Cheapest and Best Car Insurance Quotes in South Carolina (2023)
Auto-Owners has the best cheap car insurance in South Carolina, at $37 per month for liability-only insurance and $102 for full coverage.
Best cheap car insurance in South Carolina
To help you find the best cheap car insurance in South Carolina, our editorial team gathered quotes from the top auto insurance companies in the state across every ZIP code.
Quotes for minimum coverage meet South Carolina's state minimum requirements of $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person and $50,000 per accident, plus $25,000 in property damage coverage, along with matching uninsured motorist limits. Quotes for full-coverage policies include collision and comprehensive coverage, plus higher liability limits than state minimums.
In addition, we rated the best South Carolina companies based on costs for different drivers, customer service, convenience and coverage availability.
Cheapest full-coverage insurance in South Carolina
State Farm and Auto-Owners are the best cheap companies for full-coverage auto insurance in South Carolina. Both companies have cheap rates averaging $102 per month, and they have high scores for customer satisfaction in the state.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in South Carolina
The average cost of full coverage car insurance in South Carolina is $1,635 per year, or $136 per month.
Cheap full coverage quotes in SC
Company | Monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $102 |
| Auto-Owners | $102 |
| Geico | $106 |
| Farm Bureau | $126 |
| Nationwide | $154 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Cheapest liability-only insurance in South Carolina: Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners has the most affordable quotes for liability only auto insurance in South Carolina. At $37 per month, Auto-Owners has an annual rate that's 39% cheaper than the state average.
The average cost of minimum liability car insurance in South Carolina is $718 per year, or $60 per month.
Cheap SC car insurance companies
Company | Monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
| Auto-Owners | $37 |
|
| Geico | $45 |
|
| State Farm | $45 |
|
| Farm Bureau | $57 |
| Allstate | $73 |
USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Minimum-coverage car insurance policies only include the minimum amount of coverage required, which is 25/50/25 in South Carolina. Full-coverage auto insurance in South Carolina costs $1,635 per year, on average — $917 more than a minimum-coverage policy.
Full-coverage quotes include comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability coverage. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage resulting from incidents beyond your control, such as hail or theft, while collision coverage pays for damage to your own car after an at-fault car crash.
Drivers who choose a minimum-coverage policy would have to pay for damage to their own car after an at-fault accident. That's why full-coverage auto insurance is a better choice for most drivers. You'll need full coverage if you have a car loan or lease.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in South Carolina
Best cheap car insurance for South Carolina teens: Farm Bureau
Farm Bureau has the most affordable rates for young drivers in South Carolina — $134 per month for minimum coverage and $233 per month for full coverage.
Farm Bureau also has some great discounts to help South Carolina students save even more, with discounts for getting good grades, taking a safe driving course or enrolling in telematics tracking.
Teen drivers pay much more for car insurance than older adults, especially if they aren't insured through their parents' policy. An 18-year-old driver in South Carolina can expect to pay more than three times what a 30-year-old driver pays for minimum-coverage car insurance.
Cheapest SC car insurance companies for teens
Company | Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Farm Bureau | $134 | $233 |
| Auto-Owners | $144 | $301 |
| Geico | $145 | $285 |
| State Farm | $148 | $282 |
| Allstate | $193 | $508 |
How to save on auto insurance
-
Consider a combined policy with your parents. A teen driver typically pays much less when they are insured under their parents' policy than a young person who buys their own insurance.
- Ask about discounts. Many insurance companies offer a wide range of discounts for young drivers. Some of the most common savings for young drivers include discounts for installing anti-theft devices, getting good grades in school and being accident-free for a few years.
- Compare rates from multiple companies. There are dozens of companies available in South Carolina that offer great prices and offer free auto insurance quotes. Get quotes from both large and small companies to ensure you're paying the best price.
Cheap car insurance in SC after a ticket: Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners has the best rates for drivers with a speeding ticket, at $102 per month for full coverage. Quotes from Auto-Owners might not increase after a speeding ticket if you have accident forgiveness.
Geico and State Farm also have rates that are much cheaper than the state average.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $102 |
| Geico | $106 |
| State Farm | $108 |
| Farm Bureau | $148 |
| Nationwide | $184 |
A speeding ticket usually increases your auto insurance rates, but it won't increase them as much as an at-fault accident. Car insurance rates in South Carolina increase by 19% after a speeding ticket, compared to 46% after an at-fault accident.
Cheapest quotes after an accident in SC: State Farm
State Farm has the best rates for South Carolina drivers who have been in an at-fault accident. The company could save you 40% on full-coverage auto insurance, compared to the statewide average of $199 per month.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $119 |
| Auto-Owners | $144 |
| Geico | $153 |
| Farm Bureau | $160 |
| Travelers | $212 |
After an accident, your rates may increase by as much as $1,600 a year, depending on your insurance company. Cost differences like these are why you can find the biggest savings by comparing quotes from multiple companies, especially when your policy is up for renewal and there's been a change in your driving record.
Cheap car insurance for teen drivers after a ticket or accident: Geico
Geico offers the cheapest liability-only rates for teen drivers with a bad driving record. Geico's average rates are $145 a month for an 18-year-old with a speeding ticket and $162 after an at-fault accident.
Young drivers in South Carolina can expect their auto insurance rates to go up by about 13% after a speeding ticket and 28% after an accident.
