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The average cost of basic liability car insurance in South Carolina is $2,506 per year. Opting for full-coverage car insurance in South Carolina will leave you with an average cost of $3,122 per year. In comparison, the national average is $1,627 per year to buy basic liability car insurance and $2,297 per year to buy full-coverage car insurance.
The average cost of basic liability car insurance in South Carolina is $2,506 per year. Opting for full-coverage car insurance in South Carolina will leave you with an average cost of $3,122 per year. In comparison, the national average is $1,627 per year to buy basic liability car insurance and $2,297 per year to buy full-coverage car insurance.
Compare best car insurance quotes in South Carolina
Your driver profile—your age, driving history, ZIP code, vehicle, credit score, marital status, and more—determines the price you pay for auto insurance in South Carolina. That’s what makes finding the best quotes so hard.
With the Jerry app, you don’t need to worry about analyzing your own profile and accounting for all those factors. Jerry does all of that automatically, finding you customized real-time quotes from a pool of 55+ top-rated insurance providers in 45 seconds.
Here are some real quotes and savings from customers in South Carolina who switched with Jerry:
| Quote Date | Car | Before Jerry | After Jerry | City | Name | Age | Insurance Company |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 12, 2023 | Hyundai Kona SE | $224/mo. | $171/mo. | Columbia | Luella H. | 25 | Progressive |
| March 10, 2023 | Infiniti Qx56 | $230/mo. | $130/mo. | Piedmont | Mabelle H. | 36 | National General |
| March 8, 2023 | Nissan Altima 2.5 | $200/mo. | $180/mo. | Ridgeland | Rosie C. | 26 | Progressive |
| March 3, 2023 | Toyota Tacoma Double Cab | $288/mo. | $187/mo. | Salley | Brent H. | 24 | Progressive |
| March 3, 2023 | Buick Lesabre Limited | $215/mo. | $178/mo. | Greer | Winnie N. | 25 | National General |
Best car insurance companies in South Carolina
The best car insurance companies in South Carolina include familiar names like State Farm, GEICO, and Progressive. Drivers can also find great rates with Nationwide, Allstate, and USAA. But the best company is different for every individual driver.
Remember that driver profile that influences your quotes? All of those insurance providers look at the same factors, but they analyze them differently, so you’ll get different rates from every company. For instance, Progressive tends to be more favorable towards drivers with poor credit than State Farm, and Nationwide usually offers the best rates for teen drivers.
But because so many factors can influence your rates, the only way to find the best company for you is to compare quotes. Here are quotes real drivers received when they used Jerry.
| Insurance Company | Average Cost | Annual Savings with Jerry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kemper | $3,493 | $1,262 | |
| Dairyland | $4,146 | $1,209 | |
| Nationwide | $2,886 | $1,119 | |
| National General | $3,243 | $1,027 | |
| Progressive | $3,229 | $1,022 | |
| Safeco | $2,914 | $1,012 | |
| Allstate | $3,139 | $991 | |
| Travelers | $3,036 | $964 | |
| State Auto | $2,888 | $955 | |
| Clearcover | $2,376 | $779 | |
| Compare Prices | |||
South Carolina car insurance FAQs
Is SC car insurance higher?
Yes—South Carolina car insurance tends to run slightly higher than the national average.
Is car insurance cheaper in South Carolina?
Unfortunately, no. South Carolina car insurance generally costs more than the national average, due in part to high accident rates.
Is insurance cheaper in NC or SC?
North Carolina has slightly cheaper car insurance than South Carolina. This is likely thanks to more discounts, less credit penalties, and lower accident rates in North Carolina than in South Carolina.
What insurance does SC require?
You’ll need to carry 25/50/25 liability coverage in South Carolina. This breaks down to $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 of bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 of property damage liability per accident.
How much does auto insurance cost in South Carolina?
