Car insurance premiums in South Carolina can vary widely based on the vehicle you own. Insurers consider not only the make and model, but also safety ratings, likelihood of theft, cost of repairs and other factors, including age, location and driving record.
We’ve listed the most affordable cars to insure in South Carolina by category, from sedans to sports cars and EVs.
Ranked: The cheapest cars to insure in South Carolina
In South Carolina, Subaru Crosstrek and Acura RDX have the cheapest car insurance rates, followed by Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5, based on our research.
The table below highlights the most affordable vehicles to insure in South Carolina, including their average six-month full coverage premiums.
| Car make-model | Average six-month premium |
|---|---|
| Subaru Crosstrek | $885 |
| Acura RDX | $909 |
| Subaru Outback | $917 |
| Honda CR-V | $917 |
| Mazda CX-5 | $917 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | $928 |
| Hyundai Venue | $931 |
| Mini Cooper Countryman JCW | $935 |
| Ford Maverick | $938 |
| Chevrolet TrailBlazer | $939 |
Read more: Cheapest cars to insure across the United States
Most affordable cars to insure by vehicle type in South Carolina
Auto insurance costs can vary greatly depending on the type of car you drive. Generally speaking, the Station Wagon is the cheapest to insure, while the Performance Car is the most expensive.
We’ve reviewed rates for sedans, SUVs, sports cars, electric vehicles and luxury vehicles and identified the cheapest makes and models for each type, along with their average six-month premiums.
Cheapest sedans to insure in South Carolina
Based on our data analysis, the Subaru Legacy is the cheapest sedan to insure, with an average cost of $991 for a full coverage car insurance six-month policy with limits of 100/300/100 and $500 collision and comprehensive deductibles.
It is followed by the Nissan Versa, which costs $1,007, and the Volkswagen Jetta, which costs $1,038 to insure.
Below, you’ll find the most affordable sedans to insure in South Carolina and their six-month full coverage car insurance premiums.
| Vehicle model (sedan) | Average six-month premium |
|---|---|
| Subaru Legacy | $991 |
| Nissan Versa | $1,007 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | $1,038 |
| Kia Forte | $1,046 |
| Nissan Sentra | $1,073 |
| Toyota Corolla | $1,074 |
| Volkswagen Jetta GLI | $1,085 |
| Honda Accord | $1,105 |
| Hyundai Elantra | $1,108 |
| Honda Civic Sedan | $1,114 |
| Toyota Camry | $1,126 |
| Nissan Altima | $1,142 |
| Mazda 3 Sedan | $1,152 |
| Hyundai Sonata | $1,161 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | $1,215 |
| Kia K5 | $1,242 |
| Mitsubishi Mirage G4 | $1,303 |
Learn more: Cheapest sedans to insure across the United States
SUVs with the cheapest car insurance costs in South Carolina
The Subaru Crosstrek and Acura RDX are the cheapest SUVs to insure in South Carolina, with an average cost of $885 and $909 respectively for a six-month full coverage policy. The table below shows how the SUVs compare in terms of insurance rates.
| Vehicle model (SUV’s) | Average six-month premium |
|---|---|
| Subaru Crosstrek | $885 |
| Honda CR-V | $917 |
| Mazda CX-5 | $917 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | $928 |
| Chevrolet TrailBlazer | $939 |
| Subaru Forester | $942 |
| Volkswagen Taos | $945 |
| Honda Pilot | $948 |
| Hyundai Kona | $950 |
| Subaru Ascent | $960 |
| Hyundai Tucson | $966 |
| Mini Cooper Countryman | $967 |
| Mazda CX-30 | $967 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross | $970 |
| Ford Escape | $978 |
| Toyota RAV4 | $979 |
| Toyota Highlander | $984 |
| Kia Sportage | $988 |
| Chevrolet Equinox | $990 |
| Honda HR-V | $990 |
Learn more: Cheapest SUVs to insure across the United States
Sports cars with affordable insurance rates in South Carolina
Sports cars often come with hefty insurance premiums because of their powerful engines, making them more prone to speeding violations, accidents, costly repairs and theft.
However, some models break the mold. Take the Mazda MX-5 Miata, for example, which is among the most affordable on our list, with an average six-month full coverage cost of $1,016.
The table below highlights the average six-month full coverage cost of various sports cars.
| Vehicle model (Sport cars) | Average six-month premium |
|---|---|
| Mazda MX-5 Miata | $1,016 |
| Honda Civic Si | $1,119 |
| Toyota GR86 | $1,240 |
| Subaru WRX | $1,276 |
| Toyota GR Corolla | $1,303 |
| Subaru BRZ | $1,303 |
| Honda Civic Type R | $1,358 |
| BMW Z4 | $1,411 |
| Porsche 718 Boxster | $1,461 |
| Toyota GR Supra | $1,465 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | $1,482 |
| Chevrolet Camaro | $1,504 |
| Porsche 718 Cayman | $1,511 |
| Chevrolet Corvette Z06 | $1,561 |
| Ford Mustang | $1,600 |
| Nissan Z | $1,702 |
| Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 | $2,011 |
| Jaguar F-Type | $2,023 |
| Porsche 911 | $2,066 |
| Porsche 911 GT3 | $2,113 |
Learn more about cheapest sports cars to insure
Most affordable luxury vehicles to insure in South Carolina
Luxury vehicles typically have higher insurance costs than other types due to their premium features and advanced technology. These features make repairs and replacements significantly more expensive compared to compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V, Honda HR-V, or Volkswagen Tiguan.
