Cheapest Auto Insurance in South Carolina (2024)

USAA offers the lowest car insurance rates in the state, with monthly premiums as low as $51 for minimum-coverage policies.

Sarah Sharkey
Written bySarah Sharkey
Sarah Sharkey
Sarah SharkeyInsurance Writer
  • 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.

Featured in

media logomedia logomedia logo
Ashley Cox
Edited byAshley Cox
Headshot of Managing Editor Ashley Cox
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.

Featured in

media logomedia logomedia logomedia logo
Daniel Roccato
Reviewed byDaniel Roccato
Headshot of industry expert Daniel Roccato
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 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.

Updated September 11, 2024

Save up to $852 by comparing quotes from the top 100+ insurance companies

Excellent
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
ProgressiveLiberty MutualAllstate
Advertiser Disclosure

At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.

We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.

Why you can trust Insurify: Comparing accurate insurance quotes should never put you at risk of spam. We earn an agent commission only if you buy a policy based on our quotes. Our editorial team follows a rigorous set of editorial standards and operates independently from our insurance partners. Learn more.

Cheapest recent rates in South Carolina

Recent South Carolina car insurance prices for Chevrolet, KIA, Hyundai , and more.

*Quotes generated for Insurify users from South Carolina within the last 10 days. Last updated on September 11, 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 September 11, 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 September 11, 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 September 11, 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
USAA9.4$90$51Cheap rates
Progressive8.4$169$106Senior drivers
Auto-Owners8.5$97$55Optional 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.

Best insurer for cheap rates: USAA

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
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.
$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

Read more driver reviews of USAA
Judy - September 10, 2024
Verified

An Ending Thought

I just filled out a comment on my home and auto insurance. What was ironic was that after I completed my comment, it read 'Find A New Policy'.

Judy - September 10, 2024
Verified

Good On Homes/High on Auto

I don't think your insurance programs can be beaten, but they are expensive and twice as much as what I can pay in the insurance market! My home coverage is more important to me than my auto coverage. It doesn't bother me to pay a higher premium on my house, but my auto insurance is way higher than what I can get from other insurance companies. We only drive to the doctor's appointments, grocery store, and to visit our kids and grandkids. I understand paying full coverage on my fully paid RAM P/U, but I feel I am paying way too much on my Honda that is over 10 years old and paid for. We are planning on buying a new (2022 - 2024) Jeep Grand Cherokee later this year or early next year, and I feel that I am bound to shop for insurance for that vehicle. What I like about USAA is that you are great when it comes to claims and we have only had one house claim that I feel could not have been handled any better than the way we were treated after the wind storm we had. And I thank you for that! If I could get a better auto plan, I would be a very happy customer. Thank you.

Heather - September 10, 2024
Verified

Do not use USAA

I was with them for over a year. Every phone call I ever made to them took well over an hour. Their customer service representatives are rude. No matter how many times I verified my information, all my details ended up on my dad's account. I'm 47 years old and haven't lived with my dad since I was 6. Even when I had a claim, they put it under his insurance and then denied the claim because he told them he hadn't been involved in an accident. After I called to rectify the situation, they denied the claim anyway, even though they made the mistake. I would not recommend them to anyone.

Best insurer for senior drivers: Progressive

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
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.
$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

Read more driver reviews of Progressive
Andrea - September 10, 2024
Verified

Excellent

It's great.

Michael - September 10, 2024
Verified

Shop Around

It's a good idea to shop around.

Brenda - September 10, 2024
Verified

Looking for Cheaper Insurance Rates

Insurance rates increase every 6 months.

Best insurer for optional coverages: Auto-Owners

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
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.
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.

Pros
  • Extensive list of add-on coverages available

  • Competitive rates for South Carolina drivers

Cons
  • Only 2.6 stars (out of 5) on Trustpilot

  • Available in only 26 states

Read more driver reviews of Auto-Owners
Allen - September 10, 2024
Verified

The agent was not truthful about the claim. He told me that what I said on the report was completely incorrect.

The agent was not truthful about the claim. He told me that what I said on the report was completely incorrect.

