Insurance Commissioner Jim Long signed the order requiring the 16.1% reduction for private auto insurance.

The organization that negotiates rates for insurance companies had asked the state for a nearly 13% increase.

Department of Insurance spokesperson Kristin Milam says after hearing testimony on the proposal, Long came back with the 16.1% rate cut.

"It's certainly the biggest potential savings, over a billion dollars potentially saved to North Carolina drivers, and that's the biggest savings that we've seen in the last 24 years."

Milam says insurance companies can appeal the rate cut, which takes effect on January first.

Review the Department of Insurance's list of auto rates across North Carolina here.

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