The Cheapest Auto Insurance Companies in South Carolina in 2024

South Carolina’s warm temperatures and white-sand beaches make it a beautiful place to live and vacation. Millions of visitors flock to the state annually to experience its popular destinations, which only leads to more traffic congestion, accidents, and, ultimately, higher car insurance rates.

Drivers in South Carolina pay an average monthly car insurance premium of $223 per month, according to Compare.com data. Fortunately, several auto insurers in South Carolina, including USAA, offer rates well below that average. Keep reading to learn which companies offer the cheapest car insurance and strategies for lowering your rates.

Key Takeaways:

• USAA offers the cheapest monthly rates for South Carolina drivers, at $69, on average.
• South Carolina drivers pay an average of $170 per month for liability-only insurance and $275 for full coverage.
• All South Carolina drivers must have liability insurance with 25/50/25 minimum limits and uninsured motorist coverage.

In This Article:

• Average Price for Car Insurance in SC
• Cheapest SC Car Insurance Companies
• Best South Carolina Insurers of 2024
• Average South Carolina Rates by Age and Driving Record
• South Carolina Auto Insurance Requirements
• How to Get Cheap Car Insurance in SC
• Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Is Car Insurance in South Carolina?

South Carolina’s average monthly cost for car insurance is $223 per month, but this broad average doesn’t necessarily represent what you’ll pay. The table below shows South Carolina’s average liability-only and full-coverage rates and how they compare to the national average.

On average, we found that drivers in South Carolina pay $170 per month for liability-only coverage and $275 per month for full coverage. Car insurance rates vary between companies, so it’s a good idea to compare multiple companies to find the best fit. Let’s take a closer look at some of the state’s cheapest.

South Carolina’s Cheapest Car Insurance Companies

While the average monthly rate for car insurance in South Carolina is $223, you can find ways to save on your monthly premium — if you know where to look. The table below shows the cheapest car insurance companies in South Carolina, according to Compare.com data.

USAA offers the lowest average rate, at $69 per month. But this doesn’t mean it’ll have the cheapest rate for you.

Insurance companies use multiple factors, including your age, gender, location, and driving record, to determine your monthly premium. That’s why it’s important to compare quotes from multiple companies before making a decision. Luckily for South Carolina drivers, you have many great car insurance companies to choose from.

Compare.com’s Best South Carolina Insurance Companies of 2024

At the end of the day, no single insurance company is the best for everyone. Comparing several insurers can help you find the insurance that best fits your needs and budget.

We chose the following companies based on a combination of average rates in South Carolina, available discounts, customer ratings and reviews, and coverage options.

Best for drivers on a budget: USAA

• Average premium: $69 per month
• Compare.com Rating: 4.91 out of 5

Pros:

• Unique discounts for military families
• Savings of up to 30% with SafePilot program

Cons:

• Not available to non-military members
• Gap insurance not available

USAA offers some of the cheapest car insurance rates in South Carolina, according to our research. But unfortunately, USAA insurance is only available to military members and their immediate families.

The good news is that South Carolina has a large military population that can benefit from the insurer’s affordable rates. For additional savings, USAA offers a wide range of discounts, including good driver, good student, and customer loyalty discounts.

Best for teens drivers: Auto-Owners

• Average premium: $116 per month
• Compare.com Rating: 4.43 out of 5

Pros:

• Among the cheapest rates in South Carolina
• Teen driver discounts available

Cons:

• Online quotes not available
• Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating

Auto-Owners is among the cheapest auto insurers for teens in South Carolina. To save even more on car insurance, you can check out Auto-Owners Teen Driver Monitoring discount. Just keep in mind that your teen must have a GPS in their vehicle or use an eligible app on their smartphone.

Best for drivers with speeding tickets: State Farm

• Average premium: $99 per month
• Compare.com Rating: 4.90 out of 5

Pros:

• Among the lowest rates in South Carolina
• Above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating

Cons:

• Fewer available discounts than some competitors
• Gap insurance not available

State Farm offers some of the cheapest rates for South Carolina drivers with speeding tickets. The insurer is also known for its great customer service — it ranks above average on the J.D. 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study for the Southeast.

