Cheapest Auto Insurance in North Charleston, South Carolina (2024)

With a monthly liability-only rate of $66, USAA is the cheapest car insurance company in North Charleston.

Elizabeth Rivelli
Elizabeth Rivelli
  • 5+ years writing insurance and personal finance topics

  • Auto, home, health, and life insurance expertise

Elizabeth has extensive insurance industry experience, having written for Insureon, Rate Retriever, and Insurify. She’s also finance and insurance editor for Car and Driver.

Featured in

media logomedia logomedia logo
Ashley Cox
Edited byAshley Cox
Headshot of Managing Editor Ashley Cox
Ashley CoxSenior Managing Editor
  • 7+ years in content creation and management

  • 5+ years in insurance and personal finance content

Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.

Featured in

media logomedia logomedia logomedia logo

Updated April 25, 2024

Save up to $717 by comparing quotes from the top 100+ insurance companies

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualTravelers
Advertiser Disclosure

At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.

We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.

Why you can trust Insurify: Comparing accurate insurance quotes should never put you at risk of spam. We earn an agent commission only if you buy a policy based on our quotes. Our editorial team follows a rigorous set of editorial standards and operates independently from our insurance partners. Learn more.

Cheapest recent rates near North Charleston, South Carolina

Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $41/mo for liability only and $83/mo for full coverage in North Charleston and other South Carolina cities.

*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around North Charleston, South Carolina within the last 10 days. Last updated on April 25, 2024

Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from April 25, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.

*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around North Charleston, South Carolina within the last 10 days. Last updated on April 25, 2024

Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from April 25, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.

The overall average cost of car insurance in North Charleston, South Carolina, is $278 per month. Drivers in North Charleston pay significantly more for auto insurance than the U.S. national average of $158 per month. 

North Charleston’s coastal location means the city is susceptible to hurricanes and flooding, which makes the cost of car insurance more expensive than in areas with fewer weather risks.

Here’s what you need to know about comparing car insurance quotes and finding cheap car insurance in North Charleston.

Quick Facts
  • North Charleston drivers pay an average of $227 per month for liability-only coverage and $329 per month for full coverage.

  • The average teen in North Charleston pays $413 per month for car insurance.

  • USAA, Auto-Owners, and State Farm offer the cheapest liability-only policies in North Charleston.

3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in North Charleston

North Charleston, South Carolina, drivers have many options for car insurance. But the best insurance company for you depends on your unique driver profile, coverage needs, and budget. The three insurers below are a good place to start your search.

Insurance CompanyIQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
Full CoverageLiability OnlyBest for
USAA4.5$83$51Military families
Auto-Owners4.0$89$54Customizable coverage
State Farm4.5$92$56Discounts
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • Our editorial team spent 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. Criteria are weighted by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.

    We rate each company on a 1 to 5 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. We update ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.

    • Third-party financial ratings: We use data from AM Best, S&P, Moody's, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
    • Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 20,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also considered third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
    • Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the United States, as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
    • Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
    • Availability and reach: Insurify identified the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share to score availability and reach.

Best insurer for military families: USAA

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.5
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
880
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$66/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$107/mo

For drivers stationed at one of the military bases near North Charleston, USAA is a great choice for car insurance. USAA exclusively sells car insurance to active-duty and retired service members and their immediate family members. USAA has the lowest car insurance rates in North Charleston and offers a variety of discounts for additional savings.

The company also has some of the best third-party ratings for overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction, as well as superior financial strength.

Pros
  • Safe drivers can save up to 30% with the SafePilot program

  • Highly rated mobile app

Cons
  • Only available to active-duty military members, veterans, and their families

  • Few add-on coverages

Read our USAA review
Bill - April 22, 2024
Verified

Reluctant Switcher

Excellent, very positive! I only switched to consolidate our farm property insurance together with auto policies.

Marvin - April 21, 2024
Verified

Excellent

So far, so good.

Robert - April 19, 2024
Verified

USAA is the finest. Period.

I've been a member for over 50 years, and have always been pleased with the service. It's a first-class organization.

Best insurer for customizable coverage: Auto-Owners

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.0
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
837
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$70/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$115/mo

Auto-Owners is the best car insurance company in North Charleston for drivers who want to customize their auto policy. The company offers a big selection of endorsements, including gap insurance, diminished value coverage, additional expense coverage, accident forgiveness, a common loss deductible, rental car coverage, and several others.

Auto-Owners also offers excellent discounts. But it conducts business through independent agents, so customers can’t get a quote or purchase a policy online.

Pros
  • Good selection of available endorsements

  • Many available discounts

Cons
  • Can’t buy a policy online

  • Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in the Southeast region

Read our Auto-Owners review
Jack - April 9, 2024
Verified

Poor Handling but Partial Payment Made

I had a major claim due to a fire, which was not my fault. They handled it poorly and the complex ended up tearing down my building. They did make a payment, but there was a $10,000 depreciation on my goods.

Erin - April 7, 2024
Verified

Unhappy with Renewal Costs

The premium is ridiculously expensive for the few miles I drive.

