7+ years writing insurance and personal finance content
Contributor to top media, including USA Today
A passionate personal finance advocate, Sarah’s writing has graced the pages of many of the personal finance and insurance industries’ top web publications.
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
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Cheapest recent rates in South Carolina
Recent South Carolina car insurance prices for KIA, Subaru, Chrysler , and more.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users from South Carolina within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 29, 2024
Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from October 29, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users from South Carolina within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 29, 2024
Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from October 29, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
South Carolina is among the most expensive states in the country for car insurance, according to Insurify data. On average, Palmetto State drivers pay $281 per month for full-coverage car insurance and $168 for liability-only coverage, compared to the national averages of $211 and $104.
High rates of fatal crashes and insurance fraud likely contribute to South Carolina’s higher car insurance rates. If you’re looking for affordable car insurance in South Carolina, it’s a good idea to compare quotes from multiple companies.
Quick Facts
Liability-only insurance in South Carolina costs $168 per month, and full-coverage insurance costs $281 per month, on average.
USAA, Auto-Owners, and State Farm are the cheapest car insurance companies in South Carolina.
South Carolina’s fatal crash rate in 2021 was the highest in the nation, according to an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety analysis of U.S. Department of Transportation data.
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in South Carolina
Some of the best car insurance companies in South Carolina offer consistently low rates for a wide range of drivers. But every driver has a unique situation, which means the right auto insurance company for you varies based on your needs.
For example, if you have a speeding ticket or an accident on your record, you might find the best rates with a different insurer than if you had a clean record. But no matter your circumstances, you can start by researching the insurers highlighted below.
Insurance Company
▲▼
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
▲▼
Full Coverage
▲▼
Liability Only
▲▼
Best for
▲▼
USAA
9.4
$90
$51
Cheap rates
Progressive
8.4
$169
$106
Senior drivers
Auto-Owners
8.5
$97
$55
Optional coverages
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
9.4/10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$51/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$90/mo
USAA offers car insurance policies to its members. Membership is open to military members, veterans, and their families. This company offers some of the lowest rates in the state, based on Insurify data. USAA also offers a suite of discounts and relatively high customer satisfaction ratings.
Pros
Many available discounts
Offers banking/investment products
Cons
Must be associated with the military to join
Limited customer service hours and few branches available
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
819
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
8.4/10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$106/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$169/mo
Progressive has a robust network of in-person insurance agents to help you navigate the insurance process. It also offers some of the best rates for seniors in South Carolina. Although Progressive earned below-average marks in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, its relatively high IQ Score indicates you’ll likely have a positive experience.
Pros
Many discounts
Relatively low premiums for seniors
Cons
No anti-theft equipment discount
Below-average score in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S Auto Insurance Study
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
8.5/10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$55/mo
Auto-Owners offers competitive full-coverage and liability-only rates for South Carolina drivers. It particularly stands out, though, for the range of optional coverages it offers. Drivers can add roadside assistance, rental car coverage, gap coverage, rental auto gap, accident forgiveness, purchase price guarantee coverage, andmore to their Auto-Owners policies.
We had no problem with Auto-Owners regarding our auto insurance. However, we were disappointed when Auto-Owners cancelled our home insurance. They stopped all home insurance in 'fire prone areas'.
Martha - October 28, 2024
Verified
Good
The premiums keep increasing.
Lawrence - October 24, 2024
Verified
Honest Answers to Questions
Please refer to my answers to the previous questions.
…
How to get the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina
Car insurance is an unavoidable cost, but there’s no need to overpay. Here are some strategies to help you lower your car insurance costs:
Raise your deductible. Carrying a higher deductible will generally lead to lower premiums because you’re assuming a greater portion of the up-front costs should you file a claim. Just make sure not to set your deductible so high you can’t afford to cover it.
Ask for a discount. Many insurance companies offer a suite of discount options, including those for safe drivers, students with good grades, and drivers who take an approved defensive driving course. You’ll never know what’s available for you if you don’t ask.
Improve your credit score. Drivers with a higher credit score pay less for car insurance. You can start building a better credit score by paying your bills on time and not applying for any new lines of credit.
Shop around. Shopping around can also help you find affordable premiums, so get quotes from at least three different insurance companies before making a decision.
Find Cheap Car Insurance in South Carolina
Liability rates start at $51 per month
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Cheapest liability-only car insurance in South Carolina: USAA
Often more affordable, liability coverage is designed to help you cover the cost of damage or injuries you cause in an accident. But liability-only car insurance doesn’t cover the cost of repairs for your own vehicle.[1]
In South Carolina, liability-only coverage costs an average of $168 per month.
This table provides you with a list of the most affordable liability-coverage offerings in the state.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Sunday, September 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in South Carolina: USAA
Full-coverage auto insurance goes beyond the minimum liability coverage to provide protection for your vehicle as well. This type of insurance is broken down into comprehensive coverage and collision coverage.
If you finance or lease your vehicle, your lender or dealership will probably require you to carry full-coverage insurance. You may also benefit from this increased protection if you have a newer vehicle that would be more expensive to replace.
South Carolina drivers pay an average of $281 per month for full-coverage policies.
