there are a few things you’ll need to do in order to legally drive your vehicle in the state. You’ll need to contact your insurance provider to change and update your policy to cover at least the minimum liability coverage for North Dakota.

Need a refresher on what is the minimum coverage required in North Dakota?

• Bodily Injury: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
• Property Damage: $25,000 per accident
• Uninsured Motorist: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
• Underinsured Motorist: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
• Basic Personal Injury Protection: $30,000 maximum

Make sure that once your policy and rates have been updated, you are provided with the updated insurance cards. You will need to have this on you at all times while operating a vehicle.

License Renewal Procedures

There are a few basic renewal procedures that all drivers in North Dakota must follow in order to renew their license.

They must follow the following guidelines:

• Renewal Cycle: Every six years
• Proof of Adequate Vision: Every Renewal
• Online/Mail Renewal: Both, Every Other Renewal

The good news is that you only have to stand in the line at the DMV every 12 years (every other renewal)! Otherwise, you are allowed to send in your renewal application through the mail or through North Dakota’ DMV’s online portal.

Just remember that you’ll need to make that eye doctor’s appointment just before you submit your license renewal application, as you still will need to provide proof of adequate vision upon every single renewal.

Negligent Drivers

North Dakota has laws regarding drivers who drive in a negligent way, known as “reckless driving”. How is reckless driving defined in the state?

• Driving in a way that disregards the rights and safety of others
• Driving without caution/circumspection and at a speed/manner that could endanger a person/property

Essentially this means that a driver can be convicted of reckless driving if they were operating their vehicle in a way that puts other people or property in danger.

What happens if you are convicted of such a traffic offense?

• Standard Reckless Driving: class B misdemeanor; up to 30 days in jail and/or a maximum of $1,500 in fines, eight point demerit on your driving record
• Aggravated Reckless Driving: class A misdemeanor; up to a year in jail and/or a maximum of $3,000 in fines, 12 point demerit on your driving record

What exactly does ‘aggravated reckless driving’ mean? It’s when the driver causes injury to another person due to their reckless driving. Moral of the story? Make sure you drive safely while on the roads!

Rules of the Road

Now we’ll cover some specific rules of the road for North Dakota. If you don’t know the rules of the road, you could be at risk of breaking a law you didn’t even know existed. The last thing we want is for you to have to pay your hard-earned money to traffic tickets you could’ve avoided.

– Fault Versus No-Fault

North Dakota is one of the few states that operate under a no-fault accident system. We discussed this briefly in an earlier section, but here’s a reminder in case you had forgotten what exactly ‘no-fault’ means:

According to the III, “No-fault” means that every driver in an accident has to make a claim with their own insurance provider after an accident. Regardless of who was at fault for the accident.

Why would a state follow such a system? Well, the intended purpose of this was to lower the cost of auto insurance for all drivers in the state, by taking small claims out of the court system. It means that each insurance company is responsible for compensating their own clients for the cost of the accident, regardless of who was at fault for the accident.

Also mentioned previously, because of this no-fault system, drivers are required to have the addition of the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) to their insurance coverage. In North Dakota, this means $30,000 maximum in PIP.

Ensure that you have the adequate coverage you need for this! The minimum coverage may not even be enough to cover all of the costs of an accident, so making sure you protect yourself with the optimal coverage will make sure you don’t have to pay out of pocket.

Seat Belt and Car Seat Laws

It’s important to make sure every person in a vehicle is safe while on the road. North Dakota has enacted seat belt and car seat laws to help ensure the safety of not only the driver but the other occupants of the vehicle.

There have been countless studies done on how vital proper car seats and the use of a seat belt can be in the case of an accident. There is a MUCH higher likelihood of fatality if not used.

There are currently no state laws regarding passengers riding in the cargo areas of pickup vehicles, but making sure you take precautions to ensure safety to those passengers is wise.

Keep Right and Move Over Laws

The Keep Right and Move Over Laws in North Dakota are fairly easy to understand, so making sure you adhere to them should be no problem for you.

Keep Right laws in North Dakota just mean that if you are driving slower than the average speed of traffic around you, you are to keep in the right lane. Easy right?

Move Over laws are just as easy. If you are approaching an emergency vehicle with flashing lights that is stationary (which includes wreckers and highway maintenance vehicles). you are required to move to the closest lane if it is possible and safe to do so. Otherwise, you should slow your vehicle to a safe speed in order to move lanes.

