The Best Cheap Renters Insurance in South Carolina (2024)
Progressive has the cheapest renters insurance in South Carolina, at $15 per month.
But South Carolina renters shouldn't buy a policy based on price alone.
State Farm offers renters insurance for around $17 per month in South Carolina. And it has much better customer reviews than Progressive.
Compare Cheap Renters Insurance Options in South Carolina
Best Cheap Renters Insurance in SC
To help you find the best cheap renters insurance in SC, our editors rated companies based on cost, coverage availability, customer service reviews and the overall value they provide customers. ValuePenguin collected 120 quotes from five of the largest insurance companies across the state to find the cheapest rates in SC.
Cheapest renters insurance in South Carolina
Progressive has the cheapest quotes for renters insurance in South Carolina.
On average, a policy from Progressive costs $15 per month, which is $6 per month less than the statewide average.
State Farm also offers very affordable renters insurance in South Carolina, at $17 per month.
Compare Cheap Renters Insurance Options in South Carolina
Cheapest renters insurance companies in South Carolina
Company | Monthly cost | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $15 | |
| State Farm | $17 | |
| Amica | $21 | |
| Allstate | $21 | |
| Assurant | $28 | |
How much is renters insurance in SC?
The average cost of renters insurance in South Carolina is $21 per month.
That's much cheaper than renters insurance in nearby Georgia, where a policy costs $34 per month. But it's more expensive than North Carolina, where coverage costs $17 per month.
Best renters insurance in South Carolina for most people: State Farm
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Editor's rating
- Cost: $17/mo
State Farm offers the best mix of affordable rates and dependable customer service for South Carolina renters.
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Cheap quotes
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Dependable customer service
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Fast online quotes and claims
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Few discounts
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Not available in many coastal areas
State Farm is one of the cheapest renters insurance companies in South Carolina. The average cost is $17 per month, which is $4 per month cheaper than the statewide average.
South Carolina renters don't have to choose between good customer service and affordable rates with State Farm.
The company has an above-average score on J.D. Power's customer satisfaction survey. State Farm also gets an average number of customer complaints for its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). That means you can count on State Farm to get your life back to normal quickly after an emergency.
One downside of choosing State Farm is that it doesn't offer many discounts to help lower your insurance bill. You can only save by bundling your renters and auto insurance or installing a fire, smoke or burglar alarm system.
Renters living on the South Carolina coast may not be able to get renters insurance from State Farm. If you live in a coastal city like Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Mount Pleasant or Beaufort, you should consider Amica or Allstate instead.
Cheapest renters insurance in SC: Progressive
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Editor's rating
- Cost: $15/mo
Progressive has the cheapest renters insurance rates in SC.
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Cheap quotes
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Lots of discounts
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Poor customer service
At $15 per month, renters insurance from Progressive is $6 per month cheaper than the statewide average.
Progressive also has some discounts that are very easy to earn. You can save by:
- Getting a quote three days before your current policy expires
- Paying your annual bill in full
- Getting your bills and policy documents via email
Renters can also save by bundling their car and renters insurance with Progressive or living in a gated community.
One major downside to choosing Progressive is its poor customer service reviews.
Progressive has the lowest score on J.D. Power's customer satisfaction survey. It also gets 43% more complaints than an average company its size, according to the NAIC.
Most customer complaints are about Progressive's long claims process. Some people were also unhappy with the amount Progressive offered for repairs. That means you could end up waiting longer and paying more money to replace your stuff after a disaster.
Best SC renters insurance for coastal homes: Amica
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Editor's rating
- Cost: $21/mo
Amica offers excellent customer service and flood insurance to coastal renters in SC.
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Offers coverage to coastal homes
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Flood insurance available
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Exceptional customer service
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Lots of discounts
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Not the cheapest option
Renters living along the South Carolina coast may have a hard time finding insurance. Amica typically offers coverage in coastal cities like Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Hilton Head and Bluffton.
Amica also sells flood insurance to SC renters.
Flood insurance is very important for renters along the South Carolina coast. That's because it's the only way to protect your stuff against flooding caused by tropical storms and hurricanes.
In addition, Amica has an excellent customer service reputation. The company only gets one-third as many complaints as an average company its size, according to the It also earned the top score on J.D. Power's property claims satisfaction survey. That means renters can depend on Amica to replace their stuff quickly after an emergency.
At $21 per month, Amica's renters insurance rates are average. However, it offers a number of ways for renters to lower their insurance bill. Amica's discounts include:
- Automatic payment discount
- Bundle discount
- Claim free discount
- Loyalty discount
- Paperless discount
South Carolina renters insurance quotes by city
Hilton Head Island, a barrier island along the state's southern coast, has the most expensive renters insurance among South Carolina's major cities.
The average cost of renters insurance in Hilton Head island is $29 per month, which is $7 per month more than the state average. This is likely because Hilton Head homes are prone to damage from tropical storms and hurricanes.
