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.
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.
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The overall average cost of car insurance in North Charleston, South Carolina, is $287 per month. Drivers in North Charleston pay significantly more for auto insurance than the U.S. national average of $157 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.
North Charleston drivers pay an average of $231 per month for liability-only coverage and $342 per month for full coverage.
The average teen in North Charleston pays $422 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 Company
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.
Full Coverage
Liability Only
Best for
USAA
4.5
$83
$51
Military families
Auto-Owners
4.0
$89
$55
Customizable coverage
State Farm
4.5
$91
$56
Discounts
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.
Insurify uses an in-house, proprietary method to rate and review the best car insurance companies. The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 crucial criteria, including average premiums, customer satisfaction, discounts, third-party ratings, and more, to calculate a final score for a company.
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. With the IQ Score, Insurify is able to provide quantitative ratings for drivers to better compare car insurance companies and make informed decisions to meet their coverage needs.
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.
4.3
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.
$67/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.
$109/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
They have stopped thinking about how today's financial strain is impacting their customers.
Darcy - November 26, 2023
Verified
Not satisfied with price hike even after lowering coverage.
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.
4.1
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.
$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
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
I was pleased with the agent and for years the price, but now they have gotten too expensive for a person on a fixed income.
Mary - August 13, 2023
Verified
I was dropped because of two minor at-fault accidents in two plus years.
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.
4.4
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.
$73/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.
$121/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
I am happy with their coverage. I just bought a new car, and my insurance quadrupled. YIKES.
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 $67
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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 $231 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: Thursday, March 14 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote
USAA
67
Auto-Owners
72
State Farm
73
GEICO
80
Safeco
101
Nationwide
105
Allstate
115
State Auto
123
Travelers
124
Progressive
144
Midvale Home & Auto
147
Direct Auto
169
Liberty Mutual
178
Dairyland
228
The General
236
National General
253
AssuranceAmerica
267
Bristol West
270
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 $342. 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: Thursday, March 14 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote
USAA
109
Auto-Owners
117
State Farm
121
GEICO
128
Nationwide
165
Safeco
174
Allstate
187
Travelers
187
State Auto
214
Progressive
227
Midvale Home & Auto
233
Direct Auto
257
AssuranceAmerica
315
Liberty Mutual
322
National General
366
Dairyland
385
The General
391
Bristol West
452
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.
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.
Coverage
Minimum 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:
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverageapplies 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.
Accident forgiveness coverage
Some car insurance companies offeraccident forgiveness coverage, which waives your first at-fault collision so it doesn’t cause your premium to go up.
Roadside assistance coverage
Roadside assistance coveragepays for basic roadside repairs and services, like flat-tire changes, fuel delivery, and towing.
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: Thursday, March 14 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company
Clean Driving Record
With Speeding Ticket
With At-Fault Accident
With DUI
USAA
67
88
92
109
Auto-Owners
72
98
100
117
State Farm
73
95
99
119
GEICO
80
106
110
130
Safeco
101
146
152
165
Nationwide
105
140
145
171
Allstate
115
152
157
187
Travelers
124
166
172
202
Progressive
144
198
205
235
Direct Auto
169
231
240
275
Liberty Mutual
178
253
262
290
Dairyland
228
311
319
372
The General
236
322
334
385
National General
253
336
352
412
AssuranceAmerica
267
379
385
435
Bristol West
270
363
369
440
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.
Age
Average 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.
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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 $231 per month for liability-only coverage and $342 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 $67 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 $72 and $73, 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.
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.
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.