Short Answer

In North Carolina, personal auto rates typically increase only for at-fault accidents or moving violations under the state’s Safe Driver Incentive Plan (SDIP). An accident in a company vehicle generally will not raise your personal premiums if you were not at fault or if only uninsured motorist (UM) coverage paid. If a surcharge appears anyway, you can ask your insurer to remove it and provide proof you were not at fault.

Understanding the Problem

You want to know if a crash that happened while you were driving a company vehicle can raise your personal auto insurance rates in North Carolina. You were hit by an uninsured driver, and UM coverage is being used to pay your claim. The decision point is whether your personal policy can be surcharged for this event.

Apply the Law

North Carolina uses the Safe Driver Incentive Plan (SDIP) to assign points for at-fault accidents and moving violations. Insurers use those points to set premiums at renewal. A “chargeable accident” generally requires that you were deemed at fault and that an insurer paid for damages over a set threshold; not-at-fault accidents and certain UM-only claims should not generate SDIP points. Disputes about improper surcharges are handled first with your insurer and, if needed, through the North Carolina Department of Insurance.

Key Requirements

• At-fault component: A surcharge requires that you were deemed at fault under North Carolina’s plan, not merely involved in a crash.
• Payment/threshold: The insurer must have paid for damages above a dollar threshold set by the state plan; the amount can change over time.
• Moving violations: Convictions for certain traffic offenses add points even if no accident surcharge applies.
• Points follow the driver: Points affect policies where you are a rated driver and typically last for three policy years.
• Key exceptions: Not-at-fault accidents and UM-only claims where you were not at fault should not add SDIP points to your personal policy.

What the Statutes Say

• North Carolina Gen. Stat. § 58-36-65 (Safe Driver Incentive Plan) - Sets how insurers surcharge for at-fault accidents and violations and outlines exceptions.
• North Carolina Gen. Stat. § 58-36-1 (Rate Bureau; classification plans) - Authorizes statewide classification and rating plans used by auto insurers.
• North Carolina Gen. Stat. § 20-279.21 (Uninsured Motorist coverage) - Requires UM coverage and establishes how UM claims are handled.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: You were hit by an uninsured driver while driving a company vehicle and are using UM coverage. If you were not at fault, this event should not create SDIP points on your personal policy because it is a UM claim without your fault. If a ticket or conviction resulted from the crash, that conviction could still add points. If you are deemed at fault and the payment exceeds the plan’s threshold, a surcharge may apply.

Process & Timing

1. Who files: You. Where: Start with your personal auto insurer’s customer service or underwriting department. What: Send a written request to remove any surcharge and include the crash report, employer’s claim information, and proof the UM claim paid and you were not at fault. When: Do this before your next renewal date or by the deadline stated in your surcharge notice.
2. If the insurer does not correct the surcharge, submit a complaint to the North Carolina Department of Insurance Consumer Services with the same documents. Response times vary by insurer and agency workload.
3. Keep copies of all correspondence. If corrected, your next billing or renewal should reflect removal of the points.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• Any moving violation conviction from the crash can add points even if the accident itself is not chargeable.
• Small property-damage claims can still be chargeable if the paid amount exceeds the plan’s threshold; the threshold can change.
• If you are a rated driver on multiple policies, points can affect each policy you are rated on.
• Assume nothing—if a surcharge appears, dispute it promptly and provide documentation that the claim was UM and that you were not at fault.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney

If you’re dealing with a company-vehicle crash and a UM claim while worrying about premium impacts, our firm has attorneys who can help you understand your options and timelines. Reach out today at (919) 341-7055.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice for your specific situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If you have a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.