bestauto insuranceCharlestonCompare the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Charleston, WV
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In Charleston, Erie offers the cheapest widely available full and state minimum car insurance. Drivers with a speeding ticket violation can save the most money with Erie too, which is the least expensive insurer in that regard. USAA is the cheapest in all respects; however, it is only available to members of the military. Erie is the best car insurance company overall in the city, balancing affordability and customer service.
bestauto insuranceCharlestonThe Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Charleston
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Charleston
In Charleston, the most affordable auto insurance providers for full coverage policies are:
- Erie: $698 per year
- State Farm: $805 per year
Former and current military personnel and their families in Charleston will find USAA car insurance an affordable option with an average annual premium of $622.
At $698, Erie is the cheapest car insurance company in Charleston for full coverage. Its rate is about $967 (that’s just over 138%) lower than Metlife, the most expensive car insurance in the city, with an average annual premium of $1,665.
Full coverage car insurance includes comprehensive and collision coverage. When you’re looking for quotes, remember that your premium will change depending on your preferred liability limits and unique driver profile.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Charleston
Full Coverage 100/300/100
- Company100/300/100per year
- 1.$622
- 2.$698
- 3.$805
- 4.$874
- 5.$879
In MoneyGeek’s analysis, we used premiums for a 40-year-old male driver with a full coverage policy, as defined in our methodology.
A policy of comprehensive and collision coverage will cost more than liability-only coverage. Full coverage car insurance provides you with the security of knowing that repairs to your car in the event of an accident or other covered event will be paid under your insurance.
- Collision insurance: pays for your car’s repairs if you hit another vehicle or a stationary object
- Comprehensive insurance: protects against expenses to repair your car from non-collision–related damage, such as vandalism or an adverse weather event
If you have an older vehicle, full coverage insurance may cost more than your car’s replacement value. If that’s the case, you may prefer liability-only or state minimum insurance to save on premiums.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Charleston
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Charleston for Minimum Coverage
In Charleston and other cities, the cost of car insurance varies across different coverage levels. A policy that only meets the state’s minimum requirements costs an average of $519 per year. On the other hand, a full coverage policy with higher liability limits costs $497 more, at $1,016 per year.
Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Charleston
State Minimum
- CompanyState Minimumper year
- 1.$265
- 2.$314
- 3.$397
- 4.$404
- 5.$434
In West Virginia, drivers by law must have state minimum insurance of 25/50/25. This is Charleston's cheapest vehicle insurance; however, if you’re in an accident, your financial obligations may be significant.
For example, if the other driver’s medical bills in an at-fault accident total $50,000, your insurance would only cover $25,000 of that. You would be responsible for the remaining $25,000 in medical expenses.
West Virginia Minimum Liability Requirements
- ItemDescription
- Bodily Injury and Property Damage$25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. A more protective level is 100/300/100.
- Uninsured Motorist$25,000 per person, $50,000 per incident and $25,000 for property damage. The minimum coverage may not be enough if you're in a serious accident.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Charleston if You Have Driving Violations
Your car insurance premium is directly affected by your driving history. Having violations, such as speeding tickets, at-fault accidents and DUIs, results in higher premiums. The cheapest car insurance providers in Charleston for specific violations are:
- Cheapest after a ticket: Erie, $727 annually
- Cheapest after an at-fault accident: Erie, $836 annually
- Cheapest after a DUI: State Farm, $869 annually
If your yearly premium increased after a violation, you may be able to get it back down once you’ve improved your driving record. In the meantime, get as many quotes as possible to find the best cheap car insurance in Charleston for drivers with bad records.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Charleston With a Violation
Speeding Ticket
- CompanySpeeding Ticketper year
- 1.$713
- 2.$727
- 3.$869
- 4.$984
- 5.$1,178
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Charleston
Charleston$1,016
WV$1,016
U.S.$1,424
In Charleston, the average yearly cost of car insurance is much more affordable than the nationwide average. The average annual rate in this city is $1,016, which is equal to the West Virginia average and about 28.7% cheaper than the national average.
Personalized Quotes to Get You the Cheapest Car Insurance in Charleston
Auto insurance providers analyze a number of points to compute car insurance quotes in Charleston. These factors include your age, gender, driving record, credit score and more. Consider the example of Erie: its average annual price for an 18-year-old customer is about 275% higher than the cost for a 40-year-old driver with similar coverage. We recommend that you regularly get a personalized quote to see if you qualify for rebates or discounts as your situation changes.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Charleston
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
The Best Car Insurance Companies in Charleston
MoneyGeek scored the top car insurance companies in Charleston based on average rates, claims ratings and user satisfaction scores. Our analysis found that the best car insurance in Charleston is offered by:
- Erie: MoneyGeek score of 94 out of 100
- State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 86 out of 100
USAA is not included in this analysis, but it received a perfect MoneyGeek score of 100 out of 100, making it the best car insurance in Charleston for drivers with a military background.
1
Erie
Score:94
Erie car insurance scored highest for user satisfaction and affordability among auto insurers in Charleston. A policy from Erie costs an average of $698 per year. Apart from affordability and good customer service, Erie also offers unique optional coverages like better car replacement.
More About Erie
For Charleston drivers with new cars less than two years old, Erie offers optional better car replacement coverage. This coverage ensures that if your car is totaled, it will be replaced with the newest model year. Erie also offers new car replacement coverage, which ensures that if your new car gets totaled, it will be replaced with the newest model year.
Drivers can also opt to include accident forgiveness coverage in the Erie auto insurance policy. This coverage will protect you in case you are in an at-fault accident by ensuring that your premiums are not increased.
Read MoneyGeek's Erie auto Insurance Review2
State Farm
Score:86
State Farm’s car insurance in Charleston costs an average of $805 per year, ranking second for affordability in the city. This provider also scores highly for user satisfaction and claims. Drivers can get optional coverages like rideshare insurance with their State Farm auto insurance policy.
More About State Farm
If you use a rideshare app, you can get better protection by opting for rideshare insurance. This coverage ensures that the medical, emergency roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement coverages in your car insurance policy remain in effect when you are working for a ridesharing company.
State Farm policyholders can also choose from the available standard optional coverages, including roadside assistance to cover you in case your car breaks down and you need mechanical labor, towing or other assistance. You can also get rental car or travel reimbursement to cover travel expenses incurred when your car is being repaired.
Read MoneyGeek's State Farm auto Insurance Review3
Nationwide
Score:78
4
GEICO
Score:75
5
Allstate
Score:68
6
Progressive
Score:50
7
MetLife
Score:24
Average Cost of Car Insurance by Postal Code
People who live in neighborhoods with higher numbers of accidents, car thefts and uninsured motorists are more expensive to insure. In Charleston, drivers who live in ZIP code 25302 pay an average of $10 less per year for their auto coverage than drivers in ZIP code 25314.
- Zip CodeState Minimumper year
- 25302$1,010
- 25313$1,017
- 25314$1,020
Factors That Impact Insurance Costs in Charleston
In addition to individual driver needs and history, location-specific factors like the rate of fatal accidents and the percentage of uninsured motorists also contribute to car insurance rates in Charleston. How Charleston ranks compared to the 300 most populous cities in the United States can have a significant impact on premium costs.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