Brandy - April 6, 2024
Verified

Fair Prices from a Trustworthy Company

I've had zero issues!

Best insurer for discounts: State Farm

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.5
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
842
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$72/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$117/mo

Drivers in North Charleston pay above-average rates for car insurance, but State Farm offers a big selection of discounts that can help you save money. State Farm has more than 10 discounts available in South Carolina, with savings for good students, accident-free clients, taking a driver training course, insuring multiple vehicles, insuring a car with safety features, and more.

The company also has two safe driver rewards programs that offer savings when you enroll and demonstrate good driving habits.

Pros
  • Many discounts for additional savings

  • Above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in the Southeast region

Cons
  • Few available endorsements

  • Traditional gap insurance not available

Read our State Farm review
Walters - April 25, 2024
Verified

Good

I had a good relationship with them until my bank messed up. I didn't receive the cancellation notice until it was already too late.

Wanda Carole - April 22, 2024
Verified

Excellent

Check out other companies and their rates before making a decision.

Perry - April 22, 2024
Verified

Pricing

Be careful of the price quoted. It can change.

How to get the cheapest car insurance in North Charleston

You have a variety of ways to get cheap car insurance in North Charleston. Here are some tips for reducing your car insurance costs:[1]

  • Choose higher deductibles. For collision and comprehensive coverage, which require deductibles, choosing a higher deductible amount will lower your monthly premium.

  • Take advantage of discounts. Most car insurance companies in North Charleston offer discounts that can help reduce your car insurance costs.

  • Bundle your policies. You can often get a generous discount for bundling multiple insurance products, like car insurance with home insurance, renters insurance, or life insurance.

  • Get new car insurance quotes. Get new quotes every time your policy renews, or after a major event, like getting into an accident or adding a teen driver to your policy, to make sure you’re always paying the lowest rate possible.

  • Shop around. Car insurance companies charge different rates for the same type and amount of coverage. Compare quotes from a few insurers to find the best rate for your situation.

Find Cheap Car Insurance in North Charleston

Monthly liability quotes start at $66

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualTravelers

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in North Charleston: USAA

Liability-only insurance covers your financial responsibilities when you cause an accident that results in someone else’s injuries or property damage. It doesn’t provide any insurance coverage for your injuries or your vehicle after an accident.

In North Charleston, the average cost of liability-only insurance is $227 per month. But some companies have cheaper rates than others. In the table below, you can see which companies have the cheapest car insurance in North Charleston for liability-only insurance.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, April 17 at 12:00 PM PDT
Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly Quote
USAA66
Auto-Owners70
State Farm72
GEICO77
Safeco98
Nationwide107
Allstate112
State Auto120
Travelers121
Progressive142
Midvale Home & Auto144
Direct Auto165
Liberty Mutual178
Dairyland212
The General230
National General245
AssuranceAmerica263
Bristol West268
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in North Charleston: USAA

Full-coverage car insurance provides more protection than liability-only insurance. It usually provides higher coverage limits for liability insurance, plus collision insurance, comprehensive insurance, and medical payments insurance. Full coverage kicks in when you get into an accident and need to pay for your medical bills or vehicle repairs.

The average monthly premium for full-coverage car insurance in North Charleston is $329. If you shop around, you may find insurers that offer lower rates. Below, you can see the cheapest companies for full-coverage insurance in North Charleston.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, April 17 at 12:00 PM PDT
Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly Quote
USAA107
Auto-Owners115
State Farm117
GEICO126
Nationwide162
Safeco170
Allstate183
Travelers183
State Auto210
Progressive223
Midvale Home & Auto233
Direct Auto255
AssuranceAmerica309
Liberty Mutual322
National General346
The General389
Bristol West447
Dairyland452
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Estimate your North Charleston car insurance costs

Select discounts that apply to you
Save 25%
Save 4%
Save 19%
Save 38%
Age
Credit Score
Are you insured
Your estimated deal

*Estimate based on a market average of rates provided to other users like you.

Select discounts that apply to you

Car insurance requirements in South Carolina

Car insurance is a legal requirement in South Carolina. Vehicle owners must carry liability insurance and uninsured motorist liability insurance with minimum-coverage limits of 25/50/25.[2] But insurance experts typically recommend purchasing more liability insurance than the minimum that’s required.

When it comes to car insurance laws, South Carolina is an at-fault state. In the event of an accident, the at-fault driver is responsible for compensating the other person for their bodily injuries and property damage losses.

