Cheap Insurance.com has put together information, expert tips, and quote comparisons to help you find affordable car insurance in South Carolina.
Consider visiting South Carolina if you are looking for a state that is fun and relaxed. It’s nickname, The Palmetto State, comes from its large population of Palmetto trees.
Whether you are on vacation or a business trip, or reside in South Carolina, you must carry certain amounts of car insurance coverage.
We have found that on average, the cost of a minimum liability car insurance policy in South Carolina is $240.92 per month.
To help you find the best deals on car insurance in the state, we’ve compared quotes from car insurers in these South Carolina counties:
- Greenville County.
- Richland County.
- Charleston County.
- Horry County.
- Spartanburg County.
Because the cost of car insurance coverage is dependent on your individual driving profile, we’ve gone a step further and compared the cost of South Carolina car insurance for these types of drivers:
- Good drivers (those with a clean driving record).
- Young drivers (those aged between 16 and 25).
- Bad drivers (those with a history of traffic violations).
Is South Carolina an At–Fault Insurance State?
South Carolina is an “at-fault” state, which means that drivers are financially responsible for any accident they cause.
Every driver in South Carolina must carry the following required insurance minimums on all registered vehicles:
- Property damage: $25,000 per accident.
- Bodily injury: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
- Uninsured motorist property damage: $25,000 per accident with a $200 deductible.
- Underinsured motorist bodily injury: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
- Underinsured motorist property damage: $25,000 per accident.
Key Point: What Is the Difference Between Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage? Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM)
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
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What Happens if You Drive without Car Insurance in South Carolina?
It’s illegal to drive without car insurance in South Carolina. For the first offense, you will be fined:
- An uninsured motorist fee of $550.
- A $200 fine or 30 days in jail, or both.
- $5 per day for each day you went without insurance.
Your license and registration could be suspended until you can provide proof of car insurance coverage.
In addition, you will have to pay a fee of up to $400 to reinstate your license and registration.
For the second offense, you will be fined and face up to 30 days in jail.
The state of South Carolina considers a second offense a criminal misdemeanor which stays on your criminal record permanently.
Minimum Liability Insurance in South Carolina
Minimum liability car insurance, also known as state minimum car insurance, is an insurance policy that provides financial protection for a driver who harms someone else or their property while operating a vehicle.
Liability insurance only covers injuries or damages to third parties and their property. The driver’s injuries or property damages can be separately covered by other parts of their policy.
State minimum auto insurance is the least amount of car insurance coverage you must pay to cover any damages you cause, and it includes:
- Bodily injury liability coverage which covers other people’s physical damages in an accident.
- Property damage liability coverage which covers damages to the other driver’s property.
Failing to carry the minimum liability insurance required by your state can lead to expensive fines, and you could be held personally liable if you cause an accident.
The low coverage limits could end up costing you more in the long run if you are the cause of an accident.
We have found that on average, the cost of a minimum liability car insurance policy in South Carolina is $240.92 per month.
Main Street America offers the cheapest rates for minimum liability coverage, which costs on average $177.25 per month.
| Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in South Carolina | ||||||
| Provider | Greenville County | Richland County | Charleston County | Horry County | Spartanburg County | Average |
| Bristol West | $185.00 | $221.00 | $203.00 | $219.00 | $207.00 | $207.00 |
| Liberty Mutual | $219.00 | $232.00 | $223.00 | $218.00 | $223.00 | $223.00 |
| Main Street America | $181.00 | $209.00 | N/A | $142.00 | $177.00 | $177.25 |
Assurance America | $199.00 | $233.00 | $206.00 | N/A | $212.00 | $212.50 |
| GAINSCO | $205.00 | $422.00 | $241.00 | N/A | $289.00 | $289.25 |
| The General | $301.00 | $381.00 | $328.00 | N/A | $336.00 | $336.50 |
Find Cheap Comprehensive Car Insurance in South Carolina
Comprehensive insurance covers damages to your vehicle resulting from theft, natural disasters, or an accident with an animal.
Comprehensive insurance covers the maximum amount based on the actual cash value of your vehicle, minus the deductible you have selected.
While collision coverage pays for repairs to your vehicle after a car accident, comprehensive insurance generally protects your vehicle while it is parked.
