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Car Insurance Charleston, SC (July 2023)

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Key Takeaways

  • The car insurance in Charleston is $1476 annually.
  • With average rates of $1181 and $1190, USAA and State Farm offer the cheapest rates for car insurance in Charleston, South Carolina.
  • Apart from liability insurance, uninsured motorist coverage is also required by the state.

Introduction

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.

How much does car insurance cost in Charleston?

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

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Auto Insurance Requirements in Charleston, South Carolina

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.

  • $25,000 per person for bodily injury
  • $50,000 per accident for injuries to people
  • $25,000 of property damage liability coverage

Cheapest Car Insurance companies in Charleston

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

Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance In Charleston

Company Annual Premium
USAA $520
State Farm $594
Allstate $624
Travelers $763
Progressive $780
Nationwide $781

Charleston Auto Insurance Premiums by Age Group

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.

Age Bracket Average Yearly Rate
Teenagers $5011
20s $1949
30s $1448
40s $1392
50s $1319
60s $1359

Charleston Auto Insurance Premiums by Marital Status

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

Charleston City Auto Insurance Premiums by Gender

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

Charleston Auto Insurance Premiums by Driving Record

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

Cheapest Car Insurance In Charleston With A Violation

Cheapest Car Insurance in Charleston with a Speeding Ticket

Company Annual Premium
State Farm $1,147
USAA $1,148
Nationwide $1,399
Allstate $1,507
Travelers $1,591
Progressive $1,732

Cheapest Car Insurance in Charleston with an Accident

Company Annual Premium
State Farm $1,270
USAA $1,382
Travelers $1,656
Nationwide $1,873
Allstate $1,911
Progressive $2,287

Cheapest Car Insurance in Charleston with DUI

Company Annual Premium
State Farm $1,137
Allstate $1,594
USAA $1,618
Progressive $1,753
Travelers $1,821
Nationwide $2,228

Charleston Auto Insurance Premiums by Credit Rating

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

Charleston Auto Insurance Premiums by Zip Code

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

What would increase your car insurance rates in Charleston?

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.

How to save on auto insurance in Charleston, South Carolina

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.

  • Compare and Purchase

Since most insurance providers now provide their quotes online, thorough research can help in choosing the best one that suits your needs.

  • Increase your Deductible

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.

  • Look for Discounts

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.

See what you could save on auto insurance

Tips for Driving in Charleston

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.

Best Car Insurance Companies in Charleston

Insurance Company
State Farm American National
Farmers Farm Bureau
USAA Travelers
State Farm Nationwide
Allstate Progressive

INSURANCE AGENT EXPERTS

Wilson Mathew Nechikat

Wilson Mathew Nechikat

Principal

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Anthony Luu

Anthony Luu

Sr. Director of Insurance Operations

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Ezra Peterson

Ezra Peterson

Sr. Director of Insurance

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Danny Herrera

Danny Herrera

Head of Commercial Insurance

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Auto Insurance Data Methodology

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is full coverage in Charleston?

The full coverage for car insurance in Charleston, South Carolina is $1476 yearly on average.

How to find cheap car insurance in Charleston, South Carolina?

Comparing quotes from many providers is the best approach to determine which company offers the cheapest insurance prices in a city. Way.com gives you a head start with our research of the finest auto insurance providers based on financial strength, customer service, protection, and pricing, all of which may impact your insurance experience.

Learn more by city and state for car insurance



Learn more by city and state for car insurance




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