Key Takeaways
Driving through the largest city in South Carolina shouldn't be left to one's imagination. Charleston, known as Chucktown locally, has been voted multiple times as the best city in the country. It's a popular and populous city, so driving around proves to be a tricky affair at times.
An auto insurance policy is necessary to drive around in the city. Every car owner is on the lookout for the cheapest car insurance policy available. Shopping around and comparing the quotes is the best way to ensure that you get the best deals in the city.
The average car insurance rates in Charleston, the factors that affect the insurance rates in the city, and the different insurance companies in the city will be reviewed in detail here.
The car insurance rates in Charleston are lower than the state and national average. Thus, insuring your cars in the city is an affordable task when comparing it to the insurance rates in South Carolina. Even though the rates are dependent on a string of driving and non-driving factors, it will cost $1476 on average to insure your car in the city.
Charleston Average | South Carolina Average | National Average |
---|---|---|
$1476 | $1760 | $1557 |
Proof of liability insurance is mandatory to drive a car in the neighborhood. It is required for renewing the car registration or when the car is involved in an accident. However, this doesn't include the collision and comprehensive coverage, which is highly recommended to avoid out-of-pocket expenses. South Carolina also requires uninsured motorist (UM) coverage equal to the minimum required liability coverage.
Company | Annual Premium |
---|---|
USAA | $936 |
State Farm | $1,065 |
Allstate | $1,130 |
Travelers | $1,217 |
Nationwide | $1,227 |
Progressive | $1,390 |
Auto Owners | $1610 |
Farm Bureau | $1810 |
Company | Annual Premium |
---|---|
USAA | $520 |
State Farm | $594 |
Allstate | $624 |
Travelers | $763 |
Progressive | $780 |
Nationwide | $781 |
The younger you are, the higher the insurance rates. Age is a crucial non-driving factor that drives the insurance rates in any city. In Charleston, teenagers pay the highest car insurance rates. The least rates are paid by drivers above the age of 50.
Both young and older drivers can look out for discounts that suit their profile and reduce the rates accordingly.
In Charleston, single and married drivers pay similar insurance rates while divorced and widowed drivers pay slightly higher rates.
Marital Status | Average Yearly Rate |
---|---|
Married | $1349 |
Single | $1349 |
Divorced | $1476 |
Widowed | $1441 |
In addition to age and marital status, gender is a major non-driving factor that influences insurance rates, regardless of location or driving record. In Charleston SC, the average annual rate for male drivers tends to be higher than for male drivers. Male drivers in the city pay $34 more than female drivers.
Gender | Average Yearly Rate |
---|---|
Male | $1476 |
Female | $1442 |
Owning a clean driving record will help you lower your insurance premium rates in Charleston. A driving record without citations, accidents, or tickets can maintain the insurance rates aligned to the average city rates. Speeding tickets, DUI and reckless driving can increase the rates in the range of $290 to $600.
Driving Violation/Incident | Average Yearly Rate | |
---|---|---|
At-fault Accidents | Damages <$1000 | Damages >$2000 |
$2000 | $2115 | |
DUI/DWI | $2073 | |
Reckless Driving | $2014 | |
Speeding Tickets | $1766 |
Company | Annual Premium |
---|---|
State Farm | $1,147 |
USAA | $1,148 |
Nationwide | $1,399 |
Allstate | $1,507 |
Travelers | $1,591 |
Progressive | $1,732 |
Company | Annual Premium |
---|---|
State Farm | $1,270 |
USAA | $1,382 |
Travelers | $1,656 |
Nationwide | $1,873 |
Allstate | $1,911 |
Progressive | $2,287 |
Company | Annual Premium |
---|---|
State Farm | $1,137 |
Allstate | $1,594 |
USAA | $1,618 |
Progressive | $1,753 |
Travelers | $1,821 |
Nationwide | $2,228 |
Another major non-driving factor that directly impacts your profile is the Credit or FICO scores. Statistically, it shows that those who have fair to exceptional credit scores tend to file lesser claims. A driver with a poor credit score in Charleston pays $2970 which is $1728 more than what a driver with an exceptional credit score pays.
Credit Tier | Average Yearly Rate |
---|---|
Exceptional | $1242 |
Very Good | $1363 |
Good | $1476 |
Fair | $1746 |
Very Poor | $2970 |
Insurance rates are also differentiated based on high-risk and low-risk neighborhoods. Accident rates and auto thefts are the major factors involved in this classification. In Charleston, the insurance rates vary quite well within the city based on the grade of risk of the neighborhood.
ZIP Code | Average Yearly Rate |
---|---|
29401 | $1923 |
29403 | $2058 |
29407 | $1956 |
29409 | $2060 |
29412 | $1887 |
29414 | $1887 |
29424 | $1890 |
29425 | $2152 |
29492 | $1890 |
Charleston Stats
The frequency of accidents and the percentage of auto thefts can be reflected in the car insurance rates of a place.
Auto Theft Statistics
Property crime is prevalent in Charleston. There were 497 reported thefts of motor vehicles in 2019, which works out to 360 thefts per 100,000 residents in the city.
Charleston Auto Theft Rate per 100,000 | National Auto Theft Rate per 100,000 |
---|---|
360 | 220 |
Accident Statistics
The frequency of accidents in an area might contribute to a rise in insurance rates. If you are involved in an accident, you may be classified as a high-risk driver and will be required to pay higher insurance premiums.
According to 2019 data, there were at least 5.61 crashes per day in Charleston. However, the pandemic brought down the rate to 4.12 per day. DUI collisions are also frequent in the city.
One can always look out for methods to reduce car insurance rates. While shopping around for insurance quotes with different providers can give a head start on getting the affordable option for you, there are several hacks you can follow to reduce the insurance premium rates.
Since most insurance providers now provide their quotes online, thorough research can help in choosing the best one that suits your needs.
Even though a higher deductible can reduce your accident claim, it can also reduce vehicle insurance premiums. To make it a feasible option, compare deductible alternatives to discover if a reduced deductible delivers savings, then choose one that meets your budget and comfort level.
Always look for discounts when you are purchasing insurance in Charleston. Most providers give multipolicy discounts, telematics discounts, good driver discounts, and bundling discounts. This can make a huge difference in the premium rates.
Be Weather Ready
A hot and humid climate with a good proportion of the rainfall is characteristic of the city. One should always be equipped to drive your car during such situations.
Average Annual Rainfall | Average Annual Snowfall | Rainy Days | Sunny Days |
---|---|---|---|
48 in | 0 in | 106 days | 209 days |
Requirement of SR-22
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles requires an SR22 (SR-22 Insurance) form to be filed after a violation or a series of citations. The infractions include driving without insurance, driving with a suspended license, getting a DUI or DWI, or after multiple offenses.
Unavailability of PIP
The state doesn't require Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Even if PIP is unavailable, you are eligible for medical payments if you are involved in an accident.
State Farm | American National |
Farmers | Farm Bureau |
USAA | Travelers |
State Farm | Nationwide |
Allstate | Progressive |
The auto insurance rates published in this guide are based on the results of research completed by Way.com’s data team. Using a mix of public and internal data, we analyzed millions of rate averages across U.S. ZIP codes.
Quotes are typically based on a full coverage policy average unless otherwise noted within the content.
These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes will differ. Given this, it’s important to go through our insurance steps form to find how much you can save with way.com
Way.com’s Insurance Broker Quote Data
The full coverage for car insurance in Charleston, South Carolina is $1476 yearly on average.
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