Examples of damages to your car that are covered by a comprehensive insurance policy include:
- Vandalism.
- A broken windshield.
- Theft of the car or of car parts.
- Rodent damage.
- Fire, floods, tornadoes, hailstorms, and hurricanes.
- Falling objects.
- Collision with a deer or other large animals.
We found that the two cheapest rates for South Carolina comprehensive car insurance are:
- Main Street America with average rates of $140.40.
- Allstate with average rates of $218.00
| Cheapest Full Coverage Insurance in South Carolina | ||||||
| Provider | Greenville County | Richland County | Charleston County | Horry County | Spartanburg County | Average |
| Bristol West | $235.00 | $280.00 | $262.00 | $281.00 | $264.00 | $264.40 |
| Liberty Mutual | $279.00 | $307.00 | $294.00 | $296.00 | $294.00 | $294.00 |
| Main Street America | $132.00 | $150.00 | $135.00 | $142.00 | $143.00 | $140.40 |
| Travelers | $197.00 | $322.00 | $244.00 | $278.00 | $260.00 | $260.20 |
| Allstate | $200.00 | $235.00 | $227.00 | $210.00 | $218.00 | $218.00 |
Cheap Car Insurance in South Carolina for Drivers with Clean Driving Records
The best way to prevent an increase in your annual premium is to maintain a clean driving record free of traffic violations and accidents.
Insurance companies regard drivers with a clean record as reliable and usually offer them more affordable rates.
Drivers with a clean driving record are in a good position to find cheap car insurance. Car insurance companies consider good drivers to be people who:
- Have not been the cause of any car accidents.
- Have no traffic offenses.
- Have a good credit score.
- Have no speeding tickets.
- Have no reckless driving charges.
- Have no DUI convictions.
Many car insurance companies offer a good driver discount on your car insurance rates, saving you more money.
Some car insurance companies will offer an additional discount if you have completed an accredited defensive driving course.
We’ve looked at the average car insurance rates offered by car insurance companies in South Carolina for good drivers. The two cheapest car insurance companies for good drivers are:
- Main Street America with average rates of $132.60 per month.
- Allstate with average rates of $198.60 per month.
| Cheapest Car Insurance for Good Drivers in South Carolina | ||||||
| Provider | Greenville County | Richland County | Charleston County | Horry County | Spartanburg County | Average |
| Bristol West | $208.00 | $248.00 | $229.00 | $247.00 | $233.00 | $233.00 |
| Liberty Mutual | $242.00 | $261.00 | $250.00 | $248.00 | $250.00 | $250.20 |
| Main Street America | $125.00 | $143.00 | $129.00 | $134.00 | $132.00 | $132.60 |
| Travelers | $179.00 | $292.00 | $218.00 | $245.00 | $233.00 | $233.40 |
| Allstate | $183.00 | $215.00 | $207.00 | $190.00 | $198.00 | $198.60 |
Cheap Car Insurance in South Carolina for High-Risk Drivers
Drivers with incidents on their record—such as an at-fault accident or a DUI (driving under the influence)—often pay higher insurance rates.
Drivers with prior traffic violations are regarded by insurance companies as being a higher risk to insure than those who have a clean traffic record.
Insurance companies believe high-risk drivers are more likely to make future claims against their auto insurance policy.
Some of the offenses that may lead to someone being considered a high-risk driver include:
- Reckless driving.
- Speeding tickets.
- Being found at-fault in a major accident.
- Having too many points on your driving record.
- Driving without meeting the minimum liability coverage requirements.
- Unpaid insurance policy premiums.
- A poor credit rating.
The cheapest car insurance company in South Carolina for high-risk drivers is Liberty Mutual with average rates of $221.00 per month.
| Cheapest Auto Insurance for Bad Drivers in South Carolina | ||||||
| Provider | Greenville County | Richland County | Charleston County | Horry County | Spartanburg County | Average |
| Liberty Mutual | $219.00 | $221.00 | $223.00 | N/A | $221.00 | $221.00 |
| Bristol West | $286.00 | $297.00 | $309.00 | N/A | $297.00 | $297.25 |
Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina for Young Drivers
Since young drivers have less experience behind the wheel, insurers tend to charge them higher rates compared to more mature drivers.
