Average cost of car insurance in South Carolina for 2024

How much is car insurance in South Carolina? 

In South Carolina, car insurance costs an average of $524 annually for minimum coverage and $1,532 for full coverage. These rates are notably lower than the average cost of car insurance in the U.S., which stands at $622 per year for minimum coverage and $2,014 for full coverage. Bankrate, leveraging its insurance expertise, has analyzed data sourced from Quadrant Information Services to provide these insights. It's important to recognize that individual car insurance costs can vary widely, though. Factors such as your ZIP code, age, driving history, the type of vehicle you own and the specific coverage and limits you select play a pivotal role in determining your insurance premium.

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South Carolina car insurance rates by city

South Carolina car insurance rates vary by city, too. Urban areas tend to have higher average rates since more vehicles on the road means a higher chance of getting into an accident. Additionally, the cost of living — and thus the cost of claims — tends to be higher in more populated cities.

Average car insurance costs by age and gender in South Carolina

Age also plays a role in car insurance rates in SC, with younger, less experienced drivers paying the most. Drivers in their 50s and 60s pay the least per year, on average. Gender matters, too. Males tend to pay higher premiums than females due to their increased statistical likelihood of getting into an accident.

The table below shows the average costs for male and female drivers across a range of ages. Note that 16-year-old driver rates reflect adding a teen driver to their married parents’ policy since minors can’t enter into binding contracts.

Cost considerations for young drivers in South Carolina

If you’re under the age of 18, you’re not legally an adult and can’t buy your own car insurance in most cases. You’ll likely have to be added to your parents’ or guardians’ policy. Older teens and young adults can buy their own policy, but if they’re still members of their parents’ households, it usually makes more financial sense to stay on the family policy (if able). Doing so generally results in a cheaper car insurance premium than if the young driver were to buy their own coverage. For example, 18-year-olds pay nearly $2,000 more on their own policy versus remaining on their parents’ policy.

How does driving record impact the cost of car insurance in South Carolina?

Car insurance rates in South Carolina by credit score

South Carolina car insurance rates by vehicle type

Estimate your car insurance cost in South Carolina

Understanding the potential cost of car insurance in South Carolina can be challenging given the variety of influencing factors. To simplify this process, Bankrate offers a convenient calculator tool. By providing some fundamental details, you'll receive an estimated insurance premium. While it's not a precise quote, it can serve as a valuable reference to aid in your financial planning.

How to save on car insurance in South Carolina

When shopping for car insurance in South Carolina, there are a few ways you may be able to save on costs. Finding affordable auto insurance rates may be harder if you have a ticket, accident or DUI on your record, but using these tips may help you get cheaper coverage:

• Do an annual review: If you have not reviewed your car insurance policy within the last year, you could be leaving valuable savings on the table. Review your policy with your insurance agent to make sure your coverage still fits your needs and budget.
• Get multiple quotes: If you do not want to change coverage but want more affordable car insurance rates, shopping around for quotes and switching carriers may be the way to go. Compare the same coverage types and limits to know which car insurance company offers the best rates for the coverage you need.
• Increase one or both of your deductibles: Full coverage car insurance has two deductibles: one for comprehensive and one for collision. The higher your deductibles are, the lower your car insurance rate will likely be — but that does not mean it is the best option for everyone. If you choose to go with a higher deductible, make sure you can pay the full amount out of pocket in case you have to file a claim.
• Know rates before you buy a car: One mistake people can make when purchasing a new (or new-to-them) car is focusing only on the monthly car loan payment and not factoring in the cost of car insurance. When shopping for cars, get quotes to compare different makes and models to determine what you can truly afford.
• Take advantage of discounts: Most car insurance discounts are stackable so the savings can really add up if you qualify for several. By bundling auto and home, allowing the insurance company to track your driving habits with a telematics program or paying your premium up front and in full, you may be able to reduce your car insurance rates.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2023 rates for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2021 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

Credit-based insurance scores: Rates were calculated based on the following insurance credit tiers assigned to our drivers: “poor, average, good (base) and excellent.” Insurance credit tiers factor in your official credit scores but are not dependent on that variable alone. Four states prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan.

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket and single DUI conviction.

Model: To determine cost by vehicle type, we evaluated our base profile with the following vehicles applied: BMW 330i, Ford F-150, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Prius and Toyota Camry (base).

Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 16-70 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state regulations.

Gender: The following states do not use gender as a determining factor in calculating premiums: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.

Teens: Rates were determined by adding a 16- or 17-year-old teen to their 40-year-old married parents' policy. The rates displayed reflect the total cost of a driver this age added to their parents’ policy unless otherwise noted.