Cheapest Auto Insurance in South Carolina (2024)

USAA offers the lowest car insurance rates in the state, with monthly premiums as low as $50 for minimum-coverage policies.

Sarah Sharkey
Written bySarah Sharkey
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Sarah SharkeyInsurance Writer
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Ashley Cox
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Daniel Roccato
Reviewed byDaniel Roccato
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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
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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.

Updated July 25, 2024

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Cheapest recent rates in South Carolina

Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $50/mo for liability only and $85/mo for full coverage in South Carolina.

*Quotes generated for Insurify users from South Carolina within the last 10 days. Last updated on July 25, 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 July 25, 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 July 25, 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 July 25, 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 $280 per month for full-coverage car insurance and $165 for liability-only coverage, compared to the national averages of $214 and $105.

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 $165 per month, and full-coverage insurance costs $280 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 CompanyIQ 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 CoverageLiability OnlyBest for
USAA9.4$87$50Cheap rates
Progressive8.4$173$109Senior drivers
Hugo7.0$55$48On-demand coverage
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.

Best insurer for cheap rates: USAA

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User Reviews
3.7
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.
$50/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.
$87/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

Read more driver reviews of USAA
Charles - July 23, 2024
Verified

Average

The rates are way too high.

Ralph - July 22, 2024
Verified

No Answer

There is no senior discount available.

Wilfred - July 22, 2024
Verified

Issues Encountered with USAA

A few years ago, a minor male bicyclist collided with my car, which my wife was driving at the time. She was leaving a large intersection with a green light when the bicyclist, who was riding in a pedestrian lane, appeared from behind a stopped box truck that obscured his approach. The local police department in Belmont, MA, was called and the Traffic Control Officer wrote up the accident report, clearing my wife of any responsibility. I forwarded this report to USAA. However, when I applied for increased motor vehicle insurance coverage about a year later, I was denied. USAA cited the accident with the bicyclist as a chargeable accident against my wife, despite the police report, and they had never informed us about this. I was never able to resolve this issue. Another incident occurred on December 14, 2023. I wired $60,000 to USAA for a 7-month CD and received a receipt acknowledgment. However, on the same day, the deposit was withdrawn without any direct notice to me, except for a normal monthly bank statement reflecting the withdrawal without any explanation in mid-January. It took about 9 days for USAA to resolve the issue and return the $60,000. This was a very stressful 9 days for me, and I never received an apology or explanation. Trying to reach someone with authority through numerous phone calls was literally impossible. It took a two-page business letter with 7 enclosures to get the CEO's right-hand woman to take action and return the $60,000 to my credit union. As for insurance rates, we own, register, and insure two cars that are driven about 10 miles per week on average, sometimes 100 miles on a Saturday to visit our daughter. However, it seems that we do not receive any discount for this.

Best insurer for senior drivers: Progressive

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JD Power
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.
$109/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.
$173/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

Read more driver reviews of Progressive
Vicki - July 25, 2024
Verified

Depression

I've been with them for 10 years, but the rates keep going up. I have liability insurance and it costs $78 a month! I'm on social security and I never drive on the highway. I don't go out of town more than 5 miles a day. I hardly drive at all, just for basic stuff like going to the doctor. That's it. I will try to find a cheaper plan. I just feel that the price is unfair in my situation.

Maureen - July 25, 2024
Verified

Expensive for Seniors Who Drive Less Than 4000 Miles/Year

Too expensive.

Audrie - July 25, 2024
Verified

Insurance Review

I had a good experience.

Best insurer for on-demand coverage: Hugo

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
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.
7.0/10
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.
$52/mo

Hugo offers on-demand auto insurance, which allows you the option to start or stop coverage at any time, paying for it only on days you need it. Depending on your driving frequency, this could lead to significant savings on your car insurance costs.

Pros
  • Option to activate your car insurance only when you need it

  • Perfect for people who drive infrequently

Cons
  • May not be cheaper if you need insurance coverage every day

  • Available in only 13 states

Read more driver reviews of Hugo
Camero - July 22, 2024
Verified

Poor Customer Support and Too Expensive

It's too expensive and I never get a response from them until days later. It's hard to modify your policy. They don’t cover all cars and when you try to talk with someone, they never answer. Very poor insurance company.

Kimberly - July 14, 2024
Verified

I disliked the fact that there's no app. I'm uncertain about its legitimacy. I was also disappointed that my coverage was not reported to my state as requested. I'm not fond of the idea that the price might change if it's turned off for a day.

I disliked the fact that there's no app. I'm uncertain about its legitimacy. I was also disappointed that my coverage was not reported to my state as requested. I'm not fond of the idea that the price might change if it's turned off for a day.

Jennifer - July 13, 2024
Verified

Rate Increase If You Turn Off and On

I can't say much except that I don't like the rate hike because I didn't use it.

