Cheapest Auto Insurance in South Carolina (2024)

USAA offers the lowest car insurance rates in the state, with monthly premiums as low as $52 for minimum-coverage policies.

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

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Ashley Cox
Edited byAshley Cox
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Ashley CoxSenior Managing Editor
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  • 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.

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Daniel Roccato
Reviewed byDaniel Roccato
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  • 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 November 20, 2024

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Cheapest recent rates in South Carolina

Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $57/mo for liability only and $117/mo for full coverage in South Carolina.

*Quotes generated for Insurify users from South Carolina within the last 10 days. Last updated on November 20, 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 November 20, 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 November 20, 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 November 20, 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 $279 per month for full-coverage car insurance and $169 for liability-only coverage, compared to the national averages of $204 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 $169 per month, and full-coverage insurance costs $279 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$91$52Cheap rates
Progressive8.4$165$103Senior drivers
Auto-Owners8.5$98$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

User Reviews
4.9
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.
$52/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.
$91/mo
4.9
Best choiceBased on 1602 verified guest reviews and ratings
How drivers feel about USAA

Drivers appreciate the ease of working with the carrier, competitive rates, and responsive service but dislike the price increases and lack of rideshare add-ons in some areas.

AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Members of the military community
Outstanding customer service
Competitive rates
How drivers feel about USAA

Drivers appreciate the ease of working with the carrier, competitive rates, and responsive service but dislike the price increases and lack of rideshare add-ons in some areas.

AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Members of the military community
Outstanding customer service
Competitive rates
Reviews (914)

Gloria

November 15, 2024

Verified Review

Not Good for Claims

I have storm damage and the claim process is not satisfactory.

Martin

November 11, 2024

Verified Review

Price Shopping

I have been with USAA for over 60 years. Obviously, I've been very happy. Since I don't drive very far, I have been seeing advertisements for lower prices. However, I have no plans of leaving USAA.

Rena Sabine

November 8, 2024

Verified Review

Disappointing and inflexible service

My experience with this company has been disappointing, especially this second time around. I would suggest considering other options. From my recent interactions, they have been dismissive and argumentative. I have already started finalizing my next premium with another company. I'm perplexed as to how they receive praise when they treat clients in this manner.
See all USAA reviews
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
880
NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
1.35
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A++
Why we picked this company

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

Best insurer for senior drivers: Progressive

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.
$103/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.
$165/mo
How drivers feel about Progressive

Drivers appreciate the professional service and accident forgiveness but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases.

AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Competitive rates
Easy buying process
Telematics program
How drivers feel about Progressive

Drivers appreciate the professional service and accident forgiveness but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases.

AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Competitive rates
Easy buying process
Telematics program
Reviews (5,794)

Steven

November 19, 2024

Verified Review

I'll Stay with Them, No One Can Beat Them!

They are the cheapest I have found!

Lesley

November 16, 2024

Verified Review

Disappointed

If you want to use the auto pay feature, you have to do snapshot.

Joyce

November 14, 2024

Verified Review

Unfair Pricing

They initially offered a low price, but then added $100 after three months without any notice. I tried to contact them about it, but they either did not answer the phone or responded in a hostile manner. As a result, I had to cancel and find coverage elsewhere.
See all Progressive reviews
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
819
NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
0.82
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A+
Why we picked this company

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

Best insurer for optional coverages: Auto-Owners

User Reviews
4.0
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
4.0
Best choiceBased on 141 verified guest reviews and ratings
How drivers feel about Auto-Owners

Drivers appreciate the friendly customer service, competitive initial rates, and professional agents but dislike the frequent price increases and complicated claims process.

AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Cheap rates
Senior drivers
Ample discounts
How drivers feel about Auto-Owners

Drivers appreciate the friendly customer service, competitive initial rates, and professional agents but dislike the frequent price increases and complicated claims process.

AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Cheap rates
Senior drivers
Ample discounts
Reviews (89)

Debra

November 3, 2024

Verified Review

Excellent

They keep raising prices.

Scotty

November 2, 2024

Verified Review

They are a bunch of crooks. My policy has increased every single time, and I've only had one small claim.