Cheap quotes for 18-year-olds after a ticket or accident
Company | Ticket | Accident |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $145 | $162 |
| State Farm | $160 | $184 |
| Auto-Owners | $168 | $218 |
| Farm Bureau | $168 | $179 |
| Allstate | $267 | $377 |
Cheapest auto insurance after a DUI in SC: State Farm
State Farm offers the most affordable rate for drivers with a DUI, at $108 per month for full coverage, which is 49% less than the state average. Farm Bureau comes in second at $148 per month.
Being caught driving under the influence (DUI) causes car insurance rates to increase more than any other offense. Rates in South Carolina increase by 55% after a DUI, and you'll probably need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in South Carolina.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $108 |
| Farm Bureau | $148 |
| Auto-Owners | $214 |
| Travelers | $225 |
| Allstate | $248 |
Cheap car insurance for drivers with poor credit: State Farm
State Farm offers the best full-coverage rates for South Carolina drivers with a low credit score. The state average is $246 a month, but the average rate from State Farm is 18% cheaper, at $202 per month.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $202 |
| Nationwide | $220 |
| Farm Bureau | $227 |
| Geico | $233 |
| Travelers | $268 |
Your credit score might not have anything to do with your ability to drive a car, but it can impact your car insurance rates. Auto insurance for South Carolina drivers with poor credit is 80% more expensive than for drivers with good credit. That's because drivers with lower credit scores are more likely to file insurance claims, according to insurance companies' data.
Cheap car insurance quotes for married drivers in South Carolina: State Farm
State Farm offers married drivers the best quote in South Carolina, at $1,222 per year for full coverage — 12% below the state average. That's only slightly cheaper than Geico and Auto-Owners.
Statistically, married drivers cause fewer accidents than single drivers, so they get slightly cheaper rates from many insurers. In South Carolina, average quotes for a full-coverage insurance policy are 10% cheaper for married drivers than for single drivers.
Company | Monthly rate per car |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $102 |
| Geico | $102 |
| Auto-Owners | $102 |
| Farm Bureau | $111 |
| Progressive | $140 |
Best car insurance companies in South Carolina
In South Carolina, State Farm has the best customer service scores for car insurance.
Auto-Owners, Farm Bureau and USAA are also top companies, though USAA is only available to current and former members of the military and their families.
Best South Carolina car insurance
Company |
Editor's rating
|
J.D. Power
|
AM Best
|
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | 842 | A++ | |
| Farm Bureau | NR | A | |
| USAA | 881 | A++ | |
| Auto-Owners | 837 | A++ | |
| Geico | 835 | A++ |
When you're shopping for car insurance, choosing a dependable insurance company is as important as finding the lowest rate. Good customer service makes it easier and less stressful to get your life back to normal after something happens to your car.
Average car insurance costs in South Carolina by city
The cheapest car insurance quotes are in Salem, SC, where rates are 17% cheaper than average. Crocketville drivers pay the highest rates of any city — 24% more than average.
The cost of car insurance changes depending on where you live. Cities that are densely populated or have higher crime rates or traffic tend to have some of the most expensive rates. Average full-coverage auto insurance quotes in South Carolina can vary by up to $675 per year, depending on where you live.
Cost of car insurance near you
City | Monthly cost | Change from average |
|---|---|---|
| Abbeville | $124 | -9% |
| Adams Run | $156 | 14% |
| Aiken | $120 | -12% |
| Alcolu | $142 | 5% |
| Allendale | $165 | 21% |
South Carolina auto insurance requirements
Liability-only insurance in South Carolina includes 25/50/25 liability coverage. Bodily injury liability coverage pays for the other driver's injuries after an at-fault crash, and property damage liability coverage pays for the other driver's repairs.
You are also required to have the same amount of uninsured motorist coverage, which pays for your own property damage or injuries if you are in an accident with an uninsured driver or you're the victim of a hit-and-run.
Coverage | Limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury (BI) | $25,000 per person/ $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage (PD) | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist bodily injury | $25,000 per person/ $50,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist property damage | $25,000 per accident |
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest auto insurance company in South Carolina?
Auto-Owners has the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina, at $37 per month for liability-only coverage and $102 per month for full coverage. Your quotes may vary based on a variety of factors, including your driving history and where you live.
How much is car insurance in South Carolina?
The average cost of car insurance in South Carolina is $718 per year, or $60 per month, for a minimum-coverage policy. Full coverage costs an average of $1,635 per year, or $136 per month.
Is car insurance in South Carolina expensive?
No, the average cost for a minimum-coverage car insurance policy in South Carolina is cheap compared to other states. SC ranks as the 33rd cheapest state, with rates averaging $60 per month. The average cost for a full-coverage policy is the 19th cheapest in the country.
How much does car insurance cost in Columbia, SC?
The average cost of car insurance in Columbia is $1,707 per year for full coverage, which is about 4% higher than the state average. That's cheaper than in Charleston, where the average price is $1,773, but more expensive than Greenville's average cost of $1,591.
Methodology
We collected thousands of quotes from ZIP codes across South Carolina from the state's largest insurance companies for a 30-year-old man with a 2015 Honda Civic EX and good credit.
All quotes are based on a full-coverage policy and clean driving record unless otherwise noted. Full-coverage auto insurance quotes include liability limits higher than the state minimums, at 50/100/25 for bodily injury and personal property liability, $10,000 in medpay coverage and collision and comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible.
Rate data for this study is from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes may differ.