Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Insurance Disclosure

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 homeowners insurance in South Carolina for 2023

South Carolina homeowners might want to consider Allstate, Travelers, State Farm, Auto-Owners or Cincinnati Insurance for their home coverage needs.

Written by
Mary Van Keuren
Edited by
Maggie Kempken
Reviewed by
Mark Friedlander
Updated Apr 06, 2023
Bankrate logo

The Bankrate promise

At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of . Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our .

On This Page
Advertising Disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Mortgage

Compare home insurance rates

Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers.
Location-Icon
Your information is kept secure
Caret DownCaret Up
Caret DownCaret Up
Field is required
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Insurance Disclosure

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.

Quick Facts
Moneybag
$382/year
average savings through Bankrate
Two Thirds
2 out of 3 homes
are underinsured
Insurance Home
1 out of every 20
insured homes makes a claim each year
Circle Check
100% of homes
need insurance before getting a mortgage
See more providers in
Choose from insurers in
Mortgage

Leaving so soon? Your custom quotes are just minutes away.

Compare the best home insurance companies in South Carolina

Based on our research, which included an analysis of average rates from Quadrant Information Services and a number of other metrics, including customer satisfaction scores from the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Home Insurance Study, the best South Carolina homeowners insurance companies include State Farm, Auto-Owners and Allstate. While only two carriers on our list have average rates lower than the state average of $1,172  per year, the others offer a range of coverage options, digital tools and other policy features that make them stand out amid the competition.

If you’re looking for the best South Carolina home insurance, shopping around and comparing quotes from several carriers can be a helpful strategy, and you may want to start with these five companies.

Allstate
3.5
Bankrate Score
Info
AM Best
A+
J.D. Power score
Not rated
Average monthly premium
$75
Average annual premium
$901
 Get a quote
Travelers
3.3
Bankrate Score
Info
AM Best
A++
J.D. Power score
829
/1,000
Average monthly premium
$128
Average annual premium
$1,530
 Get a quote
State Farm
3.2
Bankrate Score
Info
AM Best
A++
J.D. Power score
Not rated
Average monthly premium
$117
Average annual premium
$1,405
 Read review
Auto-Owners
3.2
Bankrate Score
Info
AM Best
A++
J.D. Power score
Not rated
Average monthly premium
$97
Average annual premium
$1,164
 Get a quote
Cincinnati Insurance
AM Best
A+
J.D. Power score
Not rated
Average monthly premium
$107
Average annual premium
$1,280
 Get a quote
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Advertising Disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Insurance Disclosure

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.

The top five home insurance companies in South Carolina

Best for low average rates

3.5 Bankrate Score
JD Power: 815 AM Best: A+

Average annual premium

$ 927 for $250k dwelling
Allstate Review

Explore Bankrate's review

Why Allstate made our list: Allstate, the second-largest U.S. home insurer based on market share according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), may be a company worth considering for South Carolina homeowners who want to manage their policies online and learn more about insurance. Allstate also offers a variety of unique endorsements, including yard and garden coverage, sports equipment coverage, musical instruments coverage, green improvement reimbursement and more. Its J.D. Power customer satisfaction score, however, is below the industry average, as its score in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Property Claims Satisfaction Study.

Who Allstate may be good for: Allstate's average rate for South Carolina homeowners was the lowest by far of any of our chosen companies. It may be worth getting a quote to see if they are able to do the same for you.

Best for optional endorsements

3.3 Bankrate Score
JD Power: 794 AM Best: A++

Average annual premium

$ 1,404 for $250k dwelling
Travelers Review

Explore Bankrate's review

Why Travelers made our list: If you are looking for a home insurance policy with extensive options for add-ons, Travelers may be worth checking out. The company’s robust home insurance offering could also help you add important coverage like higher limits for valuable items and financial assistance for rebuilding with green materials after a covered loss. To get the most for your money, consider contacting one of Travelers’ nearly 700 independent insurance agencies in South Carolina to discuss which discounts you qualify for. Unfortunately, though, Travelers does have the lowest J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings among the companies we studied; its score is well below the industry average.

Who Travelers may be good for: If your circumstances require you to purchase a policy with customizations, consider Travelers’ policy options, which feature a more extensive add-on list than many insurers.

Best for customer satisfaction

3.2 Bankrate Score
JD Power: 829 AM Best: A++

Average annual premium

$ 1,474 for $250k dwelling
State Farm Review

Explore Bankrate's review

Why State Farm made our list: State Farm might be an ideal fit for homeowners who value customer service and want to work with a live person. State Farm has established local agents throughout South Carolina that can assist with not just homeowners insurance, but all types of insurance products that the company offers. Although it features an array of coverage options to personalize your home insurance policy, its discount options are more limited, potentially making it more difficult to save.

