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Co-hosts the Money Talks News podcast
MBA from Utah State University
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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
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NPN: 21630969
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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
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Updated
When you buy car insurance in South Carolina, you typically need to make a payment before coverage takes effect. Although you might see insurers advertise “no-deposit” or “zero-down” insurance, you typically can’t start a policy without paying anything.
Instead, look for an insurer that lets you start coverage by paying only your first month’s premium rather than charging a separate deposit or requiring several months up front. Choosing minimum coverage can reduce your initial payment, but it doesn’t provide much financial protection in the event of an accident.
Here are several insurers offering affordable liability coverage in South Carolina.
Insurance Company | Monthly Rate | Estimated First Payment | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $72 | $72 | Military members, veterans, and their families |
| Auto-Owners | $78 | $78 | Quick claims service |
| State Farm | $81 | $81 | Customer satisfaction |
| Allstate | $149 | $149 | Home and auto bundling |
| Progressive | $124 | $124 | Custom policy add-ons |
Get personalized quotes, starting at an average of $72 per month
| User Reviews | 4.1 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.3 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $81/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. | $132/mo |
State Farm's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.1 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 4.4 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 3.9 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 3.9 | 3.1 |
| Value | 3.7 | 2.9 |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s excellent customer service and personal attention but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases. They also express frustration with the claims process.
State Farm is a strong choice for South Carolina drivers looking for a small initial payment with solid coverage and service. The company scores well for customer service, coverage options, discounts, and policy transparency in Insurify’s analysis of verified customer reviews.
Strong customer service ratings
Multiple available discounts
AM Best financial strength rating of A+ (Superior)
Some customers report surprise rate increases
Discounts vary by driver and location
Customers report slow claims payouts
The average monthly cost of full-coverage car insurance in South Carolina is $159. South Carolina’s rates are similar to those in nearby North Carolina but typically higher than in Georgia. South Carolina also usually has higher rates than the national average.
Deposit amounts in South Carolina can vary by insurer. Your initial payment is typically similar to your first month’s premium. Drivers with clean records usually pay less, while young drivers and drivers with traffic violations usually pay more, as insurers consider them higher risk.
The table below shows the average monthly liability rates and estimated first payments for different South Carolina drivers.
Driver Profile | Average Monthly Rate | Estimated First Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $159 | $159 |
| One speeding ticket | $192 | $192 |
| One at-fault accident | $205 | $205 |
| One DUI | $197 | $197 |
| Teen driver | $285 | $285 |
| Senior driver | $144 | $144 |
| Driver with an SR-22 | $178 | $178 |
Your up-front car insurance costs depend largely on the insurer, coverage, and payment schedule you choose. The state you live in doesn’t directly influence your deposit amount.
Here are some strategies to help you keep your first payment manageable in South Carolina:
Compare several South Carolina insurers. Companies calculate rates differently. Compare quotes from at least three insurers to ensure you get the lowest price for your coverage.
Consider minimum coverage. South Carolina requires 25/50/25 liability coverage, plus uninsured motorist coverage.[1] Sticking to minimum coverage can reduce your initial premium, but it provides less financial protection if you’re in an accident.
Maintain good credit. South Carolina allows insurers to use your credit history when determining your premium.[2] Drivers with good credit generally pay less for coverage than people with poor credit.
Ask about monthly payments. Paying monthly instead of all at once can reduce the amount due up front. But you may have to pay installment fees, too.
Look for auto insurance discounts. Many insurers offer discounts for completing a defensive driving course, setting up auto pay, bundling policies, and insuring multiple vehicles.
South Carolina is an at-fault, or tort, state. That means a driver who causes an accident is financially responsible for any injuries and property damage.
The state requires drivers to have both liability and uninsured motorist (UM) insurance. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is optional. South Carolina also doesn’t require personal injury protection (PIP).
The table below shows South Carolina’s minimum car insurance requirements.
Coverage Type | South Carolina Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist bodily injury | $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident |
These limits are only minimums and may not cover all injuries and damages in an accident. Repair costs after a serious crash easily exceed $25,000, leaving you responsible for any amount beyond your policy limits.
Most insurance experts recommend buying higher limits than the state’s minimum requirements. You should also consider whether you need comprehensive and collision coverage to better protect your finances.
Compare quotes from South Carolina’s top insurers and save money today
Your car insurance deposit typically depends on the price of your policy. Insurers set premiums based on the likelihood and potential cost of claims, so the amount needed to start coverage can vary.
Factors that can affect your South Carolina rate include:
Location: Local traffic density, theft rates, repair costs, and local claims can cause rates to vary among South Carolina ZIP codes.
Accident risk: South Carolina recorded about 136,000 traffic collisions in 2025.[3] The state also had about 40% more traffic fatalities than the national average in 2024.[4] More accidents in a state, especially fatal ones, increase car insurance rates for everyone.
Credit: South Carolina allows insurers to use credit-based insurance scores when setting rates. Drivers with good credit usually pay less for coverage.
Driving history: Tickets, accidents, driving under the influence (DUI) convictions, and prior claims can make you a high-risk driver, increasing your premium. About 5% of South Carolina drivers have tickets, according to Insurify data, which is on the high end compared to other states.
Coverage: Minimum liability coverage generally costs less up front than full coverage, but it doesn’t provide as much financial protection.
Insurance history: South Carolina insurers may consider your prior coverage when determining premiums, making it important to avoid unnecessary coverage lapses.
Understanding how up-front payments work can make it easier to compare cheap car insurance in South Carolina.
Not really. Insurers generally require some form of payment before coverage begins. But you may find a company that requires only your first month’s premium rather than a separate deposit.
USAA, Auto-Owners, and State Farm are the cheapest car insurance companies in South Carolina. But the cheapest insurer for you depends on your personal driving profile, including your age, driving history, and ZIP code.
Typically, no. Liability coverage meets South Carolina’s minimum requirements, but it’s often not enough coverage after a serious accident. Consider increasing your liability limits or opting for full coverage with collision and comprehensive insurance for extra financial protection.
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 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 500+ 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:
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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Co-hosts the Money Talks News podcast
MBA from Utah State University
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
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.
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