Updated: November 11, 2025
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American National offers the cheapest car insurance in Charleston. Auto Owners, Farm Bureau, GEICO and Progressive also provide coverage in the city.
Car insurance in Charleston costs an average of $894 per year for minimum coverage and $1,723 per year for full coverage.
American National also offers the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina at $414 per year for minimum coverage and $749 per year for full coverage.
American National delivers rates of $454 per year for minimum coverage and $829 per year for full coverage, both coming in 49% below the city average of $894. Auto Owners and Farm Bureau present alternatives at $726 and $802 annually for minimum coverage.
Other budget-friendly insurers in the city include American Family, Farm Bureau and GEICO. The variety of quality insurers gives Charleston drivers multiple paths to affordable coverage.
| American National | $38 | $69 | -53% |
| Farm Bureau | $55 | $101 | -31% |
| Auto-Owners | $61 | $106 | -27% |
| GEICO | $59 | $112 | -25% |
| American Family | $54 | $122 | -23% |
Young drivers pay $851 annually with Auto Owners for minimum coverage, reflecting the elevated risk insurers associate with less experienced operators. Adult drivers from American National get Charleston's lowest rates at $454 per year.
Senior drivers pay $693 annually with American National, a 53% premium over adult rates. American National provides the best pricing for both adult and senior drivers.
American National and Farm Bureau offer the lowest car insurance rates for young drivers, with monthly premiums starting at $98 and $103, respectively.
| American National | $98 | $1,177 | -47% |
| Farm Bureau | $103 | $1,237 | -45% |
| American Family | $128 | $1,541 | -31% |
| Auto Owners | $130 | $1,555 | -30% |
| Geico | $141 | $1,690 | -24% |
In Charleston, American National provides the lowest rates for adult drivers (26 to 64). It saves drivers around 52% on average. GEICO and Allstate are also cheap options.
| American National | $38 | $454 | -52% |
| American Family | $54 | $652 | -31% |
| Farm Bureau | $55 | $664 | -29% |
| Geico | $59 | $703 | -25% |
| Auto Owners | $61 | $727 | -23% |
For seniors in Charleston, American National provides the lowest rates for both minimum and full coverage car insurance. The company's minimum coverage costs $58 monthly or $693 annually, while full coverage runs $94 per month or $1,130 per year.
| American National | $58 | $693 | -49% |
| Farm Bureau | $69 | $825 | -39% |
| Geico | $75 | $905 | -34% |
| American Family | $87 | $1,040 | -24% |
| Auto Owners | $99 | $1,191 | -13% |
These companies offer the lowest rates for high-risk drivers:
GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance for bad credit drivers in Charleston, with monthly rates starting at $98 for minimum coverage and $224 for full coverage.
| Geico | $98 | $1,177 | -41% |
| American National | $106 | $1,273 | -36% |
| Farm Bureau | $108 | $1,296 | -35% |
| Nationwide | $130 | $1,561 | -22% |
| Travelers | $137 | $1,643 | -17% |
American National offers the most affordable car insurance in Charleston for drivers with a DUI. Its rates are 53% below average for minimum coverage and 55% cheaper for full coverage policies.
| American National | $55 | $664 | -53% |
| American Family | $63 | $755 | -46% |
| Farm Bureau | $66 | $796 | -43% |
| State Farm | $98 | $1,176 | -16% |
| Progressive | $109 | $1,303 | -7% |
Drivers in Charleston with an accident can find the lowest rates with American National, starting at $49 per month, 57% less than the city's average premium.
| American National | $49 | $589 | -57% |
| Farm Bureau | $70 | $839 | -38% |
| American Family | $76 | $917 | -32% |
| Geico | $85 | $1,014 | -25% |
| Auto Owners | $88 | $1,052 | -22% |
For Charleston drivers with speeding tickets, American National offers the most affordable car insurance options. Its minimum liability coverage costs $49 monthly, while full coverage with higher limits runs $88 per month.
| American National | $49 | $589 | -49% |
| Geico | $59 | $703 | -40% |
| Farm Bureau | $63 | $753 | -35% |
| Auto Owners | $67 | $809 | -31% |
| American Family | $75 | $901 | -23% |
American National leads with affordability and reliable service. Farm Bureau appeals to Charleston drivers who prefer working with a local carrier.
| Auto-Owners | 93 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Travelers | 88 | 7 | 2 | 4 |
| Farm Bureau | 86 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| American National | 86 | 1 | 11 | 6 |
| Progressive | 85 | 9 | 3 | 2 |
3rd most affordable overall
Best customer experience in Charleston
Good add-on coverage selection
More expensive rates on average compared to some providers
Auto-Owners earned our top spot for car insurance in Charleston. The company can save most drivers an average 27% on coverage and they offer an add-on that allows you to be reimbursed for any of your car's lost value in the case of a claim. Auto-owners also has the best customer experience in the city, tying for the best agent service rating and 2nd highest multi-platform forum ratings among national and regional insurers.
