Best car insurance in South Carolina for 2024

Our 2024 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories. 

Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, average quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto and home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.

South Carolina’s car insurance laws mandate that drivers carry a minimum amount of car insurance, which includes specific limits for bodily liability and property damage coverage. Additionally, drivers must carry uninsured motorist coverage, which offers financial protection for accidents that involve an at-fault driver who lacks coverage. Be aware that when you request car insurance quotes in the state, providers are required to show policies that meet the minimum required coverage. Insurance experts recommend that you purchase a policy that exceeds the mandated coverage in order to have more financial protection.

In addition to the state requirements for South Carolina car insurance, your lender may require you to carry full coverage insurance, which typically 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 better protect their finances in case of an accident.

Financial lenders usually require it so that drivers can pay off their lien if the vehicle is totaled. 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.

Car insurance is largely a calculation of risk; to put it generally, the more likely you are to file a claim with your insurer, the higher your premium will be. 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.

If it’s been a while since you reviewed your coverage, you might find that you no longer need certain endorsements or policy amounts. For instance, you could drop rideshare coverage if you no longer drive for Uber or Lyft. Maybe you had been paying for your teen driver’s coverage, but they’re now in college and don’t have their car. You might be able to get a considerable discount for having a student away at school. Consider reviewing your insurance needs frequently to ensure you’re not paying for coverage you don’t need.

The average rates for South Carolina auto insurance are $587 for state-mandated minimum liability coverage and $1,847 for full coverage, which also includes collision and comprehensive insurance. These are just averages; your exact rates are determined by highly personalized factors such as your location, age, driving history, credit-based insurance score, gender and more. When you request quotes from insurance providers, provide accurate and detailed information so your quote is as accurate as possible.

The cheapest car insurance company for you will likely depend on your individual characteristics, so you may want to get quotes from multiple providers. Your premium is based on personal rating factors that are unique to you and your vehicle, including your age, gender and driving record, as well as your car's age, make and model.

South Carolina takes driving without car insurance seriously. The state receives an automatic electronic notification from the DMV any time a driver cancels their insurance. If you’re caught driving without insurance in South Carolina, you might be subjected to hundreds of dollars in fines and fees or jail time. You may even have your license and registration suspended. If it’s a subsequent offense, the state might charge you with a criminal misdemeanor. Additionally, you might have to pay to file an SR-22 for a period of time.

Generally speaking, car insurance in South Carolina is pretty cheap. On average, South Carolina drivers pay 21 percent less than the national average for a full coverage policy. Minimum coverage policies are closer to the national average than full coverage ones, but are still 8 percent less. That said, what you pay for your car insurance coverage could be wildly different.

In South Carolina, age, gender, driving record, credit history and marital status can all impact your car insurance price. To find the best policy at the lowest cost, many insurance experts recommend shopping around before you purchase your policy. With a handful of quotes at the ready, you’ll have better insight into the type of deal you are getting.