What changed in North Carolina

Insurance law does not sit still, but most guides are written once and left alone. Repealed programs and retired forms keep circulating for years. This is what actually changed inNorth Carolina, when, and where to verify it.

1. October 1, 2026

   Driving uninsured

   Response window for an insurance lapse notice goes from 10 days to 30

   An owner who receives a liability insurance termination notice from NCDMV currently has 10 days from the date printed on the notice to respond. NCDMV states that effective October 1, 2026 the window becomes 30 days. Missing the deadline still means a civil penalty plus revocation of the vehicle's registration.

   NCDMV

2. July 1, 2025

   Minimum coverage

   Minimum liability limits raised from 30/60/25 to 50/100/50

   S.L. 2023-133, as amended by S.L. 2024-29, raised the minimum limits for every policy issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025 — from $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage, to $50,000 / $100,000 / $50,000. Guides that still print 30/60/25 are describing the pre-2025 law.

   NC Department of Insurance

3. July 1, 2025

   Minimum coverage

   Underinsured motorist coverage now included in every policy

   The same legislation made underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage part of all new or renewed policies, alongside the uninsured motorist coverage North Carolina already required. G.S. 20-279.21(b)(4) now requires UIM in addition to the liability and uninsured motorist coverages, with limits matching the policy's own UM limits unless the insured chooses otherwise.

   NC Department of Insurance