Car insurance in Charleston costs an average of $894 per year for minimum coverage and $1,723 per year for full coverage. These rates sit slightly above the South Carolina state average of $581 for minimum coverage.
American National offers rates well below the city average at $454 for minimum coverage. Charleston drivers should expect moderate premiums with solid opportunities to find affordable coverage.
| Full Coverage | $144 | $1,723 |
| Minimum Coverage | $75 | $894 |
In Charleston, car insurance rates by ZIP code range from $66 to $171 per month. ZIP code 29414 is the most expensive, while 29401 is the cheapest. Check the average rates for your ZIP code below.
| 29414 | $95 | $171 |
Finding affordable car insurance in Charleston can feel overwhelming, with local rates higher than many other cities and numerous coverage options to sort through. Our step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to lower your costs while getting the right protection for your needs.
Use our car insurance coverage needs calculator to understand what protection best suits you.
Learn about types of car insurance that could save you money. If you drive infrequently, consider pay-per-mile coverage. If you don't own a car, consider non-owner insurance.
Research average vehicle insurance costs in Charleston to set realistic expectations
Maximize savings through car insurance discount opportunities. Consider bundling multiple policies or getting multi-car discounts.
Look into each insurer's customer service ratings and claims satisfaction scores.
Contact at least three different insurance companies for quotes.
Set a yearly reminder to review your policy and shop for new quotes.
Car insurance rates in Charleston depend on your driving record, vehicle and credit score. American National and Farm Bureau offer the lowest average premiums in the area, but compare quotes from multiple providers to find your best rate.
We help you understand your options and make smart choices that protect your finances without overpaying.
American National offers Charleston's lowest rates, averaging $454 for minimum coverage and $829 for full coverage. Rates vary by personal factors, so compare multiple quotes.
Auto-Owners leads Charleston's car insurance market with a MoneyGeek score of 93 out of 100, scoring 5 points higher than Travelers. The company excels in both affordability and service quality.
In Charleston, drivers pay $1,723 per year for full coverage and $894 for minimum coverage auto insurance. Your actual rates will vary based on individual factors.
Charleston car insurance costs are higher than average, ranking 338th for minimum coverage affordability and 347th for full coverage compared to other South Carolina cities.
Charleston drivers face unique insurance challenges from coastal hurricane exposure, historic flooding in low-lying areas, elevated vehicle theft rates, and tourist traffic congestion that push premiums higher than inland South Carolina cities. We built this research to show you which insurers offer the lowest rates for your specific driving profile, so you can maintain required coverage without overpaying in one of the state's most expensive insurance markets.
We collected rate data from the South Carolina Department of Insurance and Quadrant Information Services, analyzing hundreds of thousands of quotes from 12 companies across every ZIP code in Charleston. This ensures our data reflects what you'll actually pay based on your neighborhood's accident frequency, flood risk, theft rates, and local repair costs.
We created a sample driver profile: a 40-year-old male driving a 2012 Toyota Camry LE with a clean record, good credit, and no claims history. This driver logs 12,000 miles annually and maintains continuous coverage with a valid license. We adjusted factors such as age, driving record, credit score, and military affiliation to find the most suitable insurance companies for specific driver profiles.
South Carolina requires minimum liability coverage of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. These minimums satisfy legal requirements but leave you financially exposed after serious accidents, especially in a coastal city where medical costs run moderate to high and hurricane-related claims are frequent.
For full coverage comparison, we used $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 liability limits plus comprehensive and collision with $1,000 deductibles. This level provides stronger financial protection when you cause an accident or your car gets damaged, stolen, or totaled—particularly important given Charleston's hurricane risk, flooding exposure, and tourist-driven traffic congestion that increases accident likelihood.
We rated all companies using three weighted categories:
Affordability (60%), evaluating quotes for various common driver profiles compared to local competition,
Customer Experience (30%) using sources like agency reviews on Google, J.D. Power, AM Best, and forums like Reddit to gauge customer sentiment, and
Coverage Options (10%), considering the number of coverage options a provider has, plus the uniqueness of offerings and included benefits. This
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.
