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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 | Quotes |
|---|---|
 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 | Quotes | |
|---|---|---|
 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 | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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 | Quotes |
|---|---|
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 | Quotes |
|---|---|
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 | Quotes |
|---|---|
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 | Quotes |
|---|---|
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 | Quotes |
|---|---|
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.
Using a proprietary dataset of over 1.5 million car insurance shopper applications, the data scientists at Insurify have run various studies on driver behavior across geographical locations, age ranges, motor vehicle registration, and other variables all related to auto insurance coverage.
We've been able to determine the speediest cities in the nation, the most popular cars among age groups, and the occupations with the worst drivers, among other insightful reports. We've also launched annual awards campaigns to congratulate the communities across the country who have excelled in environmentally friendly initiatives, educational attainment, and other areas.
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.