Here’s a look at some of the leading insurance companies in South Carolina offering full-coverage car insurance.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Sunday, September 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest recent rates in South Carolina
Recent South Carolina car insurance prices for Hyundai, Chrysler, Chevrolet , and more.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 29, 2024
Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from October 29, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 29, 2024
Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from October 29, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
Car insurance requirements in South Carolina
You must carry a minimum amount of car insurance to drive legally in South Carolina. Under the South Carolina tort law, you’ll need to carry at least the minimum coverage outlined below.[2]
Bodily injury liability
$25,000 per person
$50,000 per accident
Property damage liability
$25,000 per accident
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Mistakes happen. But if you have an incident on your record — including at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, driving under the influence, and other moving violations — you’ll face higher auto premiums.[3] Insurance companies use your driving record as a factor when estimating your likelihood of filing a future claim.
For example, drivers with a clean record could see average monthly premiums of $107 for a full-coverage policy from GEICO. But drivers with a speeding ticket or DUI pay much higher full-coverage rates from the insurer — $137 and $173, respectively.
Find Car Insurance in South Carolina
Liability policies start at $62/mo. for drivers with moving violations
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: USAA
A speeding ticket will cost you. Beyond the ticket itself, you’ll likely have to pay higher insurance premiums, particularly if you have multiple speeding tickets. Fortunately, the quotes you’ll receive for having a speeding ticket on your record are still more inexpensive than for other incidents.
South Carolina drivers with a ticket on their record pay an average of $230 per month for liability coverage and $385 per month for full coverage.
Here’s a look at the average monthly quotes offered by South Carolina insurers for drivers with a speeding ticket.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Sunday, September 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: USAA
If you’ve had an at-fault car accident in the past, you can expect to pay more for car insurance than drivers with a clean record.
Liability-only policies cost an average of $233 per month for South Carolina drivers with an at-fault accident.
Below are some average monthly quotes from insurers in South Carolina for drivers with an at-fault accident.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Sunday, September 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: USAA
Driving under the influence is a serious violation that comes with numerous legal and financial consequences, including higher car insurance costs. If you’re convicted of a DUI, you can expect to pay more for car insurance than drivers with clean records or other incidents.
South Carolina drivers with a DUI pay monthly averages of $266 for liability insurance and $446 for full-coverage insurance, according to Insurify data.
Explore other average monthly rates for drivers with a DUI in the table below.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Sunday, September 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Your driving history isn’t the only thing that affects your car insurance costs. Age can play a vital role as well — particularly if you’re a teen or a senior. In general, drivers pay more for car insurance until around age 25. But rates start to creep up again around age 70.
Senior drivers in South Carolina pay $139 per month for a liability-only policy, on average.
As a senior driver, shopping around can help you find the best rates for your age group, and you can see average rates from top insurers in the table below.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Sunday, September 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: USAA
Car insurance is notoriously high for young drivers because these less-experienced motorists are statistically more likely to get into serious accidents and file a claim.
Teen drivers in South Carolina pay an average of $301 per month for a liability-only policy and $503 per month for a full-coverage policy.
If you’re a teen looking to cut expenses, some ways to trim your car insurance costs include staying on your parents’ insurance, driving a safe vehicle, maintaining good grades, and raising your deductible.
Comparing quotes can also help you find a more affordable rate. You can see average monthly quotes from several South Carolina insurers below.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Sunday, September 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Find Car Insurance in South Carolina
Unlock discounts and savings when you compare rates with Insurify
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Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
South Carolina car insurance quotes by credit tier
You can improve your credit score by paying your bills on time and not applying for any new lines of credit. Reviewing your credit report to look for mistakes, using a secured credit card, and aiming to use 30% or less of your available credit on any account can also help you improve your credit and lower the cost you pay for insurance.
Rates by Credit Tier
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
South Carolina car insurance FAQs
If you still have questions regarding how to find the best car insurance in South Carolina, the information presented here can help.
How much is car insurance in South Carolina?
South Carolina drivers pay an average monthly rate of $281 for full-coverage car insurance and $168 for minimum coverage. By comparison, the national average rate for full coverage is $211 per month, and liability-only coverage costs $104 per month.
What company has the cheapest car insurance rates in South Carolina?
Insurify data shows that USAA is the cheapest insurer in South Carolina, with liability-only rates as low as $51 per month.
Palmetto State drivers can also find affordable coverage through the state’s second- and third-cheapest insurance companies, Auto-Owners and State Farm. They have monthly liability-only rates of $55 and $57, respectively.
What are the best car insurance companies in South Carolina?
Getting insurance through USAA can be a great idea for active members of the military. If you’re a senior or teen, you’ll want to look at Progressive, which offers competitive rates and has an IQ Score of 8.4 out of 5. Drivers looking for numerous coverage options might consider Auto-Owners.
Can you get cheap car insurance with no deposit in South Carolina?
No. Your insurer will require some form of deposit or down payment up front before selling you a policy. This payment will typically be a percentage of your premium rather than a separate fee.
Do you need uninsured motorist coverage in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina law requires that you purchase uninsured motorist coverage, as well as liability coverage, in order to drive in the state.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Sarah Sharkey is a personal finance writer who enjoys helping people make savvy financial decisions. She covered insurance and personal finance topics. You can find her work on Business Insider, Money Under 30, Rocket Mortgage, Bankrate, and more. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
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