South Carolina Car Insurance Quotes & Rates (2026)

Auto Insurance

• Auto Insurance
• Health Insurance
• Home Insurance
• Commercial Auto Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Business Insurance

Zip Code:

Please provide a valid zip code.

Get Quotes

Compare free car insurance quotes in South Carolina

For a 40-year-old driver with a clean record, South Carolina car insurance averages about $189 a month ($2,269 a year) for full coverage, based on the rates insurers had filed with state regulators as of Aug. 31, 2026. That’s 19% below the national average in our data. It’s higher than in North Carolina but lower than in Georgia. Travelers, Progressive and GEICO are effectively tied for the lowest full-coverage average among the five major insurers we compared (Allstate, GEICO, Progressive, State Farm and Travelers), at about $165 to $168 a month.

South Carolina car insurance: key numbers

• Full coverage: about $189 a month ($2,269 a year)
• Liability only (25/50/25): about $70 a month
• Lowest-priced insurer: Travelers, Progressive and GEICO are effectively tied for the lowest full-coverage average among the five major insurers we compared, at about $165 to $168 a month
• Recent price change: −3.9% for full coverage (same insurers and ZIP codes)
• Most and least expensive counties: Colleton County (about $214 a month) and Oconee County (about $164)

Where you live matters. The most expensive counties in our data are in and around the Lowcountry: Colleton County averages about $214 a month, Dorchester County $212, Orangeburg County $211 and Charleston County $210. The Upstate costs the least, led by Oconee County at $164 and Pickens County at $169. Use these averages as a benchmark for where you live, then compare South Carolina car insurance quotes for your own car and address.

_{Cost data comes from the auto rates insurers file with state regulators, priced across 212 South Carolina ZIP codes, compiled by Quadrant Information Services and updated as new rates are filed.}

Rates as of Aug. 31, 2026. Page reviewed Oct. 7, 2026.

How Much Is Car Insurance in South Carolina?

The average cost of car insurance in South Carolina is about $189 a month ($2,269 a year) for full coverage and $70 a month ($841 a year) for liability-only coverage at the state’s 25/50/25 minimum. That’s for a 40-year-old driver with a clean record, based on rates insurers had filed with state regulators as of Aug. 31, 2026.

Full coverage in South Carolina averages $2,269 a year, or about $189 a month, for our benchmark driver. Liability-only coverage at South Carolina’s 25/50/25 minimum averages $841 a year ($70 a month), and 50/100/50 liability with comprehensive and collision averages $2,084 ($174 a month).

• Full coverage (100/300/100, $500 deductibles): $2,269 a year ($189 a month)
• 50/100/50 with $500 deductibles: $2,084 a year ($174 a month)
• Liability only (25/50/25): $841 a year ($70 a month)
• Charleston: $2,494 a year ($208 a month) for full coverage
• Columbia: $2,352 a year ($196 a month) for full coverage
• National average: $2,806 a year ($234 a month) for full coverage

How South Carolina Compares With Neighboring States

South Carolina’s average is about $19 a month below Georgia’s and $35 above North Carolina’s. It’s the 20th-lowest of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., in our data.

Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina: Companies Compared

Cheap full coverage car insurance in South Carolina starts with Travelers, Progressive and GEICO: they’re effectively tied for the lowest full-coverage average among these five insurers, about $165 to $168 a month for our benchmark driver, while Allstate, the most expensive, averages about $246. The bullets and table below show all five major insurers we compared and the four insurers marked *.

• Lowest averages among these five insurers, full coverage: Travelers, Progressive and GEICO, effectively tied at about $165 to $168 a month.
• Next lowest among these five insurers: State Farm at $199.
• Lowest liability-only average among these five insurers (25/50/25): GEICO, at about $56 a month, then Progressive at $58.
• Also on our list: American National at about $83 a month, USAA at $119, Auto-Owners at $129 and South Carolina Farm Bureau at $139 (USAA sells only to military families).
• Most expensive in our data: Allstate, at about $246 a month for full coverage, $977 a year more than Travelers.