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 $50 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 $165 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: Monday, July 1 at 12:00 PM PDT
Data reviewed by Konstantin Halachev
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
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.

Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly Quote
USAA$50
Auto-Owners$54
State Farm$56
GEICO$60
Nationwide$82
Safeco$84
Allstate$87
Travelers$94
Progressive$109
State Auto$113
Midvale Home & Auto$121
Direct Auto$137
Liberty Mutual$155
Dairyland$157
The General$176
National General$176
AssuranceAmerica$209
Bristol West$216
GAINSCO$240
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 $280 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: Monday, July 1 at 12:00 PM PDT
Data reviewed by Konstantin Halachev
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
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.

Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly Quote
USAA$87
Auto-Owners$94
State Farm$97
GEICO$104
Safeco$138
Nationwide$142
Allstate$151
Travelers$162
Progressive$173
State Auto$179
Midvale Home & Auto$190
Direct Auto$236
AssuranceAmerica$246
National General$258
Liberty Mutual$283
The General$331
Dairyland$343
Bristol West$384
GAINSCO$421
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

Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $50/mo for liability only and $85/mo for full coverage in South Carolina.

*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on July 25, 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 July 25, 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 July 25, 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 July 25, 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]

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/x/f2ca9fa443/protection-for-passengers.svg

    Bodily injury liability

    • $25,000 per person

    • $50,000 per accident

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/x/7b43b14514/damage-from-aircraft.svg

    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 $104 for a full-coverage policy from GEICO. But drivers with a speeding ticket or DUI pay much higher full-coverage rates from the insurer — $138 and $177, respectively.

Find Car Insurance in South Carolina

Liability policies start at $64/mo. for drivers with moving violations

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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 $245 per month for liability coverage and $416 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: Monday, July 1 at 12:00 PM PDT
Data reviewed by Konstantin Halachev
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
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.

Insurance CompanyFull CoverageLiability Only
USAA$115$66
Auto-Owners$125$72
State Farm$128$74
GEICO$138$80
Safeco$186$113
Nationwide$190$110
Allstate$201$116
Travelers$217$126
Progressive$231$145
State Auto$257$163
Midvale Home & Auto$262$167
Direct Auto$315$183
AssuranceAmerica$333$283
National General$342$234
Liberty Mutual$412$225
The General$445$237
Dairyland$458$210
Bristol West$508$286
GAINSCO$612$349
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 $252 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: Monday, July 1 at 12:00 PM PDT
Data reviewed by Konstantin Halachev
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
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.

Insurance CompanyFull CoverageLiability Only
USAA$120$69
Auto-Owners$130$75
State Farm$134$77
GEICO$144$83
Safeco$186$113
Nationwide$198$115
Allstate$209$121
Travelers$226$131
Progressive$243$153
State Auto$271$171
Midvale Home & Auto$278$177
Direct Auto$334$194
AssuranceAmerica$341$289
National General$360$246
Liberty Mutual$426$233
The General$467$248
Dairyland$474$217
Bristol West$526$296
GAINSCO$562$321
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 $285 for liability insurance and $483 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: Monday, July 1 at 12:00 PM PDT
Data reviewed by Konstantin Halachev
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
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.

Insurance CompanyFull CoverageLiability Only
USAA$148$85
Auto-Owners$160$92
State Farm$165$95
GEICO$177$102
Safeco$235$143
Nationwide$242$140
Allstate$257$148
Travelers$276$160
Progressive$295$186
State Auto$305$193
Midvale Home & Auto$324$206
Direct Auto$402$234
AssuranceAmerica$419$356
National General$440$300
Liberty Mutual$482$264
The General$564$300
Dairyland$585$268
Bristol West$655$368
GAINSCO$718$409
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.
Learn More: DWI vs. DUI: What’s the Difference?

Learn More: DWI vs. DUI: What’s the Difference?

Cheapest car insurance for seniors: USAA

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 $130 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: Monday, July 1 at 12:00 PM PDT
Data reviewed by Konstantin Halachev
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
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.

Insurance CompanyFull CoverageLiability Only
USAA$68$39
Auto-Owners$72$41
State Farm$74$42
GEICO$81$47
Nationwide$104$60
Safeco$110$67
Allstate$118$68
Progressive$121$76
Travelers$124$72
State Auto$134$84
Midvale Home & Auto$142$90
Direct Auto$178$103
AssuranceAmerica$181$154
National General$196$134
Liberty Mutual$222$122
The General$263$140
Dairyland$267$122
Bristol West$300$169
GAINSCO$340$194
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 $296 per month for a liability-only policy and $502 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: Monday, July 1 at 12:00 PM PDT
Data reviewed by Konstantin Halachev
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
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.