The average rates South Carolina drivers pay for auto insurance tend to hover slightly above the national average. Why? There are a few reasons:
- Hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms pose serious environmental risks to vehicles in South Carolina
- Growing cities are seeing an increase in population density
- Roughly one in 10 drivers in South Carolina are uninsured
The common factor in all of these things? They increase either the risk of an accident or the cost of a claim. The more claims insurers expect, and the more they anticipate paying out for those claims, the more they’ll charge on average to insure a vehicle.
In other words, living in South Carolina can put you at a slight disadvantage when buying car insurance directly from an insurance company. But if you use a broker to help you weigh all your options and navigate a difficult insurance marketplace, you’ve got a better chance of finding affordable coverage. There’s no added cost to using Jerry to shop for insurance.
South Carolina car insurance requirements
South Carolina requires two basic types of car insurance for all drivers: liability coverage and uninsured motorist coverage.
In order to legally operate a motor vehicle in the Palmetto State, you’ll need to purchase at least $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage, $25,000 per accident of property damage liability, and uninsured motorist coverage that’s equal to minimum amounts of liability coverage (including uninsured motorist property damage).
How much insurance do I need in South Carolina?
Without the uninsured motorist fee, South Carolina has a 25/50/25 rule for minimum liability coverage. Drivers in South Carolina must have the state-required minimum of $25,000 per person for bodily injury liability, $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident, and $25,000 of property damage liability per accident. They must also get uninsured motorist coverage at equal rates.
What do you need if you’re pulled over?
If you’re pulled over in South Carolina, you are required to show your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and registration. Thankfully, digital insurance ID cards are accepted by police and the DMV, so you will always have your stored proof of insurance available 24/7 in the Jerry app.
Is South Carolina a no-fault state?
No, South Carolina is an at-fault state. This means the at-fault driver’s insurance will pay for the not-at-fault driver’s and passengers' injuries, once the at-fault driver’s insurance company accepts liability and confirms that there is enough coverage.
But South Carolina drivers have one more option that drivers in most states don’t: if you’d rather not carry any insurance, you can pay a $600 uninsured motorist fee instead. That’s well under the average annual cost of state minimum insurance, so it can be a lifesaver if you really don’t have the funds.
Only pay the uninsured motorist fee if you really can’t afford coverage. While auto insurance might feel like a less rewarding thing to budget for, going without insurance leaves you open to catastrophic financial and legal situations. If you cause an at-fault accident, you could be saddled with out-of-pocket costs for other drivers—not to mention your own hospital bills and vehicle repairs!
In fact, it’s best to purchase a “full coverage policy” that includes collision coverage and comprehensive coverage. With those two types of insurance on your policy, you’ll be able to file claims for damage to your vehicle, which could save you from a serious financial disaster. Compare costs for these coverages against the cost of basic liability in the chart below.
Cheapest car insurance with a DUI or speeding ticket in South Carolina
Your driving record has a huge influence on your car insurance premiums. A speeding ticket or an accident can raise your rates, and a serious violation (think DUI or reckless driving) can cause your premium to shoot up and stay elevated for years.
That’s because insurance companies hate risk—and they see any driver with violations as “high-risk.” The good news? Jerry can help you find a competitive and cheap car insurance policy even if your driving record isn’t squeaky clean:
| Driving Violation | Average Cost | Annual Savings with Jerry |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Record | $2,555 | $815 |
| Reckless Driving | $7,099 | $4,968 |
| Leaving scene of an Accident/Hit and Run | $4,415 | $1,734 |
| DUI | $3,455 | $1,231 |
| Illegal Turn | $4,588 | $1,131 |
| Driving on Sus. License | $3,331 | $1,104 |
| Open Container | $2,409 | $1,085 |
| Careless Driving | $3,366 | $1,070 |
| Failure to Obey Traffic Sign | $3,343 | $1,057 |
| Speeding under 15 | $3,149 | $983 |
Insurance Cost With a DUI in South Carolina
If you get a DUI in South Carolina, you can expect your car insurance to increase by an average of $86.16 per month.
Read South Carolina DUI Information:
Insurance Cost With a Reckless Driving Citation in South Carolina
If you have a reckless driving citation, you should expect your insurance to increase to an average of $70.21 per month.