Who State Farm may be good for: If having good interactions with your insurance company is important to you, State Farm may be a good fit. The company's high ranking with J.D. Power indicates that it places a high value on customer satisfaction, and is willing to go the extra mile to ensure that policyholders are happy with their insurance.

Best for numerous discounts

3.2 Bankrate Score
JD Power: 825 AM Best: A++

Average annual premium

$ 1,187 for $250k dwelling
Auto-Owners Insurance Review

Explore Bankrate's review

Why Auto-Owners made our list: Contrary to what the name might suggest, Auto-Owners does not just sell auto insurance policies. The super-regional company also offers robust homeowners insurance coverage, with add-ons like guaranteed replacement cost coverage, equipment breakdown insurance and its exclusive Homeowners Plus package, which includes unique coverage like food spoilage if your power goes out due to a covered peril. You may even be able to save further with unique discounts like the advanced quote discount, automatic backup generator discount, mortgage-free discount and water shut-off system discount. However, its mobile app on Android and Apple devices received fewer stars compared to its competitors, and it may not be a good option for homeowners who want to manage their policies online.

Who Auto-Owners may be good for: If you're looking for robust coverage on a budget, Auto-Owner's low average rates and extensive potential discount list may appeal to you.

Best for high-value homes

JD Power: Not rated AM Best: A+

Average annual premium

$ 1,345 for $250k dwelling
Cincinnati Review

Explore Bankrate's review

Why Cincinnati made our list: Cincinnati may be a good option for South Carolina homeowners who own a high-value home. This company sells three tiers of homeowners insurance — Executive Homeowner, Executive Capstone and Executive Classic. The Executive Homeowner is for any home value, while the Executive Classic policy covers homes with a replacement cost value of $500,000 and above and the Executive Capstone policy covers homes with a replacement cost value of $1 million and above. Unfortunately, the company was not rated by J.D. Power for its customer service experience.

Who Cincinnati may be good for: South Carolina homeowners with high-value homes worth $500K or more might want to consider getting a quote from Cincinnati. The company has extensive experience insuring high-value homes and knows what these properties need to be adequately protected.

Advertising Disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Mortgage

Compare home insurance rates

Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers.
Location-Icon
Your information is kept secure
Caret DownCaret Up
Caret DownCaret Up
Field is required
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Insurance Disclosure

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.

Quick Facts
Moneybag
$382/year
average savings through Bankrate
Two Thirds
2 out of 3 homes
are underinsured
Insurance Home
1 out of every 20
insured homes makes a claim each year
Circle Check
100% of homes
need insurance before getting a mortgage
See more providers in
Choose from insurers in
Mortgage

Leaving so soon? Your custom quotes are just minutes away.

How Bankrate chose the best home insurance companies in South Carolina

Bankrate’s insurance experts chose the best homeowners insurance in South Carolina by using a series of key metrics. These included reviewing average home insurance premiums from Quadrant Information Services, as well as coverage options, discounts and mobile accessibility. We also considered third-party industry scores for customer service and financial strength ratings.

From there, the performance of home insurance companies in each of these categories was summed up in a Bankrate Score, which could help you get a fuller picture of a company and compare it with other carriers. The better a company did in each of these separate metrics, the higher its overall Bankrate Score for a maximum score of 5 out of 5.

How much is home insurance in South Carolina?

Homeowners in South Carolina pay an average of $1,172 annually for $250K of dwelling coverage. This is $256 less than the national average of $1,428—which is probably welcome news to homeowners in the state. It's also less than the averages paid by residents of neighboring states: Georgia homeowners, for example, pay an average of $1,394, while in North Carolina, residents average $1,294 for annual coverage.

One of the reasons for this may be lower construction costs in the state, which leads to a lower cost to rebuild. Coastal rates may be higher because of the increased risks of tropical cyclones, but those living inland may see lower rates.

Rates also vary, of course, depending on the amount of your coverage, as can be seen in the chart below:

Average annual premium by coverage level in South Carolina

Allstate
$150K
$605
$250K
$901
$350K
$1,247
$450K
$1,615
$750K
$2,806
Travelers
$150K
$992
$250K
$1,530
$350K
$2,080
$450K
$2,743
$750K
$5,084
State Farm
$150K
$989
$250K
$1,405
$350K
$1,730
$450K
$2,142
$750K
$3,342
Auto-Owners
$150K
$925
$250K
$1,164
$350K
$1,443
$450K
$1,751
$750K
$3,061
Cincinnati Insurance
$150K
$819
$250K
$1,280
$350K
$1,667
$450K
$2,110
$750K
$3,229
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Advertising Disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Insurance Disclosure

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.