Insurance CompanyFull CoverageLiability Only
USAA$145$83
Auto-Owners$161$93
GEICO$164$95
State Farm$165$95
Nationwide$244$141
Allstate$265$153
Safeco$286$174
Travelers$292$169
Progressive$312$197
State Auto$318$201
Midvale Home & Auto$328$209
Direct Auto$430$250
AssuranceAmerica$457$388
National General$498$340
Liberty Mutual$520$285
The General$535$284
Dairyland$572$262
Bristol West$654$368
GAINSCO$747$426
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

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South Carolina car insurance quotes by credit tier

South Carolina allows insurance companies to consider your credit history when determining your premiums. Drivers with excellent or good credit scores pay lower rates than drivers with poor credit scores.

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 $280 for full-coverage car insurance and $165 for minimum coverage. By comparison, the national average rate for full coverage is $214 per month, and liability-only coverage costs $105 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 $50 per month.

    Palmetto State drivers can also find affordable coverage through the states second- and third-cheapest insurance companies, Auto-Owners and State Farm. They have monthly liability-only rates of $54 and $56, respectively.

  • What are the best car insurance companies in South Carolina?

    The top insurers in South Carolina are as varied as the users who need them.

    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. If you don’t drive often, Hugo may be a good option. The company allows you to pay for coverage only on the days you need it and has positive customer reviews.

  • 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.

Insurify Insights

How South Carolina Drivers Measure Up

While most drivers know that car insurance quotes are determined in part by your personal driving history, many may be unaware that rates are also impacted by the average risk of the drivers around you as well. Check out Insurify's latest analysis of driving records in South Carolina below:

Methodology

Drawing from an internal database of over 4 million car insurance applications, the research team at Insurify analyzes patterns in car ownership and driver behavior - including how South Carolina drivers measure up to their fellow motorists across the United States in areas including speeding, DUIs, and more.
Insurify Insights publishes data-driven articles, trend analyses, and national rankings each week on all factors related to cars and those who drive them.

honda

Honda Accord

Most Popular Car in South Carolina

#4

State with the Most Speeding Tickets Rank

#3

State with the Moving Violations Rank

#39

State with the Most DUIs Rank

#30

State with the most Suspended Licenses

  • While car accidents are a sadly unavoidable feature of time spent on the road, rates of accidents do vary from city to city and from state to state. South Carolina is the #1 state in the country for drivers with an at-fault accident on their driving record.

    • Rank among states: #1
    • Percent of drivers in South Carolina with an accident: 12.6%
  • While driving while intoxicated is never acceptable, it’s a more common offense than many assume. South Carolina is the #39 state in the country for drivers with a prior drunk driving conviction.

    • Rank among states: #39
    • Percent of drivers in South Carolina with a DUI: 1%
  • Reckless driving refers to a specific traffic violation: when drivers willfully act dangerously in spite of the risks they’re imposing on both themselves and others. South Carolina is the #38 state in the country for drivers with a reckless driving offense on record.

    • Rank among states: #38
    • Percent of drivers in South Carolina with a reckless driving offense: 1%
  • The Insurify team classifies rude drivers as those who commit one or more of the following driving offenses: failure to yield or failure to stop, improper backing, passing where prohibited, tailgating, street racing, or hit-and-run. South Carolina is the #37 state in the country for drivers with a rude driving violation on record.

    • Rank among states: #37
    • Percent of drivers in South Carolina with a rude driving violation: 1.2%
  • Exceeding the speed limit can endanger others and have a serious impact on your insurance costs. South Carolina is the #4 state in the country for drivers with a speeding ticket on record.

    • Rank among states: #4
    • Percent of drivers in South Carolina with a speeding ticket: 12.3%
  • Failing to yield the right of way isn’t just frustrating for other drivers; it’s dangerous, too. South Carolina is the #9 state in the country for drivers with a failure to yield violation on record.

    • Rank among states: #9
    • Percent of drivers in South Carolina with a failure to yield violation: 0.2%
Insurify Insights

Insurify's team of data scientists and content specialists presents Insurify Insights, a series of automotive, home, and health studies focusing on the topics that impact us all. through expert analysis of over 4 million car insurance applications and an array of top data sources, the Insurify Insights team produces new data-driven articles, trend analyses, regional superlatives, and national rankings every week. See Insurify Insights as featured in Forbes, Fox News, USA Today, NPR, and more.

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.

Sources

  1. Insurance Information Institute. "Auto insurance basics—understanding your coverage."
  2. South Carolina Department of Insurance. "Automobile Insurance."
  3. Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
Sarah Sharkey
Sarah SharkeyInsurance Writer

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.

Ashley Cox
Edited byAshley CoxSenior Managing Editor
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Ashley CoxSenior Managing Editor
  • 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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Daniel Roccato
Reviewed byDaniel RoccatoAdvisor
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Daniel RoccatoAdvisor
  • 30+ years in financial services

  • 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 Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
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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