CoverageMinimum Requirements
Bodily injury liability$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
Property damage liability$25,000 per accident
Uninsured motorist bodily injury liability$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
Uninsured motorist property damage liability$25,000 per accident

In addition to the required coverages, many drivers in South Carolina can benefit from adding optional coverages to their policy. Some of the most common add-on coverage options include:

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/x/5285c4cd74/uninsured-or-underinsured-motorist-coverage.svg

    Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

    Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage applies when you get into an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough car insurance to cover your losses in full.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/100x100/31bb162db0/accident-forgiveness.svg

    Accident forgiveness coverage

    Some car insurance companies offer accident forgiveness coverage, which waives your first at-fault collision so it doesn’t cause your premium to go up.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/100x100/9997698e9e/emergency-roadside-service.svg

    Roadside assistance coverage

    Roadside assistance coverage pays for basic roadside repairs and services, like flat-tire changes, fuel delivery, and towing.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/100x100/24f1697280/car-key.svg

    Rental car reimbursement coverage

    If your car needs repair after a covered incident, rental car reimbursement will cover the cost of a rental vehicle.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident

Drivers with incidents on their record — such as at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and other moving violations — often pay higher insurance rates than people with a clean record.[3] Insurers view drivers with violations as riskier to insure and generally charge them more for car insurance. The most serious infractions, like driving under the influence (DUI), usually have the biggest effect on the cost of car insurance.

In the table below, you can see how different driving incidents affect your car insurance rates.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, April 17 at 12:00 PM PDT
Insurance CompanyClean Driving RecordWith Speeding TicketWith At-Fault AccidentWith DUI
USAA668791108
Auto-Owners709597114
State Farm729498117
GEICO77102106126
Safeco98141146160
Nationwide107143148175
Allstate112148154183
Travelers121163168197
Progressive142196202232
Direct Auto165225234269
Liberty Mutual178253262290
Dairyland212290297346
The General230316327375
National General245327343400
AssuranceAmerica263371376429
Bristol West268362368437
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Average cost of car insurance by age

One of the biggest factors that can affect car insurance rates is your age. Teen drivers typically pay the highest rates for auto insurance because they lack experience on the road. 

Rates usually start to decrease around age 35 and increase again at age 70. Like young adults, older drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents and make driving errors that can lead to collisions. [4] [5]

Below, you can see the average cost of car insurance for drivers in different age groups in North Charleston.

AgeAverage Monthly Quote
Teens$662
20s$444
30s$339
40s$310
50s$283
60s$283
70s$300
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Shop for Car Insurance in North Charleston, SC

Check quotes from 100+ top insurance companies

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualTravelers

North Charleston car insurance quotes by credit tier

In South Carolina, car insurance companies are allowed to consider a driver’s credit history when calculating car insurance premiums. A driver’s credit score is used to predict how likely they are to file insurance claims.[6] In general, drivers with excellent or good credit scores pay less for car insurance than people with poor credit scores.

The chart below shows average monthly car insurance rates for North Charleston drivers by credit tier.

Rates by Credit Tier

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

North Charleston car insurance FAQs

Check out Insurify’s guide on how to get cheap car insurance, and use the additional information below as you research your car insurance coverage options in North Charleston.

  • How much is car insurance in North Charleston?

    Car insurance in North Charleston costs an average of $227 per month for liability-only coverage and $329 per month for full coverage, according to Insurify data.

  • Which companies have the cheapest car insurance in North Charleston?

    With a liability-only rate of $66 per month, USAA is the cheapest car insurance company in North Charleston. Auto-Owners and State Farm also offer cheap liability coverage, with monthly rates of $70 and $72, respectively.

    But the cheapest car insurance for you will depend on a variety of factors, including your age, ZIP code, type of car you drive, and chosen coverage levels.

  • What are the best car insurance companies in North Charleston?

    With above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings, a high Insurify Quality (IQ) Score, and an A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best, State Farm is the best car insurance company in North Charleston.

    Other top insurers to consider include Auto-Owners and USAA.

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

  • Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
  • Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
  • No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.

Sources

  1. Insurance Information Institute. "How to save money on car insurance."
  2. South Carolina Department of Insurance. "Automobile Insurance."
  3. Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Teen Drivers and Passengers: Get the Facts."
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Older Adult Drivers."
  6. Insurance Information Institute. "INSURANCE HANDBOOK Introduction Insurance Basics Regulatory and Financial Environment McCarran-Ferguson Act Insurance Accounting Credit Scoring Reinsurance Insurance Fraud Economic and Financial Data Insurance and Disasters Liability Insurance Issues Brief History Appendices PUBLICATIONS A Firm Foundation: How Insurance Supports the Economy Commercial Insurance Triple-I Insurance Facts Insurance Handbook Insuring Your Business: Small Business Owners' Guide to Insurance I.I.I. Store I.I.I. Software Online Brochures Background on: Credit Scoring."
Elizabeth Rivelli
Elizabeth Rivelli

Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer covering insurance and personal finance. She has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including property and casualty, health, and life insurance. Her byline has been featured in dozens of publications, including Investopedia, Forbes, Bankrate, NextAdvisor, and Insurance.com

Ashley Cox
Edited byAshley CoxSenior Managing Editor
Headshot of Managing Editor Ashley Cox
Ashley CoxSenior Managing Editor
  • 7+ years in content creation and management

  • 5+ years in insurance and personal finance content

Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.

Featured in

media logomedia logomedia logomedia logo

Compare Car Insurance Quotes Instantly

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualTravelers

Latest Articles

View all