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There’s so much to explore in the Palmetto State: historic cities, pristine shoreline, subtropical climate, and marshlike beaches. A wonderful road trip awaits.
With over 40,000 miles of roadways throughout the state, it’s essential that every driver in South Carolina has the right policy that best fits their own lifestyle and habits. But, where does one begin when it comes to shopping for the right car insurance? It seems as though every company claim to have the lowest rates, best customer service, or most comprehensive coverage, but what’s the right choice for you?
Here are the cheapest carriers in South Carolina for the following user profile: a single, 30 year old male with a clean driving record who drives a 2012 Honda Accord and pays a $1,000 deductible for the state’s minimum liability insurance. We averaged rates for the twenty most populous cities in South Carolina.
| Cheapest Companies | |
|---|---|
 Direct Auto | $64/mo |
 State Farm | $73/mo |
 Allstate | $87/mo |
Progressive | $89/mo |
GEICO | $110/mo |
The Insurify Composite Score is calculated by analyzing multiple factors that indicate the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company. Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings, Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys, mobile app reviews, and user-generated carrier reviews. The following are the top rated carriers that offer car insurance in South Carolina. For the complete list, see Insurify's best car insurance companies.
| Best Companies | ||
|---|---|---|
 Nationwide | $132/mo | |
 American Family | $147/mo | |
State Farm | $73/mo | |
GEICO | $110/mo | |
Allstate | $87/mo | |
 Liberty Mutual | $196/mo | |
Progressive | $89/mo |
Auto insurance costs will vary between locations and insurance carriers. Insurify analyzed the latest data for the five most populous cities in South Carolina to find you the cheapest quotes in each of these metropolitan areas.
South Carolina's capital city is also its most populous: Columbia, with a population of over 130,000 people. Lawmakers there are currently considering legislation that would make driving while holding a cell phone illegal throughout that state.
| City | Cheapest Carrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia |  Direct Auto | $93/mo |
| Charleston | Direct Auto | $85/mo |
| North Charleston | Direct Auto | $92/mo |
| Mount Pleasant | Direct Auto | $80/mo |
| Rock Hill | Direct Auto | $78/mo |
| Greenville | Direct Auto | $68/mo |
| Summerville | Direct Auto | $83/mo |
| Sumter | Direct Auto | $92/mo |
| Goose Creek | Progressive | $89/mo |
| Hilton Head Island | Direct Auto | $68/mo |
| Florence | Direct Auto | $90/mo |
| Spartanburg | Direct Auto | $65/mo |
| Aiken | Direct Auto | $73/mo |
| Myrtle Beach | Direct Auto | $84/mo |
| Greer | Direct Auto | $66/mo |
| Anderson | Direct Auto | $64/mo |
| Mauldin | Direct Auto | $66/mo |
| Greenwood | Direct Auto | $66/mo |
| North Augusta | Direct Auto | $75/mo |
| Taylors | Direct Auto | $70/mo |
| Clover |  Travelers | $174/mo |
| Conway | Progressive | $165/mo |
| Easley | Progressive | $116/mo |
| Fort Mill | Progressive | $126/mo |
| Gaston | Progressive | $150/mo |
| Georgetown |  National General | $162/mo |
| Hartsville | Travelers | $163/mo |
| Irmo | Travelers | $173/mo |
| Ladson | Travelers | $171/mo |
| Lancaster | Progressive | $156/mo |
| Lexington | Progressive | $143/mo |
| Moncks Corner | Progressive | $168/mo |
| Seneca | Progressive | $110/mo |
| Simpsonville | Progressive | $102/mo |
| York | Travelers | $138/mo |
For drivers in South Carolina, that are looking for the cheapest quote possible, you can consider a state minimum policy for liability insurance.
To simplify finding the cheapest minimum liability quote, Insurify has analyzed rates from top insurance providers in South Carolina. The following are the cheapest insurance rates from carriers that offer minimum liability auto insurance in South Carolina.
| Cheapest companies | |
|---|---|
 Kemper Preferred | $83/mo |
Progressive | $111/mo |
 Travelers | $116/mo |
 National General | $119/mo |
 Safeco | $134/mo |
For drivers in South Carolina, that are looking for a full coverage policy that includes comprehensive and collision insurance it’s important that you evaluate all of your potential insurance options to ensure you are finding the best rate.
