Updated: December 29, 2025
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American National: Cheapest across many driver profiles in Charleston. Full coverage starts at $69 monthly, with minimum coverage at $38, offering 32% savings compared to the city average.
Farm Bureau: Second cheapest at $100 monthly for full coverage and $55 for minimum coverage. It offers competitive pricing for young drivers, senior drivers and drivers with an accident on their record.
Auto-Owners: Third cheapest insurer in Charleston and a strong option for multiple driver types looking for budget-friendly coverage.
Cheapest Monthly Rates by Coverage and Driver Profile in Charleston:
Charleston drivers looking for affordable coverage can find good options for both minimum and full financial protection. American National offers the lowest minimum coverage at just $38 a month, 53% less than the city average.
American Family comes in second at $54 monthly with 23% savings. For full coverage, American National again provides the best rates at $69 a month, saving drivers 53% compared to Charleston's average.
Farm Bureau ranks second for full coverage at $100 monthly, still 31% below typical costs. Get quotes from several insurers, as your ZIP code and driving record affect your final rates.
| American National | $38 | $69 | -53% |
| American Family | $54 | $122 | -23% |
| Farm Bureau | $55 | $101 | -31% |
| Geico | $59 | $112 | -25% |
| Auto Owners | $61 | $106 | -27% |
Not in Charleston? Read more about the cheapest car insurance or the best provider in South Carolina.
Adding a teen to your Charleston auto policy often leads to higher costs. Younger drivers pay more because they have less experience behind the wheel and a higher likelihood of accidents.
Farm Bureau and American National offer the lowest rates at $170 per month, tying for the most affordable option in our review. Auto-Owners follows at $217 per month. Keeping your teen on your existing family policy usually costs less than setting up a separate policy.
Enroll them in a defensive driving course to reduce premiums by 5% to 15% and help manage the added expense.
Note: Teen drivers must meet South Carolina's licensing requirements and may be subject to additional state regulations regarding coverage minimums.
| Farm Bureau | $170 | $2,041 | -50% |
| American National | $170 | $2,041 | -50% |
| Auto Owners | $217 | $2,599 | -37% |
| Geico | $259 | $3,110 | -24% |
| American Family | $267 | $3,202 | -22% |
Drivers age 65 and older in Charleston have access to several lower-cost coverage options. American National offers the lowest rate at $94 per month for full coverage, while Farm Bureau follows at $114 per month and GEICO ranks third at $141 monthly.
Seniors can save more by completing a defensive driving course, which can cut premiums by up to 10% for three years. Many insurers also offer accident forgiveness programs for drivers 65 and older, providing financial protection after a first at-fault accident.
| American National | $94 | $1,130 | -53% |
| Farm Bureau | $114 | $1,373 | -42% |
| Geico | $142 | $1,700 | -29% |
| American Family | $161 | $1,932 | -19% |
| Auto Owners | $165 | $1,980 | -17% |
A traffic violation or at-fault accident does not lock you into high premiums forever, though some Charleston insurers respond more favorably than others. After a DUI, American National offers the lowest minimum coverage at $55 per month, with American Family close behind at $62.
For speeding tickets, American National again comes in lowest at $49 per month, followed by GEICO at $58. Drivers with at-fault accidents also see American National as the least expensive option at $49 per month, while Farm Bureau follows at $69.
These violations remain on your driving record for several years. Speeding tickets affect rates for three to five years, while serious offenses like DUIs can raise premiums for up to a decade. Checking rates across multiple insurers matters more after a violation, since each company applies its own approach when pricing risk.
| At-Fault Accident | American National | $49 | -57% |
| At-Fault Accident | Farm Bureau | $70 | -38% |
| DUI | American National | $55 | -53% |
| DUI | American Family | $63 | -46% |
| Speeding Ticket | American National | $49 | -49% |
| Speeding Ticket | Geico | $59 | -40% |
Your ZIP code matters more than you might think when shopping for car insurance in Charleston. The priciest area, 29414, costs $171 monthly for full coverage, while drivers in 29424 pay just $130 monthly.