Travelers, Progressive and GEICO are effectively tied for the lowest full-coverage average among the five insurers in our South Carolina rate data. The seven published 2026 statewide South Carolina rate studies we reviewed disagree on the cheapest insurer for full coverage, apart from USAA, which sells only to military families: three put American National first, two Auto-Owners and two put other insurers first. For liability-only coverage at 25/50/25 limits, GEICO has the lowest average among these five insurers, at about $56 a month, with Progressive close behind at $58.

These are statewide averages for our benchmark driver. See how we calculated these rates. Your own price depends on your car, driving record and coverage, so compare free car insurance quotes before you buy.

See What You’d Pay in South Carolina

Auto Insurance

• Auto Insurance
• Health Insurance
• Home Insurance
• Commercial Auto Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Business Insurance

Zip Code:

Please provide a valid zip code.

Get Quotes

Rates change by city and ZIP code across South Carolina. Enter yours to compare quotes.

How South Carolina’s Major Car Insurers Compare

Here’s where each insurer in our rate data lands for our benchmark driver, and how its price has moved over the past nine months.

Are Car Insurance Rates Going Up in South Carolina?

Not for our benchmark driver. Comparing the same insurers in the same South Carolina ZIP codes, full coverage averaged $2,362 a year nine months earlier and $2,269 in rates as of Aug. 31, 2026, a 3.9% drop. State Farm cut its South Carolina average 16.3%, while Allstate’s, GEICO’s, Progressive’s and Travelers’ averages were unchanged. Liability-only coverage at 25/50/25 limits fell 2.4%, led by State Farm, which cut its liability-only average 9.3%.

Because insurers change their rates on their own schedules, the cheapest company for you can change from one renewal to the next.

What to Know About South Carolina Car Insurance Costs

Three things stand out in our numbers and in state law.

• The Charleston area and nearby counties. Colleton, Dorchester, Orangeburg, Charleston and Berkeley counties are the five most expensive in our data, at $208 to $214 a month. Charleston averages $208 and Greenville $181.
• Required uninsured motorist coverage. State law requires uninsured motorist coverage at the 25/50/25 minimum on every policy, so it’s part of every price.
• Rating territories. South Carolina law bars insurers from basing rates on where you live in the state, but it allows a territorial rating plan approved by the director of the state Department of Insurance. That’s how prices can differ from one part of South Carolina to another.

South Carolina Car Insurance Rates by City

Among cities with at least two ZIP codes in our data, North Charleston is the most expensive, at $217 a month for full coverage, followed by Orangeburg at $211 and Summerville at $210. Seneca is the least expensive of those cities, at about $163. Across all 152 cities and towns we price, averages run from about $224 in Hollywood to $163 in Clemson, Seneca and Walhalla. The table lists South Carolina auto insurance rates for every place we price and links our 11 city guides, including our guide to car insurance quotes in Greenville, SC.

The table lists all 152 South Carolina cities and towns in our data, using each place’s own ZIP codes, from most to least expensive. Search it for your town.

South Carolina City Car Insurance Guides

Each city guide has local prices, how the insurers compare there and, for cities where prices vary by ZIP code, a ZIP code table.

South Carolina Car Insurance Rates by County

Colleton County is the most expensive county in our data, at about $214 a month for full coverage, followed by Dorchester County ($212) and Orangeburg County ($211). The least expensive of the 44 counties we price are Oconee County ($164), Pickens County ($169) and Laurens County ($174). We price 44 of South Carolina’s 46 counties.

How Much More Does Better Coverage Cost in South Carolina?

