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 cheaper than standard car insurance since it doesn’t cover a South Carolina driver’s vehicle. The cost varies depending on factors such as driving record, age, years of driving experience and location.

Key Highlights
  • 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 essential for those who often rent or borrow vehicles. It offers liability coverage in the event that you cause an accident while driving a car you rented or borrowed, helping protect you from costly out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, it can act as supplementary coverage alongside the car owner’s existing insurance.

Non-owner car insurance is ideal for those who occasionally rent or borrow cars for personal or business purposes. Rather than opting for the expensive insurance offered by rental companies, you can get non-owner car insurance that offers similar coverage at a more affordable price.

Non-owner insurance can be beneficial for maintaining continuous coverage when you’re between cars, helping to keep your insurance rates lower in the future. It provides liability protection if you’re at fault in an accident, though it doesn’t cover the car you drive.

Average non-owner car insurance cost in South Carolina

Non-owner car insurance costs an average of $31 a month and $368 per year in South Carolina for the coverage limit of 25/50/25.

This rate can vary depending on factors such as your driving history, age, location and the insurance company.

Cheapest non-owner car insurance companies in South Carolina

According to CarInsurance.com’s analysis, Auto-Owners offers the lowest non-owner car insurance rates in South Carolina, with an average cost of $11 per month. Geico and State Farm also provide affordable non-owner insurance premiums.

Non-owner auto insurance rates may vary based on your driving record, ZIP code, and coverage needs. It’s a good idea to compare quotes from multiple insurers to find the best rate for your specific situation.

Below is a table showing the cheapest companies for non-owner car insurance in South Carolina.

Company Annual 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

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

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 .

Young drivers, both male and female, typically pay higher insurance rates. Inexperienced drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents, which increases the risk for insurance companies. As drivers age, they gain more experience behind the wheel and thus pay lower rates compared to teen drivers in South Carolina.

See how much you’ll pay for non-owner car insurance by age and gender in the table below.

Driver age MaleFemale
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.

Insurance rates vary by city in South Carolina. Car insurance companies consider the rate of accidents, theft, and vandalism in a particular area when determining the premiums for non-owner car insurance.

Another factor that affects non-owner car insurance rates is the cost of living. Higher living expenses in any South Carolina city can lead to higher insurance rates overall, including non-owner car insurance.

The table below shows how much you’ll pay for non-owner car insurance based on your city.

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 South Carolina driver aged 40 living in ZIP code 29676 pays $282 annually or $23 monthly for non-owner car insurance, while a 40-year-old in ZIP code 29664 with a clean driving record pays $286 per year or $24 per month.

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.

Aside from providing coverage for accidents, non-owner car insurance can also supplement any existing coverage the car owner may have. It can offer peace of mind to the car owner, as they will not have to worry about their own insurance rates increasing due to an accident caused by someone else.

For example, if you are driving a friend’s car and they only have minimum liability coverage, your non-owner insurance can help cover any additional expenses if the accident exceeds their policy 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.

Maintaining non-owner car insurance during this time proves your commitment to continuous coverage, helping to keep your insurance rates more affordable in the long run.

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.

By maintaining continuous coverage with a non-owner car insurance policy, you can keep your rates lower in the future. If you regularly use rented or borrowed vehicles, get quotes from multiple insurance companies to ensure you get the best deal.

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.

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.