Car Insurance Laws
State minimum insurance requirements in South Carolina
In South Carolina, the state minimum coverage requirements are as follows:
Liability
- Bodily Injury $25,000 per person
- Bodily Injury $50,000 per accident
- Property Damage $25,000 per accident
Uninsured Motorist
- Bodily Injury $25,000 per person
- Bodily Injury $50,000 per accident
- Property Damage $25,000 per accident
Optional coverage in South Carolina (varies by carrier):
- Comprehensive
- Collision
- Loan/Lease Payoff
- Medical Payments
- Rental Car Reimbursement
- Roadside Assistance
- Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury
- Underinsured Motorist Property Damage
Liability coverage is legally required in South Carolina and pays for injury and lost wages that you cause to another driver or their passengers as well as damage to the other driver’s vehicle in the event that you are considered “at fault” in an accident. The coverage limits are determined by each individual state and normally split into three categories. In South Carolina, the minimum is listed as 25/50/25 and explained below:
$25,000 bodily injury coverage per person. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for a single person that you injure in an auto accident.
$50,000 bodily injury coverage per accident. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for all injuries that you cause in an accident if more than one person is hurt.
$25,000 property damage per accident. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for damage that you cause in an accident.
Uninsured Motorist coverage is legally required in South Carolina and pays for injury and lost wages that you or your passengers may suffer in the event that you are hit by an uninsured driver who is at fault. The coverage limits are determined by each individual state and normally split into two categories. In South Carolina, the minimum is listed as 25/50/25 and explained below:
$25,000 bodily injury coverage per person. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for a single person injured in your vehicle by an uninsured driver.
$50,000 bodily injury coverage per accident. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for all injuries in your vehicle by an uninsured driver if more than one person is hurt.
$25,000 property damage coverage per accident. This is the maximum dollar amount that pays for damage caused to your vehicle by an uninsured driver.
These numbers reflect the minimum limits required in South Carolina but higher coverage amounts are available with most companies.
Top South Carolina Car Insurance Companies
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Car Insurance FAQs
Are digital insurance cards accepted in South Carolina?
What does this mean for you?
If you happen to find yourself pulled over by a police officer in South Carolina you won't have to rifle through your glovebox wondering if you remembered to replace that expired insurance card last month. Instead, you can provide proof of coverage with your smartphone.
Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in South Carolina?
Uninsured Drivers in South Carolina
8%
12%
Did you know?
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you from damage caused by other drivers without insurance and hit-and-runs.How much does car insurance cost in South Carolina cities?
| Rank | City | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florence | $1,285 |
| 2 | North Charleston | $1,275 |
| 3 | Goose Creek | $1,271 |
| 4 | Summerville | $1,265 |
| 5 | Charleston | $1,260 |
| 6 | Sumter | $1,227 |
| 7 | Socastee | $1,211 |
| 8 | Mount Pleasant | $1,201 |
| 9 | Columbia | $1,201 |
| 10 | Myrtle Beach | $1,198 |
| 11 | Saint Andrews | $1,172 |
| 12 | Hilton Head Island | $1,150 |
| 13 | Greenville | $1,122 |
| 14 | Greenwood | $1,121 |
| 15 | North Augusta | $1,117 |
| 16 | Rock Hill | $1,113 |
| 17 | Aiken | $1,108 |
| 18 | Spartanburg | $1,105 |
| 19 | Anderson | $1,105 |
| 20 | Taylors | $1,074 |
| 21 | Wade Hampton | $1,069 |
| 22 | Greer | $1,066 |
| 23 | Mauldin | $1,050 |
| 24 | Easley | $1,045 |
| 25 | Simpsonville | $1,029 |
Recent South Carolina Car Insurance Questions and Answers
Do I tell my insurance company about a recall
I got a letter about a damaged airbag recall should I let my insurer know?...
How long do I have to file a claim if I am the passenger in a car accident?
Twenty year old passenger in a vehicle that was hit from the rear. ...
Filing a claim and we’re both at fault?
Should I file a claim with my insurance after a parking lot accident where both vehicles backed out at the ...
How can I get auto insurance as a foreign driver?
a. I am a foreigner, student at University of South Carolina
b. I bought a Dodge Charger in cash, 2012 ...
Driving Laws
South Carolina Texting and Driving Laws
- Ban on text messaging for all drivers
Alcohol Related Fatalities
357
Per Year in South CarolinaAnnual DUI Arrests
South Carolina14,742
US Average23,438
DUI Legal Limit
0.08%
Blood Alcohol ContentAverage DUI Cost
10k
Nationally, For First OffendersWhat does this mean for you?
Driving with a blood alcohol content higher than the number above will put you at risk of being arrested for driving under the influence. If arrested you’ll face harsh consequences and may face varying degrees of jail time, fines, driver’s license suspensions, and reinstatement requirements.
If convicted of a DUI, you can expect the financial obligations to extend beyond the DUI ticket to court costs, attorney fees, higher insurance rates, and potentially the installation of a Ignition Interlock Device to serve as a breathalyzer test each time you start your vehicle.Cheap Car Insurance
It's cheap to get car insurance in South Carolina!
Whoa! South Carolina is one of the cheapest states for car insurance. Let's see how much you'll save!
At The Zebra we're all about helping you save money on car insurance. Since South Carolina might have cheaper premiums that makes our job a breeze! It's easy to get started—we just need some basic information.What's the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina?
| Rank | Company Name | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hartford | $760 |
| 2 | USAA | $1,005 |
| 3 | State Auto | $1,116 |
| 4 | Auto-Owners | $1,130 |
| 5 | Southern Farm Bureau | $1,273 |
| 6 | SC Farm Bureau Mutual | $1,273 |
| 7 | National Grange Mutual | $1,348 |
| 8 | Travelers | $1,370 |
| 9 | State Farm | $1,394 |
| 10 | Allstate | $1,605 |
| 11 | Progressive | $1,627 |
| 12 | Encompass | $1,674 |
| 13 | Nationwide | $1,796 |
| 14 | Safe Auto | $1,946 |
| 15 | GEICO | $2,021 |
| 16 | Bristol West | $2,444 |
| 17 | Liberty Mutual | $2,464 |
| 18 | Safeco | $2,717 |
