Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina (Best Rates in 2024)
Auto-Owners has the best cheap car insurance in South Carolina, at $117 a month for full coverage.
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Best cheap auto insurance in SC
How we chose the top companies
Best and cheapest car insurance in South Carolina
- Cheapest full coverage: Auto-Owners, $117/mo
- Cheapest minimum liability: Auto-Owners, $43/mo
- Cheapest for young drivers: Farm Bureau, $149/mo
- Cheapest after a ticket: Auto-Owners, $117/mo
- Cheapest after an accident: Auto-Owners, $158/mo
- Cheapest for teens after a ticket: Geico, $155/mo
- Cheapest after a DUI: Farm Bureau, $162/mo
- Cheapest for poor credit: Farm Bureau, $249/mo
Monthly rates based on full coverage car insurance for a 30-year-old man. Some rates use different ages or coverage limits.
Auto-Owners, Farm Bureau and State Farm all offer a good mix of affordable rates and reliable customer service in South Carolina.
State Farm offers online quotes, so it's the best choice if you're looking to compare rates and buy a policy quickly. To get a quote from Auto-Owners or Farm Bureau, you'll have to speak with a local insurance agent.
Best cheap car insurance in South Carolina: Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners has the best cheap full coverage insurance in SC.
Full coverage from Auto-Owners costs $117 per month, which is $34 cheaper than the statewide average.
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South Carolina drivers in the military can get even cheaper rates from USAA. Full coverage from USAA costs $96 per month, which is $21 per month cheaper than Auto-Owners.
However, only military members, veterans and their families can get car insurance from USAA.
Cheap full coverage auto insurance quotes in SC
Company | Monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $117 |
| Geico | $118 |
| Farm Bureau | $138 |
| State Farm | $140 |
| Travelers | $164 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Cheapest liability-only insurance in South Carolina: Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners has the most affordable quotes for liability only auto insurance in South Carolina.
At $43 per month, liability-only coverage from Auto-Owners is $24 per month cheaper than the state average. The average cost of liability car insurance in SC is $67 per month.
Cheapest car insurance quotes in SC
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $43 |
| Geico | $49 |
| State Farm | $62 |
| Progressive | $63 |
| Farm Bureau | $65 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
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Best cheap car insurance in SC for teens: Farm Bureau
Farm Bureau has the most affordable rates for young drivers in South Carolina.
A liability-only policy from Farm Bureau costs $149 per month, while full coverage costs $255 per month.
Farm Bureau also has some great discounts to help South Carolina students save money on car insurance. You can earn discounts for getting good grades, taking a safe driving course or enrolling in a safe driving program.
Most affordable South Carolina car insurance companies for teens
Company | Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Farm Bureau | $149 | $255 |
| Geico | $155 | $315 |
| Auto-Owners | $166 | $342 |
| State Farm | $202 | $393 |
| Travelers | $225 | $402 |
Teen drivers pay much more for car insurance than older adults. This is especially true if they don't share a policy with their parents. An 18-year-old driver in South Carolina can expect to pay more than three times what a 30-year-old driver pays for car insurance.
How to save on auto insurance
-
Share a policy with your parents. Teen drivers typically pay much less when they share a policy with their parents instead of buying their own insurance.
- Ask about discounts. Many insurance companies offer discounts for young drivers. Some of the most common savings for young drivers include discounts for installing anti-theft devices, getting good grades in school and being accident-free for a few years.
- Compare rates from multiple companies. There are dozens of companies in South Carolina that offer great prices and free auto insurance quotes. Get quotes from both large and small companies to ensure you're paying the best price.
Cheap car insurance in South Carolina after a ticket: Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners has the best rates in South Carolina for drivers with a speeding ticket, at $117 per month for full coverage. That's partially because Auto-Owners typically doesn’t raise rates after a single speeding ticket.
Geico, State Farm and Farm Bureau also have rates that are much cheaper than the state average, which is $178 per month.
Lowest-priced SC car insurance after a ticket
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $117 |
| Geico | $118 |
| State Farm | $148 |
| Farm Bureau | $151 |
| Travelers | $208 |
A speeding ticket usually increases your auto insurance rates in South Carolina by around 18%. That's an average $27 per month more.
If you can't afford your insurance after a ticket, you can try to lower your rates by raising your deductible or changing how you pay your bill.
Cheapest quotes after an accident in South Carolina: Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners has the best rates for South Carolina drivers who cause an accident. A full coverage policy from Auto-Owners costs $158 per month. That's $85 per month less than the statewide average of $243 per month.
Best prices for car insurance in SC after a crash
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $158 |
| Geico | $170 |
| Farm Bureau | $175 |
| Travelers | $222 |
| Progressive | $306 |
Car insurance after an accident will increase by an average of $92 per month. However, the amount your rates will go up depends on your insurance company.
You shouldn't switch insurance companies right after an accident.
Your current company typically won't raise your rates until your policy renewal. So, you should wait until your insurance is about to expire before making a change.
Cheap SC auto insurance for teens with a ticket or accident: Geico
Geico offers the cheapest liability-only rates for South Carolina teens with a bad driving record.
Geico's average rates are $155 a month for an 18-year-old with a speeding ticket and $173 after an at-fault accident.
Cheapest quotes for 18-year-olds after a ticket or accident
Company | Ticket | Accident |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $155 | $173 |
| Farm Bureau | $174 | $199 |
| Auto-Owners | $187 | $243 |
| State Farm | $219 | $252 |
| Travelers | $301 | $317 |
Young drivers in South Carolina can expect their auto insurance rates to go up by about 15% after a speeding ticket and 32% after an accident.
