Average Cost of Car Insurance in South Carolina for 2026

South Carolina car insurance costs more than in most states, with drivers paying higher premiums due to frequent severe weather events and the state's above-average uninsured motorist rate. Your specific rate depends heavily on your location within South Carolina, age, driving experience and coverage choices.

Jump to factors you can control today:

• Cost of Car Insurance in South Carolina by Company
• Cost by Coverage Level

Jump to factors that are fixed (for now):

• Cost by City
• Cost by Age and Gender
• Cost by Driving Record
• Cost by Credit Score
• Cost by Vehicle

Car insurance in South Carolina ranges from $66 per month for minimum coverage to $130 for full coverage. South Carolina drivers pay $64 above the national average annually for minimum coverage and $66 above for full coverage.

There are 34 states that have cheaper full coverage than South Carolina, which ranks 35 out of 51 for affordability at $130 per month. South Carolina sits between Utah at $127 per month and Kentucky at $132 per month, putting it in the moderately expensive category. With only 16 states costing more, drivers can expect middle-of-the-road pricing compared to the national range of $75 per month in Vermont to $243 per month in Florida.

Some South Carolina drivers carry no insurance. This forces insurers to charge more for uninsured motorist coverage, which the state mandates for all policies. South Carolina's coastal location makes it a prime target for hurricanes and severe storms that generate hundreds of millions in annual claims.

Weather-related damage from hurricanes like Florence and Dorian pushed premiums up across all coverage levels in recent years. Charleston County alone saw over $2 billion in insured losses from Hurricane Hugo, and insurers price current policies expecting similar future events. 

Litigation costs have increased 15% annually in South Carolina courts, with personal injury attorneys increasingly targeting auto insurance settlements.

High-risk drivers have even higher increases when these factors combine with poor driving records.

Lower-income drivers often struggle most with these elevated costs, in urban areas where vehicle theft and accident rates increase comprehensive and collision coverage prices. Rate variations between rural and metropolitan areas can exceed $500 annually for the same coverage levels (rates by city).

Full coverage in South Carolina starts at $62 per month with American National and reaches $139 with Progressive, creating a $77 monthly gap that shows why shopping around matters for drivers. Farm Bureau takes second place at $88 per month, while Auto-Owners rounds out the top three affordable options at $96 per month.

American National's rate sits 52% below the state average, making it the standout choice for budget-conscious drivers. These rate differences come from identical driver profiles, so the savings reflect real money you can keep in your pocket by switching carriers.

Read more: Cheapest and Best Car Insurance Companies in South Carolina

Your cheapest insurer in South Carolina depends entirely on your driver profile since no single company offers the lowest rates for everyone. Each insurer uses its own formula to weigh risk factors like your driving record, location, age and vehicle, while companies with larger South Carolina customer bases price profiles differently based on their specific claims data. Some carriers focus on clean-record drivers with aggressive pricing for low-risk profiles, while others specialize in higher-risk drivers who other companies won't cover affordably. Comparing quotes directly remains the only reliable way to find your personal cheapest option among the dozens of insurers operating in South Carolina.

Your coverage level is one of the main cost factors you can control today, along with which company you choose. State minimum liability in South Carolina costs $64 per month, representing the cheapest legal option available. Adding comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible brings your monthly premium to $75, $11 more per month to protect damage to your own vehicle.

Lowering your deductible can cost more than raising liability limits. The most expensive tier in our South Carolina database is 300/500/300 liability with comprehensive and collision at a $1,500 deductible, costing $147 per month.

Drivers in North Charleston pay more for car insurance than anywhere else in South Carolina at $151 per month for full coverage, which is 16% above the state average of $130. Charleston ranks as the second most expensive city at $144 per month, while residents in Greer enjoy the lowest rates at $115 per month. Full coverage car insurance rates span a $36 monthly gap across South Carolina's 10 largest cities. This $432 annual difference means where you live can impact your insurance budget.

North Charleston's high rates stem from its role as a major port city with heavy commercial truck traffic, higher vehicle theft rates and dense urban congestion that increases accident frequency. Greer's more affordable $115 monthly rate reflects its smaller suburban character with lighter traffic and lower crime, creating a $36 monthly or $432 annual savings compared to South Carolina's most expensive city.

Adding a 16-year-old to a family policy in South Carolina costs $7,411 per year for males and $6,984 for females. Male teen drivers pay $427 more annually than their female counterparts on family coverage. Age and gender affect car insurance rates differently across the state.

A 16-year-old male on a family policy pays $7,411 per year compared to $8,983 on an individual policy, saving $1,572 annually. Car insurance rates drop steadily as young drivers gain experience through their early 20s and level off around age 25.

Your driving record is fixed in the short term, but violations don't last forever. Drivers with a clean record pay $126 per month for full coverage in South Carolina, while a speeding ticket bumps that cost to $157 per month. This 25% increase costs drivers an extra $372 per year compared to those with spotless records. Violations affect rates for three to five years in South Carolina, though the timeframe varies by violation type.

A DUI conviction creates the highest premium increase, pushing monthly costs to $189 and adding $749 per year compared to a clean record. Violations raise rates because they signal higher risk to insurers, who respond by increasing premiums for high-risk drivers and may require SR-22 filings for serious offenses.

Multiple violations narrow your insurer options in South Carolina and can push you into the high-risk category, where rates climb even higher. Drivers this situation can explore specialized high-risk car insurance in South Carolina to find coverage that fits their needs.

Poor credit raises full coverage costs 128% in South Carolina, from $128 per month to $292. South Carolina allows insurers to use credit-based scoring, creating a $164 monthly gap between drivers with good and bad credit.

Improving credit serves as a long-term strategy that reduces premiums over time. Lower-income drivers can benefit from focusing on credit improvement alongside other cost-cutting measures.

Choosing a Ford F-150 over a Tesla Model Y saves South Carolina drivers $804 per year on full coverage car insurance. Before your next purchase, understanding how insurance costs by vehicle vary can help you budget effectively, with full coverage ranging from $149 per month for a Ford F-150 to $216 for a Tesla Model Y. Mid-range sedans like the Honda Civic cost $157 per month, while a Toyota Camry runs $170 monthly for full coverage.

Electric vehicles cost more to insure because their parts and specialized repairs are more expensive than conventional vehicles. The Tesla Model Y's high premiums reflect the costly battery replacements, advanced sensors and proprietary components that require specialized technicians to repair.

Your city, age, driving record and coverage level each affect what you pay for car insurance in South Carolina, with some factors creating more rate changes than others. These variables combine to create cost differences that often surprise South Carolina drivers, as each factor can shift annual premiums by hundreds of dollars.

We used this profile to determine auto insurance costs across all available ZIP codes and cities in the state:

• 40 years old
• Clean driving record
• Good credit
• 2012 Toyota Camry LE

Sections on cost by age and driving record use rates for those specific driver profiles, with all other factors held constant.

Minimum coverage is a state's minimum liability coverage. Full coverage is a policy with 100/300/100 liability limits and a $1,000 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage.