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Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Charleston, SC (May 2022)
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Edited by Tanveen Vohra | Reviewed by licensed insurance agent, Amber Benka
Last Updated February 4, 2022
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Welcome to Charleston. All American City.
Car travel is the main mode of transportation for over 130,000 Charleston residents.
Finding the right car insurance policy for you and your lifestyle is an important step towards safe driving in Charleston. Search and save on the best car insurance policies in Charlreston today.
Quick Facts
- The average cost of car insurance in Charleston is $271 per month, or $3252 annually.
- Car insurance in Charleston is $12 more than the average cost of car insurance in South Carolina.
- The cheapest car insurance provider in Charleston on average is Kemper Preferred, but you should always compare quotes to find your best personal rate.
Car Insurance in Charleston, SC
The average cost of South Carolina car insurance will vary from city to city and between insurance companies. Insurify analyzed the latest insurance rates in Charleston, SC to find you the cheapest quotes in the area.
Quotes by Top Companies
Direct Auto$85
State Farm$109
Allstate$117
Progressive$133
Nationwide$138
Cheapest Car Insurance in Charleston, SC
The cost of car insurance can vary depending on the insurance provider. That’s because every insurance provider values information like your driving history and your credit score a little bit differently. Although the following car insurance companies offer the cheapest auto insurance premiums on average, it’s always important to compare quotes. Use Insurify to find your best rate today!
| Insurance Provider in Charleston | Quotes |
|---|---|
| Direct Auto | $85 /mo |
| State Farm | $109 /mo |
| Allstate | $117 /mo |
| Progressive | $133 /mo |
| Nationwide | $138 /mo |
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Best Car Insurance in Charleston, SC
The Insurify Composite Score is calculated by analyzing multiple factors that indicate the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company. Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings, Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys, mobile app reviews, and user-generated company reviews. The following are the top rated companies that offer car insurance in Charleston. For the complete list, see Insurify's best car insurance companies.
| Best Companies | Score | Quotes |
|---|---|---|
| American Family | 89 | $251 /mo |
| Safeco | 86 | $313 /mo |
| Liberty Mutual | 82 | $249 /mo |
| Travelers | 80 | $180 /mo |
See More: Best Car Insurance Companies
Average Car Insurance Cost
| South Carolina Cities | |
|---|---|
| Columbia | $154/mo |
| North Charleston | $125/mo |
| Mount Pleasant | $139/mo |
| Rock Hill | $139/mo |
| Charleston | $132/mo |
| South Carolina | $138/mo |
North Charleston$125
Charleston$132
Average for SC$138
Mount Pleasant$139
Rock Hill$139
Columbia$154
Click here to learn about car insurance quotes and save on your current policy.
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in SC
All motor vehicles operated or parked on South Carolina roadways are required to be insured. Proof of insurance must be carried in your car at all times and must available when:
- Requested by law enforcement
- Renewing vehicle registration
- The vehicle is involved in a car accident
The minimum liability car insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in South Carolina are as follows:
- $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident for Bodily Injury (BI)
Bodily injury liability coverage protects drivers if their car is involved in an accident that harms another individual. The minimum limits required by South Carolina state law are $25,000 for the death or injury of a single victim as a result of a car accident and $50,000 for the deaths or injuries of multiple victims. Insurance companies list this type of coverage as 25/50, referring to the dollar limitations of each minimum. If you’re in an accident, liability coverage will cover the cost of a legal proceeding as a result of a crash. Bodily injury coverage is part of the minimum coverage required by South Carolina law.
- $25,000 per accident for Property Damage (PD)
The state minimum amount of property damage liability coverage required in the state of South Carolina is $25,000. If an insured driver is determined to be at fault and held liable in a motor vehicle accident, this coverage pays for damage repair to another individual’s property. Property damage coverage will also pay for legal costs if an insured driver is involved in a lawsuit following an accident.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage are required in South Carolina. This coverage protects drivers who might incur damages from an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver. If involved in an accident with an individual without sufficient coverage, insured drivers will still be covered. In South Carolina, the legally required level of Uninsured Motorist coverage is:
- $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident for Bodily Injury
- $25,000 per accident for Property Damage
Charleston Car Insurance Rates by Driver Age
Drivers in Charleston with minimal experience behind the wheel find that they pay the most for car insurance, as those under the age of 20 are charged an average of $670. Once residents reach their 20s, rates drop considerably with savings of about $300. Premiums continue to steadily decline as Charleston drivers get older; however, those in their 80s often pay slightly more than other seniors, with rates right around $300.
| Driver's Age | Avg. Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| teens | $671 |
| 20s | $379 |
| 30s | $301 |
| 40s | $305 |
| 50s | $375 |
| 60s | $246 |
| 70s | $234 |
| 80s | $301 |
Charleston Car Insurance Rates by Driving and Accident History
Motorists in Charleston looking to pay the lowest rates for their car insurance should make an effort to keep their driving records free from any incidents. Those who manage this pay around $311, while motorists caught speeding see their rates jumping up to $400. An at-fault accident will affect one’s premiums similarly, and failing to stop at an intersection provides the biggest financial hit, with prices moving up to $453 on average.
| Driving History | Avg. Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| No Violation | $312 |
| Speeding Ticket | $401 |
| At-Fault Accident | $395 |
| Failure to Stop for Red Light / Stop Sign | $454 |
Charleston Car Insurance Rates by Credit Tier
Residents in Charleston tend to have good or average credit and pay around $291 and $349, respectively, for their car insurance coverage. Surprisingly, falling into a different credit tier won’t make much of a difference in this city, as rates are determined by a range of other factors. Individuals with poor credit are often charged $370, while those who fall into the excellent category see their premiums average at $348.
| Credit Tier | Avg. Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Excellent | $349 |
| Good | $292 |
| Average | $350 |
| Poor | $371 |
See More: Bad Credit Car Insurance South Carolina
Find local Charleston agents
Taylor Agency
147 Wappoo Creek Drive,
Charleston, SC 29412The Steadman Agency
40 Calhoun Street Suite 215,
Charleston, SC 29401Moulton & Sheally Insurance-Charleston
821 Orleans Rd,
Charleston, SC 29407C T Lowndes & Company
749 St Andrews Blvd,
Charleston, SC 29407Pinckney-Carter Company
1956 Remount Rd,
Charleston, SC 29406-3271Anderson Insurance Associates
3491 Shelby Ray Court ,
Charleston, SC 29414Harrell Insurance Agency
2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd,
Charleston, SC 29407Pilothouse Insurance
1527 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.,
Ste. 204, Charleston, SC 29407McKenna Agency Inc
1032 Savannah Hwy,
Charleston, SC 29407Triest Agency
1052 Gardner Road,
Charleston, SC 29407
Charleston DMV Information
There is one major DMV outpost in the city of Charleston, located on Lockwood Boulevard. Here, residents can change their address, obtain a driver's license, and complete vehicle registrations. The DMV is open from 8:30 AM to 5 PM with special morning and evening hours on weekends. You may be able to skip the lines and access what you need via the online portal.
Public Transit in Charleston
CARTA, the Charleston Regional Transporation Authority, operates the public transportation system, offering residents and visitors several means of transport around the city. CARTA has bus stops around the city on nearly every block, connecting surrounding cities to downtown Charleston. And of course, Charleston offers ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft, plus traditional taxis. Even with these services available, most Charleston Residents drive cars in and around the city.
How to get the best and cheapest car insurance in Charleston
As American drivers know too well, enough of their precious time is wasted sitting in traffic each year. There’s no need to waste more time finding the perfect auto insurance policy.
Use Insurify to find the best rates available by comparing dozens of insurance quotes in just a few seconds.
With an estimated 9.4 percent of vehicles driving uninsured throughout South Carolina, give yourself peace of mind with sufficient car insurance coverage. Don’t become just one more uninsured motorist—get quotes with Insurify to get the best coverage and rates for your car at a price that works for you.
FAQs - Charleston, SC Car Insurance
Driving uninsured puts yourself and the drivers and passengers in the cars around you in great danger. You should never drive uninsured. Penalties for driving uninsured are severe and may include driving privilege and vehicle registration suspensions, revocation of license plates, statutory fees, reinstatement fees, and South Carolina state SR-22 requirements. To legally drive in South Carolina, vehicles must carry liability insurance, even if they are just parked on the road. Bodily injury and property damage coverage are required as the minimum coverage in the state. Supplemental coverage for further protection in the case of an accident can be obtained in the form of comprehensive, collision, loan/lease payoff, medical payments, rental car reimbursements, roadside assistance, and uninsured motorist protection. Insurance agencies offer these options for further coverage in the case of an accident caused by or involving your vehicle. As insurance products become more comprehensive, so does the protection. While cheap auto insurance is what some drivers are in the market for, other drivers prefer to have the highest coverage. The best way to get the cheapest car insurance in Charleston and save on your auto insurance premium is to compare quotes from all companies in your area. Use a car insurance quotes comparison site like Insurify to compare up to 10+ real quotes for your specific driver profile and unlock savings and discounts. Rates can fluctuate greatly based on whether you're a safe driver or a high-risk one, but you should never overpay. Insurify provides the cheapest car insurance quotes and companies in your area in just a few seconds.
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Methodology
The car insurance quotes displayed are based on an analysis of Insurify’s database of over 40 million quotes from 500 ZIP codes nationwide. To obtain representative rates, Insurify’s data science team performs frequent comprehensive analyses of the factors car insurance providers weigh to calculate rates including driver demographics, driving record, credit score, desired coverage level, and more.
Insurify’s analysis also incorporates the Insurify Composite Score (ICS) assigned to each insurance provider. The ICS is a proprietary rating that weighs multiple factors reflecting the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company. Ratings used to calculate the ICS include Financial Strength Ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews.
With the above insights and ranking methods, Insurify is able to offer car insurance shoppers insight into how various insurance providers compare to one another in terms of both cost and quality. Note, actual quotes will vary based on unique attributes including the policyholder’s driver history and their garaging address.
Insurify Insights
How Charleston Drivers Measure Up
While most drivers know that car insurance quotes are determined in part by your personal driving history, many may be unaware that rates are also impacted by the average risk of the drivers around you as well. Check out Insurify's latest analysis of driving records in Charleston, South Carolina below:
Methodology
Drawing from an internal database of over 4 million car insurance applications, the research team at Insurify analyzes patterns in car ownership and driver behavior - including how Charleston drivers measure up to their fellow motorists across South Carolina in areas including speeding, DUIs, and more.
Insurify Insights publishes data-driven articles, trend analyses, and national rankings each week on all factors related to cars and those who drive them.
Honda Accord
Most Popular Car in Charleston
#13
City with the Most Speeding Tickets Rank in South Carolina
#22
City with the Most Moving Violations Rank in South Carolina
#1
City with the Most DUIs Rank in South Carolina
#41
City with the Most Suspended Licenses in South Carolina
While car accidents are a sadly unavoidable feature of time spent on the road, rates of accidents do vary from city to city and from state to state. Charleston drivers rank 7 in the number of car accidents per driver across all cities in South Carolina.
- Rank within state: #7
- Percent of drivers in Charleston with an accident: 15.53%
- Drivers in Charleston, SC with an accident in their driving history pay on average 37.59% more than drivers with a clean record
Exceeding the speed limit can endanger others and leave a permanent stain on your driving record. When compared to other cities in South Carolina, Charleston drivers rank 13 in the number of speeding infractions per driver.
- Rank within state: #13
- Percent of drivers in Charleston with a speeding ticket: 15.23%
- Drivers in Charleston, SC with a speeding ticket in their driving history pay on average 32.33% more than drivers with a clean record
While driving while intoxicated is never acceptable, it’s a more common offense than many assume. Charleston drivers rank 1 in the number of DUI’s per driver across all cities in South Carolina.
- Rank within state: #1
- Percent of drivers in Charleston with a DUI: 1.9%
- Drivers in Charleston, SC with a DUI in their driving history pay on average 16.54% more than drivers with a clean record
The Insurify team classifies rude drivers as those who commit the following driving offenses: failure to yield or failure to stop, improper backing, passing where prohibited, tailgating, street racing, or hit-and-runs. Among all cities in South Carolina, Charleston drivers rank 20 in rude driving infractions.
- Rank within state: #20
- Percent of drivers in Charleston with a reckless driving violation: 1.46%
- Drivers in Charleston, SC with a reckless driving violation in their driving history pay on average 32.33% more than drivers with a clean record.
Having a squeaky-clean driving record is an accomplishment to be proud of. Some cities have safer drivers than others; Charleston drivers rank 29 in clean driving records across all cities in South Carolina.
- Rank within state: #29
- Percent of drivers in Charleston with clean record: 73.54%
Failing to yield the right of way isn’t just frustrating for other drivers; it’s dangerous, too. Charleston drivers rank 27 in failure to yield violations per driver across all cities in South Carolina.
- Rank within state: #27
- Percent of drivers in Charleston with a failure to yield violation: 0.19%
- Drivers in Charleston, SC with a failure to yield violation in their driving history pay on average 0% more than drivers with a clean record
Reckless driving refers to a specific traffic violation: when drivers willfully act dangerously in spite of the risks they’re imposing on both themselves and others. Among all cities in South Carolina, Charleston drivers rank 9 in the number of reckless driving offenses per driver.
- Rank within state: #9
- Percent of drivers in Charleston with a reckless driving offense: 0.26%
Some car models are just more popular than others and trends can vary from place to place. The most popular vehicle in Charleston is the Honda Accord.
Insurify Insights
Insurify's team of data scientists and content specialists presents Insurify Insights, a series of automotive, home, and health studies focusing on the topics that impact us all. through expert analysis of over 4 million car insurance applications and an array of top data sources, the Insurify Insights team produces new data-driven articles, trend analyses, regional superlatives, and national rankings every week. See Insurify Insights as featured in Forbes, Fox News, USA Today, NPR, and more.
Content Specialist at Insurify
Olivia Oksenhorn is an SEO content specialist at Insurify and received a BA in English Literature from the University of Colorado. Before starting at Insurify, she worked as a freelance writer and in newsrooms and nonprofits across Colorado. Born and raised in the mountains, Olivia is a lover the outdoors and spends her spare time adventuring in nature whenever and wherever she can.
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