Read South Carolina Reckless Driving Information:
South Carolina auto insurance rates by age
Here’s a really, really un-fun fact: in South Carolina, a teenage driver is involved in a collision that kills or injures someone every 1.4 hours.
Distracted driving, speeding, and non-use of seatbelts often play a role in car accidents involving young drivers, but there’s also the simple reality that anyone who’s new to driving has less experience, weaker instincts, and a much higher chance of accidents or violations.
Insurance companies know this all too well—that’s why you’ll see your rate skyrocket when you add a teenager to your policy. One of the best ways to find the cheapest rates as a young driver is to show insurance companies that you’re a safe driver by maintaining a clean driving record, but shopping with Jerry gives you an extra advantage.
Want to see how age affects the average cost of car insurance in South Carolina—and how much Jerry saves drivers in each age group? Check out the table below.
How can young drivers save money on car insurance in South Carolina?
- South Carolina’s drivers license program allows drivers to earn full driving privileges at the age of 17 or if you kept a Conditional license for one year with no traffic violations.
- You can complete an approved defensive driving course to lower your insurance rates.
- If you maintain a B average, you may qualify for a good student discount.
- South Carolina’s drivers license program allows drivers to earn full driving privileges at the age of 17 or if you kept a Conditional license for one year with no traffic violations.
- You can complete an approved defensive driving course to lower your insurance rates.
- If you maintain a B average, you may qualify for a good student discount.
South Carolina car insurance rates by city
Insurance rates in South Carolina tend to hover around the national average, but this can change depending on where you live in the state.
As an example, compare Columbia car insurance costs or Charleston car insurance costs to the average cost of car insurance in a small town like Hardeeville. Hardeeville drivers pay as much as $1,000 less every year for the same insurance coverage—well below the state average!
Dense traffic, high DUI rates, and lots of property crime make car insurance more expensive in larger cities, while rural areas tend to see much lower rates. Check out the list below to see how insurance prices change across the state:
| City | Average Cost | Annual Savings with Jerry |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson | $2,155 | $738 |
| Charleston | $2,191 | $738 |
| Columbia | $2,280 | $765 |
| Conway | $2,412 | $857 |
| Greenville | $2,276 | $718 |
| Myrtle Beach | $2,102 | $702 |
| North Charleston | $2,448 | $795 |
| Rock Hill | $2,274 | $769 |
| Spartanburg | $2,365 | $833 |
| Summerville | $2,354 | $731 |
Least Expensive Cities in South Carolina
The least expensive South Carolina car insurance is Aiken at an average annual rate of $1,067.
City with Highest Rates of Accidents in South Carolina
15.76% of drivers in Charleston have an at-fault accident on their record, this makes South Carolina’s drivers the riskiest in the state—which affects premiums.
Read South Carolina Accident Information:
Cities with the Longest Commute Times in South Carolina
The city of Hollywood has the longest commute in South Carolina at 36 minutes. Drivers in Hollywood will have to share the roads with others and increase their mileage, leading to increased premiums.
Read Commuting Insurance Information:
South Carolina auto insurance rates by vehicle type
The type of car you drive also factors into your premiums. Most expensive cars will cost more to insure simply because they’re pricier to fix.
Southern folks love their pickups, so it’s no surprise that the Ford F-150 tops the list of popular vehicles in South Carolina—and Ford F-150 insurance costs are among the most affordable for any vehicle. But its more expensive counterpart, the Ford 350 Super Duty, will also be more expensive to insure thanks to pricier equipment that costs more to replace.
Want to see where your vehicle lands? Check out the features below.
| Car | Average Cost | Annual Savings with Jerry |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Equinox LT | $2,596 | $949 |
| Hyundai Elantra GLS | $2,441 | $896 |
| Honda Accord EX | $2,283 | $831 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 | $2,531 | $818 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo | $2,157 | $725 |
Most Popular Car in South Carolina
The most popular vehicle in South Carolina is the Toyota RAV4. If you drive a Toyota RAV4, you can expect to pay around $1,400 annually in car insurance costs. Jerry is a great way to find the most affordable rates with a free quote comparison service to help lower your car insurance.
