Cheap SR-22 Insurance in South Carolina (2024)

SR-22 insurance is a certificate that proves you carry the minimum amount of car insurance required in South Carolina. You might need an SR-22 if you’re a high-risk driver.

Elizabeth Rivelli
Elizabeth Rivelli
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  • Auto, home, health, and life insurance expertise

Elizabeth has extensive insurance industry experience, having written for Insureon, Rate Retriever, and Insurify. She’s also finance and insurance editor for Car and Driver.

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Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
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Amber Benka
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Amber Benka
Amber BenkaLicensed Insurance Agent

Amber Benka is a licensed insurance agent specializing in auto, home, commercial, life, and health insurance. She has owned the R.A.L Insurance Agency for four years.

Updated May 2, 2023

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High-risk drivers in South Carolina with a history of serious traffic violations may need to file for SR-22 insurance. Also known as FR-44 insurance in some states, SR-22 insurance is a certificate that proves you carry the required amount of car insurance coverage in your state.

In South Carolina, you’ll have to file an SR-22 form with the state for three years.[1] And while you have an SR-22, you’ll likely pay higher car insurance rates.

Learn more about SR-22 insurance in South Carolina, including how to get an SR-22 certificate and which companies have the cheapest SR-22 insurance.

Quick Facts
  • An SR-22 form proves you have enough car insurance to meet South Carolina’s requirements.

  • High-risk drivers with a history of serious traffic violations typically need SR-22 insurance forms.

  • Progressive has the cheapest car insurance for South Carolina drivers with an SR-22.

What is SR-22 insurance in South Carolina, and when do you need it?

An SR-22 isn’t an insurance policy. Rather, it’s a form that your insurance company files on your behalf with South Carolina. Drivers with histories of at-fault accidents, DUIs, reckless driving, or driving while uninsured typically need SR-22 forms on file with the state for three years.[1] A judge may order an SR-22 that you must file with the state, or you may receive a notice from the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.

South Carolina requires SR-22 forms, which are also called certificates of financial responsibility or certificates of insurance. Florida and Virginia sometimes require FR-44 forms, which usually come with higher liability minimums. For example, Virginia’s FR-44 minimum liability requirements are double that of non-FR-44 drivers.2

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How can you get SR-22 insurance in South Carolina?

Car insurance companies add SR-22 insurance forms to your policy. If South Carolina requires you to file an SR-22 certificate, you should contact your car insurance company and let it know so it can file the form on your behalf. While some South Carolina car insurance companies can issue an SR-22, not all insurers offer them.

If your car insurance company doesn’t provide SR-22s, you’ll need to find a car insurance company that does. This could mean canceling your current policy and purchasing a new policy from a company that can file an SR-22 on your behalf.

How long is SR-22 insurance required in South Carolina?

South Carolina requires SR-22 certificates on file for three years. After three years, you can contact your insurance company to remove it from your policy.[1]

However, that doesn’t mean the violation or conviction will vanish from your record after the three-year period ends. For example, a DUI will remain on your driving record for 10 years in South Carolina.[2] Depending on the violation that results in SR-22 insurance, it could continue to affect your car insurance premiums even after you drop SR-22 insurance from your policy.

Learn More: How Long Does a DUI Stay on Your Record?

Learn More: How Long Does a DUI Stay on Your Record?

How much is SR-22 insurance in South Carolina?

The average rate for drivers in South Carolina who need SR-22 insurance is $333 a month, according to Insurify data. Additionally, car insurance companies typically charge a filing fee for SR-22 forms.

“The standard filing fee for an SR-22 is $25, though some states have higher fees,” says Ben Michael, founder of criminal defense law firm Michael & Associates.

Some insurance companies may charge different fees to file an SR-22 on your behalf. Before you get SR-22 insurance in South Carolina, contact different insurance companies to see what the filing fee is.

Cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in South Carolina

Having an SR-22 on your record in South Carolina will likely cause your car insurance premium to increase. In general, high-risk drivers pay more expensive car insurance rates than drivers with a clean record and without an SR-22 filing.[3] Progressive has the lowest average rates for South Carolina SR-22 drivers, at $241 a month, while Dairyland offers the same coverage for $382 a month.

The table below shows the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers with an SR-22 in South Carolina. These monthly costs reflect a liability-only insurance policy.

