Non-owner car insurance is perfect for those who drive occasionally but don’t own a car. It provides liability coverage, ensuring that any damages or injuries you cause to others while driving someone else’s car are covered. With this insurance, you can drive knowing you’re financially protected.

Non-owner car insurance is usually more affordable than regular car insurance, as it doesn’t cover your own vehicle. The premium varies based on your driving record, age and location.

CarInsurance.com Insights

  • Non-owner car insurance costs an average of $31 a month in South Carolina for the coverage limit of 25/50/25.
  • The non-owner car insurance rate is $368 per year—lower than liability-only coverage of $925 for South Carolina drivers.
  • Auto-Owners offers the cheapest non-owner car insurance rates in South Carolina at an average cost of $11 per month.

Do I need non-owner car insurance in South Carolina?

Non-owner car insurance in South Carolina is important for renting or borrowing cars. It helps cover costs if you’re at fault in an accident while driving a car you don’t own, so you’re not stuck paying for damages out of pocket. Also, it can work alongside the car owner’s insurance to offer additional coverage.

One common scenario where non-owner car insurance comes into play is when individuals frequently rent cars for personal or business use. Instead of purchasing insurance through the rental car company, which can be expensive, non-owner car insurance can provide similar coverage at a more affordable cost.

Furthermore, maintaining continuous insurance coverage, including non-owner insurance when you’re between cars, can help keep your insurance rates low in the future. It can protect you if you’re involved in an accident and are found to be at fault. However, it doesn’t provide coverage for the vehicle you’re driving.

Average non-owner car insurance cost in South Carolina

Non-owner car insurance costs $31 a month or $368 per year in South Carolina for coverage limits of 25/50/25.

Your rates may differ based on your driving record, age, location and the insurance company you choose.

Cheapest non-owner car insurance companies in South Carolina

CarInsurance.com’s analysis shows that Auto-Owners offers the most affordable non-owner car insurance rates in South Carolina, at $11 per month. Other insurers like Geico and State Farm also offer affordable premiums.

Non-owner auto insurance rates can differ depending on your driving history, ZIP code and coverage requirements. You should compare quotes from multiple insurers to find the best rate for your needs.

The table below highlights the cheapest non-owner car insurance companies in South Carolina.

CompanyAnnual full coverage ratesMonthly full coverage rates
Auto-Owners$126$11
Geico$270$23
State Farm$397$33
Progressive$457$38
Travelers$489$41
Sentry Insurance$581$48
USAA*$256$21

Non-owner car insurance in South Carolina, by age and gender

Non-owner car insurance costs in South Carolina can vary by age and gender. When you add a male teen driver to your car insurance, your premiums could go up by $1,195 a month, while adding a 16-year-old female might increase your monthly cost by $1,086.

Both male and female teen drivers usually pay higher insurance premiums because they are considered higher risk due to their inexperience. As drivers age and gain more experience, they generally see a decrease in their insurance costs in South Carolina.

The table below shows the cost of non-owner car insurance based on age and gender.

Driver ageMaleFemale
Teens (16-19)$974$905
Young Adults (20-24)$527$511
Adults (25-60)$371$371
Seniors (65-75)$385$370

Non-owner auto insurance in the biggest South Carolina cities

Non-owner auto insurance cost in Greenville is $30 a month or $363 a year, whereas drivers in Mount Pleasant pay $30 a month for the same coverage.

In South Carolina, car insurance rates differ by city, as insurance companies assess the frequency of accidents, theft and vandalism when determining non-owner car insurance premiums.

The cost of living also determines the premiums. In areas with higher costs of living in South Carolina, you can expect to pay more for non-owner insurance.

See how much you’ll pay for non-owner car insurance in your city in the table below.

CityAnnual full coverage ratesMonthly full coverage rates
Greenville$363 $30
Mount Pleasant$365 $30
Rock Hill$384 $32
Sumter$397 $33
Columbia$401 $33
Charleston$411 $34
Florence$417 $35
Summerville$431 $36
Goose Creek$440 $37
North Charleston$473 $39

Affordable non-owner insurance in South Carolina, by ZIP code

A 40-year-old South Carolina driver living in ZIP 29676 pays $282 a year or $23 per month for non-owner car insurance, whereas insurance rates in the ZIP code 29664 is $286 a year or $24 per month for a driver age with a clean driving record.

When should you consider buying non-owner car insurance in South Carolina?

Non-owner car insurance provides coverage for drivers who don’t own a car but still need insurance while driving someone else’s vehicle. This insurance primarily covers liability, helping you pay for any damages or injuries you may cause to others in the event of an accident.

Non-owner car insurance provides coverage for accidents and can serve as an additional layer of protection that complements the car owner’s current policy. It reassures the car owner that they won’t have to worry about their insurance rates going up due to an accident caused by another driver.

For instance, if you’re driving a friend’s car and their insurance only includes minimum liability coverage, your non-owner policy can help cover any extra costs if the accident exceeds their policy’s limits.

Keeping continuous insurance coverage is key to securing lower rates in the future. This includes having non-owner car insurance when you don’t own a vehicle. Insurance companies often see gaps in coverage as a sign of high risk, which could lead to higher premiums.

By having non-owner car insurance during these gaps, you are demonstrating responsible and continuous insurance coverage, which can help keep your rates low in the future.

Final thoughts on non-owner car insurance in South Carolina

Non-owner car insurance is a good option in South Carolina to get auto insurance liability coverage if you rent or borrow vehicles occasionally, use a car-sharing service or need to file an SR-22 form.

Non-owner car insurance provides valuable liability protection for individuals who regularly rent or borrow cars while behind the wheel. It can also work alongside the car owner’s coverage to offer additional protection.

Non-owner car insurance is a smart way to maintain continuous coverage, helping you secure lower rates in the future. If you drive cars that aren’t your own regularly, be sure to get quotes from different companies to find the best rate.

Resources & Methodology

Methodology

CarInsurance.com gathered data on non-owner car insurance rates from Quadrant Information Services. The rates are for non-owner state minimum liability only and the coverage limit varies by state.

To determine non-owner car insurance rates for different companies, CarInsurance.com used a sample profile of a 40-year-old male and female driver who owns a Honda Accord LX with no traffic violations on his record. We compared 53,409,632 insurance quotes across 34,588 ZIP codes from 170 insurance companies in the U.S.

Insurance company: Based on the analysis, we have created lists of the companies that offer non-owner insurance. USAA also made it to the list, but it provides services only to current and former military members and their families.

Age group: Non-owner car insurance rates are calculated by evaluating the sample profile for different age groups.

  • Teens: Age 16-19
  • Young adults: Age 20-24
  • Adult drivers: Age 25-60
  • Senior drivers: Age 65-75

To get non-owner car insurance rates for different cities and age groups we have compared 53,409,632 car insurance quotes across 34,588 ZIP codes from 75 company groups nationwide. These are sample rates and should only be used for comparison purposes.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparison purposes.

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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. Laura completed the pre-licensing course in Personal Lines Property & Casualty Insurance in Nevada.