Read more about your Toyota RAV4:
Do you need more than minimum coverage in South Carolina?
South Carolina insurance requirements are higher than in many liability-only states—but does minimum coverage really offer enough protection?
The short answer: not really. While liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverage are important, sticking to the state’s minimum coverage levels could leave you underinsured if you cause injuries or property damage that cost more than your policy covers. And if the reverse happens—that is, if your costs go beyond what the other driver’s insurance will cover—you’ll be looking at some major out-of-pocket expenses.
There are a few ways to supplement your coverage so it really gives you the protection you need. Collision and comprehensive insurance are the most important. South Carolina also requires all auto insurance companies to offer underinsured motorist coverage in addition to uninsured motorist coverage to address the exact situation we talked about above.
Purchasing full coverage car insurance costs more than sticking to state minimums, but it’s almost always worth it—and if your vehicle is financed, it may even be a requirement from your lender. Check out the features below to see how you could beef up your policy.
South Carolina ranks well for traffic and infrastructure, but accidents can still happen when you least expect it. Drivers should get collision coverage to help them pay for necessary car repairs caused by collisions.
Read more about South Carolina Traffic:
Damage that occurs from non-collision based incidents requires comprehensive coverage. This is especially useful in South Carolina, where hail and storms can deal some serious damage to your vehicle.
8.50% of drivers in South Carolina are uninsured, which poses a financial risk to other drivers. If you get into an accident with an uninsured driver, you probably want uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to help pay for expenses.
Read information about uninsured drivers:
South Carolina drivers rate their road quality a low 4.67 out of 10. Between the dismal road conditions and large swathes of rural areas, drivers in South Carolina should buy roadside assistance to help them out if the stray pothole leaves them stranded with a flat.
How to save money on car insurance in South Carolina
There are a number of ways to save on car insurance rates in South Carolina!
Shop around for quotes
If you’ve been with the same insurance provider for years—especially if you just picked the first quote you came across—it’s a good idea to shop around to see if you could save money with a different provider.
It might seem like you’d get the same rate from every insurance company—they’re offering the same product, right?—but you might be surprised by how much you can save by switching companies.
Experts recommend re-shopping every six months or when something that impacts your car insurance changes—like your marital status or ZIP code.
Look for discounts
Car insurance discounts—for everything from bundling homeowners and auto insurance to getting good grades in school or paying your premium in full—can save you a ton of money on auto insurance.
Here are some of the most popular ones for drivers in South Carolina:
Defensive Driving Courses
Defensive Driving Courses
Drivers who are at least 50 years of age and complete a defensive driving course are eligible for discounts on their insurance, as they’re less likely to file a claim.
Bundling Discounts
Bundling Discounts
If you bundle your home and auto insurance, it’s likely you can qualify for a bundling discount with your insurance carrier.
Continuously Insured Discount
Continuously Insured Discount
If you’re a driver who is continuously insured for at least six months or longer, you are less likely to lapse on your insurance. It also shows carriers that you tend to be a safer driver, too. Stay insured and you could qualify for a discount.
Increase your deductible
Increasing your deductible—the amount you pay before insurance—is another way to keep monthly premiums low.
A higher deductible would mean that you’d pay more out of pocket if you make a claim, but you could save money if you don’t think that’s likely. However, it’s important to make sure that you can afford to pay the full deductible each time you would need to file.
By R.E. Fulton
Updated on Mar 23, 2023
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear, Director of Content.
Compare best car insurance quotes in South Carolina
Best car insurance companies in South Carolina
South Carolina car insurance FAQs
How much does auto insurance cost in South Carolina?
South Carolina car insurance requirements
Cheapest car insurance with a DUI or speeding ticket in South Carolina
South Carolina auto insurance rates by age
South Carolina car insurance rates by city
South Carolina auto insurance rates by vehicle type
Do you need more than minimum coverage in South Carolina?
How to save money on car insurance in South Carolina
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