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Best car insurance in South Carolina for 2023

Updated Mar 13, 2023
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If you’re looking for car insurance in the Palmetto State, Bankrate’s curated list of the best car insurance companies could help. Our insurance editorial team reviewed dozens of auto insurance carriers to help you find the best car insurance in South Carolina. Whether you’re looking for affordable premiums, optional coverage, highly rated customer service — or something else entirely — our picks for the best South Carolina car insurance may help narrow down your search.

Auto Insurance
Key takeaways
  • Car insurance in South Carolina costs an average of $1,464 per year for full coverage and $518 per year for minimum coverage.
  • Based on Bankrate’s analysis of the best South Carolina auto insurance companies, Geico, State Farm and Travelers offer some of the best car insurance in the state.
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How Bankrate chose the best car insurance companies in South Carolina

To help you find the best auto insurance in South Carolina, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team took a methodical approach. Part of the process was assigning each carrier a Bankrate Score that takes into account 2022 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services as well as available coverage types, discounts and third-party reviews. The scores are on a 5.0 scale. The higher the rating, the higher a company ranked in the individual rating categories.

Each of the best car insurance companies on our list earns a Bankrate Score of above 4.0, making them highly competitive in the market with key aspects that may impact policyholders’ experience. Additionally, although price is only one factor when choosing a company, each company offers full coverage policies with average premiums below the state average.

Best car insurance companies in South Carolina

Bankrate’s insurance editorial team researched the major insurance providers in South Carolina by market share to determine that Geico, State Farm and Travelers are among the best carriers in the state. To determine this ranking, we compared each carrier’s average rates against the state average in South Carolina, which is $1,464 per year for full coverage and $518 per year for minimum coverage.

We also reviewed third-party ratings from agencies like AM Best for financial strength and J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study for customer satisfaction in the Southeast region. If you’re looking for the best auto insurance in South Carolina, consider starting with these picks to see if one might be a good fit for your needs.

Geico
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
Bankrate Score
Info
J.D. Power score (Southeast)
843
/1,000
Average annual full coverage premium
$1,114
Average annual minimum coverage premium
$388
State Farm
Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2
Bankrate Score
Info
J.D. Power score (Southeast)
855
/1,000
Average annual full coverage premium
$1,249
Average annual minimum coverage premium
$467
Travelers
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
4.0
Bankrate Score
Info
J.D. Power score (Southeast)
839
/1,000
Average annual full coverage premium
$1,149
Average annual minimum coverage premium
$489
Auto-Owners
Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2
Bankrate Score
Info
J.D. Power score (Southeast)
871
/1,000
Average annual full coverage premium
$1,329
Average annual minimum coverage premium
$440
Allstate
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
3.8
Bankrate Score
Info
J.D. Power score (Southeast)
833
/1,000
Average annual full coverage premium
$1,865
Average annual minimum coverage premium
$408
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Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

Best for discount opportunities

Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4 Bankrate Score
JD Power: 843 AM Best: A++

Average annual premium

$ 1,114 for full coverage
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Geico may be a good choice for South Carolina drivers on a budget. You can estimate your payments and how much car insurance you can afford using the insurer’s coverage calculator. Geico also offers potential savings for insuring multiple vehicles, customer loyalty, good students and federal employees. However, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) records an overall complaint index of 1.26 for Geico compared to the industry average of 1.0, meaning the company receives more complaints than average.

Read full Geico Insurance review

Best for individualized service

Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2 Bankrate Score
JD Power: 855 AM Best: A++

Average annual premium

$ 1,249 for full coverage
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In addition to highly-rated online and mobile tools, State Farm has local agents in South Carolina who may be able to help you personalize your policy with one-on-one service. Although the company’s average premium is one of the highest on our list, the benefit of having agents across the state may make State Farm’s insurance policies a standout option for those who prefer developing trust with their insurance agent face-to-face. There are also several opportunities to save with generous discounts, including good student discounts, vehicle discounts and its Steer Clear telematics program.

Read full State Farm Insurance review

Best for budget coverage

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
4 Bankrate Score
JD Power: 839 AM Best: A++

Average annual premium

$ 1,149 for full coverage
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Travelers earned AM Best’s highest financial strength rating of A++, speaking to its historical ability to pay out claims. Travelers did receive a below-average score from J.D. Power in overall customer satisfaction, suggesting that existing policyholders may have complaints. Still, the carrier may be appealing to customers looking for numerous optional endorsements and an extensive list of potential discounts. You can add coverage options like gap insurance, rental car coverage and ridesharing coverage to personalize your policy. Policyholders may save with discounts for a hybrid or electric car and getting an early quote.

Read full Travelers Insurance review

Best for add-on coverage

Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2 Bankrate Score
JD Power: 871 AM Best: A++

Average annual premium

$ 1,329 for full coverage
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Auto-Owners is a regional insurance carrier available in South Carolina. It is the second-highest ranking insurer for customer satisfaction on our list. While the company is not available nationwide, it does rank highly across all the regions it serves, as shown through its above-average placement in the 2022 J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study. Along with high-quality localized coverage, the company offers unique endorsements such as purchase price guarantee to cover your vehicle at its value before depreciation and Auto-Owners’ optional coverage package, which includes more than 10 add-ons, including cell phone replacement.

