+120 moreSouth Carolina has some of the most expensive car insurance rates in the U.S. In the capital of Charleston, drivers pay an average of $222 per month for auto insurance. Charleston drivers often pay higher rates for car insurance than rural South Carolina drivers due to traffic patterns, vehicle theft rates, and other factors. But your driving record, age, and gender also affect your costs.
Several companies offer below-average rates, including USAA, Auto-Owners, and State Farm. USAA offers the cheapest average liability insurance rate, at $77.
We’ll break down the best insurers for different drivers, how to choose the right policy, and how you can save money on your car insurance.
Charleston drivers pay an average of $182 per month for liability insurance and $261 for full coverage.
South Carolina requires drivers to have $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability insurance, and $25,000 in property damage liability insurance.[1]
Drivers with DUIs pay some of the highest rates in Charleston, averaging $357 per month.
Even if Charleston drivers pay relatively high car insurance rates, you can still find ways to save money. Comparing quotes from different car insurance companies can help you get the coverage you need at the best price.
The table below lists the insurance companies with the most affordable rates in Charleston, according to Compare.com data.
Company  | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $77 |
| Auto-Owners | $83 |
| State Farm | $85 |
| GEICO | $120 |
| Nationwide | $127 |
| Allstate | $133 |
| Travelers | $144 |
| Progressive | $149 |
| Safeco | $156 |
| State Auto | $175 |
| National General | $178 |
| Root | $179 |
| Direct Auto | $187 |
| Dairyland | $197 |
| The General | $203 |
| Liberty Mutual | $209 |
| GAINSCO | $211 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $221 |
| First Acceptance | $239 |
| Bristol West | $285 |
USAA offers the most affordable car insurance in Charleston, with average rates of $77 per month. But how much you pay for insurance depends on various factors, including your age and driving record.
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The companies in the above table offer a good starting point for comparing car insurance rates. But your age, driving record, and location also affect your insurance prices.
The table below highlights the cheapest companies for different drivers and coverage types, according to Compare.com data.
Driver/Coverage Type | Cheapest Insurer | Insurer’s Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| State-minimum coverage | USAA | $77 |
| Full coverage | USAA | $128 |
| Teens | USAA | $144 |
| Seniors | USAA | $63 |
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | USAA | $97 |
| Drivers with an at-fault accident | USAA | $101 |
| Drivers with a DUI | USAA | $119 |
| Drivers with excellent credit | USAA | $66 |
| Drivers with poor credit | USAA | $94 |
You need liability insurance to meet South Carolina’s minimum requirements. Liability-only coverage is typically cheaper than other options because it covers only the other driver and their car if you cause an accident. But experts typically recommend purchasing more coverage unless you drive an older or lower-value vehicle.
Charleston drivers pay an average of $182 per month for liability-only coverage.
The chart below highlights the cheapest car insurance companies for minimum-coverage policies in Charleston, according to Compare.com data.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $77 |
| Auto-Owners | $83 |
| State Farm | $85 |
| GEICO | $120 |
| Nationwide | $127 |
| Allstate | $133 |
| Travelers | $144 |
| Progressive | $149 |
| Safeco | $156 |
| State Auto | $175 |
| National General | $178 |
| Root | $179 |
| Direct Auto | $187 |
| Dairyland | $197 |
| The General | $203 |
| Liberty Mutual | $209 |
| GAINSCO | $211 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $221 |
| First Acceptance | $239 |
| Bristol West | $285 |
Most drivers benefit from purchasing full-coverage insurance instead of liability-only coverage. Full coverage includes state-minimum coverage, plus comprehensive and collision insurance. Lenders and leasing companies usually require you to purchase full-coverage insurance if you finance or lease your car, too.
On average, drivers in Charleston pay $261 monthly for full-coverage insurance, according to our research.
The chart below shows the five companies offering the cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Charleston.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $128 |
| Auto-Owners | $137 |
| State Farm | $141 |
| GEICO | $188 |
| Safeco | $196 |
| Nationwide | $209 |
| Allstate | $220 |
| Progressive | $220 |
| Travelers | $237 |
| Root | $262 |
| Direct Auto | $265 |
| National General | $266 |
| State Auto | $287 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $313 |
| Liberty Mutual | $332 |
| First Acceptance | $378 |
| GAINSCO | $389 |
| Dairyland | $407 |
| The General | $427 |
| Bristol West | $475 |
Teenage drivers typically pay the most for car insurance out of any age group. That’s largely because teens are four times as likely to get into an accident as drivers older than 20.[2] Charleston teens pay $412 per month on average for car insurance coverage.
The companies in the chart below offer the cheapest auto coverage for teens, based on our data.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $144 |
| State Farm | $167 |
| Auto-Owners | $169 |
| GEICO | $217 |
| Nationwide | $251 |
| Allstate | $266 |
| Progressive | $276 |
| Travelers | $302 |
| Root | $312 |
| Safeco | $318 |
| Dairyland | $341 |
| The General | $360 |
| Direct Auto | $363 |
| National General | $364 |
| Liberty Mutual | $372 |
| GAINSCO | $389 |
| State Auto | $429 |
| First Acceptance | $443 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $463 |
| Bristol West | $514 |
Unlike teens, senior drivers usually pay low car insurance prices. Older drivers typically drive fewer miles, making them less likely to be involved in crashes, which means lower rates.[3]
Seniors in Charleston pay an average of $195 per month for auto insurance.
