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. Our engine looks for the cheapest insurance provider to find the best fit for you and your vehicle. 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 to begin finding the best auto discounts for you.
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 |
Cheap Insurance for Good Drivers in South Carolina
Drivers with good driving records typically enjoy lower car insurance costs than drivers with histories of speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, or DUI citations. South Carolina drivers without a recent at-fault accident typically save 31% on their car insurance premiums — nearly matching the 32% US average. In addition to earning a cheaper premium for driving incident-free, you may qualify for a safe-driving bonus through your car insurance company. The amount of these discounts may vary, but they typically run between 5 and 10%.
| Rating Factor | $ Savings | % Savings |
|---|---|---|
| No Traffic Tickets | $271 | 16.54% |
| No Accidents | $628 | 31.46% |
| Good Credit | $1,394 | 50.48% |
Cheap Insurance for Young Drivers in South Carolina
Young drivers (those between the ages of 16 and 25) pay extraordinarily high auto insurance rates, with those aged 16-19 paying the most expensive premiums of all. Because of the risk presented by inexperienced drivers, teens pay more than three times the national average for car insurance. In South Carolina, the typical teen driver pays $4,742 annually, which aligns with the national average for teens. Teen drivers in South Carolina pay approximately three times as much as do older drivers.
| Age | Annual Rate with Parents | Annual Rate Alone |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | $5,050 | $6,372 |
| 17 | $4,732 | $5,274 |
| 18 | $4,554 | $4,620 |
| 19 | $4,153 | $3,190 |
Cheap Car Insurance for Bad Drivers in South Carolina
If you have a clean driving record — no at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs, or other recent citations — you'll probably enjoy relatively cheap car insurance rates. Conversely, a bad driving record will cause your costs to skyrocket: car insurance premiums typically increase by 33% after a DUI, 31% after an at-fault accident, and 16% after a speeding ticket in South Carolina. The post-citation penalties assessed by car insurance companies in South Carolina are near nationwide averages. If you have a clean driving history, be sure to inquire about your insurance company's safe driver discount.
| Rating Factor | Annual Rate | % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| At-Fault Accident | $1,995 | 31.46% |
| DUI | $2,065 | 33.79% |
| Speeding Violation | $1,638 | 16.54% |
| Bad Credit | $2,761 | 50.48% |
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.
Cheap South Carolina Car Insurance Companies
The Zebra compares over 200 companies & 1,800 products, so you can save way more than 15% and find the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina.
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?
Car insurance companies calculate your rate based on many factors, location of the vehicle being an important one. The cheapest car insurance is found in Simpsonville, South Carolina, and the most expensive in Florence, South Carolina.
| 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
Can I purchase my own Credit property insurance to cover a vehicle loan?
I financed a vehicle and currently has a remaining balance of about $5400. The vehicle is garaged and has not ...
If there’s no exchange of information, can I still be liable after an accident?
I was recently in a car accident. However, we both agreed to not call police, there was minimal damage with ...
Car got stolen and only have gap insurance
My insurance lapsed. The only coverage I currently have is Gap insurance put on by my bank. What do I ...
Am I covered if I insure the vehicle but I’m not listed on the vehicle
Our car was purchased in SC, but it’s registered to someone who lives in IL. The dealership here sent all ...
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.
