States don't typically list their minimum penalties. The minimum insurance requirements for SC include coverage of Bodily Injury Liability coverage of $15,000 per injured person up to a total of $30,000 per accident, and Property Damage Liability coverage with a minimum limit of $10,000. Uninsured motorist protection coverage of $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident for any bodily injury caused by the uninsured driver is also required.

If you fail to maintain proof of insurance on the motor vehicle you are guilty of a misdemeanor and may face suspension action by the SC Department of Motor Vehicles. Penalties can include the owner’s driver license and vehicle registration being suspended and he or she may have to pay $5.00 for each day the vehicle was uninsured, up to $200.00, plus an additional $200.00 reinstatement fee.

In South Carolina the driver or owner of each vehicle involved in an accident in which there is apparent property damage or injury or death is required to submit verification that the vehicle was properly covered by liability insurance at the time of the accident. You have 15 days to have your insurance company verify insurance coverage on the date of the accident, regardless if you were at fault or not.

Failure to do so may result in the suspension of your vehicle registration and driving privileges. Your credentials will remain suspended until you have confirmed that insurance coverage existed at the time of the accident. If the department determines that no liability insurance coverage existed at the time of the accident, you may be required to pay a $550.00 uninsured motorist fee. You may also be required to file SR-22 certificate of insurance.

Before 2005 an uninsured driver faced penalties of fines and losing their vehicle registrations but a new rule that started in January 2005 now allows uninsured motorist to lose their license as well. The new law also reduced the amount of time drivers have to buy insurance after they are notified by the state that they need to do so. The 45-day grace period has been cut to 20 business days.

If you are informed by the SC DMV to turn in your license and/or registration due to driving without insurance and fail to do so as require then you can be fined between $100 and $200 and or imprisoned for thirty days.