Raising liability limits from 50/100/50 to 100/300/100 adds about $185 a year on average statewide in our data, with the same $500 deductibles. Across the five insurers, the step up costs $132 (Progressive) to $266 (Allstate) a year. Statewide, that’s about $15 a month for double the per-person injury limit, three times the per-crash limit and double the property damage limit, and the full-coverage package also raises uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to 100/300. Liability-only coverage is far cheaper, but it has no comprehensive or collision, so it won’t pay to fix or replace your own car.

South Carolina Car Insurance Rules at a Glance

What Car Insurance Is Required in South Carolina?

South Carolina’s minimum car insurance coverage is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash in bodily injury liability and $25,000 in property damage liability (25/50/25), plus uninsured motorist coverage at the same limits. Insurers must also offer underinsured motorist coverage, which is optional, and the state doesn’t require personal injury protection.

Every South Carolina auto policy must include at least the coverage below, under state law.

• $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash in bodily injury liability.
• $25,000 in property damage liability.
• Uninsured motorist coverage at the same 25/50/25 limits. It’s required, and insurers may apply a $200 deductible to the property damage part.
• Underinsured motorist coverage is optional, but insurers must offer it up to your liability limits. It pays when the at-fault driver carries too little insurance.

The liability-only prices on this page use 25/50/25 limits with 25/50 uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Our full-coverage prices include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage at 100/300.

South Carolina is an at-fault state, so the driver who causes a crash pays for the damage through their liability coverage. Personal injury protection isn’t required, and medical payments coverage is optional.

Is Car Insurance Mandatory in South Carolina?

Yes. The state’s old $550 uninsured motor vehicle fee ended July 1, 2024, so every registered vehicle must now be insured. Insurers report policies to the SCDMV, and if the SCDMV can’t verify your coverage, your registration and license can be suspended. You can show proof of insurance on your phone using your insurer’s digital ID card.

Under South Carolina law, an owner who drives an uninsured car, or lets someone else drive it, can be fined $100 to $200 or jailed for 30 days for a first offense, and the SCDMV suspends the owner’s license, registration and plates until a reinstatement fee is paid. The SCDMV lists that fee at $700. State law started it at $600 and has the Department of Insurance set the amount each year. An owner convicted of driving uninsured must also have an insurer file an SR-22 certificate for three years. A driver who doesn’t own the car faces a 30-day license suspension and a $100 reinstatement fee.

For problems with an insurer, the Department of Insurance’s Office of Consumer Services takes complaints at 803-737-6180 or 1-800-768-3467.

How to Lower Your Car Insurance Rate in South Carolina

1. Quote several insurers. Among the five major insurers we compared in South Carolina, the lowest and highest averages are about $81 a month apart for the same driver and car.
2. Compare Travelers, Progressive and GEICO first. They’re effectively tied for the lowest full-coverage average among the five major insurers we compared in South Carolina, at about $165 to $168 a month.
3. Look at underinsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage comes with every South Carolina policy, but underinsured motorist coverage, which pays when the at-fault driver carries too little, is optional. Insurers must offer it up to your liability limits.
4. Turn in your plates before you cancel. Insurers report policies to the SCDMV. If you drop coverage on a car without turning in its plate and registration first, your license, plate and registration can be suspended unless new coverage is reported, and reinstating them can cost up to $400.
5. Keep your digital ID card handy. South Carolina accepts proof of insurance on your phone in the format your insurer issues, and showing it doesn’t let an officer search the phone, under state law.
6. First responders, check your record. Since May 15, 2026, under 2026 Act No. 133, insurers can’t use a first responder’s work-related crashes to price their personal auto policy when the crash report lists them as not contributing to the crash or they were responding to an emergency call. You’ll need to give your insurer the report.
7. Compare at every renewal. Over the past nine months, State Farm has cut its statewide average 16.3%, while the other four insurers’ averages haven’t changed, so the order in our table can shift.
8. Ask about discounts and check your deductible. Many insurers lower rates for a clean driving record, paying in full or insuring more than one car, so ask which car insurance discounts you qualify for. Our full-coverage prices use $500 deductibles. A higher deductible lowers your premium but means you pay more yourself after a claim; see how your deductible works.
9. Price a bundle. Pairing your auto policy with a home or renters policy usually earns a multi-policy discount. See home insurance costs in South Carolina and our home insurance guide for Charleston, then compare free home insurance quotes.

