Learn everything you need to know to buy the best car insurance policy in Charleston for you and your family. See which carriers are rated as the best car insurance companies for customer satisfaction and your neighborhood’s average car insurance rates.
Discover how much you can save by knowing how to make intelligent choices about coverage. And, find out how rates for Charleston drivers are affected by tickets, accidents and adding teen drivers.
- The average car insurance cost in Charleston, WV for a full coverage policy is $1,336 a year, according to CarInsurance.com research.
- Nationwide has the cheapest full coverage car insurance quotes in Charleston among all the carriers analyzed.
- By comparing price quotes from different carriers, you can save an average of $1,296 per year on a full coverage policy in Charleston.
- In West Virginia, comprehensive insurance costs an average of $237 and collision coverage is $592 per year, based on CarInsurance.com rate analysis.
Who has the best car insurance in Charleston, WV?
Deciding who has the best car insurance to suit your needs depends on what is most important to you. For some, it may be price, while others value customer service the most. Still, others may be looking for the convenience of mobile apps or a company that offers the most car insurance discounts.
Below we list car insurance companies in Charleston, and who they are the best at serving, based on CarInsurance.com’s customer satisfaction survey of current policyholders and rate data analysis.
| Best for | Company |
|---|---|
| Value/Price | Geico |
| Customer Service | Geico |
| Websites/Apps | Geico |
| Recommend | Geico |
| Low Annual Mileage | State Farm Mutual Auto |
| Good Student | Nationwide Mutual |
| Bundle | Nationwide Mutual |
| Paid in Full | Allstate P&C |
Cheap car insurance in Charleston, West Virginia
Find the cheapest car insurance rates in Charleston, based on our rate analysis for three different coverage levels. The driver profile is for age 30, with good credit and a clean driving record. You can see how major insurers rank for price in the chart below
| Company | Liability Only – State Minimum BI/PD | Liability Only – 50/100/50 BI/PD | Full Coverage – 100/300/100 BI/PD – 500 Comp/Coll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie Ins P&C Co | $340 | $426 | $1,259 |
| State Farm Mutl Automobile Ins | $383 | $456 | $1,204 |
| GEICO Advantage Ins Co | $392 | $441 | $1,111 |
| Nationwide Ins Co of Am | $489 | $530 | $1,028 |
| Auto Club Property-Casualty | $501 | $591 | $2,051 |
| Allstate P&C Ins Co | $525 | $583 | $2,155 |
| Metropolitan P&C Ins Co | $732 | $776 | $1,657 |
| Progressive Max Ins Co | $907 | $988 | $1,685 |
Car insurance coverage – how much car insurance do I need in Charleston?
Below we’ll explain what coverage you need to drive legally, which is your state’s required minimum liability limits, and what types of car insurance you may need to be truly protected.
Minimum car insurance requirements in Charleston
West Virginia car insurance laws require only that you insure yourself against bodily injury and property damage liability, so it’s your choice whether to add coverage for yourself, your passengers and your vehicle.
If you have a newer car, getting comprehensive insurance and collision coverage makes sense. In West Virginia, comprehensive costs $237 and collision costs $592, on an average per year, according to a rate data analysis done by CarInsurance.com.
These optional coverages come with a deductible. That’s the amount you pay before your insurance company pays. Typical deductibles are $1,000, $500 and $250 – you choose which one you want. The higher the deductible is, the lower your rate will be.
The best car insurance coverage usually isn’t the cheapest. You may be used if you’re in an accident and your insurance doesn’t cover all of the damages. That means your home or savings could be in jeopardy.
To protect your assets, you should buy liability insurance in the following amounts:
- $1,00,000 to pay for others’ medical bills
- $3,00,000 to pay for injuries to others in an accident you cause
- $1,00,000 to pay for damage to others’ property
You should also consider buying these optional coverages:
- Comprehensive, which replaces stolen cars and covers damage to your car from floods, fire, hail, and vandalism.
- Collision, which pays for damage to your car from accidents.
Average car insurance rates in Charleston
According to our rate analysis, the average rate for Charleston drivers for a year of minimum coverage is $449. If you increase your coverage to 50/100/50, you will pay just about $3.33 more monthly, or $40 more a year.