With an average six-month full coverage premium of $909, the Acura RDX ranks as the most affordable luxury car to insure, followed closely by Volvo XC40 at $994 and the Acura MDX at $1,042.
The following table shows average premiums for various luxury vehicles, based on a six-month full coverage policy with limits of 100/300/100 and $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage.
| Vehicle model (Luxury cars) | Average six-month premium |
|---|---|
| Acura RDX | $909 |
| Volvo XC40 | $994 |
| Acura MDX | $1,042 |
| Audi Q3 | $1,057 |
| Cadillac XT5 | $1,078 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class | $1,102 |
| Cadillac XT4 | $1,130 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class | $1,134 |
| Lexus NX | $1,151 |
| BMW X1 | $1,153 |
| Lexus RX | $1,161 |
| Land Rover Discovery Sport | $1,172 |
| Cadillac XT6 | $1,174 |
| BMW X3 | $1,177 |
| Lincoln Corsair | $1,180 |
| Acura TLX | $1,197 |
| Land Rover Range Rover Evoque | $1,201 |
| Jaguar E-Pace | $1,202 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class | $1,204 |
| Alfa-Romeo Tonale | $1,204 |
Read more about insuring luxury cars in 2025
Top electric cars with cheap insurance rates in South Carolina
EVs generally cost more to insure than gas-powered vehicles because their batteries and other parts are expensive and repairing them often requires specialized labor.
Based on our analysis, insuring an electric vehicle costs an average of $2,868 annually, or $239 monthly.
The table below lists the most affordable EVs to insure in South Carolina and their six-month average full coverage rates.
| Vehicle model (EVs) | Average six-month premium |
|---|---|
| Mini Cooper Electric | $1,014 |
| Kia Niro EV | $1,047 |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | $1,076 |
| Hyundai Kona Electric | $1,079 |
| Subaru Solterra | $1,099 |
| Nissan Leaf | $1,120 |
| Audi Q4 e-tron | $1,145 |
| Chevrolet Silverado EV | $1,202 |
| Chevrolet Blazer EV | $1,213 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | $1,216 |
| Toyota bZ4X | $1,237 |
| Kia EV6 | $1,241 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | $1,301 |
| Genesis Electrified GV70 | $1,303 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQB | $1,304 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 | $1,307 |
| Nissan Ariya | $1,309 |
| Jaguar I-Pace | $1,313 |
| Cadillac LYRIQ | $1,314 |
| Volvo XC40 Recharge | $1,332 |
Learn more about how much does insuring an electric vehicle cost
Cheapest cars to insure for teens and young drivers in South Carolina
Choosing the right vehicle can significantly affect how much a young driver pays for insurance. Drivers younger than 25 pay the most of any age group due to their general lack of experience and greater risk of accidents. Vehicles considered safe with smaller engines, cheaper to repair, and less likely to be stolen come with lower premiums.
For instance, a Subaru Crosstrek costs an average of $2,749 to insure for an 18-year-old driver, whereas a Subaru Outback costs an average of $2,811 for a six-month full coverage car insurance policy for an 18-year-old driver.
The table below highlights the cheapest cars to insure based on vehicle type, helping young drivers and their families make confident decisions.
Choose your state and vehicle type to see average six-month insurance rates by vehicle make-model for teens and young drivers.
Final thoughts
Insurance rates vary significantly based on the car you drive, but other factors, such as where you live, your driving record and the coverage level you choose, are also important. Our guide will help you choose a vehicle that not only suits your lifestyle but is affordable to insure.
See which cars are cheapest to insure in neighboring states
Frequently asked questions
Do electric cars have lower insurance costs in South Carolina?
Electric cars are usually more costly to insure than traditional gas-powered vehicles. However, some EVs are affordable when compared to similar models with gas engines.
For instance, a six-month full coverage policy for a Mini Cooper Electric costs $1,014, whereas the cost of insuring a Kia Niro EV is $1,047 for the same coverage.
Which SUVs are the cheapest to insure in South Carolina?
With an average six-month full coverage premium of $885, the Subaru Crosstrek is one of the least expensive SUVs to insure in South Carolina. Acura RDX and Honda CR-V also offer affordable premiums to South Carolina drivers.
What are the cheapest cars to insure for teen drivers in South Carolina?
The Subaru Crosstrek, Subaru Outback, Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester are among the most affordable cars to insure for 18-year-old drivers in South Carolina. On the other hand, vehicles like the BMW M8 Gran Coupe, BMW M8 and Maserati Quattroporte come with higher insurance costs for young drivers.
Methodology
CarInsurance.com collected data from Quadrant Information Services for different makes and models. The rates are based on sample profiles of 18-year-old and 40-year-old drivers carrying full coverage policies with limits of 100/300/100 and $500 collision and comprehensive deductibles.
To evaluate the premiums, we have compared 67,566,780 insurance quotes from 57 insurance companies for 1,661 makes and models across 510 ZIP codes nationwide. The rates are for comparison purposes only; your exact rates may vary.
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