Car Insurance in South Carolina
South Carolina drivers spend an average of $1,367 a year on auto insurance according to the NAIC — ▲ +7% versus the national average of $1,282, ranking 15th most expensive of 51. The state requires 25/50/25 liability coverage and follows an at-fault system.
Average car insurance cost in South Carolina
The NAIC average expenditure is what insured drivers actually paid on average, including people who carry only liability. For those who buy each coverage, the average premium was $879 for liability, $386 for collision and $251 for comprehensive ($1,517 combined, versus $1,439 nationally). That average expenditure is 13% higher than the NAIC's previous data year ($1,205).
Minimum car insurance requirements in South Carolina
South Carolina's minimum is written as 25/50/25: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $25,000 in property damage liability. Those limits are low compared with the cost of a serious injury claim, so many drivers choose 100/300/100 — we estimate that "standard" level at about $1,065 a year here, $330 more than the minimum.
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Yes | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident | Injuries you cause to other people |
| Property damage liability | Yes | $25,000 | Damage you cause to other vehicles and property |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | No | — South Carolina does not require personal injury protection. | Your own medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Yes | 25/50/25 Uninsured motorist coverage equal to the minimum liability limits (25/50/25) is required, typically with a $200 deductible for property damage. | Your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | No | — Insurers must offer underinsured motorist coverage, but buying it is optional. | The gap when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | No | — Medical payments coverage is optional. | Medical bills for you and your passengers |
There is no grace period for auto insurance premium payments.
Compare with another state
Is South Carolina a no-fault state?
No — South Carolina is an at-fault (tort) state. South Carolina uses a tort (at-fault) system: the driver responsible for a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other party's injuries and property damage. Injured people can claim against the at-fault driver's insurer, use their own coverage, or sue.
Uninsured drivers in South Carolina
The Insurance Research Council estimates 10.3% of South Carolina drivers are uninsured — 39th highest in the country, compared with 15.4% nationally. That's roughly one uninsured driver in every 10 on the road. South Carolina requires uninsured motorist coverage, which pays your injury costs when the at-fault driver has no insurance.
SR-22 requirements in South Carolina
South Carolina uses the SR-22 — a certificate your insurer files with the state to prove you carry at least the minimum liability coverage. It is usually ordered after a DUI, driving uninsured, serious violations or a license suspension, and is typically kept for about 3 years. SCDMV may require a suspended driver's insurer to file an SR-22 certificate of insurance before reinstatement.
By our model, a driver in their 30s with a DUI would pay about $1,380 a year for minimum coverage in South Carolina, versus $735 with a clean record. What is SR-22 insurance?
Estimate your premium in South Carolina
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Car insurance by city in South Carolina
We cover 13 South Carolina cities. Estimates are for full coverage for a driver in their 30s with a clean record; hover a city to find it on the map. The lowest estimate is in Columbia ($1,700) and the highest in Summerville ($1,990).
- CharlestonPop. 157,665 · Charleston County$1,830+8% vs state
- ColumbiaPop. 144,788 · Richland County$1,7000% vs state
- North CharlestonPop. 126,005 · Charleston County$1,850+9% vs state
- Mount PleasantPop. 95,604 · Charleston County$1,875+10% vs state
- Rock HillPop. 75,798 · York County$1,865+10% vs state
- GreenvillePop. 74,371 · Greenville County$1,805+6% vs state
- SummervillePop. 52,625 · Dorchester County$1,990+17% vs state
- Goose CreekPop. 50,352 · Berkeley County$1,850+9% vs state
- FlorencePop. 40,923 · Florence County$1,750+3% vs state
- Myrtle BeachPop. 40,535 · Horry County$1,745+3% vs state
- SpartanburgPop. 39,606 · Spartanburg County$1,800+6% vs state
- AndersonPop. 30,937 · Anderson County$1,830+8% vs state
- LancasterPop. 9,396 · Lancaster County$1,855+9% vs state
Estimated cost by driver profile in South Carolina
Age and driving record move premiums more than almost anything else. A teen on their own policy pays about 2.8× what a driver in their 30s pays for the same full coverage in South Carolina.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $2,015 | $2,920 | $4,675 | $390 |
| Young adult (22) | $1,175 | $1,700 | $2,720 | $227 |
| Adult in their 30s | $735 | $1,065 | $1,700 | $142 |
| Adult in their 50s | $675 | $980 | $1,565 | $130 |
| Senior (72) | $820 | $1,190 | $1,905 | $159 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $1,065 | $1,540 | $2,465 | $205 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $1,355 | $1,965 | $3,145 | $262 |
By coverage level
| Coverage level | What it includes | Per year | Per month | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State minimum liability | Only the liability (and PIP/UM where required) limits your state mandates. No coverage for your own car. | $735 | $61 | $600–$865 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $1,065 | $89 | $870–$1,255 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $1,700 | $142 | $1,395–$2,005 |
Cheapest and most expensive cars to insure in South Carolina
Full-coverage estimates for current models, using HLDI insurance-loss data where available. Vehicle choice alone can swing the premium by more than $3,080 a year here.
