Cheapest Auto Insurance in North Charleston, South Carolina (2025)

The overall average cost of car insurance in North Charleston, South Carolina, is $250 per month. Drivers in North Charleston pay significantly more for auto insurance than the U.S. national average of $143 per month. 

North Charleston’s coastal location means the city is susceptible to hurricanes and flooding, which makes the cost of car insurance more expensive than in areas with fewer weather risks.

Here’s what you need to know about comparing car insurance quotes and finding cheap car insurance in North Charleston.

3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in North Charleston

North Charleston, South Carolina, drivers have many options for car insurance. But the best insurance company for you depends on your unique driver profile, coverage needs, and budget. The three insurers below are a good place to start your search.

Best insurer for military families: USAA

Best insurer for customizable coverage: Auto-Owners

Best insurer for discounts: State Farm

How to get the cheapest car insurance in North Charleston

You have a variety of ways to get cheap car insurance in North Charleston. Here are some tips for reducing your car insurance costs:1

• Choose higher deductibles. For collision and comprehensive coverage, which require deductibles, choosing a higher deductible amount will lower your monthly premium.

• Take advantage of discounts. Most car insurance companies in North Charleston offer discounts that can help reduce your car insurance costs.

• Bundle your policies. You can often get a generous discount for bundling multiple insurance products, like car insurance with home insurance, renters insurance, or life insurance.

• Get new car insurance quotes. Get new quotes every time your policy renews, or after a major event, like getting into an accident or adding a teen driver to your policy, to make sure you’re always paying the lowest rate possible.

• Shop around. Car insurance companies charge different rates for the same type and amount of coverage. Compare quotes from a few insurers to find the best rate for your situation.

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in North Charleston: USAA

Liability-only insurance covers your financial responsibilities when you cause an accident that results in someone else’s injuries or property damage. It doesn’t provide any insurance coverage for your injuries or your vehicle after an accident.

In North Charleston, the average cost of liability-only insurance is $209 per month. But some companies have cheaper rates than others. In the table below, you can see which companies have the cheapest car insurance in North Charleston for liability-only insurance.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in North Charleston: USAA

Full-coverage car insurance provides more protection than liability-only insurance. It usually provides higher coverage limits for liability insurance, plus collision insurance, comprehensive insurance, and medical payments insurance. Full coverage kicks in when you get into an accident and need to pay for your medical bills or vehicle repairs.

The average monthly premium for full-coverage car insurance in North Charleston is $292. If you shop around, you may find insurers that offer lower rates. Below, you can see the cheapest companies for full-coverage insurance in North Charleston.

Car insurance requirements in South Carolina

Car insurance is a legal requirement in South Carolina. Vehicle owners must carry liability insurance and uninsured motorist liability insurance with minimum-coverage limits of 25/50/25.2 But insurance experts typically recommend purchasing more liability insurance than the minimum that’s required.

When it comes to car insurance laws, South Carolina is an at-fault state. In the event of an accident, the at-fault driver is responsible for compensating the other person for their bodily injuries and property damage losses.

In addition to the required coverages, many drivers in South Carolina can benefit from adding optional coverages to their policy. Some of the most common add-on coverage options include:

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident

Drivers with incidents on their record — such as at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and other moving violations — often pay higher insurance rates than people with a clean record.3 Insurers view drivers with violations as riskier to insure and generally charge them more for car insurance. The most serious infractions, like driving under the influence (DUI), usually have the biggest effect on the cost of car insurance.

In the table below, you can see how different driving incidents affect your car insurance rates.

Average cost of car insurance by age

One of the biggest factors that can affect car insurance rates is your age. Teen drivers typically pay the highest rates for auto insurance because they lack experience on the road. 

Rates usually start to decrease around age 35 and increase again at age 70. Like young adults, older drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents and make driving errors that can lead to collisions. 3 4

Below, you can see the average cost of car insurance for drivers in different age groups in North Charleston.

North Charleston car insurance quotes by credit tier

In South Carolina, car insurance companies are allowed to consider a driver’s credit history when calculating car insurance premiums. A driver’s credit score is used to predict how likely they are to file insurance claims.5 In general, drivers with excellent or good credit scores pay less for car insurance than people with poor credit scores.

The chart below shows average monthly car insurance rates for North Charleston drivers by credit tier.

North Charleston car insurance FAQs