3+ years writing about auto, home, and life insurance
7+ years in personal finance and technology
Amy specializes in insurance and technology writing and has a talent for transforming complex topics into easy-to-understand stories.
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7+ years in content creation and management
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.
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Updated October 30, 2024
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Table of contents
Car insurance in Summerville averages $268 monthly. This is higher than the state average of $225 and the national average of $158.
Two key elements could be driving up these rates: the city’s high population density and accident frequency. Summerville is South Carolina’s seventh-largest city and had 1,535 collisions in 2021 (the most recent data available), or 4.2 per day.[1]
Comparing car insurance quotes from multiple insurers can help you find affordable coverage in Summerville.
Summerville drivers pay an average of $212 per month for liability coverage and $324 per month for full coverage.
USAA, Auto-Owners, and State Farm offer the cheapest car insurance in Summerville.
South Carolina requires drivers to carry liability and uninsured motorist coverage.
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Summerville
In a city with higher-than-average insurance costs, the following three stand-out companies are affordable and offer quality service. Keep in mind that the right insurer for you hinges on your personal needs and situation.
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 | Military community |
Auto-Owners | 8.5 | $97 | $55 | Local agent relationships |
State Farm | 9.3 | $100 | $57 | Young drivers |
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.
Best insurer for the military community: USAA
User Reviews | 4.9 |
---|---|
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. | 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. | $60/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. | $105/mo |
Drivers appreciate the ease of working with the carrier, competitive rates, and responsive service but dislike the price increases and lack of rideshare add-ons in some areas.
Drivers appreciate the ease of working with the carrier, competitive rates, and responsive service but dislike the price increases and lack of rideshare add-ons in some areas.
Kent
October 29, 2024
Excellent
Dorothy
October 29, 2024
Significant Increase in Policy Payment
Martin
October 29, 2024
My Opinion
USAA is Insurify’s top pick for Summerville, South Carolina, car insurance. It prioritizes customer service and combines quality coverage with policyholder benefits.
USAA tailors coverage to challenges veterans face, such as deployment and frequent relocations. This makes it an excellent insurer for Summerville veterans, who represent more than 11% of the area’s population.
Reputation for quality customer service
Personalized insurance coverage options
Membership limited to military members and their families
No physical locations in South Carolina
Best insurer for local agent relationships: Auto-Owners
User Reviews | 4.0 |
---|---|
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. | 8.5 /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. | $65/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. | $113/mo |
Drivers appreciate the friendly customer service, competitive initial rates, and professional agents but dislike the frequent price increases and complicated claims process.
Drivers appreciate the friendly customer service, competitive initial rates, and professional agents but dislike the frequent price increases and complicated claims process.
Ronald W
October 29, 2024
They Cancelled Our Home Insurance
Martha
October 28, 2024
Good
Lawrence
October 24, 2024
Honest Answers to Questions
Auto-Owners has a strong local business presence, with six independent agents in Summerville found on both sides of U.S. Route 17 Alternate. In a city known for its unique driving risks and community focus, this insurer is a preferred choice for reliable coverage. You’ll also find accident forgiveness and roadside assistance coverage in all 50 states.
Competitive rates for liability and full coverage
Wide range of discounts
Online quotes not available
Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in the Southeast region
Best insurer for families with young drivers: State Farm
User Reviews | 4.2 |
---|---|
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. | 9.3 /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. | $67/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. | $117/mo |
Drivers appreciate the helpful local agents and initial service but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases.
Drivers appreciate the helpful local agents and initial service but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases.
Jannie
October 29, 2024
Good
Marsha
October 29, 2024
Friendly agents!
Linda
October 29, 2024
I also have my homeowners insurance with them. I had a fire in my hot water heater and a year later, someone stayed in my house while I was gone for 2 months. I came home to a floating kitchen floor. After these incidents, StateFarm cancelled my policy.
State Farm has valuable savings opportunities for South Carolina’s more than 220,000 drivers younger than 20. Teens can save 25% for earning good marks in school, with additional discounts for completing driver training courses or attending college away from home.
