What is an FS-1 form in North Carolina? | CarInsurance.com (2024)

Understanding what type of car insurance coverage you need to carry as a driver in North Carolina is essential. You never know what might happen behind the wheel. You must have an FS-1 form on file with the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.

An FS-1 form is a certificate of insurance only used in North Carolina and issued by your insurance company. It proves a driver carries the minimum liability insurance required in the state. An FS-1 form also provides proof of insurance if you’re involved in an accident or when you register your vehicle.

Learn more about the FS-1 form and North Carolina insurance requirements, including how to get and submit the form and more.

What is an FS-1 form in North Carolina?

Liability insurance is required coverage in North Carolina — it protects the other driver and their property involved in an accident. This coverage must be continuous and not lapse. The FS-1 form proves you have car insurance coverage.

According to Jennifer Keel, director of vehicle services at the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) the FS-1 form is sent electronically from an insurance company. The FS-1 certifies that insurance coverage was active for a certain date on a specific vehicle — including the year, make, model and vehicle identification number (VIN).

Keel says the FS-1 is a North Carolina Certificate of Insurance issued by an authorized agent issuing a customer’s auto insurance policy.

North Carolina is currently the only state that uses an FS-1 form, which proves that drivers carry the minimum bodily injury and property damage car insurance limits of 30/60/25.

These limits are:

• $30,000 for bodily injury for one person
• $60,000 for bodily injury for two or more people
• $25,000 for property damage

North Carolina also requires insurance coverage for uninsured/underinsured motorists on all policies.

North Carolina allows drivers to self-certify

When a driver is involved in a traffic violation or accident in North Carolina, they can verbally self-certify their coverage by providing the name of their insurance company and policy number.

Insured drivers must have an FS-1 form provided by their insurance agent on record at the NCDMV. However, if insurance coverage has lapsed or the driver has had a DUI or a previously suspended or revoked license, another form of insurance may be necessary.

Generally, a current insurance policy and a DL-123 insurance form are acceptable forms of proof of insurance outside of an FS-1 form.

They are often used for:

• Drivers with a DUI violation who must show proof of coverage.
• Drivers whose coverage has lapsed.
• Drivers who use the FS-1 in addition to an insurance card to demonstrate proof of coverage.
• Drivers who are new to the state.

When do you need an FS-1 form in North Carolina?

The FS-1 form is an official insurance certification necessary for operating a motor vehicle in North Carolina. It must be on file with the NCDMV and available as proof of coverage if you’re involved in a traffic violation or need to title or register your vehicle.

Keel says you also need an FS-1 form when the NCDMV receives notification of a lapse in your coverage, upon issuance of a new or replacement policy, and upon reinstatement of a policy. Additionally, if your insurance was canceled, you’d need an FS-1 form.

In the instance of an insurance coverage lapse, your car insurance company will contact the NCDMV. This can result in fees and potential suspension of your license in the state. North Carolina’s Department of Insurance takes safe driving seriously and has implemented a safe driver incentive plan, demonstrating how much car insurance rates can increase based on violation. For example, a speeding violation in North Carolina will increase your rate by 49% and a DUI by 310%, according to 2023 data.

How to submit an FS-1 form

Once you’ve purchased car insurance in North Carolina, your insurance company will submit an FS-1 form to the NCDMV electronically. This is added to your driving record immediately. You can also provide proof of insurance coverage to the NCDMV by requesting your insurance agent submit the FS-1 form electronically.

FAQ: The FS-1 form in North Carolina

Since North Carolina is the only state to use an FS-1 form, there tend to be some frequently asked questions about how they are processed and what happens if one isn’t submitted. Learn more about these points in the FAQ below.

Resources & Methodology

Sources

1. North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV). “Insurance requirements.” Accessed May 2024.
2. North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI). “Safe driver incentive plan’. Accessed May 2024.

Methodology

CarInsurance.com editors in 2024 collected rates from Quadrant Information Services for a 40-year-old driving a Honda Accord LX with a full coverage insurance policy with limits 100/300/50 and $500 comprehensive and collision deductibles. The data comes from the 2022 auto problems report. We analyzed 5,000,736 records, 1,467 ZIP codes and 548 cities nationwide.