Charleston, SC Car Insurance

What rates can residents of Charleston expect to pay for their car insurance? How does Charleston compare to the surrounding area and the rest of South Carolina? Find the average cost breakdowns and determining factors in the charts and writeups below:

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How much is car insurance in Charleston?

Car insurance policies across the rest of South Carolina are about $12 a month cheaper than the rates drivers pay in Charleston.

Likewise, Charleston residents will likely pay higher rates for their insurance policy than the rest of the country. It's around $35 more expensive to insure your vehicle in Charleston compared to the average rate for the rest of the U.S.

While these are the average car insurance rates for Charleston, you could end up paying something different. There are a number of factors that determine how much insurance companies might charge you for your insurance policy. Your bill each month is calculated off of your age, gender, vehicle make and model, driving record, and in some cases, your credit score.

Don't sweat it however, we've broken down average rates for Charleston residents based on several different factors so that you can get a more accurate idea of what it might cost to insure your vehicle. And if you're not sure that you're paying the lowest option, simply enter your ZIP Code below and find out!

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Average Car Insurance Rates by Age

Generally, the older you are, the more experienced you are on the roads, right? When it comes to car insurance rates, that experience can really pay off. As you can see, 18-24-year-olds pay two times the price that drivers 65 and older.

As you get older, you can expect to see a drop in your monthly premium every 10 years. Once you hit retirement age, however, you may see your rates rise again in Charleston.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Gender

Car insurance rates for men are usually slightly more expensive than they are for women. This rings true in Charleston, where women pay around $10 less per month than men. Looking at the table above, you can see that female drivers pay around $111 on average, while male drivers typically pay $121 each month.

Average Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Your driving record can have a tremendous impact on your car insurance rates. Drivers with clean records will pay significantly lower rates than those with accidents or violations. The rate for drivers in Charleston with a single accident on their record is about $144 a month. In addition, drivers with a single ticket on their record can expect to pay around $136 a month on average.

Regardless of where you live, accidents, tickets, and other driving infractions can drive your monthly bill way up. That's why it's important to drive safely and keep your record clean so you can keep your rates as low as possible.

Average Insurance Rates by Vehicle

According to the first table above, trucks and vans are usually the cheapest vehicles to insure in Charleston, with drivers paying around $110 per month for auto insurance.

Car owners can expect to pay an average of around $111 a month for their policy, while SUVs usually cost around $126 a month to insure.

The age of your vehicle also plays a role in your monthly payment. Generally, the most expensive vehicles to insure are going to be newer ones. Once your car is around 5 years old, however, you may see your rates begin to drop back down. In Charleston, vehicles less than one year old are the most expensive to insure.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Relationship Status

More often than not, those who have settled down into marriage will pay slightly less for auto insurance coverage. This usually boils down to owners having multiple vehicles on the same policy, something some companies will reward with discounts.

The difference in rates based on relationship status in Charleston is about $34 a month, with married couples paying less for coverage than single drivers.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Housing Situation

Your housing situation is another factor that affects your monthly rate. If you rent your home or apartment, expect to pay around $28 a month more than homeowners in Charleston. But if you live with your parents, you can expect to pay a lot more.

If you bundle your home or rental insurance and auto insurance policies, you can oftentimes reduce your average costs, depending on your insurance company.

Car Insurance Companies in Charleston, SC

Recent trends in car insurance for Charleston drivers

Average rates are constantly changing, so it's a good idea to know the direction your area is trending when choosing when and where to shop.

The rates for car insurance in Charleston rose consistently from 2017-2021. Insurance rates finished down in 2022, at $122.

How does Charleston compare to neighboring areas?

Why are car insurance rates in Charleston different from other areas?

Car insurance companies take in a variety of factors when deciding how much individual insurance policies will cost. The price of your insurance policy will depend largely on where you call home and will be influenced by things such as:

• Total amount of drivers in the community
• General road safety (how many accidents each locality has)
• Local laws
• Local crime rates
• Availability of off-street parking

An awareness of these factors is important when thinking about buying a new policy or potentially moving to a new home. Different towns and cities will all have different average rates, so guides like these are a great place to get started.

How can I find the cheapest car insurance in Charleston?

Equipping yourself with information about the average costs for drivers in your area will better prepare you for the real deal. The only way to know for sure what your rate will be is by asking for a quote from car insurance companies.

Fortunately, Compare.com can handle all of this for you. Put in your ZIP below, answer a few questions related to the factors we outlined above, and you'll be quickly comparing the cheapest quotes from a number of the car insurance companies that offer policies in Charleston.

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Charleston Insurance FAQs

What factors affect car insurance quotes in Charleston?

Car insurance companies calculate quotes based on a wide array of factors. These include things you can't control like your gender and age but also factors like your vehicle's year, make and model, plus your driving record, credit score, marital status, and address.

Why is the cost of car insurance in Charleston different from other neighboring cities?

Things like crime rates, parking situations, and local laws, which are dependent on your address and area you live in, can significantly affect the cost of insurance relative to other cities.

Which car insurance company will offer me the cheapest rate in Charleston?

Since the factors that go into calculating your monthly payment vary from person to person, there isn't one company that will always offer the cheapest rate to everybody. You can be confident that you're receiving the best price possible by using sites like Compare.com to compare multiple quotes at once.

Do I need to change my insurance if I move to Charleston?

Whenever you relocate or experience another major life event, such as getting married or finding a new job, you should consider re-evaluating your current insurance policy. By using services like Compare.com to compare quotes from multiple companies at once, you can be sure to capture any new savings brought about by your new situation.

Do I need to wait for my policy to expire to switch to a different car insurance company?

No. You can switch companies at any time, regardless of how long is left on your current policy. So, if you've recently moved to Charleston or it's been a while since you last compared car insurance rates, you may want to take 10 minutes and see if Compare.com can save you money.