Cheapest Auto Insurance in Charleston, South Carolina (2025)
USAA offers the cheapest car insurance in Charleston, with minimum-coverage policies as low as $71 per month.
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Charleston drivers pay an overall average of $232 per month for auto insurance — higher than the South Carolina statewide average of $206. The historic city, situated where the Cooper and Ashley rivers converge into Charleston Harbor, draws ample visitors each year, and the added traffic likely contributes to the city’s higher car insurance costs.
Here’s what you should know about comparing quotes to save on car insurance costs in Charleston.
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Charleston
Your specific financial situation and insurance needs will influence what company works best for you. The following table outlines the three cheapest options in Charleston, South Carolina, and who these companies work best for.
Best insurer for cheap rates: USAA
Best insurer for teen drivers: State Farm
Best insurer for classic-car owners: Auto-Owners
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Charleston
With so many different companies available, it’s challenging to know which offers the best rates and coverage for your situation.
Here’s how to get cheap car insurance in Charleston:
Choose a higher deductible. A deductible is the amount you’ll pay before your insurance coverage kicks in on a claim. In general, setting a higher deductible results in lower insurance premiums.
Bundle your policies. Most insurance companies will offer you a discount for bundling different insurance policies together. For example, you can save on each policy by bundling your homeowners or renters insurance with auto insurance.
Take advantage of discounts. Always inquire about what other discounts your insurance company offers. For example, you may qualify for a low-mileage discount if you don’t spend much time on the road.
Compare car insurance rates. The best way to save on insurance is by shopping around among different insurers.8 You can use an online comparison tool to compare rates from multiple insurance companies at once.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Charleston: USAA
If you purchase liability-only car insurance, your insurer will pay for damages to the other driver. Liability insurance covers the other driver’s medical injuries and vehicle damages but doesn’t cover you.2
Many people choose liability-only insurance to save money on car insurance. Liability-only policies work best for drivers with paid-for, older, less-expensive vehicles. Charleston drivers pay a monthly average of $197 for liability-only policies.
The table below highlights the cheapest liability rates in Charleston.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Charleston: USAA
While liability coverage only protects the other driver, full-coverage insurance protects you as well. Though more expensive, these policies typically include liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage.
Full coverage is the best option for drivers who want the most protection possible — especially drivers with new or high-value vehicles. If you lease or finance your vehicle, your lender or leasing company will require you to carry full-coverage car insurance. In Charleston, full-coverage car insurance averages $268 per month.
Below, you'll find the cheapest full-coverage policies in Charleston.
Car insurance requirements in South Carolina
South Carolina drivers must carry liability and uninsured motorist coverage to drive legally in the state.3 Here’s a breakdown of the state minimum coverage requirements.
If you want more than liability coverage, you should consider purchasing the following optional coverages:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
People with a history of driving incidents can expect to pay more for car insurance than someone with a clean record. Driving incidents include at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, driving under the influence (DUIs), and other moving violations.
“Typically, a driver who incurs a speeding ticket or is involved in an at-fault accident will face a surcharge on their insurance premium for a minimum of three years,” explains Mark Friedlander, director of communications at the Insurance Information Institute.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: USAA
Speeding is a form of reckless driving that can lead to accidents, so if you receive a speeding ticket, your premiums will likely increase. A speeding ticket can stay on your record for 3-5 years.4
For Charleston-based drivers, the average cost of car insurance with a speeding ticket is $319 per month for full coverage and $234 for liability only. If you’ve received a speeding ticket, here are the cheapest insurers to choose from in Charleston.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: USAA
At-fault accidents will cause your insurance premiums to increase even more than receiving a speeding ticket. When you’re involved in an accident, you have to file a claim, which makes you more expensive to insure. Drivers with an at-fault accident on their Charleston driving record pay average car insurance costs of $338 per month for full coverage and $248 for liability only.
If you’re involved in multiple accidents, your insurance company can decide not to renew your policy.5 Here are the cheapest insurers for an at-fault accident.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: USAA
If you’re caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in South Carolina, you’ll face fines and penalties. For example, you could receive a $400 fine and possible imprisonment for your first offense in South Carolina. Plus, you may have your driver’s license and vehicle registration suspended for up to six months.6
A DUI is the most serious moving violation a driver could incur. “In South Carolina, a DUI stays on your motor vehicle record for 10 years,” says Friedlander. “That means you could be facing substantial costs for car insurance throughout that period.”
Charleston drivers with a DUI on their record pay an average of $336 per month for full coverage and $247 for liability only. Here are the cheapest car insurance options after a DUI in Charleston.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: USAA
In Charleston, seniors pay lower rates, on average, for auto insurance than some younger drivers. Rates begin decreasing around age 35, but they start to increase again around age 70 due to enhanced accident risk and higher probability of accident-caused injuries.
The average rate for full coverage for Charleston seniors is $233 per month, and liability-only policies average $171 per month. Here are the cheapest insurance companies for Charleston seniors.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: USAA
Teen drivers pay the highest rates for auto insurance due to their inexperience. Drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 have a fatal crash rate nearly three times as high as drivers older than 20.7
Teenage drivers can save money on car insurance in a few ways. For example, you can get a discount for maintaining good grades, and staying on your parents’ car insurance will earn you lower rates.
Average car insurance rates for Charleston teen drivers are priced at $537 for full coverage and $395 for liability only. Here are the cheapest car insurance companies for teen drivers in Charleston.
Charleston car insurance quotes by credit tier
Your credit history can either help or hurt your insurance premiums in Charleston because South Carolina law allows insurers to create a credit-based insurance score when evaluating your auto insurance application. Statistically, people with excellent or good credit are less likely to file an insurance claim. In contrast, poor credit indicates you’re more likely to file a claim.9
Here’s what you can expect to pay on average for full coverage in Charleston based on your credit tier.
Is car insurance more expensive in Charleston?
Car insurance in Charleston is slightly higher than the state average. The overall average for Charleston residents is $232 per month, while the state’s overall average is $206. Car insurance rates can vary by city in South Carolina depending on that city’s rate of vandalism, theft, and accidents. Rates even vary by ZIP code.
Drivers in cities with higher rates of severe weather and insurance fraud tend to pay more for car insurance as well.
More cities in South Carolina
Here’s how Charleston rates compare to some other South Carolina cities.