Compare South Carolina Car Insurance Quotes

Auto Insurance

• Auto Insurance
• Health Insurance
• Home Insurance
• Commercial Auto Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Business Insurance

Zip Code:

Please provide a valid zip code.

Get Quotes

Put these tips to work. Enter your ZIP code to compare quotes.

How We Calculated South Carolina Car Insurance Rates

Insurers must file their rates and rating rules with each state’s insurance regulator. Quadrant Information Services uses those filings to calculate what each insurer would charge a specific driver, and InsuranceQuotes analyzes those prices. This page uses rates in effect on Aug. 31, 2026.

• Sample: 1,060 full-coverage premiums from five insurers across 212 South Carolina ZIP codes, plus the same number of liability-only and 50/100/50 premiums.
• Driver: a single 40-year-old driver, licensed 24 years, with good credit and no accidents or violations, driving a 2024 Toyota Camry LE they own, for personal use.
• Coverage: full coverage is 100/300/100 liability with $500 comprehensive and collision deductibles and 100/300 uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. We also price 50/100/50 with the same deductibles, and liability-only coverage at South Carolina’s 25/50/25 minimum, with 25/50 uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and no comprehensive or collision.
• Calculation: for each insurer we take its lowest eligible price in each ZIP code and average those prices across the ZIP codes. The overall average is the mean of every insurer-and-ZIP price. Monthly figures are annual premiums divided by 12 and rounded.
• Rankings: we name a cheapest insurer only where it’s priced in at least half the ZIP codes and its lead over the next insurer isn’t so wide that it looks like an outlier. Annual prices within 3% of each other are called effectively tied.
• Rate changes: we compare the same insurer in the same ZIP codes, for the same driver and coverage, in rates as of Nov. 30, 2025, and Aug. 31, 2026. All five insurers are in both sets of rates. Rate-change percentages are calculated from the annual premiums shown; other percentages use the rounded monthly figures.
• Insurers marked *: priced from published 2026 South Carolina rate studies, scaled to our benchmark driver. They aren’t included in our averages or rankings.
• What this isn’t: a quote. These are modeled prices for one driver profile, calculated from insurers’ rate filings. Your price depends on your ZIP code, vehicle, driving record, coverage choices and discounts.

Coverage requirements come from South Carolina law and the South Carolina Department of Insurance. We refresh these figures when new rate data is released.

More South Carolina Car Insurance Breakdowns

The tables in this section come from an additional InsuranceQuotes rate analysis. It uses its own driver profile and mix of insurers, so its prices differ from the averages above. Use them to compare categories with each other.

South Carolina Car Insurance Rates by Age

In this analysis, a 17-year-old pays about 2.9 times as much for full coverage as a 39-year-old. Prices keep falling into a driver’s 60s and rise again after that.

Does Vehicle Type Affect Car Insurance Costs?

An SUV is the least expensive vehicle type to insure in this analysis, and a luxury coupe costs about 64% more for full coverage.

How Much Is Insurance for a New Car in South Carolina?

New vehicles cost more to insure in every category, from about 4% more for a hybrid to 18% more for a luxury coupe.

How Much Do Tickets and Accidents Raise Car Insurance?

One speeding ticket raises full coverage about 17% in this analysis, an at-fault accident about 45% and a DUI about 47%.

More South Carolina Cities in the Additional Analysis

This table from the same additional InsuranceQuotes rate analysis covers 444 South Carolina cities and towns, including many that aren’t in the rate data behind the rest of this page. Use it to compare places with each other.

South Carolina Car Insurance FAQ