The five insurance companies in the chart below offer the cheapest insurance rates for older drivers in Charleston, according to Compare.com data.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $63 |
| Auto-Owners | $66 |
| State Farm | $67 |
| GEICO | $96 |
| Nationwide | $98 |
| Allstate | $109 |
| Travelers | $116 |
| Progressive | $131 |
| State Auto | $134 |
| Safeco | $138 |
| National General | $141 |
| Root | $151 |
| Direct Auto | $152 |
| Dairyland | $168 |
| The General | $172 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $174 |
| Liberty Mutual | $176 |
| GAINSCO | $181 |
| First Acceptance | $210 |
| Bristol West | $239 |
Car insurance companies consider drivers with speeding tickets riskier to insure. Even one ticket increases average policy costs by 29% nationwide, based on our research. Speeding increases your chances of causing a car accident, leading to higher rates.
Charleston drivers with a recent speeding ticket pay $264 per month on average for auto insurance.
The chart below shows the five insurers offering the cheapest coverage for drivers with speeding tickets on their record, according to our data.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $97 |
| State Farm | $105 |
| Auto-Owners | $106 |
| GEICO | $153 |
| Nationwide | $161 |
| Allstate | $169 |
| Progressive | $177 |
| Travelers | $182 |
| Safeco | $200 |
| National General | $216 |
| State Auto | $227 |
| Direct Auto | $228 |
| Root | $233 |
| Dairyland | $240 |
| GAINSCO | $245 |
| Liberty Mutual | $259 |
| The General | $265 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $274 |
| First Acceptance | $284 |
| Bristol West | $350 |
Insurers also may consider you a high-risk driver if you have any at-fault accidents on your record. Drivers with a single at-fault accident pay 33% more on average for car insurance, according to Compare.com data.
Charleston drivers with a recent accident pay an average of $282 per month for coverage.
The chart below shows the five cheapest insurers for Charleston drivers who’ve had a recent accident, according to Compare.com data.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $101 |
| Auto-Owners | $108 |
| State Farm | $110 |
| GEICO | $153 |
| Nationwide | $168 |
| Allstate | $175 |
| Progressive | $189 |
| Travelers | $190 |
| Safeco | $214 |
| National General | $232 |
| State Auto | $234 |
| Root | $235 |
| Direct Auto | $250 |
| Dairyland | $256 |
| GAINSCO | $264 |
| Liberty Mutual | $272 |
| The General | $274 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $288 |
| First Acceptance | $304 |
| Bristol West | $368 |
Speeding tickets and at-fault accidents can increase insurance rates, but a DUI conviction will raise your rates more than any other incident. Our data shows that drivers with a DUI pay 58% more for car insurance on average nationwide.
Charleston drivers with a DUI pay an average of $357 per month for car insurance.
The chart below shows the five cheapest insurers for Charleston drivers with a DUI, according to Compare.com data.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $119 |
| Auto-Owners | $129 |
| State Farm | $132 |
| GEICO | $184 |
| Nationwide | $197 |
| Allstate | $206 |
| Travelers | $223 |
| Progressive | $240 |
| State Auto | $255 |
| Safeco | $256 |
| National General | $276 |
| Root | $278 |
| Direct Auto | $290 |
| Dairyland | $305 |
| The General | $314 |
| Liberty Mutual | $324 |
| GAINSCO | $327 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $342 |
| First Acceptance | $385 |
| Bristol West | $441 |
Some insurers use your credit history when determining your rates. Research shows that drivers with poor credit tend to file more claims than drivers with excellent credit. Because of that increased risk, drivers with bad credit pay an average of 38% more for auto insurance than people with excellent credit.
Charleston drivers with poor credit pay an average of $278 per month for car insurance.
The chart below shows the cheapest car insurance companies in Charleston for drivers with poor credit, according to Compare.com data.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $94 |
| State Farm | $122 |
| Auto-Owners | $124 |
| GEICO | $148 |
| Nationwide | $156 |
| Allstate | $164 |
| Travelers | $177 |
| Progressive | $186 |
| Safeco | $192 |
| State Auto | $216 |
| National General | $219 |
| Root | $220 |
| Direct Auto | $230 |
| Dairyland | $243 |
| The General | $250 |
| Liberty Mutual | $250 |
| GAINSCO | $260 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $272 |
| First Acceptance | $299 |
| Bristol West | $351 |
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South Carolina requires all drivers to have car insurance, and the state has minimum coverage requirements similar to those of other states. You need to purchase the following insurance to drive legally in South Carolina:
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability insurance: If you cause an accident, bodily injury liability insurance pays for the other driver’s and their passengers’ injuries.
$25,000 of property damage liability insurance: Property damage liability coverage pays for damages if you hit someone else’s car or damage their property.
Experts recommend purchasing more than the minimum car insurance coverage to protect yourself and your car. If you finance or lease your car, your leasing company or lender may require you to purchase more coverage.
Liability-only insurance won’t pay for repairs if you damage your car in an accident, but collision insurance will. Comprehensive insurance will cover repairs if something else damages your car, like if a tree limb falls on your car’s hood.
We answered some common questions from drivers about auto insurance in Charleston. Check them out below.
USAA offers the cheapest auto insurance in Charleston, with average rates of $77 per month, according to Compare.com data.
Car insurance in Charleston costs an average of $222 per month, according to our research. Drivers with liability-only insurance pay $182 per month on average, while people with full coverage pay an average of $261.
South Carolina drivers pay an average of $159 per month for liability-only insurance and $229 for full coverage, according to our data.
South Carolina auto insurance rates rose sharply after the pandemic due to increased accident rates, vehicle repair costs, and natural disasters.[4]
Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.
All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.
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