Car Insurance in South Carolina: 2026 Rates, Cheapest Carriers & Coverage Requirements
The average South Carolina driver pays $167/month for full coverage. Compare real binding quotes from carriers writing in your ZIP — free, no obligation.
Updated May 21, 2026 · Methodology
| Coverage tier | Avg monthly | Avg annual | vs. national avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liability only | $70 | $840 | +6% over |
| Full coverage | $167 | $2,004 | ~ national avg |
| State minimum | $55 | $655 | Lowest legal |
| Full + rental/gap | $197 | $2,365 | — |
- Coverage tierLiability onlyAvg monthly$70Avg annual$840vs. national avg+6% over
- Coverage tierFull coverageAvg monthly$167Avg annual$2,004vs. national avg~ national avg
- Coverage tierState minimumAvg monthly$55Avg annual$655vs. national avgLowest legal
- Coverage tierFull + rental/gapAvg monthly$197Avg annual$2,365vs. national avg—
The average South Carolina driver pays roughly $167/month for full-coverage car insurance and $70/month for the state-minimum liability-only policy. Annual full-coverage averages $2,004 — that’s the median across our 2026 shopper sample, meaning half of South Carolinadrivers pay more, half pay less. Where you land depends on your ZIP, vehicle, driving record, credit-based insurance score (where allowed), and how much continuous coverage you’ve maintained.
South Carolina is one of the few states where carriers must offer optional under-insured motorist coverage at the same limits as your liability.
- Minimum required liability: 25/50/25 (tort state — at-fault driver pays).
- Cheapest carrier for most South Carolina drivers: State Farm (in our 2026 shopper sample).
- Charleston drivers pay roughly 18% above the South Carolina state average due to urban claim density.
See South Carolina quotes
Real binding-grade rates from carriers writing in South Carolina. 2-minute comparison.
South Carolina’s minimum car insurance requirements
To drive legally in South Carolina, you must carry at minimum 25/50/25 liability coverage — meaning $25K bodily-injury per person, $50K per accident, and $25K property-damage liability.
State minimums are almost always too low for real-world claims — a serious accident can produce six-figure medical bills, and you’d be personally on the hook for anything above your coverage. We recommend at least 100/300/100 for nearly every South Carolina driver, paired with uninsured-motorist coverage at the same limits.
Penalties for driving uninsured in South Carolina
- First offense: fines typically $200–$500, license suspension for 30–90 days.
- Subsequent offenses: fines up to $1,000, license suspension up to 1 year, vehicle impoundment.
- SR-22 filing required for 3 years after reinstatement — doubles or triples your rate.
| Carrier | Sample monthly rate | Best for in South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| $130/mo | Cheapest overall — strong network in major cities |
| $147/mo | Bundling auto + home — aggressive multi-policy discount |
| $160/mo | Drivers with recent incidents — flexible underwriting |
- CarrierSample monthly rate$130/moBest for in South CarolinaCheapest overall — strong network in major cities
- CarrierSample monthly rate$147/moBest for in South CarolinaBundling auto + home — aggressive multi-policy discount
- CarrierSample monthly rate$160/moBest for in South CarolinaDrivers with recent incidents — flexible underwriting
South Carolina car insurance rates by city
Your ZIP code is the largest within-state rating factor. Below is how the major South Carolina metros compare against the state median.
| City | Avg monthly | vs. state average | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $197/mo | +18% | Highest claim density, theft and uninsured-motorist rates |
| Columbia | $187/mo | +12% | Urban density + commute mileage |
| Greenville | $179/mo | +7% | Mid-tier metro — moderate claim frequency |
| Myrtle Beach | $164/mo | ~ state avg | Smaller metro — lower claim frequency |
| Rock Hill | $154/mo | -8% | Suburban / outer ring — lowest density |
- CityCharlestonAvg monthly$197/movs. state average+18%WhyHighest claim density, theft and uninsured-motorist rates
- CityColumbiaAvg monthly$187/movs. state average+12%WhyUrban density + commute mileage
- CityGreenvilleAvg monthly$179/movs. state average+7%WhyMid-tier metro — moderate claim frequency
- CityMyrtle BeachAvg monthly$164/movs. state average~ state avgWhySmaller metro — lower claim frequency
- CityRock HillAvg monthly$154/movs. state average-8%WhySuburban / outer ring — lowest density
How to lower your South Carolina car insurance premium
- Bundle a home or renters policy — multi-policy discount averages 18–24% off the auto side. Highest-impact single move.