They are a bunch of crooks. My policy has increased every single time, and I've only had one small claim.

Dana

October 31, 2024

Verified Review

Average

Ask many questions to cover all aspects of the policy.
See all Auto-Owners reviews
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
837
NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
0.5
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A++
Why we picked this company

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

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 $52 per month

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
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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 $169 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: Friday, November 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$52
Auto-Owners$55
State Farm$57
GEICO$61
Nationwide$84
Allstate$89
Travelers$96
Safeco$96
Progressive$103
Root$113
State Auto$116
Direct Auto$152
National General$162
Dairyland$163
Liberty Mutual$185
The General$190
AssuranceAmerica$222
Bristol West$230
GAINSCO$239
Hugo$298
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 $279 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: Friday, November 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$91
Auto-Owners$98
State Farm$101
GEICO$108
Safeco$143
Nationwide$148
Allstate$157
Progressive$165
Travelers$169
Root$198
State Auto$205
National General$244
Direct Auto$253
AssuranceAmerica$289
Liberty Mutual$308
Dairyland$344
The General$379
Bristol West$407
GAINSCO$428
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

Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $69/mo for liability only and $117/mo for full coverage in South Carolina.

*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on November 20, 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 November 20, 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 November 20, 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 November 20, 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 $108 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 $175, respectively.

Find Car Insurance in South Carolina

Liability policies start at $63/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 $228 per month for liability coverage and $377 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: Friday, November 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$116$66
Auto-Owners$126$71
State Farm$127$72
GEICO$137$78
Safeco$185$124
Nationwide$190$108
Allstate$200$113
Progressive$209$130
Travelers$217$123
Root$271$154
State Auto$281$159
National General$312$207
Direct Auto$322$194
AssuranceAmerica$367$282
Liberty Mutual$422$254
Dairyland$438$207
The General$492$246
Bristol West$521$295
GAINSCO$587$328
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 $235 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: Friday, November 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$121$69
Auto-Owners$131$74
State Farm$133$75
GEICO$144$81
Safeco$189$127
Nationwide$199$113
Allstate$209$119
Progressive$221$138
Travelers$227$129
Root$282$161
State Auto$297$168
National General$325$216
Direct Auto$345$207
AssuranceAmerica$376$289
Liberty Mutual$438$263
Dairyland$454$215
The General$514$258
Bristol West$542$306
GAINSCO$545$305
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 $269 for liability insurance and $444 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: Friday, November 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$147$84
Auto-Owners$159$89
State Farm$164$92
GEICO$175$99
Safeco$215$144
Nationwide$240$136
Allstate$254$144
Progressive$267$167
Travelers$274$156
Root$286$163
State Auto$332$188
National General$395$262
Direct Auto$410$246
AssuranceAmerica$468$360
Liberty Mutual$499$300
Dairyland$557$264
The General$614$308
Bristol West$659$373
GAINSCO$694$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: Friday, November 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$73$41
Auto-Owners$77$43
State Farm$78$44
GEICO$86$49
Nationwide$110$63
Progressive$119$74
Safeco$122$82
Allstate$126$71
Travelers$132$75
State Auto$153$87
Root$166$95
National General$186$124
Direct Auto$197$118
AssuranceAmerica$218$167
Liberty Mutual$258$155
Dairyland$274$130
The General$307$154
Bristol West$326$184
GAINSCO$358$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 $313 per month for a liability-only policy and $516 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: Friday, November 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$159$91
Auto-Owners$172$97
State Farm$181$102
GEICO$181$102
Nationwide$270$153
Safeco$286$192
Allstate$292$165
Progressive$302$189
Root$310$177
Travelers$319$181
State Auto$380$215
Direct Auto$482$289
National General$499$331
Liberty Mutual$552$332
AssuranceAmerica$553$425
Dairyland$580$275
The General$630$316
Bristol West$716$405
GAINSCO$771$431
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.

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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 $279 for full-coverage car insurance and $169 for minimum coverage. By comparison, the national average rate for full coverage is $204 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 $52 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.

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
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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.

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Daniel Roccato
Reviewed byDaniel RoccatoAdvisor
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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.

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