The cheapest full coverage car insurance in South Carolina is $123, saving you $44 compared to the average cost of insurance in the state, which is around $167 per month.
CarInsurance.com has done the homework for you. We analyzed rates from various auto insurance companies in South Carolina, such as Geico, Progressive, State Farm and more, so you can effortlessly compare their rates to find the most affordable option.
“Drivers looking to get the cheapest insurance premiums in South Carolina should maintain continuous coverage and avoid any lapse. When it comes to shopping for a new insurance company, discounts may be applied if the drivers have maintained continuous coverage, which will help lower the annual premium,” says Lauren Mckenzie, senior insurance agent, A Plus Insurance.
- Among the companies analyzed by CarInsurance.com, Auto-Owners stands out as the cheapest option for full coverage car insurance in South Carolina, with an insurance premium of $123 per month.
- Drivers in South Carolina with a clean record pay 32% less for premiums compared to those with a DUI.
- The city with the lowest car insurance rates in South Carolina is Salem, with an annual premium of $1,708.
- South Carolina drivers can save up to 26% annually on their auto insurance policy by comparing price quotes from multiple carriers.
Car insurance companies with cheap car insurance in South Carolina
Auto-Owners has the cheapest full coverage car insurance in South Carolina, at an average premium of $123 per month or around $1,475 per year, based on CarInsurance.com data.
A full-coverage auto insurance policy typically includes liability coverage, which is mandated by most states and optional coverages such as comprehensive and collision insurance, which have a deductible.
The table below provides the cheapest full coverage insurance quotes in South Carolina. We’ve gathered rates from different insurance companies to help you find the most affordable option.
Cheapest car insurance rates in South Carolina per month
| Company | Full coverage monthly rates |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $123 |
| Progressive | $151 |
| Travelers | $162 |
| Geico | $171 |
| State Farm | $176 |
| Southern Farm Bureau | $183 |
| Allstate | $195 |
| Sentry Insurance | $307 |
| USAA* | $121 |
Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
South Carolina drivers who pay lower insurance premiums
Car insurance rates can differ due to various factors, including age, location, driving history, credit score and the type of vehicle you own. Some insurers may offer cheaper rates for certain types of drivers compared to others.
- Married drivers pay 10% less than single drivers.
- South Carolina drivers with clean records pay 32% less than drivers who have a DUI on their record.
- South Carolina drivers in their 20s pay 55% lower rates for insurance than a 16-year-old in South Carolina.
- Adding a teen to your policy will cost you 68% less than having the teen purchase their own auto insurance policy.
- Drivers who are licensed for three or more years pay 27% less on their insurance premiums.
- Drivers insured for three or more years can save up to 16% on their insurance costs.
TipIf you no longer drive regularly or work remotely, you may want to re-evaluate your insurance policy. Drivers with a daily commute of less than 15 miles can save up to 5% for this state more on their premiums.
Cheapest South Carolina companies for different coverage levels
Full coverage car insurance provides comprehensive protection for your vehicle. It typically includes liability coverage, collision coverage and comprehensive coverage, which safeguards against many incidents beyond accidents, such as theft or natural disasters.
There are cheaper options, such as liability-only and state minimum policies. These types of insurance only provide coverage for the other party in an at-fault accident up to the limits of the policy.
Not all insurers offer the same coverage limits at the same price point. For instance:
- Auto-Owners is the cheapest for a state minimum policy.
- Auto-Owners has the cheapest rates for a liability-only policy (50/100/50).
- Auto-Owners offers the cheapest car insurance for a full coverage policy (100/300/100) in South Carolina.
The numbers above (100/300/100) represent up to $100,000 for medical bills per person, with a $300,000 cap per accident and up to $100,000 to repair other drivers’ cars and property that you damage.
Cheapest companies for state minimum coverage in South Carolina
South Carolina requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of car insurance, known as the state’s minimum coverage requirements. It means that your policy must include at least:
| Minimum coverage | Minimum limit |
|---|---|
| Minimum bodily injury liability | $25,000/$50,000 |
| Minimum property damage liability | $25,000 |
Read more about the minimum liability car insurance requirements by state
Below are the average annual rates from major insurance companies in South Carolina, ranked from cheapest to the most expensive for the state minimum coverage.
| Company | State minimum annual rates |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $415 |
| Geico | $512 |
| Progressive | $560 |
| Allstate | $619 |
| State Farm | $621 |
| Southern Farm Bureau | $686 |
| Travelers | $712 |
| Sentry Insurance | $1,999 |
| USAA* | $444 |
Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
Cheapest insurance providers for liability-only coverage in South Carolina
Liability-only coverage will financially protect you up to the specific policy limits for any damage, injuries or deaths resulting from an accident for which you’re responsible.