To simplify comparing companies, Insurify has analyzed rates from top insurance providers in South Carolina. The following are the best insurance rates from carriers that offer full coverage auto insurance in South Carolina.
| Cheapest companies | |
|---|---|
Kemper Preferred | $163/mo |
Progressive | $173/mo |
Travelers | $177/mo |
National General | $199/mo |
Safeco | $218/mo |
All motor vehicles operated or parked on South Carolina roadways are required to be insured. Proof of insurance must be carried in your car at all times and must available when:
The minimum liability car insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in South Carolina are as follows:
Bodily injury liability coverage protects drivers if their car is involved in an accident that harms another individual. The minimum limits required by South Carolina state law are $25,000 for the death or injury of a single victim as a result of a car accident and $50,000 for the deaths or injuries of multiple victims. Insurance companies list this type of coverage as 25/50, referring to the dollar limitations of each minimum. If you’re in an accident, liability coverage will cover the cost of a legal proceeding as a result of a crash. Bodily injury coverage is part of the minimum coverage required by South Carolina law.
The state minimum amount of property damage liability coverage required in the state of South Carolina is $25,000. If an insured driver is determined to be at fault and held liable in a motor vehicle accident, this coverage pays for damage repair to another individual’s property. Property damage coverage will also pay for legal costs if an insured driver is involved in a lawsuit following an accident.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage are required in South Carolina. This coverage protects drivers who might incur damages from an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver. If involved in an accident with an individual without sufficient coverage, insured drivers will still be covered. In South Carolina, the legally required level of Uninsured Motorist coverage is:
Here are the cheapest insurance companies in South Carolina based on averaged sample rates for four driver profiles that included varied gender, age, driving history, credit, marital status, prior insurance, higher education, employment, and military service. Average rates may vary depending on the profile and background of the policyholder.
For South Carolina drivers with a clean driving record free of any moving violations, auto insurance rates may be significantly lower. Direct Auto offers the best options for good drivers in South Carolina, at $64 a month. With both cheaper premiums and additional safe driving discounts, it can really pay to have a record free of accidents or traffic tickets.
| Insurance Company | |
|---|---|
Direct Auto | $64/mo |
State Farm | $73/mo |
Allstate | $87/mo |
Progressive | $89/mo |
GEICO | $110/mo |
Everybody makes mistakes and has to deal with the fallout. The fallout for a DUI is rough: court fines, reinstatement fees, SR-22 filing, and years of paying more for car insurance to name only a few. Finding affordable rates on car insurance with a DUI is no small feat. If you find yourself really struggling to get an affordable rate, consider only carrying liability coverage as a way to save.
| Insurance Company | |
|---|---|
American National | $49/mo |
Auto Owners | $50/mo |
USAA | $53/mo |
The sinking feeling after realizing you’ve caused an accident is no exaggeration. Even a tiny fender bender can raise rates to levels that significantly alter your budget. If you’ve paid for accident forgiveness you may have caught a break. If not: discounts, discounts, discounts.
And comparison shopping at least every time your policy is up for renewal: insurance companies look at different time windows for driving history. For example, one company might look at the last five years while the other looks at the last three. Here are the best rates we could find for drivers with one at-fault accident.
| Insurance Company | |
|---|---|
GEICO | $38/mo |
American National | $39/mo |
USAA | $45/mo |
The need for speed can soon turn into the need for a new budget. Speeding tickets can affect people differently. But essentially, the more often you speed—and the higher your mph—the more points you’ll receive on your driver’s license. Higher points mean higher prices in the car insurance game. The best way to lower costs? Slow down and find a discount program, like a defensive driving course reduction.
| Insurance Company | |
|---|---|
USAA | $37/mo |
GEICO | $38/mo |
American National | $39/mo |
If you’re under 40 years old in the state of South Carolina, you will likely pay more for auto insurance coverage than the average driver. Since inexperienced drivers pose a higher risk for insurance providers, their rates are often significantly higher. Auto Owners and USAA offer the cheapest car insurance rates for young drivers, averaging $28 a month. New drivers must abide by special driving restrictions, including curfews, electronic device limitations, and passenger age restrictions. Be sure to familiarize yourself with these rules before hitting the road.