State Farm has fewer Summerville agents than Auto-Owners, but it offers a wide range of coverage options.
Above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in the Southeast region
Rideshare insurance available
Policies only available through an agent
Accident forgiveness and gap insurance not available
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Summerville
Factors like your driving history and vehicle type affect your car insurance rates. But your ZIP code and local trends, including traffic patterns and crime rates, can also influence premiums significantly.
To reduce the amount you pay, try these strategies:[2]
Bundle policies. Combine auto insurance with other policies, like home insurance or renters insurance, to potentially lower your overall costs.
Consider higher deductibles. Increase your deductible to lower your premiums. Just make sure you’re comfortable paying your deductible amount out of pocket if you need to file a claim.
Review coverage needs annually. Review and adjust your insurance policy regularly to fit your current situation.
Shop around. Compare quotes from at least three auto insurance companies to find the best rate for your situation.
Drive safely. Maintain a clean driving record to qualify for discounts.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Summerville: USAA
Liability-only car insurance is the most basic form of auto coverage. It includes protection for damages and injuries you cause to others in an accident. But it doesn’t pay for your injuries or damages to your vehicle.
In Summerville, liability-only car insurance averages $212 per month. It’s an affordable choice for customers seeking essential coverage without the added cost of comprehensive or collision insurance.
The table below provides a snapshot of average liability-only insurance rates, giving insight into what Summerville drivers might expect to pay.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
USAA | $60 |
Auto-Owners | $65 |
State Farm | $67 |
GEICO | $72 |
Nationwide | $99 |
Safeco | $101 |
Allstate | $105 |
Travelers | $113 |
Progressive | $131 |
State Auto | $136 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $145 |
Direct Auto | $165 |
Liberty Mutual | $186 |
Dairyland | $189 |
National General | $212 |
The General | $212 |
AssuranceAmerica | $251 |
Bristol West | $260 |
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Summerville: USAA
Full-coverage car insurance offers more than basic liability insurance protection. While it includes liability coverage, you also get comprehensive and collision insurance. This broader protection pays for damages to your car, making it a good idea if you have a newer vehicle. If you lease or finance your car, your leasing company or lender will require you to have full coverage.
Summerville drivers pay $324 per month for a full-coverage policy, on average.
The table below shows different rates for full-coverage car insurance in Summerville.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
USAA | $105 |
Auto-Owners | $113 |
State Farm | $117 |
GEICO | $125 |
Safeco | $166 |
Nationwide | $171 |
Allstate | $181 |
Travelers | $195 |
Progressive | $208 |
State Auto | $215 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $228 |
Direct Auto | $284 |
AssuranceAmerica | $296 |
National General | $310 |
Liberty Mutual | $340 |
The General | $398 |
Dairyland | $412 |
Bristol West | $461 |
Cheapest recent rates near Summerville, South Carolina
Recent Summerville, South Carolina car insurance prices for Buick, Nissan, Toyota , and more.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Summerville, South Carolina within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 30, 2024
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Summerville, South Carolina within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 30, 2024
Car insurance requirements in South Carolina
South Carolina follows a fault-based system. As an at-fault state, the driver responsible for causing the accident is on the hook for medical expenses, lost wages, vehicle damage, and other losses.
In addition to liability coverage, the state also requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist insurance. South Carolina insurers are legally required to offer underinsured motorist coverage as well, but you don’t have to purchase it.[3]
If you need to show proof of insurance, such as at a traffic stop or after an accident, digital proof is valid. Still, you may want to carry a physical copy of your auto insurance card in the event digital access isn’t available.
Coverage ▲▼ | Minimum Requirements ▲▼ |
---|---|
Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
Property damage liability | $25,000 |
Uninsured motorist bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
Uninsured motorist property damage liability | $25,000 |
The South Carolina Department of Insurance recommends purchasing more than the minimum auto insurance. Here are some optional insurance coverages to consider:
Collision coverage
Collision insurance pays to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident, regardless of who’s at fault.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance covers non-collision damage to your car, such as theft, vandalism, or natural disasters.