Here are the average annual rates for liability insurance coverage from major carriers in South Carolina, ranked in the order of the cheapest to the most expensive. The coverage limits for these rates are $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 for bodily injury per accident and $50,000 for property damage.
| Company | Liability only annual rates |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $566 |
| Progressive | $748 |
| Geico | $779 |
| Allstate | $803 |
| State Farm | $863 |
| Southern Farm Bureau | $915 |
| Travelers | $984 |
| Sentry Insurance | $2,516 |
| USAA* | $611 |
Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
Cheapest car insurance companies in South Carolina for full coverage
Full coverage car insurance provides comprehensive protection for your vehicle. It typically includes liability coverage, collision coverage and comprehensive coverage, which safeguards against many incidents beyond accidents, such as theft or natural disasters.
When it comes to car insurance, it’s important to have coverage that fits your income, assets and risk profile. If you’re financing your vehicle, your lender will likely require you to purchase a full coverage auto insurance policy.
The table below lists major insurance providers in South Carolina based on the average annual cost for a full coverage policy with limits of $100,000/$300,000 bodily injury, $100,000 property damage and $500 comprehensive/collision deductibles.
| Company | Full coverage annual rates |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $1,475 |
| Progressive | $1,816 |
| Travelers | $1,949 |
| Geico | $2,054 |
| State Farm | $2,106 |
| Southern Farm Bureau | $2,202 |
| Allstate | $2,336 |
| Sentry Insurance | $3,681 |
| USAA* | $1,451 |
Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
Learn more about who has the cheapest full coverage auto insurance
Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina by driving history
In South Carolina, driving history significantly impacts car insurance costs. Insurance companies use this information to evaluate the risk of insuring a driver. Drivers with clean records pose less risk, leading to lower premiums.
Insurance companies consider traffic violations like speeding tickets, DUIs and at-fault accidents as indicators of risky driving behavior. So, they charge higher premiums to drivers with these violations on their record.
In South Carolina, drivers with a history of such violations typically pay $654 more annually than drivers with clean records.
Cheap car insurance in South Carolina after a speeding ticket
If you have a speeding ticket on your South Carolina driving record and you are looking for cheap car insurance, State Farm offers the cheapest full-coverage auto insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket, with an average rate of $1,559 per year.
| Company | Rates before speeding | After speeding (1-29 mph over limit) | % difference | $ difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,451 | $1,559 | 7% | $108 |
| Nationwide | $1,152 | $1,659 | 44% | $507 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,293 | $1,691 | 31% | $398 |
| Travelers | $1,405 | $1,931 | 37% | $526 |
| Progressive | $1,651 | $2,078 | 26% | $427 |
| Allstate | $1,973 | $2,559 | 30% | $586 |
| American Family | $2,344 | $2,772 | 18% | $428 |
| Farmers | $4,271 | $5,583 | 31% | $1,312 |
| USAA* | $1,288 | $1,588 | 23% | $300 |
Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina after a DUI conviction
State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance to South Carolina drivers with a DUI conviction at $1,559 per year and Progressive has the second-cheapest insurance premiums at $1,969 a year, based on recent data.
Drivers with clean driving records can expect to pay an average of 32% less than those with a history of DUI.
| Company | Rates before DUI | Rates after a DUI | % difference | $ difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,451 | $1,559 | 7% | $108 |
| Progressive | $1,651 | $1,969 | 19% | $318 |
| Travelers | $1,405 | $2,011 | 43% | $605 |
| Nationwide | $1,152 | $2,201 | 91% | $1,048 |
| American Family | $2,344 | $2,662 | 14% | $318 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,293 | $2,676 | 107% | $1,383 |
| Allstate | $1,973 | $2,690 | 36% | $718 |
| Geico | $1,285 | $3,125 | 143% | $1,840 |
| Farmers | $4,271 | $5,379 | 26% | $1,109 |
| USAA* | $1,288 | $2,388 | 85% | $1,099 |
Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
Cheap car insurance rates after an at-fault accident in South Carolina
State Farm is the cheapest car insurance company for drivers with a history of at-fault accidents with an annual premium of $1,721.
Nationwide is the second most affordable option, providing full-coverage car insurance with an average annual premium of $1,745.
