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Car Insurance in Charleston

Compare car insurance costs in Charleston, South Carolina

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Car Insurance in Charleston, SC

Charleston is South Carolina’s largest city (about 138,000 people call it home) and arguably the most historic. If you’re driving in Charleston with a mind to take in the charming antebellum architecture, you’ll come across more than a few cobblestone streets with plenty of twists and turns.

Getting through the Holy City’s busier areas, from the old harbor with its breathtaking views of Fort Sumter to the famous Dock Street Theatre, means navigating alongside many other drivers.

Whether you’re driving through the beautiful French Quarter or along the scenic routes to nearby beaches, factors like zip code, age, and the type of car you own can affect car insurance costs in Charleston. It’s best to compare car insurance quotes in Charleston to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Here’s some more information that you’ll find helpful.

How much is car insurance in Charleston, SC?

In Charleston, car insurance premiums can fluctuate depending on the coverage you select and your personal driving profile. To give you an idea, here are the average costs for the three most popular types of coverage in Charleston, helping you gauge what to expect:

$89
State Minimum
$187
Full 50/100
$199
Full 100/300

Auto Insurance Cost Methodology
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What are the cheapest cars to insure in Charleston?

Sorting through all the car options in Charleston to find the cheapest insurance rates can be overwhelming. However, newer models often provide lower premiums. Here’s a list of the top 10 most affordable car makes and models to insure in Charleston:

RankMake and ModelAverage Monthly Premium
1Honda Cr-V$178
2Subaru Forester$179
3Dodge Grand Caravan$184
4Kia Sedona$184
5Toyota Rav4$187
6Honda Odyssey$188
7Kia Sol$188
8Toyota Corolla$189
9Ford F-150$190
10Toyota Tacoma$191
Avg. premiums are weighted by zip code population sizes. Data accurate as of August 1, 2024

How do claims and violations impact my total cost?

Your driving record in Charleston can have a huge effect on your car insurance premiums. Whether it's a minor incident or something more severe, like a DUI or a hit-and-run, your rates will be impacted. Below is a breakdown of how various claims and violations can affect your insurance costs in Charleston, ranked from least to most significant:

Violation or ClaimAverage Monthly CostPrice Difference
None$187+0%
Not at-fault Accident$200+7%
Driving with expired registration$241+29%
Speeding Ticket$244+30%
At-fault Accident$259+39%
DUI$287+53%
Driving with a suspended license$304+63%
Hit and Run$317+70%

What car insurance discounts can I get in Charleston?

There are plenty of ways to save on car insurance in Charleston through discounts. These can include bundling multiple policies, enrolling in automatic payments, or being a long-term customer. Here’s a list of the most impactful discounts available in Charleston, ranked from highest to lowest savings:

Potential DiscountsAverage Monthly CostMonthly Savings
Multi-Policy Home$166+$21
Paid in Full$173+$14
Multi-Policy Renters$179+$8
Paperless$181+$6
Low Mileage$181+$6
Electronic Funds Transfer$184+$3
Renewal discount$186+$1
None$187+$0

Premiums are sourced from over 30,000 zip codes across 200 insurance companies. We estimate premiums based on public filings for policies seeking 50/100 in liability with $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage. Estimated rates are based on a 35-year-old single female with a good credit score and no history of accidents or violations driving a 2023 Toyota RAV4 LE. We partner with Quadrant Information Services to source our data and assume no unique benefits or discounts are applied for these rates (unless otherwise stated). Your own rates may be different.