The hardest part of finding auto insurance isn’t getting a policy, it’s getting the right policy for you and your needs. To help pave the way to suitable insurance coverage, you’ll need to do a few things right off the bat:

Gather your information

Get quotes

Choose your coverage level

Pick your policy start date

Upload documentation

Here’s what that process looks like when you shop with Jerry:

Step 1: Gather your information

You’ll

need some basic information

before you can hunt for quotes:

Your full, legal name and driver’s license number

The address where your vehicle will be garaged

Your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN)

Any accidents, claims, or driving violations on your record from the past five years

On average, drivers under 25 and over 75 pay higher insurance rates as they’re considered to be a higher risk for accidents.

Step 2: Request quotes

Insurance experts recommend getting quotes from at least 3–5 insurance companies before you buy a policy. When you comparison shop, you’re more likely to find an insurer that offers great rates to customers who have a similar driving profile to yours.

Jerry walks you through a brief list of questions to help insurance companies determine your coverage rates.

Once you finish setting up your profile, you’ll see a list of real car insurance quotes from providers in the Lancaster area that insure drivers with similar profiles.

Step 3: Choose your coverage level

You’ll see quotes for different coverage levels. You can choose

South Carolina’s minimum insurance requirements

all the way up to

full coverage

. Add-ons like full glass coverage and rental car reimbursement are also available for your peace of mind.

The cheapest coverage: State minimum

$25,000 of bodily injury liability per person

$50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident

$25,000 of property damage liability per accident

Uninsured motorist coverage at equal rates

The best coverage: Full coverage with high liability

$100,000/$300,000 of bodily injury liability coverage

$50,000 of property damage liability coverage

$10,000 of personal injury protection

Comprehensive coverage ($500 deductible)

Collision coverage ($500 deductible)

How much coverage you have is up to your discretion, but drivers often benefit from full auto insurance coverage with liability limits of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $50,000 for property damage, also referred to as 50/100/50 coverage. You even have the option to customize your coverage options to ensure you have all the protection you need.

Step 4: Pick your policy start date

If you’re ready to jump on an auto insurance quote, you can get

same-day coverage

through Jerry.

If you’re

shopping for a car you don’t own yet

, or if you still have a few weeks left on your current policy, you can schedule your new policy to start up to a month in advance.

Step 5: Upload your documents

Before finalizing your policy, you may need to upload proof of current insurance or homeownership documents to be sent to your new provider.

Once your documents are verified, your policy will be activated. You can then access your insurance card and other documents from the app.

Why is car insurance so expensive in South Carolina?

While motorists in Lancaster, SC have lower average rates for car insurance, South Carolina as a state remains one of the more expensive. A few reasons that contribute to this are:

High rate of fatal accidents: South Carolina had 24 deadly car accidents per

100,000 vehicles in 2022

recording 1,108 fatal accidents

in total for the year.

An increase in overall crashes: Between 2020 to 2021 there was

a 21.8% increase

in total collisions across South Carolina.

Major DUIs:

Fatalities caused by DUIs

were on the rise between 2017 and 2021, with fatalities almost doubling in that time. Non-fatal DUIs lowered slightly between 2020 and 2021, but the total number of collisions was still 84.

Above-average car values:

A study by iSeeCars

revealed that used car prices in SC just barely scrape below the national average by 1.3%.

Natural disasters:

Several hurricanes have struck South Carolina

over the years, and the higher the risk for natural disasters in your state, the worse your rates can be. Providers charge more for full coverage insurance premiums based on the risk of natural disasters.

Comprehensive auto insurance isn’t required by law in South Carolina, but it protects you in the event of a natural disaster, like flooding or fires.

The average cost of car insurance in Lancaster

The tables below show the average annual cost of a car insurance policy in each of Lancaster’s ZIP codes.

ZIP code	Average monthly cost of insurance
29721	$3,434
29720	$3,046

Smart driving tips for Lancaster drivers

Defensive driving keeps insurance costs affordable. To keep your driving record clean and qualify for insurance discounts, practice the following:

Plan in advance: Leave enough time to follow the speed limit, check in on weather reports, and account for traffic.