| Model | Segment | Est. / year |
|---|---|---|
| GMC Acadia | Midsize SUV | $1,090 |
| Chevrolet Traverse | Midsize SUV | $1,120 |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $1,245 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | Small SUV | $1,265 |
| Honda Pilot | Midsize SUV | $1,270 |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $1,275 |
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $1,295 |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $1,300 |
| Acura RDX | Luxury SUV | $1,335 |
| Volvo XC60 | Luxury SUV | $1,345 |
| Model | Segment | Est. / year |
|---|---|---|
| BMW M4 | Luxury sports car | $4,170 |
| BMW M3 | Luxury car | $4,050 |
| Lamborghini Urus | Luxury SUV | $3,935 |
| BMW 7 Series | Luxury car | $3,705 |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class | Luxury car | $3,090 |
| Lucid Air | Luxury car | $2,775 |
| Mercedes-Benz G-Class | Luxury SUV | $2,625 |
| Audi RS 7 | Luxury car | $2,545 |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia | Luxury car | $2,425 |
| BMW X6 | Luxury SUV | $2,370 |
Cheap car insurance in South Carolina: how to lower your rate
- Raise your deductible. Going from $500 to $1,000 on collision and comprehensive saves about $90 a year on a typical South Carolina full-coverage policy.
- Match coverage to your car's value. On a 10-year-old car, dropping collision and comprehensive could cut the bill from about $1,415 to $1,065.
- Drive less, pay less. Low-mileage and usage-based programs can save around $120 a year if you drive under 7,500 miles.
- Protect your record. A single speeding ticket adds roughly $375 a year in our model; an at-fault accident adds much more.
- Shop at renewal. Rates for the same driver differ widely between insurers. Compare identical limits and deductibles.
- Ask about discounts — bundling home and auto, good student, safe-driver, paid-in-full and defensive-driving course discounts. See common discounts.
Complaints and help: South Carolina Department of Insurance
The South Carolina Department of Insurance licenses insurers and agents, reviews rates and handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and billing — free of charge.
- Website
- doi.sc.gov
- File a complaint
- Consumer complaint page
- Consumer helpline
- 1-800-768-3467
South Carolina vs. neighboring states
| State | NAIC avg. | Minimums | System | Uninsured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $1,367 | 25/50/25 | At-fault (tort) | 10.3% |
| Georgia | $1,555 | 25/50/25 | At-fault (tort) | 19.0% |
| North Carolina | $925 | 50/100/50 | At-fault (tort) | 11.8% |
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in South Carolina?
NAIC data puts the average South Carolina auto insurance expenditure at $1,367 a year, 7% more than the national average of $1,282 (rank 15 of 51, where 1 is the most expensive). Our estimate for full coverage for a driver in their 30s with a clean record is about $1,700 a year ($142 a month); state-minimum liability is about $735.
What is the minimum car insurance required in South Carolina?
South Carolina requires at least 25/50/25 liability coverage: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage, plus uninsured motorist coverage.
Is South Carolina a no-fault state?
No. South Carolina uses a tort (at-fault) system: the driver responsible for a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other party's injuries and property damage.
How many drivers in South Carolina are uninsured?
The Insurance Research Council estimates that about 10.3% of South Carolina drivers are uninsured, ranking 39th in the nation (national estimate: 15.4%).
Does South Carolina require SR-22 insurance?
Yes, South Carolina uses the SR-22 certificate for drivers who must prove financial responsibility, typically for about 3 years. SCDMV may require a suspended driver's insurer to file an SR-22 certificate of insurance before reinstatement.
Which South Carolina city has the cheapest car insurance?
Among the 13 cities we cover, Columbia has the lowest full-coverage estimate at about $1,700 a year, while Summerville is the highest at about $1,990. Differences come from population density, commute length and local weather risk.
How much does car insurance cost for a teen driver in South Carolina?
An 18-year-old on their own full-coverage policy would pay roughly $4,675 a year in South Carolina by our estimate, or about $2,015 for minimum coverage. Joining a parent's policy usually costs less.
How do I file a complaint against a car insurance company in South Carolina?
Contact the South Carolina Department of Insurance (consumer line 1-800-768-3467). It handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and rates at no cost.
How we estimate this
We start from the state's average liability, collision and comprehensive premiums published by the NAIC, then apply a location factor (population density and commute time from the Census ACS, weather hazard scores from FEMA's National Risk Index), a vehicle factor (HLDI insurance-loss data where available, otherwise vehicle segment), and a driver-profile multiplier. Results are rounded ranges for comparison, not quotes. Read the full methodology.
- South Carolina Department of Insurance: Automobile Insurance
- South Carolina Department of Insurance: FAQs - Auto Insurance
- SCDMV: Driver Suspension Eligibility Week information (SR-22)
- South Carolina Code Title 38 Chapter 77 (automobile insurance)
- NAIC 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report
- NAIC Homeowners Insurance Report: Data for 2023
- Insurance Research Council uninsured motorist estimates (via Triple-I)
- IIHS Fatality Facts: state by state
- FBI Crime Data Explorer: Crime in the United States 2025 (Table 4)
- NICB 2022 Vehicle Theft Data: top 10 stolen vehicles by state
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table DL-1C (licensed drivers)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table MV-1 (registrations)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-2 (vehicle-miles traveled)
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau: population estimates and American Community Survey
- FEMA National Risk Index