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10+ years writing on personal finance topics
Host of the Mental Health and Wealth podcast
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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
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Updated
A new-car insurance grace period is a set amount of time when your existing auto insurance policy provides temporary coverage for a newly purchased vehicle.
South Carolina drivers with a current policy who buy a car may have a grace period, depending on the insurer. Grace periods vary by company but typically range from seven to 30 days. You should notify your insurer as soon as you can after buying a new car to make sure you have the right coverage.
Grace periods typically apply only to drivers with an existing policy. If you’re a new driver or buying a car for the first time and don’t have insurance, you won’t have a grace period.
Not every insurance company offers a grace period. If yours does, check your policy documents or ask your insurer for more information about the time frame and coverage.
Get personalized quotes from the state’s top insurers and save money today
South Carolina doesn’t have a state-mandated car insurance grace period. It’s up to insurance companies to offer a grace period when you buy a new car. The state also doesn’t have a grace period when paying your insurance premium.[1] So if you fail to make a payment, your policy may no longer be active.
Grace periods can vary by policy and insurer. But in general, the time frame ranges from seven to 30 days. It’s best to contact your insurance company or read your policy to find out whether you have a grace period and how long it lasts.
The table below shows different situations when buying a new car and whether a grace period applies.
Situation | Typical Grace Period in South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Adding a new car | Up to 30 days, depending on the insurer and policy |
| Replacing a car | Up to 30 days, depending on the insurer and policy |
| No existing policy | No grace period |
When you buy a new car in South Carolina, you may not automatically have car insurance. It depends on your situation, insurance company, and policy.
If you replace your car, your existing coverage may temporarily transfer to the new vehicle. But only your current coverage extends to your new car. So if you have only state-minimum liability insurance, you still won’t have extra coverage like comprehensive or collision insurance.
Because you’re insuring another vehicle, your insurance premiums will likely increase. But you may be eligible for a multi-car discount.
Car buyers in the Palmetto State who don’t have a current auto insurance policy won’t have any grace periods. Grace periods require you to already have a car insurance policy.
Typically, you must show proof of insurance when you purchase a vehicle before you drive off the lot. So if you can, it’s best to get coverage before you buy your car.
Car insurance grace periods typically have the same coverage as your current policy. So if you have basic liability insurance, you’ll still have only state-minimum coverage. But it depends on your insurance company and policy.
Your grace period won’t include full coverage if your policy didn’t already have it. Full coverage typically includes comprehensive and collision insurance. Lenders often require you to have full coverage, so you’ll need to buy it if you don’t already have it.[2] Deductibles and coverage limits vary based on the terms of your policy.
Here’s how to add a new car to your South Carolina insurance policy:
Contact your insurance company. Reach out right away to let your insurer know you bought a new car and would like to add it to your policy. You usually need to provide the vehicle identification number (VIN), make, model, and date of purchase.
Review your coverage options. If you have an existing policy, decide if your current coverage is enough for your new car. If you finance or lease your car, you’ll likely need to buy full coverage if you don’t already have it.
Confirm the coverage start date. You need insurance on the new car to legally drive in South Carolina. Ask about any potential grace period and for clarity on what it covers. Confirm the coverage start date for your new car.
Carry proof of insurance. Once you add your vehicle to the policy, keep your insurance card accessible. If law enforcement pulls you over, you need to prove you have coverage to avoid any penalties.
If you don’t buy insurance for your new car or add it to an existing policy, your coverage will lapse. In South Carolina, coverage lapses have various penalties, including:[3]
Suspension of driving privileges, license plate, and vehicle registration
Up to $400 in reinstatement fees
$700 uninsured motorist fee
On top of these potential consequences, you’ll usually pay higher insurance premiums after a coverage lapse.
Compare rates in South Carolina, starting at an average of $72 per month
Here are some tips to help you avoid coverage gaps when buying a new car:
Contact your insurer first. Talk to your insurance company before buying a vehicle. You can ask about coverage for the new car, grace periods, and policy updates. Clarify whether you plan to replace your vehicle or add an additional vehicle.
Overlap your policies. If you’re replacing your car with a new one, you can have your new policy start before your old one ends.
Pay attention to dates when shopping around. If you get multiple car insurance quotes and decide to change insurers, don’t cancel your old policy until the new one is active.
Start your coverage early. Not every insurer offers a grace period. Setting an early start date for your new coverage helps you avoid potential issues with grace periods and coverage lapses.
Below, we answer some common questions about car insurance grace periods in South Carolina.
No. You can’t legally drive a new car home without insurance in South Carolina. The state requires all registered vehicles to have minimum liability insurance.
South Carolina doesn’t mandate a car insurance grace period. But many insurers offer a grace period when buying a new car — typically seven to 30 days. It varies by company, so check with your insurer to find out whether it offers a grace period.
If you have a lapse in coverage in South Carolina, you’ll face fines and the state may suspend your driving privileges, license, and registration. You’ll also pay higher car insurance premiums when you secure new coverage.
Yes. South Carolina requires drivers to have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage in the same amount as their bodily injury liability and property damage liability limits. UM kicks in if an uninsured driver hits your car.
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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10+ years writing on personal finance topics
Host of the Mental Health and Wealth podcast
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Featured in
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