If you see any of the following vehicles, you need to move over:

• Law enforcement
• Firetruck
• Ambulance
• Tow-Truck Drivers
• Drivers with their hazard lights on
• Utility Workers

Think of it this way, if a vehicle has flashing lights and they are flashing, MOVE OVER. Check out the video below to see why move-over laws are so important.

These laws were placed in order to help keep other drivers, as well as emergency responders, safe on the road. Making sure you follow these keep right and move over laws will help prevent other people from getting injured, or even killed!

Speed Limits

Each state has their own speed limits, unique to the landscapes and demographics of every state. Below are the maximum speed limits for the different road types in North Dakota.

Make note that these are the MAXIMUM speed limits. These will vary from road to road in North Dakota, so make sure you pay close attention to the posted road signs.

Ridesharing

We’re sure you’ve heard of ridesharing services such as Lyft and Uber. They are massively helpful tools for allowing individuals to travel where they need to when they need to.

What if you are thinking of earning some extra cash and applying to work for one of these ridesharing services? If you are, keep in mind that you’ll need to have additional coverage for ridesharing in order to work for these companies.

There are currently no listed ridesharing coverage options in North Dakota, but you may be able to find a provider with this coverage by shopping around. You could also ask your current provider to see if they have this type of coverage.

Automation on the Road

What exactly does it mean for there to be automation on the road? Is it the stuff of science fiction, or the technology only heard of in stories? Not necessarily.

According to the IIHS, it is defined as “the use of a machine or technology to perform a task or function that was previously carried out by a human”

This could mean something as simple as the cruise control present in most modern vehicles, or even the newer parallel parking tools some vehicles are beginning to explore. Currently, North Dakota doesn’t have any specific laws on automation on the road, but they are one of 11 states that have authorized studies/defined key terms/authorized funding for it.

Safety Laws

Safety is a priority for North Dakota drivers. There are a few safety specific laws, for some of the more common causes of vehicular fatalities.

DUI Laws

One of the most common causes of vehicular fatalities in the nation is DUI-impaired driving. It’s something that in 2017, claimed the lives of 10,874 individuals nationwide. It’s a completely avoidable circumstance and one that most states, including North Dakota, take very seriously. Below we’ve listed the details of North Dakota’s alcohol-impaired driving laws.

What exactly happens to you if you are caught driving under the influence? Well with each offense, the more severe the penalties become.

This is one of the most preventable causes of accidents and fatalities when it comes to driving on the road! Drinking and driving is simply not worth it. That drink can wait until you get home and are in a safe environment. Or reversely, if you are out on the town with your friends and find yourself unable to drive, there are options.

• Have a designated driver who will not drink and will take you/others home
• Use a ridesharing service such as Uber or Lyft to take you home
• Phone a friend/family member to pick you up from where you are

Remember to drive safe, and find a way to avoid driving after you’ve been drinking!

Marijuana-Impaired Driving Laws

North Dakota doesn’t have any specific laws regarding marijuana-impaired driving. This does not mean, however, that you won’t get in trouble for driving after using marijuana. This means that you could still be charged with impaired driving, resulting in fines, jail time, or other penalties.

In addition, marijuana can be used for medical use in North Dakota, but not for recreational use. You could get in legal trouble having a marijuana period in North Dakota.

Distracted Driving Laws

What is one of the other most common causes of accidents/fatalities when it comes to driving? Distracted driving. All it takes is a second looking at your mobile device for an accident to occur. If you don’t have your eyes fully on the road, you might as well plaster a “danger” sign on your vehicle.

North Dakota has created the following cellphone laws to combat this:

Remember, primary enforcement means that if a law enforcement officer even sees you using your cellphone, they can pull you over.

North Dakota Can’t-Miss Facts

Now onto the last section of this comprehensive guide! You’ve been given all the information you need to know about coverage and rates, the best companies, and state laws in North Dakota.

In this section, we’ll move on to some of the must-know facts you’ll need to know when driving. We’ll go over everything from vehicle thefts in the state, to common road dangers prevalent in North Dakota, and more.

Keep reading to find out more about the facts you just can’t-miss about North Dakota driving.

Vehicle Thefts

Each state has a list of vehicles more prone to getting stolen. They vary in make/model, year of the vehicle, and more. What’s probably most surprising is that they aren’t necessarily what you would expect to be the most stolen.

They often aren’t the luxury brand vehicles but are typically more common vehicle brands such as Honda, Toyota, Chevrolet, and more. Below we’ve listed the top ten most stolen vehicles in North Dakota.