Read full Auto-Owners Insurance review

Best for rewards

Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
3.8 Bankrate Score
JD Power: 833 AM Best: A+

Average annual premium

$ 1,865 for full coverage
Get a quote

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Allstate car insurance could be a great fit for drivers who want to earn extra rewards and bonuses based on their driving habits. These include Deductible Rewards, which reduces a policy’s collision deductible for every year of safe driving (up to $500) and even offers a Safe Driving Bonus for every six months without an accident. Drivers can also enroll in Drivewise, a telematics program where real-time driving behavior is tracked to earn even more discounts.The company does have a higher-than-average complaint index with the NAIC, though, which could indicate that customers don’t always have the best experience.

Read full Allstate Insurance review

Average car insurance cost in South Carolina

When it comes to car insurance, South Carolina drivers tend to pay less than the national average. While South Carolina drivers pay, on average, $1,464 annually for full coverage, the average cost of full coverage car insurance in the U.S. is $1,771 per year, according to Bankrate’s 2022 study of quoted annual premiums. Average minimum coverage premiums in South Carolina are also lower than the rest of the country. The national annual average for minimum coverage is $545, compared to $518 a year in South Carolina. This difference may be attributed, in part, to South Carolina's rural counties, which may experience a lower rate of incidents from congested traffic.

These rates are 2022 data from Quadrant Information Services and may be a helpful point of comparison during your car insurance search. However, your exact rates may vary based on the provider you choose and your personal characteristics.

Average annual premium for minimum coverage in South Carolina Average annual premium for full coverage in South Carolina
$518 $1,464

How to find the best car insurance in South Carolina

Every driver may have different insurance needs depending on their driving record, vehicle type and budget, meaning the process for finding the best car insurance in South Carolina may look different for each person. The following steps could be used as guidance during your insurance buying journey.

Consider minimum insurance requirements in South Carolina

South Carolina’s car insurance laws mandate that drivers meet minimum requirements for liability insurance. These limits include minimum coverage levels for bodily injury and property damage. Additionally, drivers must carry uninsured motorist coverage, which offers financial protection for accidents that involve an at-fault driver who lacks coverage. While underinsured motorist coverage must also be offered, it is not mandatory and may be declined in writing.

Consider lender requirements

In addition to the state requirements of liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverage, your lender may require you to have certain coverage types. Full coverage insurance consists of collision coverage and comprehensive coverage. Full coverage insurance is not required by law in South Carolina, although many motorists in the state may want to purchase it to protect their finances in case of an accident.

Lenders typically require collision coverage and comprehensive coverage to avoid a loss on the loan. Similarly, drivers may choose or be required to purchase gap insurance to cover the difference between the amount they owe and what their vehicle is worth, in the event that it is totaled or stolen and unrecoverable.

Consider your individual needs

Any aspects or behaviors that may be considered “risky” have the potential to affect insurance premiums. Some common high-risk insurance factors may include adding a teen driver to your policy or insuring someone with driving violations, such as a ticket or DUI. Each factor is weighed differently depending on the provider, but if any high-risk scenarios impact you, it may be a good idea to explore insurers that are known to provide coverage for these driving profiles.

For example, some insurers excel in their student discount offerings, while others may raise premiums for violations at a lower rate or have options like accident forgiveness. It may help to be aware of your driving record when comparing car insurance quotes.

Car insurance discounts in South Carolina

Auto insurance rates in South Carolina are generally lower than they are in the country as a whole, and you may be able to save additional money by utilizing discounts. Although every company offers different discounts, some common ones in South Carolina relate to driving habits and policy management. You may want to see if you qualify for the following discounts:

  • Young driver discounts: Drivers under 25 may qualify for several discounts, including good student discounts and distant student discounts.
  • Safe driver discounts: If you have never had an accident, received a ticket or filed a claim, you may get a discount. Other safe driving discounts may be offered for programs that track your driving habits, even if you don’t have a spotless driving record.
  • Other discounts: If you buy more than one type of policy from the same company, you might get a discount on both. Oftentimes, auto and home insurance policy bundles offer the most significant savings. You might also save if you opt to pay in full instead of monthly, or if you sign up for automatic withdrawals or paperless statements.

Auto insurance discounts are common, but each company has its own regulations and qualifications. Talking to a representative from your insurance company or reviewing discounts online could help you find which opportunities apply to you.

Frequently asked questions

Written by
June Sham
Insurance Writer

June Sham is a former insurance writer for Bankrate. Before joining the team, she worked for nearly three years as a licensed producer writing auto, property, umbrella and earthquake policies.

Edited by Insurance Editor
Reviewed by Assistant Vice President & Claims Field Manager