In addition to the amount of coverage you purchase, where you live in South Carolina also has a large impact on your premium rate. Insurers will charge more for locations that are prone to natural disasters, for example, to cover themselves from the increased risk of claims. Although every homeowner's premium rate is unique to their own situation and property, there are locations where you are likely to pay less for insurance. The following cities all have average rates that are 10 percent less than the statewide average annual rate for $250K in dwelling coverage.

  • Clemson: $1,051 
  • Seneca: $1,051  
  • Campobello: $1,052  
  • Pacolet: $1052 
  • Pelzer: $1052

In some regions of South Carolina, it's likely you will pay more than the average for your homeowners insurance. Perhaps surprisingly, most of these are not coastal cities, but are instead located in the center of the state. The relatively high cost of insurance may be due to the fact that there are other natural disasters that occur in South Carolina, including wildfires, tornadoes and earthquakes. All of these locations feature average annual rates for $250K in dwelling coverage that are 15 percent above the state average.

  • Hilton Head Island: $1,345 
  • Cope: $1,344 per year
  • Nichols: $1,342 per year
  • Cordova: $1,341 per year
  • Rowesville: $1,341 per year

How to find the best cheap home insurance in South Carolina

Even if you don't have a mortgage, it's a good idea to have a homeowner policy in place to protect you financially in the event of a covered disaster. No homeowner wants to spend more than they have to for their homeowners insurance, which is why it's important to have a strategy in place when you are shopping for a new policy. A good way to get started is to consider taking these steps to find the best South Carolina homeowners insurance:

  1. Assess your home: Consider how much dwelling coverage you will need to rebuild if necessary (keeping in mind that replacement costs can be very different from your home’s market value). Consider also what you might need for liability coverage. Your insurer will need to know the details of your home, such as how old the roof is and how close you are to a fire station. 
  2. Review the websites of the companies that interest you. Are you able to find answers to your questions there? Are discounts and coverage options listed? 
  3. Learn more about how each company does business. If you prefer to do your business electronically, check and see if the company has a digital app. Make sure you can make payments, file claims and handle other common tasks online or via your smartphone. Or, if you prefer to do business face-to-face, see if the companies you’re interested in have local agents.
  4. Gather quotes. Many companies allow you to obtain a quote online; others want you to call an agent. Make sure you are asking for the exact same coverage from each company, so that you can make an apples-to-apples comparison. Also be sure to ask for any discounts you may qualify for to be applied. With your quotes in hand, as well as your knowledge of each company, you are ready to make a decision on the insurer that will offer you a combination of the best insurance at the cheapest price. 

Common home insurance discounts in South Carolina

Your best allies when it comes to finding the cheapest policy for your needs are discounts. Almost all insurers offer at least a few potential discounts and they can save you a significant amount of money on your premium if you qualify. Many of them are easily earned, as well. Here are a few common discounts in South Carolina:

Types of home insurance in South Carolina

When you get homeowners insurance quotes in South Carolina, you will notice that some common coverage types — like dwelling, personal property, liability and additional living expenses coverage — are typically included. And while a basic homeowners insurance policy may be the right fit for some, there are some optional coverage choices that you may want to consider if you own a home in South Carolina. These include:

  • Flood insurance: Flood damage is not covered by standard homeowners insurance policies, but it is an important coverage type to consider since flooding can have devastating financial consequences. Usually, you will need to buy a separate flood insurance policy through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private flood insurers, although a few companies offer flood coverage as an endorsement to your homeowners policy.
  • Earthquake coverage: Although earthquakes that cause significant damage are not common in South Carolina, one could happen at any time. Many home insurance companies offer earthquake coverage as an endorsement, or you may need to purchase a separate policy if you are in a particularly high-risk area.
  • Identity theft coverage: Many home insurance companies offer an endorsement for identity theft, which can help you pay for the costs associated with a stolen identity. This could include lawyer fees and credit monitoring expenses.

Discussing your unique situation with a licensed insurance agent might be a good idea. A local agent should be able to help guide you to choose appropriate coverage so that your homeowners policy fits both your budget and your insurance needs.

Frequently asked questions

Written by
Mary Van Keuren
Insurance Contributor

Mary Van Keuren has written for insurance domains such as Bankrate, Coverage.com, and The Simple Dollar for the past five years, specializing in home and auto insurance. She has also written extensively for consumer websites including Reviews.com and Slumber Yard. Prior to that, she worked as a writer in academia for several decades.

Edited by
Maggie Kempken
Insurance Senior Editor
Reviewed by
Mark Friedlander
Director of corporate communications, Insurance Information Institute