Exercise caution in the rain: Keep a safe distance between you and other cars, driver slower, and don’t make any harsh brakes or sharp turns on the slick road. Avoid

cruise control

in wet conditions, too, as it reduces control.

Know when it’s not safe to drive: Busier holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas bring the potential for snow and more accidents on account of heavier traffic and a greater chance for DUI-related collisions.

Keep up with maintenance: Check your tires regularly and stay up to date with recommended vehicle maintenance.

Drive safe with Jerry

Jerry not only helps you hunt down the best car insurance but it also offers tools to track your driving habits and alert you of necessary vehicle maintenance.

Keep up to date with your driving habits and scheduled car maintenance through Jerry.

You can also receive tips on how to improve your driving habits suggested to you.

Find out if you're a safe driver

Savings 101: How to lower the cost of coverage in Lancaster

Cheap car insurance doesn’t have to be impossible. There are actually quite a few things you can do to keep your rates affordable.

Inquire about discounts: Most insurers offer

car insurance discounts

for things like bundling your auto and home insurance to going with paperless billing. Ask your current insurance agent which ones you qualify for.

Stick to used vehicles: New car models are enticing, but opting for

a pre-owned one

can lower your premiums by an average of 3.4% per model year.

Track your driving:

Safe drivers with telematics

pay some of the cheapest rates for car insurance.

Work on your credit:

Poor credit scores

(524-577) can pay 44% more than drivers with fair scores, and 115% more than those with excellent credit.

Reshop often: Your premium

can rise at renewal

, so regular reshopping can help keep affordable rates. Turn on automatic reshopping alerts in the Jerry app to get notified when better rates come by.

Other factors that determine your Lancaster auto insurance rates

Every insurance company calculates premium cost differently. In other words, what you pay for coverage is based on your combined risk factors.

Age

Insurance companies consider age a good indicator of your driving experience.

Teen drivers

have the highest average premiums

Drivers over 25 see a drop in the cost of coverage

Senior drivers in their 50s and 60s

pay the lowest average rates of any age group

DID YOU KNOW? You generally pay the lowest rates when you’ve been driving for at least ten years.

Learn more:

When does car insurance go down?

Driving history

Your

South Carolina driving record

is an easy way for providers to measure your responsibility as a driver. At-fault accidents and violations can all

raise the rate of your coverage

South Carolina is a member of the Driver’s License Compact (DLC), an interstate agreement for the exchange of data about moving violations of non-residents. If you commit an offense outside the state, the South Carolina DMV treats it the same as any violation within the state, which includes fines and the possibility for driver’s license suspension or revocation.

Allow Jerry to track your habits on the road so you can improve your driving instincts and increase discount eligibility.

Credit score

South Carolina permits the use of credit history information in setting car insurance premiums.

In fact,

studies show

that South Carolina motorists with excellent credit scores (823+) pay $519 for auto insurance whereas those with poor scores (524-577) pay $1,103.

Here’s how major insurance providers use your credit information to decide rates:

Insurance company	% increase from excellent to fair credit	% increase from fair to poor credit	% increase from excellent to poor credit
Allstate	42%	33%	89%
American Family	44%	46%	110%
Auto-Owners	68%	67%	181%
GEICO	40%	36%	91%
Farmers	45%	44%	109%
Nationwide	35%	16%	57%
Progressive	64%	51%	148%
State Farm	79%	82%	225%
Travelers	65%	56%	157%
USAA	31%	47%	92%

Insurance history

Frequent claims and a

lapse in your coverage

can also cause your rates to spike.

When you request quotes or renew your policy, insurance agencies check your

CLUE report

to see if you’ve made any claims on your car or homeowners insurance in the last seven years. Those claims will be a determining factor in the final cost of your coverage.

FAQs

Who has the cheapest auto insurance in SC?

Some of the cheapest car insurance companies include Nationwide, State Farm, and GEICO—but there’s no single insurer with the cheapest car insurance for everyone. The best way to stay on top of affordable rates is to compare rates with Jerry.