Insurance Company
Average Quote: Liability Only
Progressive$241
InsureMax$278
The General$343
AssuranceAmerica$372
Bristol West$381
Dairyland$382
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 insurance companies in South Carolina with SR-22 by city

Car insurance companies calculate premiums based on various factors, including your age, credit score, gender, claim history, driving record, and location. Within South Carolina, your city and ZIP code can affect the cost of your policy.[4]

Below are the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers with an SR-22 in three South Carolina cities. In general, higher traffic volumes and more drivers will translate to higher premiums.

City
Cheapest Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote
CharlestonBristol West$503
CharlestonThe General$530
ColumbiaThe General$246
GreenvilleThe General$369
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.

How SR-22 insurance affects driving record and future rates in South Carolina

Having an SR-22 on your policy often leads to higher car insurance rates. Because high-risk drivers are more likely to get into accidents and file insurance claims, auto insurance companies typically charge these drivers more for coverage.[3]

However, you can still reduce your car insurance costs if you have an SR-22 certificate in South Carolina. Here are a few tips for improving your driving record and lowering your insurance rate:

  • Take advantage of discounts. Many South Carolina car insurance companies offer discounts to customers. Discounts vary among insurance companies, but you can often get a lower rate for bundling your policies, insuring a car with safety features, and insuring two or more vehicles on your policy.

  • Enroll in a safe-driver telematics program. Even if you have previous accidents on your driving record, you can still show your insurance company you’re a safe driver. If your insurer offers a telematics-based safe-driver rewards program, you could save money by demonstrating safe skills behind the wheel.

  • Take a defensive driving course. Many car insurance companies provide a discount to drivers who complete an approved defensive driving course.

  • Pay your premium in full. One way to save money on your auto insurance is to pay your entire premium up front. If you can afford the full cost in a lump sum, you can typically get a discount.

  • Choose a higher deductible. If you buy a full-coverage insurance policy, choose higher deductibles for collision and comprehensive insurance. The higher your deductible, the lower your monthly premium.

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South Carolina SR-22 insurance FAQs

If you need an SR-22 in South Carolina, you probably have questions about what that means. You can check out Insurify insights on states with the most uninsured drivers or the difference between DUI and DWI.

Below are some commonly asked questions about SR-22 insurance in South Carolina that might be helpful.

  • How long do you have to hold an SR-22 in South Carolina?

    In South Carolina, you have to have an SR-22 on file continuously for three years.[1] If you need an SR-22, a court judge or the DMV will let you know how long the form must stay on your record.

  • How do you get rid of an SR-22 in South Carolina?

    An SR-22 isn’t automatically dropped from your record once you no longer need it. You must contact your car insurance company to remove the form from your policy. Once you submit the request, it’s a good idea to follow up with the South Carolina DMV to confirm that the form is no longer attached to your driving record.

  • What happens to your SR-22 in South Carolina if you move?

    If you have SR-22 insurance in South Carolina and you move to another state, you still need an SR-22 on your record. Contact your car insurance company or the DMV to make sure the form will be valid in your new state. If you’re changing car insurance companies, ask your new insurer to file an SR-22 for you.

  • Do you need an SR-22 in South Carolina if you don’t have a car?

    It’s possible. If you don’t have a car, you may still need an SR-22 in South Carolina. In this case, you would need to find an insurance company to issue a nonowner insurance policy, which provides liability-only coverage when you borrow someone else’s vehicle. The insurer would then file an SR-22 for you.

Sources

  1. South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. "Facts About Uninsured Driving."
  2. South Carolina Department of Public Safety. "SC Laws Relative to Impaired Driving."
  3. III. "Do auto insurance premiums go up after a claim?."
  4. III. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
Elizabeth Rivelli
Elizabeth Rivelli

Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer covering insurance and personal finance. She has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including property and casualty, health, and life insurance. Her byline has been featured in dozens of publications, including Investopedia, Forbes, Bankrate, NextAdvisor, and Insurance.com

Courtney Mikulski
Edited byCourtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
Courtney Mikulski
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
  • 3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content

  • Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score

Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.

Featured in

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Amber Benka
Reviewed byAmber BenkaLicensed Insurance Agent
Amber Benka
Amber BenkaLicensed Insurance Agent

Amber Benka is a licensed insurance agent specializing in auto, home, commercial, life, and health insurance. She has owned the R.A.L Insurance Agency for four years.

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