Rental car reimbursement coverage
Rental reimbursement coverage pays for rental car costs while your vehicle is in the shop due to a covered claim.
Gap coverage
Gap insurance pays the difference between the value of a totaled car and the remaining balance on its loan or lease.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
An “incident” in terms of car insurance means an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, DUI, or other traffic infraction on your driving record. Incidents indicate a higher risk of future claims, making them red flags for insurers. Your rates may go up to offset the increased risk, depending on the severity of the event.[4]
The table below shows how different driving incidents can affect your insurance rates.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With Speeding Ticket ▲▼ | With At-Fault Accident ▲▼ | With DUI ▲▼ |
---|---|---|---|---|
USAA | $60 | $76 | $79 | $97 |
Auto-Owners | $65 | $84 | $86 | $105 |
State Farm | $67 | $85 | $88 | $108 |
GEICO | $72 | $92 | $95 | $117 |
Nationwide | $99 | $128 | $132 | $160 |
Safeco | $101 | $131 | $130 | $163 |
Allstate | $105 | $134 | $139 | $170 |
Travelers | $113 | $145 | $151 | $183 |
Progressive | $131 | $167 | $175 | $212 |
State Auto | $136 | $189 | $197 | $220 |
Direct Auto | $165 | $210 | $223 | $267 |
Liberty Mutual | $186 | $257 | $264 | $301 |
Dairyland | $189 | $242 | $249 | $306 |
National General | $212 | $272 | $282 | $343 |
The General | $212 | $274 | $285 | $343 |
AssuranceAmerica | $251 | $324 | $329 | $406 |
Bristol West | $260 | $332 | $341 | $421 |
Average cost of car insurance by age
Your car insurance bill will fluctuate with age. Teen drivers have the least experience and pay the highest rates. Costs generally go down around age 35. But after age 70, premiums rise again for senior drivers to offset their increased traffic fatality rate.
Look at the chart below to see how average monthly car insurance quotes change from one age group to the next.
Age ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
Teens | $582 |
20s | $390 |
30s | $298 |
40s | $273 |
50s | $249 |
60s | $249 |
70s | $264 |
Summerville car insurance quotes by credit tier
In South Carolina, insurers can consider credit history when setting your car insurance quote. It can’t be the only factor, but poor credit can potentially lead to more expensive premiums. On the other end of the spectrum, excellent or good credit scores could result in more favorable rates.
Summerville drivers with poor credit scores pay nearly 87% more, on average, for auto coverage than people with excellent credit.
Rates by Credit
Summerville car insurance FAQs
Check out this additional information as you research your car insurance options in Summerville, South Carolina.
How much is car insurance in Summerville?
Car insurance in Summerville costs $212 per month for liability coverage and $324 per month for full coverage, according to Insurify data.
Which companies have the cheapest car insurance in Summerville?
With liability-only rates of $60 per month, USAA has the cheapest car insurance in Summerville.
You can also find cheap coverage with Auto-Owners and State Farm, which have monthly liability rates of $65 and $67, respectively. But the cheapest car insurance company for you will depend on multiple personal factors, including your age, ZIP code, chosen coverage levels, driving record, and more.
What are the best car insurance companies in Summerville?
With an IQ Score of 9.3 out of 5, an AM Best financial strength rating of A++ (Superior), and above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings, State Farm is the best car insurance company in Summerville.
Other top Summerville insurers include Auto-Owners and USAA.
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
- 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.
Related articles
More cities in South Carolina
Sources
- South Carolina Department of Public Safety. "Traffic Collision Fact Books."
- Insurance Information Institute. "How to save money on car insurance."
- South Carolina Department of Insurance. "Automobile Insurance."
- Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
Amy is a personal finance and technology writer. With a background in the legal field and a bachelor's degree from Ferris State University, she has a talent for transforming complex topics into content that’s easy to understand. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.
7+ years in content creation and management
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.
Featured in