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.

Key Highlights
  • 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

CompanyFull 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.

Tip iconTip

If 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 coverageMinimum 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.

CompanyState 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.

CompanyLiability 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.

CompanyFull 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.

CompanyRates before speedingAfter speeding (1-29 mph over limit)% difference$ difference
State Farm$1,451$1,5597%$108
Nationwide$1,152$1,65944%$507
Auto-Owners$1,293$1,69131%$398
Travelers$1,405$1,93137%$526
Progressive$1,651$2,07826%$427
Allstate$1,973$2,55930%$586
American Family$2,344$2,77218%$428
Farmers$4,271$5,58331%$1,312
USAA*$1,288$1,58823%$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 DUIRates after a DUI% difference$ difference
State Farm$1,451$1,5597%$108
Progressive$1,651$1,96919%$318
Travelers$1,405$2,01143%$605
Nationwide$1,152$2,20191%$1,048
American Family$2,344$2,66214%$318
Auto-Owners$1,293$2,676107%$1,383
Allstate$1,973$2,69036%$718
Geico$1,285$3,125143%$1,840
Farmers$4,271$5,37926%$1,109
USAA*$1,288$2,38885%$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.

CompanyRates before accidentRates after accident% difference$ difference
State Farm$1,451$1,72119%$269
Nationwide$1,152$1,74551%$593
Auto-Owners$1,293$1,80840%$515
Travelers$1,405$1,86933%$464
Geico$1,285$1,87546%$591
Progressive$1,651$2,65761%$1,006
American Family$2,344$3,14734%$803
Allstate$1,973$3,23464%$1,262
Farmers$4,271$5,96040%$1,689
USAA*$1,288$1,91449%$625

Note: USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

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.

CityFull 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 bags1%$13
Anti-theft device1%$24
Daily commute7%$111
Days advanced purchase7%$194
Days per week driven5%$85
Education3%$65
Electronic funds transfer4%$72
Homeowner5%$146
Lower annual mileage6%$114
Loyalty – years renewal with company11%$240
Marital status10%$288
Multi policy9%$185
Paperless/electornic documents3%$65
Payment type11%$315
Primary use9%$159
Profession9%$208
Safety devices4%$89
Telematics8%$151
Years insured15%$413
Years licensed26%$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.

Still have a question? Ask our experts

Get advice from an experienced insurance professional. Our experts will help you navigate your insurance questions with clarity and confidence.

Authors Browse all FAQs
Please enter a valid input Min 50 to max 250 characters are allowed. Only (& ? , .) charcters are allowed.
All information provided will remain confidential.
Please enter a valid input
Browse all FAQ’s >>
Error: Security check failed
Thank You, Your message has been received. Our team of auto insurance experts typically answers questions within five working days. Note that due to the volume of questions we receive, not all may be answered. You are a bot!
Ask another question
Meet our editorial team
author-img Shivani Gite Contributing Writer
Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions. When not writing, you can find her reading a book or watching anime.
author-img Laura Longero Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert with more than 15 years of experience educating people about personal finance topics and helping consumers navigate the complexities of auto insurance. She writes and edits for QuinStreet’s CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Prior to joining QuinStreet, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network.