A minimum coverage car insurance policy, though it is much cheaper, could ultimately cost more if a teen gets into a serious accident and has to pay for repairs completely out-of-pocket.
Good student and driver safety course discounts can help young drivers reduce their rates, as can staying on a parent’s policy for as long as possible.
We’ve compared the prices of car insurance for young drivers to help you save on auto insurance costs.
The cheapest car insurance for young drivers is Main Street America and AssuranceAmerica, each with an average rate of $245.40 per month.
| Cheapest Car Insurance for Young Drivers in South Carolina | ||||||
| Provider | Greenville County | Richland County | Charleston County | Horry County | Spartanburg County | Average |
| Main Street America | $233.00 | $261.00 | $243.00 | $231.00 | $259.00 | $245.40 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $364.00 | $439.00 | $401.00 | $429.00 | $387.00 | $245.40 |
| GAINSCO | $429.00 | $617.00 | $503.00 | $501.00 | $518.00 | $513.60 |
| The General | $435.00 | $465.00 | $474.00 | $452.00 | $428.00 | $450.80 |
Need Cheap Car Insurance in Other States?
Out-of-state insurance is illegal in almost all U.S. states and is considered to be insurance fraud. This means that your car insurance must be registered in the state you live in.
If you plan to move from South Carolina, you will need to find a new car insurance company in the state you move to and you usually have a 90-day grace period to do so.
To find the best insurance rates in other U.S. states, read our articles below:
Top Car Insurance Companies in South Carolina
Bristol West
Founded in 1973, Bristol West’s national footprint makes it one of the top ten biggest insurance companies in the U.S.
Bristol West was originally created to provide high-risk drivers with affordable insurance policies and has since expanded its services to all types of drivers.
Some of the benefits offered by Bristol West include:
- Multiple policy bundling discounts.
- Personalized car insurance policies.
- Rideshare coverage.
- Medical payments.
- Gap coverage.
- Towing and roadside assistance.
- Rental car reimbursement.
Get a free quote for car insurance.
The General
The General is an auto insurance provider that operates in multiple states across the U.S.
The company was founded in 1963 and specializes in car insurance coverage for high-risk drivers.
The General Automobile is a subsidiary of PGC Holdings Corporation (PGC), which is an affiliate of American Family Insurance.
PGC has been writing automobile insurance in many states throughout the country for nearly 60 years. It is a leader in the low-cost auto insurance field and has a Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating of A+.
Want a personalized car insurance quote? Click here!
Car Insurance in South Carolina FAQs
Is car insurance mandatory in South Carolina?
Yes, auto insurance coverage is mandatory in South Carolina. You must have minimum liability coverage of:
- Property damage: $25,000 per accident.
- Bodily injury: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
- Uninsured motorist property damage: $25,000 per accident with a $200 deductible.
- Underinsured motorist bodily injury: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
- Underinsured motorist property damage: $25,000 per accident.
Is South Carolina an at-fault state?
Yes, South Carolina is an “at-fault” state, meaning that if you are hurt in a car accident you can recover costs from the driver who caused the accident.
How much is car insurance in my city in South Carolina?
Where you live affects your car insurance rates. Drivers who live in more populated areas are regarded as being more at risk of being involved in an accident than those who live in quieter, rural areas.
Shopping around for insurance quotes is a smart way to identify savings before purchasing or renewing an auto policy.
Do car insurance rates vary by county in South Carolina?
Yes, auto insurance rates change depending on the location of the policyholder’s city or county.
Factors such as population density, crime rates, weather, and climate, determine risk levels which impact on insurance rates.
What is the average cost of car insurance in South Carolina?
On average, South Carolina drivers pay $240.92 per month for minimum liability auto insurance.
Rates vary on a driver-by-driver basis, depending on driving history, credit history, personal information, decisions on bundling homeowner or renters insurance, vehicle type, and more.
How Do I Find Cheap Car Insurance in South Carolina?
It’s essential to shop around for policy options to help you identify cheap coverage for your needs. The best car insurance companies may not cater to your particular needs.
Let us help you find the most affordable rates.