To save on your insurance costs, ask your agent about vehicle safety and defensive driving discounts, and consider participating in the Drive Safe & Save telematics program.

Cheapest State-Minimum Car Insurance in South Carolina

The coverage levels you purchase affect your monthly premiums. State-minimum liability insurance is the cheapest policy available, but it only covers the cost of injuries or property damage to others if you cause an accident.

The table below features five companies with the cheapest liability-only insurance rates in South Carolina, according to our research.

USAA offers the cheapest liability-only policy, at $53 per month, according to Compare.com data.

That said, most experts recommend purchasing more than your state’s minimum limits to make sure you’re sufficiently protected. And if you have a car loan or lease, the bank or leasing company will generally require you to have a full-coverage policy.

Let’s take a look at how that additional protection affects average rates in South Carolina.

Cheapest Full-Coverage Car Insurance in South Carolina

Full-coverage car insurance typically includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage. But it costs more than liability-only insurance because it offers greater protection — it covers vehicle repairs or replacement, regardless of fault.

We’ve broken down the five cheapest companies for full-coverage car insurance in the table below.

USAA offers the cheapest full-coverage auto insurance in South Carolina, at $85 per month, according to our analysis. Of course, insurers base their rates on factors like your ZIP code, driving record, and age — which we’ll cover in more detail in the next section.

Compare South Carolina Auto Insurance Rates by Age

Your age is one of the most important factors insurers look at when determining your monthly premiums. The younger you are, the less experience have behind the wheel. Teen drivers pay the highest rates, but car insurance tends to become more affordable around age 25 and continues to drop as you reach middle age. But once you reach your 70s, rates begin to creep back up.

The table below shows the average monthly car insurance premiums by age group and the cheapest insurers in South Carolina for each group.

Cheapest car insurance for South Carolina teens

Teenagers are by far the most expensive drivers to insure. That’s because they lack driving experience and are more likely to take risky behaviors such as not wearing seat belts, speeding, drinking and driving, and distracted driving, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

If you want to insure your teen driver in South Carolina, Auto-Owners offers the cheapest car insurance policy, at $116 per month, on average, according to Compare.com data.

Cheapest car insurance for South Carolina seniors

As you approach retirement age, you’ll experience some of the cheapest insurance rates available. Senior drivers tend to have cheaper rates because they pose a lower risk to insurers. Retired drivers are often more experienced, more likely to obey speed limits, and generally drive less, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I).

But once you reach age 70, you’re more likely to get into car crashes. That’s why insurance companies charge you higher rates to cover the risk.

State Farm is the cheapest insurance company for South Carolina drivers in their 70s, at $57 per month.

Compare South Carolina Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Your driving record is another factor that has a significant effect on your car insurance rates. Generally, the better your record, the lower your premiums. If you cause an accident or an officer catches you driving under the influence (DUI) or speeding, expect to see your premiums go up.

The following table breaks down the average cost of auto insurance in South Carolina for different driving records and and the cheapest insurer by incident.

Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina after a ticket

While you might think getting a speeding ticket isn’t a big deal, just one ticket causes national average insurance rates to go up by 27%, according to Compare.com data. But South Carolina drivers can still find a good deal.

At $99 per month, State Farm offers the cheapest average premiums for South Carolina drivers with a speeding ticket.

Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina after an accident

If you get into an accident, insurers will view you as a higher risk. In fact, having an at-fault accident on your driving record increases premiums by an average of 34%, according to Compare.com data.

You can find an affordable rate with Auto-Owners. It offers the cheapest rates to South Carolina drivers with a recent accident, at $102 per month.

Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina after a DUI

A DUI is a serious traffic violation that can hike your insurance rates more than any other moving violation. One DUI increases average premiums by 50% nationally, according to Compare.com data.

Auto-Owners is the cheapest auto insurer for South Carolina drivers with a DUI. South Carolina drivers who choose the insurer pay $120 per month, on average, after a DUI.

South Carolina Auto Insurance Requirements

​​To legally drive in the Palmetto State, it’s important to understand South Carolina’s specific auto insurance requirements. The South Carolina Department of Insurance outlines the minimum-coverage limits drivers must purchase. South Carolina requires all drivers to have at least:

• $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person
• $50,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
• $25,000 in property damage liability

All drivers must also purchase the same coverage limits for uninsured motorist (UI) coverage, but underinsured motorist (UM) coverage is optional.