Poor Chevrolet owners!

Where you live can also play a factor in the chances of your vehicle being stolen. Check out the data below to see if your city has a high theft rate!

Road Dangers in North Dakota

Every road is different, as each road has its own set of dangers. Poor visibility, a lot of curves and turns, or even the landscape around it can make it hard to navigate the road. Not only that, but you have to account for other factors that can affect your driving.

In this section, we’ll go over some fatality statistics to demonstrate how different road dangers can increase, or decrease, your chances of getting into an accident.

Fatal Crashes by Weather Condition and Light Condition

If the weather is poor, chances are you are trying to compensate your driving to account for the weather ranging outside of your vehicle. Below we’ve compiled the data about how weather, and even the lighting around you, can affect driving.

North Dakota can see some absolutely brutal weather conditions, such as extremely heavy snowfall during winter. Don’t believe us? North Dakota can see winter temperatures as low as -60 degrees Fahrenheit!

Crash Type by County Fatalities

Want to know exactly how many vehicular-related fatalities your county has? Not to worry, we went through and made a list of all of the counties in North Dakota and their fatality rates from 2013 to 2017. Check out the data below to see where your county lies.

Person Type Fatalities

Person type fatalities are less about the demographic information about people (such as gender, race, etc.), and more about the type of vehicle being driven by those individuals. Was it a pickup truck or motorcycle? Was it a pedestrian?

Crash Type Fatalities

What type of crash was the fatality in? Was it just a single vehicle? Did it involve speeding?

Five-Year Trend For The Top 10 Counties

We went through the five-year trend for North Dakota and found the top ten counties with the highest fatality rates.

Speeding Fatalities by County

Speeding is one of the most common causes of fatalities on the road. We went through and found the number of speeding-related fatalities by county in North Dakota to show you just how dangerous it can be.

Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatalities

Remember the previous section in which we talked about DUI-related fatalities? Well, now we’re going to put numbers to that by county. Below is the fatality rates, by county, for all of the alcohol-related fatalities in North Dakota.

What makes all of the tragic fatalities above even more shocking? North Dakota ranked as the 2nd MOST dangerous state for drunk driving in the nation!

Teen Drinking and Driving

What makes the data above more shocking? These numbers INCLUDE teen drivers. That’s right, teen drinking and driving is a massive problem in North Dakota. In 2018 alone there were 26 DUI arrests made for individuals UNDER the age of 18 years old.

North Dakota is the 10th most dangerous state for teen drinking and driving!

EMS Response Time

If you are ever in an accident and are injured, what is one of the first calls you’re going to make? To the Emergency Medical Services (EMS)! They are vital to getting you to the hospital when you need it most, as it sometimes can mean the difference between life and death.

Those precious seconds and minutes count, so knowing what their average response times are will better equip you to know exactly when you can expect to get to the hospital after an accident.

These response times are very good! This means that even in more rural areas, you can expect to get to the hospital in just under an hour from the site of your accident, and even less time (less than half an hour)if you’re in an urban area.

Transportation

We’ve made it to the last section of this guide, hooray! In this section, we’ll talk about the different factors of transportation in North Dakota. We’ll cover such topics as commute times, car ownership, and more.

Car Ownership

Does your household own two vehicles? If you do, you make up the majority of car owners in North Dakota. Following closely to that are households that own three vehicles.

Commute Time

How long can you expect to make getting to and from work in North Dakota? Well, you’re in luck! The average commute time in North Dakota is only 16.5 minutes! Comparatively, the average national commute time is 25.3 minutes, meaning North Dakota citizens have LESS travel time.

Commuter Transportation

So you’re trying to get to work, but how do you prefer to get there? Do you crank up the tunes and drive alone? Or do you share a ride with your buddies? In North Dakota, the most common method of travel is to drive alone at 80.2 percent.

Traffic Congestion in North Dakota

One of the most frustrating things of being on the road is when you are trying to get somewhere but get stuck in thick traffic congestion.

Guess what North Dakota? You’ve managed to steer clear of the INRIX scorecard, the TomTom traffic index, AND the Numbeo traffic index! This means that even in some of the busiest North Dakota cities, the traffic congestion isn’t enough to make it onto the national list!

This would make sense as North Dakota is the 4th least populated state in the nation, as well as only having an average commute time of 16.5 minutes.

You did it! You’ve made to the end! We hope that this comprehensive guide was helpful to you, and was able to give you the confidence you need to select the best coverage and rates to fit YOUR needs.

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