You can find the cheapest full-coverage car insurance in South Carolina for $123 a month from Auto-Owners. It saves you $44 compared to the state average car insurance cost of $167 monthly.
Shopping for car insurance in South Carolina can be a hassle, but CarInsurance.com is here to help. We have analyzed quotes from top car insurance companies, such as Geico, Progressive and State Farm so you can see who offers the best deals.
“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.
- According to recent data, Auto-Owners offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance in South Carolina at $123 per month.
- South Carolina drivers with a clean driving record pay 32% less for car insurance than drivers with a DUI.
- In South Carolina, the city of Salem has the most affordable car insurance rates at $1,708 annually.
- Comparing price quotes from multiple insurers can help you save up to 26% per year on your car insurance policy in South Carolina.
Which company offers the cheapest 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 policy bundles liability insurance, which is required by most states, with optional coverages like comprehensive and collision. These additional coverages come with a deductible, meaning you’ll have to pay a set amount out-of-pocket before your insurance kicks in.
Find out which insurance company offers the cheapest car insurance rates for full coverage in South Carolina.
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.
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South Carolina drivers who pay lower insurance premiums
Car insurance quotes vary based on several factors such as your age, location, driving record, credit score, driving habits and vehicle. Some insurance companies may offer cheaper policies for certain types of drivers than others. For instance:
- 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 records.
- 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 companies for different coverage levels in South Carolina
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
In South Carolina, all drivers must have a certain amount of car insurance, also called the state’s minimum coverage requirements. You must purchase the minimum coverage limits listed below. Keep in mind that minimums are merely that – the minimum. Most drivers need more insurance to be protected in case of a costly accident.
| 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, you’ll see average annual rates for major insurance providers in South Carolina, ranked from cheapest to most expensive for 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 South Carolina insurance companies for liability-only coverage
If you cause an accident, your liability insurance will pay for the medical bills and property damage of others involved, up to the policy limits.
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 full coverage in South Carolina
Full coverage car insurance policies consist of comprehensive and collision insurance. Comprehensive and collision protect against accidents, theft, vandalism and natural disasters.
In an ideal scenario, having full coverage means having a policy that aligns with your income, assets and risk profile. Lenders typically mandate full coverage for individuals financing their vehicles.
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
Your driving history affects how much you pay for insurance in South Carolina because insurance companies use it to assess the risk associated with insuring a driver.
Traffic violations such as speeding tickets, DUIs and at-fault accidents demonstrate risky behavior on the road. Insurance companies view these violations as indicators of higher risk and may charge you higher premiums.
A driver with a history of traffic violations pays $654 more annually in South Carolina than an individual with a clean driving record.
Cheap car insurance in South Carolina after a speeding ticket
A speeding ticket can impact your South Carolina car insurance rates, but finding affordable options is still possible. Among the carriers analyzed, State Farm has the cheapest car insurance premiums for individuals with a speeding ticket at an average cost of $1,559 a 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.
If you have a clean record, you are likely to pay 32% less for car insurance than someone with a 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
If you’re a driver with an at-fault accident on your record, State Farm is the cheapest option, offering car insurance at an average cost of $1,721 annually.
Nationwide is the second most affordable option, providing full-coverage insurance to drivers with a history of at-fault accidents at an average cost 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.
Cheapest car insurance rates by state
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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.
The city with the lowest auto insurance rates in South Carolina is Salem, at $1,708 per year.
Insurance providers rely on statistical data regarding thefts, collisions and vandalism to analyze the likelihood of such incidents occurring in a particular area. Besides driving history, your car model and age play a significant role in determining your insurance premiums.
Below is a list of cities in South Carolina with the lowest auto 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 |
A detailed guide on the 10 most important factors that influence car insurance rates
How much can you save on auto insurance in South Carolina?
By comparing car insurance quotes, you can save an average of 26% per year for 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 |
The bottom line on cheap car insurance in South Carolina
Based on our findings, Auto-Owners provides the cheapest rates for a full coverage policy in South Carolina if you have a good driving record.
It’s important to find the cheapest auto insurance and ensure you have the right amount of protection for your needs.
To get affordable car insurance in South Carolina, figure out the coverage you require, compare quotes from different companies, look for discounts and keep a good driving record.
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:
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.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.
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John McCormick
Editorial Director
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Managing Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
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Nupur Gambhir
Managing Editor
Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.
Guide to car insurance (with rates) in cities of South Carolina