Penalties for driving without auto insurance in South Carolina

South Carolina takes its insurance requirements seriously. The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will ask you to provide proof of insurance within 20 business days after canceling your coverage — and you’ll lose your driver’s license, vehicle plate, and registration if you don’t follow through. It may also make you pay up to $400 in fines.

If you get a ticket for not having insurance, the penalties depend on who owns the car. The state will suspend your license for 30 days and fine you $100 if you’re driving someone else’s car without insurance. And if it’s your car, the DMV will suspend your license and registration until you pay a $600 fee. The DMV also requires you to file an SR-22 certificate for three years.

SR-22 auto insurance in South Carolina

An SR-22 is a form, not a type of auto insurance. You may need to file it if the state finds you guilty of driving without insurance or driving under the influence.

If you need an SR-22 in South Carolina, shop around and compare quotes from different insurance companies to find the best rates. You can also look into defensive driving courses for potential discounts and avoid any further violations to qualify for lower premiums over time.

How to Get Cheaper Car Insurance in South Carolina

The amount you can save on car insurance depends on factors like driving history, age, and location. But a few strategies can increase your chances of getting lower car insurance quotes.

Here are five tips on how to maximize savings from the experts at Compare.com:

• Maintain a good driving record: One of the most effective ways to get cheaper car insurance in South Carolina is by having a clean driving record. Avoiding accidents, traffic violations, and DUI convictions can help you qualify for lower premiums.
• Opt for higher deductibles: A higher deductible can help lower your car insurance premiums. You’ll take on more financial responsibility if you get into an accident, but insurance companies often reward you with lower rates.
• Bundle your policies: Consider bundling your car insurance with other insurance policies from the same company, such as homeowners or renters insurance. Many insurance companies offer discounts for bundling, which can lead to significant savings.
• Take advantage of discounts: Be sure to ask about any available discounts when shopping for car insurance in South Carolina. Common discounts include safe driver discounts, good student discounts, and discounts for installing anti-theft devices in your vehicle.
• Shop regularly and compare quotes: Car insurance rates can vary quite a bit between insurance companies. When you shop around and compare quotes, you can make sure you’re getting the best possible rate for your unique situation.

South Carolina Auto Insurance FAQs

If you want to know more about auto insurance in South Carolina, check out these answers to some of the most commonly asked insurance questions.

What’s the cheapest auto insurance company in South Carolina?

The cheapest auto insurance company in South Carolina is USAA, with an average monthly premium of $69, according to Compare.com data.

How much is car insurance in South Carolina per month?

The average monthly premium for car insurance in South Carolina is $223, according to Compare.com data. The average monthly cost for liability-only insurance is $170, and $275 for full-coverage insurance.

Why is car insurance so expensive in South Carolina?

South Carolina car insurance rates may be higher than average because the state requires drivers to have minimum insurance coverage that includes liability and uninsured motorist coverage. Some states don’t require uninsured motorist coverage, which could help explain why auto insurance in South Carolina is more expensive.

What’s a good car insurance company for someone in their early 20s in South Carolina?

State Farm offers some of the lowest rates to South Carolina drivers in their 20s. Young drivers pay an average rate of $92 per month when they choose State Farm, according to Compare.com data.

Data Methodology:

Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.

All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.

Sources:

1. J.D. Power, “2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study,” accessed July 7, 2024.
2. South Carolina Department of Insurance, “FAQs” Auto Insurance,” accessed July 5, 2024.
3. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Teen drivers,” accessed July 5, 2024.
4. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Older Adult Drivers,” accessed July 6, 2024.
5. Insurance Information Institute, “Senior driving safety and insurance tips,” as of July 5, 2024.
6. Insurance Information Institute, “What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?” accessed July 5, 2024.
7. South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Points System” accessed July 6, 2024.
8. South Carolina Department of Public Safety, “SC Laws Relative to Impaired Driving,” accessed July 6, 2024.
9. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “Older drivers,” accessed July 6, 2024.