What is the average cost of car insurance in SC?

On average, both minimum and full coverage in Lancaster costs $148/month.

Why is auto insurance so high in South Carolina?

South Carolina remains an expensive state for insurance thanks to high fatal accident rates, major DUIs, and natural disasters.

What is the minimum car insurance you must have in South Carolina?

You must have $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident, $25,000 of property damage liability per accident in South Carolina. You must also have uninsured motorist coverage at equal rates.

What is the difference between collision and comprehensive insurance?

Collision coverage takes care of repair costs in the event of an accident, such as crashing into another car or object. Comprehensive coverage helps with repairs that result from things like auto theft, natural disasters, and fires.

What are some factors that can affect auto insurance rates?

Factors like your age, your driving record, your credit score, and even your ZIP code can all affect your insurance costs.

Methodology

The Insurance Research Team analyzes insurance products and services to drive insights and help consumers make informed purchase decisions.

Insurance research: We analyzed over 25 million car insurance quotes; conducted the largest insurance shopping survey (over 15,000 customers surveyed and 85 carriers reviewed in the past 18 months).

We surveyed insurance policyholders for their experience with their insurers in the following areas: (1) insurance cost (2) customer service (3) insurance buying experience (4) insurance renewal experience (5) claim experience. In addition, we asked people what they like about their insurers and what areas in which their insurers could improve. The driver characteristics used in calculating average rates for auto insurance include: single driver, single car, currently insured, clean driving record.

For the quotes and sold policies included in this article, please note that personal information has been hidden. Not all customers find savings.

Team: The team consists of licensed insurance agents, insurance industry veterans, and data scientists.

Meet our Experts

R.E. Fulton

Licensed Insurance Agent —Senior Content Writer

R.E. Fulton is an expert insurance writer specializing in car ownership topics from car shopping and loan advice to insurance and repair guides. R.E.’s mission is to create unique and accessible content that helps readers to become more successful and independent car owners. R.E. has written and edited over 900 high-performing articles for Jerry, with an average of 1 million+ views.

As a senior writer on Jerry’s editorial team, R.E. draws on over 10 years of experience as a professional writer and digital publishing specialist. Prior to joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2021, R.E. worked as a writing coach at Columbia University, the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and the University of Rochester. They serve as a managing editor for peer-reviewed history publication Nursing Clio, where their work has appeared regularly since 2015.

Lina Zhang

Licensed Insurance Agent

Licensed in 50 states and Washington DC

Lina Zhang is Vice President of Operations at Jerry. She helped to found Jerry in order to take the confusion and mystery expenses out of car ownership and help drivers achieve financial success. Leading a global team responsible for operations, talent acquisition, legal, and content, Lina has been a key contributor to the AllCar™ app’s 10x growth in its first year of operation. Prior to Jerry, Lina and her Jerry co-founders, Art Agrawal and Musawir Shah, created YourMechanic, the largest on-demand car repair services provider. In one year, Lina built and scaled YourMechanic operations from just five markets to more than 50. The trio left YourMechanic to incubate Jerry at Y Combinator in 2017. Lina’s previous roles include intellectual property attorney at Morrison & Foerster LLP and a biomedical researcher at Stanford University.

Josh Damico

Head Of Insurance Operations

18+ Years Experience in Insurance

Josh Damico is Jerry’s vice president of insurance operations and a licensed insurance professional with nearly two decades of experience in the industry. Previously, Josh held executive roles at Geico, where he had vast regional oversight and leadership opportunities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Medaille College, and has appeared on news channels including FOX and CBS to offer insurance expertise and tips to drivers across the country. His work has appeared in Business Insider, Kelley Blue Book, and Digital Insurance and been quoted in The Balance, GOBankingRates, and Inspiring Workplaces.

*Illustration only. For all the pricing information presented in this article (including various tables), please note that not all customers find savings and the information is for illustrative purposes only. Savings depend on type of car, location, policy features, driving history and other factors. Drivers who switch through Jerry save over $70/month on average.