Vinice - September 9, 2024
Verified

Disappointed After Filing a Claim

If you end up having to file a claim, be prepared for a long process. It can be quite frustrating when you receive compensation after being a loyal customer for years. Also, be aware that you may face overcharges on your rates.

Robert - September 9, 2024
Verified

Good Insurance

It's a good insurance.

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

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualAllstate

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
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 Company
Average Monthly Quote
USAA$51
Auto-Owners$55
State Farm$57
GEICO$61
Nationwide$83
Allstate$88
Safeco$92
Travelers$95
Progressive$106
State Auto$115
Direct Auto$144
Dairyland$160
Liberty Mutual$165
National General$168
The General$184
AssuranceAmerica$211
Bristol West$225
GAINSCO$239
Hugo$291
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
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 Company
Average Monthly Quote
USAA$90
Auto-Owners$97
State Farm$100
GEICO$107
Safeco$143
Nationwide$147
Allstate$156
Travelers$168
Progressive$169
Root$196
State Auto$204
Direct Auto$248
National General$251
AssuranceAmerica$259
Liberty Mutual$305
Dairyland$344
The General$385
Bristol West$404
GAINSCO$424
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, Honda, Ford , and more.

*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on September 11, 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 September 11, 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 September 11, 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 September 11, 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 $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
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualAllstate

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
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 Company
Full Coverage
Liability Only
USAA$115$65
Auto-Owners$125$71
State Farm$126$72
GEICO$137$78
Safeco$185$119
Nationwide$190$107
Allstate$199$112
Travelers$216$122
Progressive$216$135
State Auto$283$160
Direct Auto$316$184
National General$322$216
AssuranceAmerica$335$273
Liberty Mutual$422$228
Dairyland$441$205
The General$498$238
Bristol West$516$288
GAINSCO$587$331
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
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 Company
Full Coverage
Liability Only
USAA$119$67
Auto-Owners$129$73
State Farm$131$75
GEICO$142$81
Safeco$185$119
Nationwide$196$111
Allstate$206$116
Travelers$224$127
Progressive$226$142
State Auto$296$167
National General$334$224
Direct Auto$335$194
AssuranceAmerica$340$277
Liberty Mutual$433$234
Dairyland$452$210
The General$518$247
Bristol West$531$295
GAINSCO$537$303
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
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 Company
Full Coverage
Liability Only
USAA$146$83
Auto-Owners$157$89
State Farm$162$92
GEICO$173$99
Safeco$231$149
Nationwide$238$134
Allstate$252$142
Travelers$272$154
Progressive$273$172
State Auto$330$186
Direct Auto$401$233
National General$406$272
AssuranceAmerica$419$341
Liberty Mutual$494$267
Dairyland$557$259
The General$623$298
Bristol West$654$364
GAINSCO$686$387
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 $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
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 Company
Full Coverage
Liability Only
USAA$72$41
Auto-Owners$76$43
State Farm$78$44
GEICO$85$49
Nationwide$110$62
Safeco$120$77
Progressive$121$76
Allstate$125$71
Travelers$132$74
State Auto$155$88
National General$193$129
Direct Auto$194$112
AssuranceAmerica$196$160
Liberty Mutual$254$138
Dairyland$275$128
The General$314$150
Bristol West$324$180
GAINSCO$356$200
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
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 Company
Full Coverage
Liability Only
USAA$152$86
Auto-Owners$167$95
GEICO$172$98
State Farm$173$99
Nationwide$257$145
Allstate$279$157
Safeco$289$186
Progressive$305$191
Travelers$307$174
State Auto$367$207
Direct Auto$457$265
AssuranceAmerica$483$394
National General$500$335
Liberty Mutual$547$296
Dairyland$572$266
The General$623$298
Bristol West$693$386
GAINSCO$750$423
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

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualAllstate

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 $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 states 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?

    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. 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.

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
Headshot of Managing Editor Ashley Cox
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.

Featured in

media logomedia logomedia logomedia logo
Daniel Roccato
Reviewed byDaniel RoccatoAdvisor
Headshot of industry expert Daniel Roccato
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.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes Instantly

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualAllstate

Latest Articles

View all