That's a $41 difference between neighborhoods in the same city. Traffic patterns, crime statistics and accident rates in your specific ZIP code drive these variations. Even if two areas seem similar, your exact location determines whether you'll pay closer to Charleston's highest or lowest rates.
| 29414 | $171 |
| 29407 | $164 |
| 29425 | $156 |
| 29409 | $141 |
| 29403 | $139 |
| 29492 | $131 |
| 29412 | $131 |
| 29424 | $130 |
| 29401 | $130 |
| 29424 | $130 |
| 29401 | $130 |
| 29492 | $131 |
| 29412 | $131 |
| 29403 | $139 |
| 29409 | $141 |
| 29425 | $156 |
| 29407 | $164 |
| 29414 | $171 |
Auto-Owners earns its reputation as Charleston's top insurance choice with a MoneyGeek score of 93 out of 100. This company delivers exceptional customer service alongside comprehensive coverage options, making it a standout performer for local drivers.
Travelers, Farm Bureau, American National and Progressive round out the top five options in the area. Each of these companies brings something valuable to the table, whether it's competitive pricing, reliable claims handling or extensive coverage choices that meet diverse driver needs.
| 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 |
IntelliDrive app rewards safe driving with discounts
Mobile claims reporting with real-time status updates
Coverage available for high-risk driving records
No accident forgiveness increases rates after incidents
Claims process can be lengthy and complicated
Missing disappearing deductible for safe drivers
Travelers offers strong customer service and emergency support, ideal for Charleston's hurricane-prone environment. The company's 24/7 customer support and user-friendly mobile app allow easy claims filing and real-time updates during weather emergencies, while their comprehensive coverage addresses Charleston's risks including natural disasters, floods and theft.
Their long-standing presence in South Carolina gives them local expertise in handling hurricane-related claims efficiently. Features like accident forgiveness and decreasing deductibles add value for Charleston drivers seeking reliable financial protection during the region's challenging weather seasons.
Top-rated customer service with local agent support
Quick claims processing gets drivers back on road
Specialized coverage for long-distance travel breakdowns
No rideshare coverage for Uber drivers
Limited customer service hours
Fewer coverage options than competitors
For Charleston drivers who value responsive support, Auto-Owners offers strong customer service paired with local market experience. The company provides 24/7 assistance during hurricane season and quick support for weather-related incidents.
Coverage options address local risks such as theft and storm damage, with claims handled promptly when severe weather occurs. Rates come in higher than some competitors, but Auto-Owners suits drivers who want full coverage backed by local knowledge and dependable service during Charleston’s storm seasons.
Charleston drivers deal with high insurance costs, but comparing quotes can lead to huge savings.
Combine auto with home or renters insurance for 15% to 25% savings. Stack multi-car discounts (10% to 25% per vehicle) with good driver and paperless billing perks. Charleston drivers often achieve 30% to 40% total reductions through smart bundling.
Increasing your deductible from $500 to $1,000 usually reduces premiums by 10% to 15% annually. The key consideration: only select an amount you can comfortably pay out-of-pocket if you need to file a claim.
Insurance companies regularly adjust rates based on Charleston's changing risk factors and claims data. Your driving record also improves after three years, potentially qualifying you for better rates with different insurers.
Our Charleston FAQ section clarifies insurance options and pricing to help you find affordable coverage.
Charleston car insurance runs about $144 a month for full coverage. While that's not the cheapest in South Carolina, it's more affordable than Ladson at $176 monthly and much higher than Salem's bargain rate of $51 a month.
Finding affordable car insurance in Charleston starts with understanding how insurers price policies across the city. Traffic congestion, theft risk and South Carolina’s insurance requirements all shape your premium. Even within city limits, drivers in ZIP code 29414 often pay more than those in 29424.
We partnered with the South Carolina Department of Insurance to analyze hundreds of thousands of quotes from 12 insurers across every Charleston ZIP code.
Our ratings for the best car insurance in Charleston are calculated by a weighted score incorporating affordability (60%), customer experience (30%) and coverage options (10%).
Read more about our methodology, which reveals which insurers maintain competitive rates across Charleston neighborhoods and driver categories while delivering reliable claims service, not just advertised rates for perfect-record drivers.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in 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.
