My insurance runs about $1100/year and it doesn't much matter what sort of vehicle I have (up to $50k replacement value). That includes a $5 000 000 third party liability, full comprehensive collision/damage, and a $200 deductible which is reduced to zero in the event of glass damage or wildlife collisions.
I lived in the USA, all glorious and free and such, and the insurance I paid was less - though the insurance seller told me to get $20 000 liability as I was poor and thus couldn't really be sued. That would, of course, not help someone if I was in an accident and the other person was a quadriplegic for life. I think the extra liability ($1 000 000 is the minimum) might cost about $30 more per year. Great value, I think. Also, having a single insurer means that everyone has at least $1 000 000 liability and there is no need for the insurance companies to fight each other - just the one company determines who is entitled to what compensation and then pays it out (and raises/lowers rates accordingly). The freedom of choice in insurance comes at a cost, to be sure. Some people don't like a monopoly, but it seems to work here.
Here are our rates, should you care to compare:
http://apps.mpi.mb.ca/Irc/intro_2.asp?Lang=0
And, with respect to your "scam of a country" idea, I would suggest that in the event of a major collision, with injuries, your $30 000 + all you have and will have would not equal the potential cost of the damage, the hospital bills (does everyone have universal health care in NC?) and the long term care expenses of a disabled person. Cars are potentially dangerous, so you have to pay to play. So, yeah, I suppose I take issue with you calling my country a scam, when really we just are responsible for one another.