Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in North Charleston, SC (2024)

American National P&C offers the most affordable full and minimum coverages in North Charleston, South Carolina. For families with teens, Auto-Owners provides the best rates. American Family excels in customer service, while Auto-Owners offers the best overall value, balancing price and service to meet various coverage needs.

American National P&C has the cheapest car insurance in North Charleston.

• American National P&C: $366 per year
• Auto-Owners: $593 per year

Dairyland has the most expensive minimum coverage policy, with an annual premium of $4,356. The $3,990 difference from the lowest rate highlights the importance of comparing car insurance quotes to ensure you get the best deal.

In South Carolina, car insurance minimum requirements include:

• $25,000 bodily injury per person
  
• $50,000 bodily injury per accident
  
• $25,000 property damage liability per accident
  
• $25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
  
• $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
  

If you're at fault in an accident, your policy will cover up to these limits. For example, if someone's injuries cost more than $25,000, you'll be responsible for covering the extra amount out of pocket. Similarly, if multiple people are injured, your policy covers up to $50,000, and you'd be liable for anything beyond that.

American National P&C offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance in North Charleston.

• American National P&C: $627 per year
• Auto-Owners: $1,085 per year

Dairyland's full coverage policy costs $7,466 annually. The $6,839 difference between the most and least expensive insurers highlights the importance of comparison shopping. Full coverage policies, which include comprehensive and collision insurance, are typically more expensive than minimum coverage.

A full coverage policy includes comprehensive coverage for damage to your vehicle and collision coverage. It usually also comes with increased liability limits.

• Collision insurance covers your vehicle against accidents involving other vehicles, objects like trees or light poles, rollovers and pothole damage.
• Comprehensive insurance covers non-collision incidents that cause vehicle damage or loss, such as theft, natural disasters and collisions with animals like deer.

Selecting full coverage insurance is wise for new cars to protect your investment. For older vehicles, the cost of additional coverage outweighs the benefits, adding hundreds to your premiums. If you lease or loan a car, full coverage is required.

To know how much car insurance you need, weigh the pros of increased protection against the cost of higher premiums. This balance is crucial, as lower coverage could leave you underinsured.

American National P&C is the cheapest car insurance option for drivers with violations in North Charleston.

• Speeding ticket and at-fault accident: American National P&C ($796 per year)
• DUI: American National P&C ($896 per year)

Dairyland charges the highest rates for all these offenses. Its annual premium after an at-fault accident is $11,523, a $10,727 difference from the lowest rate after a speeding ticket. This proves how the seriousness of a driving violation affects car insurance costs.

In North Charleston, serious driving offenses result in higher insurance premiums. On average, a speeding ticket raises annual premiums to around $3,883, while a DUI increases rates to about $4,349. This difference highlights the importance of comparing insurance rates, as drivers with offenses can find significant savings by exploring different providers.

Auto-Owners provides the cheapest full coverage car insurance for teens in North Charleston. Here are the best options for a policy covering two parents with a teen driver:

• Auto-Owners: $2,491 per year for female teens and $3,009 per year for male teens
• Travelers: $2,844 per year for female teens and $3,606 per year for male teens

Bristol West charges the highest annual rate of $8,225 for female teens, with a $5,734 difference from the cheapest option. This significant gap stresses the importance of comparing providers, especially when insuring high-risk teen drivers.

In North Charleston, individual teen car insurance averages $7,337 annually, while family plans cost $4,518. Insurers view teens as high risk, leading to higher premiums and making individual policies harder to secure. Joining a family plan offers both financial savings and easier approval.

American National P&C has the cheapest car insurance for military backgrounds in North Charleston. Here are the top providers with the lowest premiums:

• American National P&C: $627 per year
• Auto-Owners: $1,085 per year

USAA, which ranks third with an annual premium of $1,287, is worth considering for its services tailored to the needs of military families and veterans.

Comparing rates helps you save on car insurance in North Charleston. However, it can take about 15 minutes per insurer and up to over an hour for three or more companies. MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator can help make the process much easier. Enter your key details like age, driving history, credit rating and coverage preferences to get an instant estimate.

Choosing the right auto insurance depends on how you prioritize factors like service, cost and coverage. Based on MoneyGeek's research using specific criteria, here are the top insurers in North Charleston:

• Best overall: Auto-Owners (MoneyGeek score 83 out of 100)
• Best for service: American Family (MoneyGeek score 79 out of 100)
• Best cheap: Auto-Owners (MoneyGeek score 87 out of 100)

Auto-Owners offers an outstanding balance of low cost and service quality, while American Family excels in customer service and affordability.

Auto-Owners ranks as the top provider of the best car insurance in North Charleston, excelling in service and affordability.

• Auto-Owners: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100 ($1,085 per year)
• American Family: MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100 ($1,466 per year)

Auto-Owners stands out for its strong customer satisfaction and cost efficiency, making it the go-to choice for drivers seeking reliable full coverage.

American Family is the top choice in North Charleston for customer-focused car insurance. It emphasizes satisfaction, efficient claims handling and comprehensive coverage options — regardless of price.

• American Family: MoneyGeek score of 79 out of 100 ($1,466 per year)
• Auto-Owners: MoneyGeek score of 78 out of 100 ($1,085 per year)

American Family earns the highest satisfaction rating, driving its top MoneyGeek score. The company ensures a positive customer experience throughout the insurance process.

Auto-Owners is the best option in North Charleston for low-cost car insurance without compromising service quality.

• Auto-Owners: MoneyGeek score of 87 out of 100 ($593 per year)
• American Family: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100 ($683 per year)

Auto-Owners' high affordability and claims handling ratings drive its top MoneyGeek score for minimum coverage policies.

North Charleston's average car insurance cost is $1,944, which exceeds the state average of $1,688 by $256. South Carolina's average surpasses the national average of $1,781 by $163.

Driving record, vehicle type and coverage level affect rates. Location also plays a critical role due to differences in traffic patterns, accident rates and vehicle theft risk. For example, North Charleston's premium of $1,944 is higher than Columbia's $1,664. Rates may be even lower in less densely populated areas.