Charleston, SC Car Insurance
Compare Progressive, Allstate, GEICO and Nationwide (+ other top companies) to find the best and cheapest car insurance in Charleston.
How much does car insurance cost in Charleston?
Car insurance costs an average of $735 for six months in Charleston. That's more than the average across South Carolina ($707) and less expensive than the national average of $880. Our guide to Charleston auto insurance includes average rates based on age, credit score, and other factors. Read on to learn more!
| Car insurance in Charleston vs. South Carolina | Average 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|
| Charleston average | $735 |
| South Carolina average | $707 |
The Zebra's key takeaways about car insurance in Charleston:
- The average cost of a car insurance policy in Charleston is $735 per six-month policy — $122 per month.
- The cheapest company in Charleston is Georgia Farm Bureau ($588).
- 40% of Zebra customers in Charleston stated they used our product because they were for car insurance with their current provider.
Are you paying too much for auto insurance?
Charleston car insurance rates by company
One of the best ways to save on auto insurance is to compare rates from multiple companies and choose the insurer that best fits your coverage needs. For a typical driver, USAA offers Charleston's cheapest rates. See below the best companies for cheap auto insurance in Charleston — but don't forget to get personalized car insurance quotes to match your driving profile.
| Company | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $588 |
| GEICO | $631 |
| State Farm | $675 |
| Travelers | $718 |
| Progressive | $801 |
The Zebra’s auto insurance data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
Shop around for the best rates
The only way to know which company has the cheapest coverage is to compare. Our comparison will do the leg work for you. Enter your ZIP code to see rates from Progressive, State Farm, GEICO and USAA (+ other top companies) to find the best and cheapest car insurance in Charleston.
Charleston auto insurance rates by age
Our data tells us that drivers between the ages of 30-39 make up 32% of Charleston drivers. The age bracket that pays the least for auto insurance in Charleston consists of drivers in their 50s, who pay an average of $656 per six-month policy. Those in their 60s don't pay significantly more ($676).
The Charleston drivers who face the priciest insurance rates are teenagers. One of the most effective ways to lower your car insurance rates as a driver in Charleston is to age out of your teens. The difference in rates paid by teenage drivers and drivers in their 20s in Charleston is $3,061, the largest such difference between any two age groups.
| Age bracket | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|
| Teenagers | $2,502 |
| 20s | $971 |
| 30s | $721 |
| 40s | $693 |
| 50s | $656 |
| 60s | $676 |
| 70s | $818 |
Charleston car insurance rates by credit score
It's no secret credit score is closely correlated with car insurance rates. In fact, Charleston drivers who improve their credit score from the "Very Poor" tier (300-579) to the "Exceptional" tier (800-850) earn, on average, a 58% decrease in their auto insurance costs. Moving from "Very Poor" to "Fair" credit is an important step toward saving money on auto insurance. In Charleston, improving your credit to "Fair" could help you earn a $612 decrease in six-month car insurance rates. Our data tells us 34% of drivers in Charleston have a credit score of average (580-679).Â
| Credit Tier | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|
| Very Poor | $1,482 |
| Fair | $870 |
| Good | $735 |
| Very Good | $678 |
| Exceptional | $618 |
Charleston car insurance rates by violation
No matter where you live, steering clear of accidents and citations is the best way to keep your auto insurance rates affordable. At-fault accidents, DUIs and DWIs, reckless driving citations, and speeding tickets all contribute to expensive auto insurance rates, as insurance companies reward low-risk drivers with the gift of affordable rates.
Two of the most expensive driving violations from an insurance perspective are reckless driving and DUI. In Charleston, a reckless driving citation results in an average insurance rate increase of $538 per year, compared to the citywide average. For comparison's sake, a DUI offense results in a $597 increase and a speeding ticket triggers a $290 rate hike.
| Incident | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|
| DUI/DWI | $1,033 |
| Reckless Driving | $1,044 |
| At-fault Accident (damages < $1,000) | $997 |
| At-fault Accident (damages > $2,000) | $1,054 |
| Speeding Ticket (16-20 mph over speed limit) | $880 |
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.