If you’re found at fault in an accident, it can significantly raise your insurance premiums. Insurance companies view at-fault incidents as a sign of higher risk, leading to higher costs for coverage.
| Company | Rates before accident | Rates after accident | % difference | $ difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,451 | $1,721 | 19% | $269 |
| Nationwide | $1,152 | $1,745 | 51% | $593 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,293 | $1,808 | 40% | $515 |
| Travelers | $1,405 | $1,869 | 33% | $464 |
| Geico | $1,285 | $1,875 | 46% | $591 |
| Progressive | $1,651 | $2,657 | 61% | $1,006 |
| American Family | $2,344 | $3,147 | 34% | $803 |
| Allstate | $1,973 | $3,234 | 64% | $1,262 |
| Farmers | $4,271 | $5,960 | 40% | $1,689 |
| USAA* | $1,288 | $1,914 | 49% | $625 |
Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
Check out the most affordable insurance options in your neighboring state
Cities with the lowest auto insurance rates in South Carolina
Your location plays a key role in determining your car insurance premium. Insurance companies analyze claim data in your area to assess the risk of insuring you. Areas with higher accident rates or theft statistics have higher premiums.
In South Carolina, Salem stands out as the city with the lowest auto insurance rates, at an average of $1,708 per year.
Insurers base these rates on various factors such as theft statistics, collision rates and incidents of vandalism to assess risk in different areas. Additionally, your individual driving history, vehicle make and age play a role in calculating the premiums you pay.
The table below shows a list of cities in South Carolina with the most affordable car insurance rates.
| City | Full coverage annual rates |
|---|---|
| Salem | $1,708 |
| Newry | $1,721 |
| Walhalla | $1,728 |
| Westminster | $1,739 |
| West Union | $1,743 |
| Seneca | $1,744 |
| Tamassee | $1,746 |
| Sunset | $1,753 |
| Mount Carmel | $1,755 |
| Long Creek | $1,758 |
Learn about the 10 most important factors that affect car insurance rates
Average savings on car insurance in South Carolina
If you compare car insurance quotes, you could enjoy an annual saving of around 26% on a full coverage policy in South Carolina.
While the actual savings may differ for each person, comparing price quotes before buying a policy can help you find affordable insurance.
Car insurance discounts in South Carolina: Save on premiums
In South Carolina, car insurance companies offer various discounts to drivers, such as safe driver and bundling discounts to help you save on your premiums. Learn more about some common car insurance discounts in South Carolina below.
| Discount type | % difference | $ difference |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 1% | $13 |
| Anti-theft device | 1% | $24 |
| Daily commute | 7% | $111 |
| Days advanced purchase | 7% | $194 |
| Days per week driven | 5% | $85 |
| Education | 3% | $65 |
| Electronic funds transfer | 4% | $72 |
| Homeowner | 5% | $146 |
| Lower annual mileage | 6% | $114 |
| Loyalty – years renewal with company | 11% | $240 |
| Marital status | 10% | $288 |
| Multi policy | 9% | $185 |
| Paperless/electornic documents | 3% | $65 |
| Payment type | 11% | $315 |
| Primary use | 9% | $159 |
| Profession | 9% | $208 |
| Safety devices | 4% | $89 |
| Telematics | 8% | $151 |
| Years insured | 15% | $413 |
| Years licensed | 26% | $802 |
Final thoughts on cheap car insurance in South Carolina
Our research shows that Auto-Owners has the cheapest full coverage car insurance rates in South Carolina for individuals with a good driving record.
We understand that finding affordable car insurance is important, but it’s also crucial to ensure you have enough coverage for adequate financial protection.
To get cheap car insurance in South Carolina, first, figure out what coverage you need. Then, compare prices from different companies. Look for discounts and try to keep your driving record clean. Even if you’ve had tickets or accidents, you might still find a company that offers you a good deal.
Resources &Methodology
Methodology
CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to field rates in 2023 from all the major insurers in nearly every ZIP code of South Carolina for three different coverage levels:
- Full coverage policy with limits 100/300/100, including comprehensive and collision coverage and a $500 deductible.
- Liability-only with limits 50/100/50.
- State-minimum car insurance limits of 25/50/25.
The rates are based on the sample profile of a 40-year-old male and female driving a Honda Accord LX with a clean driving record and a good credit score. We have compared 53,409,632 car insurance quotes from 75 company groups across 34,588 ZIP Codes.
Violations:
Car insurance rates are calculated by evaluating the sample profile of a 40-year-old driver for a full coverage policy with limits 100/300/100, including comprehensive and collision coverage, and a $500 deductible, with the following incidents applied: clean record, at-fault accident, DUI conviction and speeding ticket.
Discounts:
Car insurance discount rates are for a full coverage policy with limits of 100/300/50 and a $500 comprehensive and collision deductible based on the sample profile of a 40-year-old male driver. To gather the data, our data experts compared 2,677,890 insurance quotes across various ZIP Codes.
The rates are for comparison purposes only and your exact rates may vary.
Get advice from an experienced insurance professional. Our experts will help you navigate your insurance questions with clarity and confidence.
Browse all FAQs