Easley, a small city outside of Greenville in northern South Carolina, has the cheapest rates in the state. Renters insurance in Easley costs around $19 per month.
Average cost of renters insurance in SC by city
City | Monthly rate | % from average |
|---|---|---|
| Aiken | $20 | -5% |
| Anderson | $22 | 3% |
| Bluffton | $24 | 15% |
| Charleston | $22 | 6% |
| Columbia | $23 | 9% |
Average renters insurance rates in South Carolina vary by $9 per month based on where you live. Rates are typically higher for renters living on the coast due to extreme weather.
For example, renters insurance rates in Myrtle Beach are 17% more expensive than the statewide average. Renters in Bluffton and Mount Pleasant pay 15% and 13% more than average, respectively.
How to find the best renters insurance in South Carolina
The best renters insurance companies offer great customer service and useful coverage at an affordable rate.
To find the best renters insurance for you, start by figuring out how much coverage you need. Then, you can shop around for quotes and compare customer service ratings.
Figure out how much coverage you need. Most renters insurance comes with the same basic coverage, which includes protection for your belongings and personal liability insurance. You should start by making a home inventory list to decide how much personal property you have.
However, some renters need extra protection. Many parts of South Carolina are prone to flooding, so renters should consider getting flood insurance. Some renters insurance companies sell flood insurance as a separate policy, including Amica and Allstate.
Having both renters and flood insurance with the same company could make your life much easier if your stuff is damaged by a hurricane.
That's because you won't have to file a claim with one company for flood damage and another company for wind, lightning or hail damage.
Compare rates from multiple companies. There's a difference of $13 per month between the most and least expensive renters insurance companies in South Carolina. So you could save $156 per year by shopping around for the best rate.
In addition, all insurance companies calculate rates differently using factors like your age, location and insurance history. For that reason, the cheapest company for your friends, family or neighbors may not be the best option for you.
Compare customer service ratings. It's important to choose a company you can count on to take care of you in an emergency situation.
Companies with great service do this by having a fast and fair claims process. If you choose a company with poor service ratings, it may take longer to replace your stuff after damage.
You can start by comparing ValuePenguin editor's ratings, which consider customer service reviews, coverage availability and cost. If you'd like to do more research, look up J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index.
What renters insurance coverage do I need in South Carolina?
It's very important for South Carolina renters to have protection against hurricane and tropical storm damage. These storms regularly affect both coastal and inland towns across the state.
Does SC renters insurance cover hurricanes?
Renters insurance protects against some, but not all, types of hurricane damage.
Most renters insurance policies cover wind, hail and lightning damage. However, renters insurance doesn't protect against flood waters.
You may have to pay a separate deductible if a named storm damages your stuff. This is called a hurricane deductible, and it's typically higher than your regular deductible.
Does renters insurance cover flooding in South Carolina?
Renter's insurance doesn't cover weather-related flood damage.
Buying a separate flood insurance policy is the only way to protect your stuff against rain, storm surge, flash floods, rising lakes or rivers.
It's important for South Carolina renters to know whether the homes they rent have a history of flooding.
Tropical storms, hurricanes and heavy rains can cause flood damage all across the state. Orangeburg and Lexington Counties, both located in the Midlands area near Columbia, had the highest property damage due to flooding in 2023.
Does South Carolina renters insurance protect against wind damage?
Renters insurance almost always covers wind damage.
However, South Carolina renters may have to pay a higher deductible for damage caused by wind.
Your insurance company may not cover wind damage if you live in a very high risk area, like a barrier island or coastal town. In that case, you should consider buying a separate wind policy to ensure you have enough protection.
Frequently asked questions
Who has the cheapest renters insurance in South Carolina?
Progressive has the cheapest renters insurance rates in South Carolina. A policy costs $15 per month, which is $6 less expensive than the statewide average.
How much is renters insurance in South Carolina?
Renters in South Carolina pay $21 per month for an insurance policy, on average. That's $2 per month less than the national average.
How much is renters insurance in Columbia, S.C.?
Columbia renters insurance costs an average of $23 per month. In comparison, Charleston renters insurance costs $22 per month.
Is renters insurance required in South Carolina?
No, the state of South Carolina doesn't require renters insurance. However, your property management company or landlord may require you to buy a policy as part of your lease agreement.
Methodology
To find the best cheap renters insurance in South Carolina, ValuePenguin gathered rates from five top companies across 23 of the largest cities in the state. Rates are for a 30-year old unmarried woman living alone with no history of insurance claims. Quotes are for the following coverage limits:
- Personal property: $30,000
- Personal liability: $100,000
- Medical payments: $1,000
- Loss of use: $9,000
- Deductible: $500
Customer service ratings are based on data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index, J.D. Power's annual customer satisfaction survey and our own ValuePenguin editor's rating.
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.