You can get full coverage (100/300/100) by paying $73.92 more a month, or an additional $887 a year more than minimum-level coverage.
Charleston average for:
- Minimum coverage: $449
- 50/100/50: $489
- 100/300/100: $1,336
Compare car insurance quotes in Charleston – how to save on insurance policy?
You can save an average of $1,296 annually on a full coverage policy in Charleston by comparing car insurance quotes, according to CarInsurance.com’s rate analysis. While savings will depend on your particular circumstances, this shows that there is a significant benefit to shopping your policy.
Charleston car insurance FAQs
How much does insurance go up after a speeding ticket in Charleston?
A speeding ticket in Charleston will hike your car insurance rates by an average of 38%, or about $772 yearly. CarInsurance.com’s rate analysis shows how much more drivers in Charleston can expect to pay, on average, for speeding and other common violations.
Minor traffic violations, such as speeding, typically stay on your record for about three years, and you can expect to see the rate increase upon your policy renewal date. More severe infractions like DUI stay on your record much longer.
How much does insurance go up for tickets in Charleston?
Charleston drivers can expect to see a hike in their rates in the range of 37% for minor moving violations such as tailgating or blowing through a stop sign, 73% for more severe infractions such as DUI.
Below you’ll see how much rates increase, on average, for common traffic violations.
Remember, though, that because insurance companies assess risk differently, you can still save by comparison shopping, because one carrier may ding you a lot for a citation, while another may spike your rate by much less.
| Violation | Average rate | Rate after violation | $ Increase | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 speeding tickets 11 mph or over | $2,032 | $3,049 | $1,017 | 50% |
| Careless driving | $2,032 | $2,977 | $945 | 47% |
| Distracted driving ticket | $2,032 | $2,498 | $466 | 23% |
| Driving without a license or permit | $2,032 | $2,492 | $460 | 23% |
| Driving without insurance | $2,032 | $2,392 | $360 | 18% |
| DUI/DWI first offense | $2,032 | $3,560 | $1,528 | 75% |
| DUI/DWI second offense | $2,032 | $5,153 | $3,121 | 154% |
| Failure to stop | $2,032 | $2,512 | $480 | 24% |
| Failure to yield | $2,032 | $2,512 | $480 | 24% |
| Following too closely | $2,032 | $2,478 | $446 | 22% |
| Improper turn | $2,032 | $2,478 | $446 | 22% |
| Improper/illegal pass | $2,032 | $2,478 | $446 | 22% |
| Operating a vehicle in a race (highway racing) | $2,032 | $3,616 | $1,584 | 78% |
| Reckless driving | $2,032 | $3,519 | $1,487 | 73% |
| Seatbelt infraction | $2,032 | $2,351 | $319 | 16% |
| Talking on cellphone ticket | $2,032 | $2,464 | $432 | 21% |
| Texting ticket | $2,032 | $2,464 | $432 | 21% |
How much does it cost to add a teen driver to your insurance?
In Charleston, adding a 16-year-old daughter to your policy will hike your rates by $2,089 annually or 156%, but it’s more for boys. Insuring your 16-year-old son will increase your yearly rate by $2,554, or 191%, according to CarInsurance.com rate data.
According to CDC research, teen drivers are inexperienced and involved in more accidents than older drivers. Insurance companies categorize them as high-risk drivers, so they cost more to insure.
If you’re insuring a teen driver of any age, you can get expert tips, rate data by age and details in this parents’ guide to insuring a teen driver.
How much is SR-22 insurance in Charleston?
CarInsurance.com data show that for drivers in Charleston, your rate will go up by an average of $943 or 46%. If you’re convicted of a serious offense, such as DUI or reckless driving, you may be required to have your insurance company file an SR-22 form on your behalf.
An SR-22 is a car insurance company’s guarantee to the state that you carry the legally mandated coverage. If you are required to have an SR-22 filed, your car insurance rates will increase.
— Ashlee Tilford contributed to this story
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Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
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John McCormick
Editorial Director
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Executive Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
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Nupur Gambhir
Managing Editor
Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.
Guide to car insurance (with rates) in cities of West Virginia