Cheapest SC car insurance after a DUI: Farm Bureau
Farm Bureau offers the most affordable rate for drivers with a DUI, at $162 per month for full coverage. That's $92 per month less than the state average. Progressive comes in second at $228 per month.
Cheapest car insurance after a DUI in South Carolina
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Farm Bureau | $162 |
| Progressive | $228 |
| Travelers | $235 |
| Auto-Owners | $236 |
| Allstate | $269 |
Driving under the influence (DUI) causes car insurance rates to increase more than any other common offense. Full coverage rates in South Carolina increase by over $100 per month after a DUI.
You'll also probably need to get SR-22 in SC after a DUI, which typically costs another $15 to $50.
Cheap insurance in SC for drivers with poor credit: Farm Bureau
Farm Bureau offers the best full coverage rates for South Carolina drivers with a low credit score. At $249 per month, a policy from Farm Bureau is $69 cheaper each month than the state average.
Best rates for car insurance in SC with bad credit
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Farm Bureau | $249 |
| Geico | $261 |
| Travelers | $282 |
| Nationwide | $283 |
| Allstate | $295 |
Your credit score doesn't have anything to do with your ability to drive a car, but it can impact your car insurance rates.
Auto insurance for South Carolina drivers with poor credit is more than twice as expensive as a policy for drivers with good credit. That's because drivers with lower credit scores are more likely to file insurance claims, according to insurance companies.
Top car insurance companies in South Carolina
USAA has the best customer service scores for car insurance in South Carolina.
It also has some of the cheapest rates in the state. However, USAA is only available to current and former members of the military and their families.
State Farm, Farm Bureau and Auto-Owners also get high praise from their customers. Farm Bureau and Auto-Owners both have very affordable rates for South Carolina drivers. State Farm is typically cheaper than average, but isn't usually the least expensive option.
Best South Carolina car insurance
Company |
Editor's rating
|
J.D. Power
|
A.M. Best
|
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 881 | A++ | |
| State Farm | 842 | A++ | |
| Farm Bureau | NR | A | |
| Auto-Owners | 837 | A++ | |
| Geico | 835 | A++ |
When you're shopping for car insurance, choosing a dependable insurance company is as important as finding the lowest rate.
Good customer service makes it easier and less stressful to get your life back to normal after something happens to your car.
Average car insurance cost in South Carolina by city
Salem, a town in upstate South Carolina, has the cheapest car insurance quotes in the state, at $125 per month.
Crocketville and Miley, two towns in Hampton County, have the highest rates in South Carolina, at $185 per month for full coverage.
Hampton County has high property crime rates, which means residents may be more likely to file a claim for a stolen car. That makes people living in Hampton County more expensive to insure.
Cost of car insurance near you
City | Monthly rate | % from average |
|---|---|---|
| Abbeville | $136 | -10% |
| Adams Run | $173 | 15% |
| Aiken | $133 | -12% |
| Alcolu | $159 | 6% |
| Allendale | $180 | 19% |
The cost of car insurance changes depending on where you live. Densely populated cities with higher crime rates or traffic tend to have some of the most expensive rates. Average full coverage auto quotes in South Carolina can vary by up to $60 per month, depending on where you live.
South Carolina auto insurance requirements
Minimum liability car insurance in SC includes 25/50/25 of bodily injury and property damage liability coverage.
Bodily injury liability pays for the other driver's injuries after an at-fault crash, and property damage liability pays to fix the other driver's car.
You must also have the same amount of uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage pays for your own property damage or injuries if you're in an accident with an uninsured driver or you're the victim of a hit-and-run.
- Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist property damage: $25,000 per accident
Full vs. minimum coverage car insurance in South Carolina
Minimum coverage car insurance policies only include the minimum amount of coverage required. That's 25/50/25 in South Carolina.
Full coverage auto insurance in South Carolina costs $151 per month, which is $84 per month more than a minimum coverage policy. However, full coverage quotes include comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability coverage.
- Collision coverage pays for damage to your own car after an at-fault car crash.
- Comprehensive coverage pays for damage beyond your control, such as hail or theft.
Drivers with minimum coverage have to pay for damage to their own car after an at-fault accident. That's why full coverage auto insurance is a better choice for most people. You'll need full coverage if you have a car loan or lease.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest car insurance in SC?
Auto-Owners has the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina, at $43 per month for liability-only coverage and $117 per month for full coverage. That's 36% and 23% cheaper than the state average, respectively.
How much is car insurance per month in South Carolina?
The average cost of car insurance in South Carolina is $67 per month for a minimum coverage policy. Full coverage costs an average of $151 per month.
Why is auto insurance so high in South Carolina?
Full coverage car insurance in South Carolina is 8% cheaper than the national average. And liability-only coverage is only 4% more expensive than average.
However, drivers who live near the coast or in areas with high crime rates may have more expensive quotes. That's because these drivers are more likely to make a claim due to weather damage, theft or vandalism.
How much is car insurance in Columbia?
The average cost of car insurance in Columbia is $157 per month for full coverage, which is 4% higher than the state average. That's cheaper than in Charleston, where the average price is $163 per month, but more expensive than Greenville's average cost of $146.
Methodology
To find the best cheap auto insurance in South Carolina, ValuePenguin collected thousands of quotes from ZIP codes across South Carolina from the state's largest insurance companies. Rates are for a 30-year-old man with a 2015 Honda Civic EX who has good credit.
Quotes are for full coverage with liability limits higher than the state minimums, along with comprehensive and collision coverages.
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person; $100,000 per accident
- Personal property liability: $25,000 per accident
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person; $100,000 per accident
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist property damage: $25,000 per accident
- Collision and comprehensive coverage: $500 deductible
Rate data is from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurance company filings and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your own quotes may differ.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.