Insurance policies for 21-year-olds generally run higher than the national average by a significant margin. Even though they’re no longer considered teen-drivers, 21-year-olds are still regarded as high-risk to insurers. Unlike most states, South Carolina 21-year-olds benefit from the state’s ban on using gender, education level, and credit score as factors when calculating premiums. This will generally help young South Carolinians lower their monthly payments. To find the cheapest car insurance for 21-year-olds, use a car insurance quotes comparison site like Insurify.
| Insurance Company | |
|---|---|
Auto Owners | $28/mo |
USAA | $28/mo |
American Family | $29/mo |
GEICO | $34/mo |
State Farm | $36/mo |
If your license has been suspended or revoked, these car insurance companies will file an SR-22 with the state of South Carolina on your behalf.
The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has over twenty outposts around the state, operating from 8:30 AM to 5 PM, with some special early morning, evening, and Saturday hours.
At the Driver and Vehicle Services Centers, South Carolina residents can access services like driver’s license and ID card registration and renewal, vehicle registration, and license plate pick-up, as well as insurance information and services. For the shortest wait times, avoid planning your visit on Mondays and Fridays, or during lunch hours.
Regardless of where you live in the state, a DMV shouldn’t be too far. South Carolina residents may be able to skip their visit altogether and get what they need through their online portal. Visitors may also utilize the services provided by the South Carolina Department of Insurance while visiting their local Driver Services location.
Drawing from their database of over 4 million car insurance shopper applications, the data scientists at Insurify have published various reports on driver behavior and car ownership — including how South Carolina drivers measure up to their fellow motorists across the United States in the rankings above.
From driver performance across different geographical locations and demographics to patterns in motor vehicle ownership and auto insurance coverage, Insurify Insights publishes data-driven articles, trend analyses, and national and local rankings each week on all factors related to cars and those who drive them.
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. Among all fifty states, South Carolina drivers rank 5 in the number of car accidents per driver.
Exceeding the speed limit can endanger others and leave a permanent stain on your driving record. South Carolina drivers rank 5 in the number of speeding infractions per driver across all fifty states.
While driving while intoxicated is never acceptable, it’s a more common offense than many assume. South Carolina drivers rank 42 in the number of DUI’s per driver across all fifty states.
Some car models are just more popular than others and trends can vary from place to place. The most popular vehicle in South Carolina is the Honda Accord.
The Insurify team classifies rude drivers as those who commit the following driving offenses: failure to yield or failure to stop, improper backing, passing where prohibited, tailgating, street racing, or hit-and-runs. Among all fifty states, South Carolina drivers rank 8 in rude driving infractions.
Having a squeaky-clean driving record is an accomplishment to be proud of. Some states have safer drivers than others; South Carolina drivers rank 45 in clean driving records across all fifty states.
Street racing might seem like something straight out of a Fast and Furious movie, but it’s a real issue that threatens public safety. Among all fifty states, South Carolina drivers rank 18 in street racing violations per driver.
Failing to yield the right of way isn’t just frustrating for other drivers; it’s dangerous, too. South Carolina drivers rank 15 in failure to yield violations per driver across all fifty states.
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. Among all fifty states, South Carolina drivers rank 8 in the number of reckless driving offenses per driver.
As auto manufacturers increasingly turn towards producing greener car models, more and more motorists are embracing hybrids and EV’s. South Carolina drivers rank 26 in hybrid and electric vehicle ownership across all fifty states.
The EPA reports that the United States' transportation sector accounts for 27% of national greenhouse gas emissions. In a country of over 263 million registered vehicles, many communities are taking action to reduce their environmental impact and vehicular carbon footprint. This city has been named the "greenest" in the state by Insurify.
South Carolina has mandated a number of environmentally friendly green vehicle laws. The state government has put into place regulations for low-speed vehicle operations, diesel vehicles, and alternative fuels. The state of South Carolina offers many green driver incentives, including federal tax credits and discounts through some car insurance carriers.
Beginning in 2018, Insurify launched the Most Patriotic Cities Awards, which salute the community in each state with the highest percentage of individuals who currently serve in the military or identify as armed service veterans.
Beaufort won Insurify's Most Patriotic Cities Award for the state of South Carolina. Its business district is located just southeast of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.
Insurify used a recent report from TripNet to rank twenty-five states by roads in poor condition, structurally deficient bridges, and fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on rural roads. Knowledge of infrastructure in South Carolina is vital for all car insurance shoppers hitting the road in The Palmetto State.
The car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations on this page are derived from Insurify’s proprietary database of over 4 million car insurance applications from ZIP codes across the United States. Insurify’s data science team performs a comprehensive analysis of the various factors car insurance providers take into account while setting rates to provide readers insight into how car insurance quotes are priced.
