NC Insurance Points

We’ve previously discussed driver’s license points, but we mention that North Carolina actually has two point systems. The other system is insurance points. So how does that system work? While driver’s license points can cause your license to be suspended, insurance points are used to determine your insurance rates. While the effects are different, the point systems are fairly similar.
Points are acquired for various convictions and at-fault accidents. The point values for each offense are as follows:
Manslaughter 12
Prearranged highway racing 12
Lending a car for prearranged hwy racing 12
Hit-and-run resulting in bodily injury/death 12
Driving with blood alcohol level .08 more 12
Driving commercial vehicle blood alcohol .04 more 12
Driving While Impaired 12
Transporting illegal intoxicating liquor for sale 12
Highway racing 10
Lending a car for highway racing 10
Speeding to elude arrest 10
Driving during revocation or suspension of license or registration 8
Aggressive Driving 8
Reckless Driving 4
Hit-and-run resulting in property damage only 4
Passing a stopped school bus 4
Speeding in excess of 75mph when the speed limit is less than 70mph 4
Speeding in excess of 80mph when the speed limit is 70mph or more 4
Driving by a person less than 21 after consuming alcohol or drugs 4
At-fault accident resulting in death or bodily injury in excuse of $1800 or property damage of $3000 or more 3
Illegal passing 2
Following too closely 2
Driving on the wrong side of the road 2
At-fault accident that occurs on or after Jan. 1, 2004, resulting in property damage in excess of $1,800, but less than $3,000** 2
Speeding more than 10mph over the speed limit provided the total speed is in excess of 55 mph, but less than 76 mph 2
Speeding 10 mph or less in excess of speed zone of 55 mph or greater 2
All other moving violations 1
At-fault accident that occurs on or after Jan. 1, 2004, resulting in bodily injury* of $1,800 or less, or property damage in of $1,800 or less** 1
Speeding 10 mph or less in excess of speed limit of less than 55 mph 1

Clearly, you can accrue insurance points from a variety offenses. So what do those points mean for your rate? Your insurance company may raise your rates by percentages based on point accrual. Here are the percentage increases:
1 point – 25%
2 points – 45%
3 points – 60%
4 points – 80%
5 points – 105%
6 points – 130%
7 points – 160%
8 points – 190%
9 points – 225%
10 points – 260%
11 points – 300%
12 points – 340%

Obviously, these increases can be quite expensive. If you’ve been involved in any sort of offense that may carry insurance points, we urge you to contact an attorney who can try to mitigate the effects of the offense.