- Raise your deductible from $500 to $1,000 — typically cuts full-coverage premium 10–15% if you have an emergency fund to cover the higher out-of-pocket.
- Opt into telematics — Snapshot, Drivewise, RightTrack, Steer Clear. Safe South Carolina drivers see 10–25% off after the 90-day monitoring window.
- Pay in full — skip the $4–$8/month installment fees and earn a small pay-in-full discount.
- Stack the small discounts — paperless, auto-pay, defensive driver course, affinity (employer/AAA/AARP), homeowner, multi-vehicle. Most aren’t auto-applied.
| Driver profile | Avg monthly | vs. clean baseline |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record (30+ yrs) | $167 | baseline |
| One speeding ticket | $202/mo | +21% |
| One at-fault accident | $237/mo | +42% |
| DUI on record | $404/mo | +142% |
| Teen driver (under 20) | $384/mo | +130% |
| Senior (65+) AARP | $154/mo | −8% |
| Recent coverage gap (30+d) | $209/mo | +25% |
- Driver profileClean record (30+ yrs)Avg monthly$167vs. clean baselinebaseline
- Driver profileOne speeding ticketAvg monthly$202/movs. clean baseline+21%
- Driver profileOne at-fault accidentAvg monthly$237/movs. clean baseline+42%
- Driver profileDUI on recordAvg monthly$404/movs. clean baseline+142%
- Driver profileTeen driver (under 20)Avg monthly$384/movs. clean baseline+130%
- Driver profileSenior (65+) AARPAvg monthly$154/movs. clean baseline−8%
- Driver profileRecent coverage gap (30+d)Avg monthly$209/movs. clean baseline+25%
Get your South Carolina rate
Apples-to-apples binding quotes from carriers writing in South Carolina.
How to compare car insurance in South Carolina
- 1Enter ZIP
One field. Your South Carolina ZIP determines which carriers quote you.
- 2Coverage tier
State minimum or full coverage — we recommend at least 100/300/100.
- 3Profile detail
Driver, vehicle, brief record history. ~2 minutes.
- 4Side-by-side
Binding quotes from carriers writing in South Carolina, sorted by price.
- 5Bind on the spot
Switch the same day or talk to a U.S. licensed agent.
South Carolina car insurance FAQs
What's the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina?
Is car insurance required in South Carolina?
Why is my South Carolina car insurance rate so high?
How often should I compare South Carolina car insurance quotes?
Does my credit score affect my South Carolina car insurance rate?
Should I file a small claim or pay out of pocket in South Carolina?
Sources
- South Carolina Department of Insurance — Auto Insurance Resources
- NAIC — Consumer Complaint Database
- Insurance Information Institute — Auto Insurance Topics
Methodology
South Carolina state averages are computed from shopper-submitted binding quotes processed through Insurances Quote between January 2024 and May 2026, normalized to a 35-year-old driver with a clean three-year record, a mid-size sedan, and $500 deductibles on full coverage. We blend our sample with publicly filed rate data from the South Carolina Department of Insurance where our state-level sample is thin.
City-level rates use a fixed multiplier model rather than ZIP-level granularity. Real ZIP-specific rates can vary another 10–20% from the city median, especially in dense urban ZIPs vs. surrounding suburbs.
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Advertiser Disclosure
Insurances Quote is an independent insurance marketplace. We are paid by carriers when shoppers switch to a policy we’ve helped match — never by the shopper. We don’t resell your lead data to third-party buyers, and the carrier rankings on this page reflect our composite quality score (35% claims, 30% price, 20% service, 15% digital tools), not paid placement.