How Much Is Car Insurance in South Carolina? (2023 Averages)
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Car insurance rates can vary significantly because of the driver’s profile and policy coverage. For example, the average annual cost for full coverage in South Carolina is $1,139, but a minimum coverage policy costs around $652 per year. Adding a young driver to a policy increases the average yearly rate to $2,855, while drivers with a violation pay about $1,363 annually.
Rates also vary greatly depending on the company. In South Carolina, drivers pay roughly $853 per year if they purchase a full coverage policy from GEICO or as much as $1,380 for the same coverage from Progressive.
The Average Cost of Car Insurance in South Carolina
MoneyGeek analyzed average car insurance costs in South Carolina based on factors that have the most effect on these rates. If you stay in the state, your age and credit score will have the largest impact on how much you pay for car insurance.
To compare the average car insurance costs in South Carolina for different profiles, click below.
Average Costs of Car Insurance in South Carolina
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- DriverAverage Annual PremiumAverage Monthly Premium
- The Average Driver$1,139$95
- Drivers Buying Minimum Coverage$652$54
- Adding a Young Driver$2,855$238
- Drivers With a Violation$1,363$114
- Drivers With Poor Credit$1,858$155
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Why Are Car Insurance Rates Cheap in South Carolina?
Based on MoneyGeek research, South Carolina features cheap car insurance rates due to its low highway density and a lower percentage of uninsured motorists.
Having a low highway density reduces the likelihood of accidents, resulting in lower insurance rates. With the low number of uninsured motorists, you are more likely to be covered in accidents where the third party is at fault.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in South Carolina: Full Coverage vs. Minimum Coverage
How much is car insurance in South Carolina? The cost of car insurance in South Carolina depends on the amount of coverage you purchase. According to MoneyGeek's data, drivers pay an average of $1,139 per year for a full coverage car insurance policy with 100/300/100 limits. Contrarily, a state minimum liability-only policy costs $652 per year on average — $487 lower than full coverage.
Your car insurance costs also vary based on the type of insurance you choose. A liability-only policy costs more than the state minimum liability-only policy but offers more coverage. A full-coverage policy usually has the most expensive rates and comes with the highest limits.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in South Carolina by Coverage Level
The state minimum car insurance policy in South Carolina is the cheapest a driver can purchase. However, drivers may increase their liability coverage to 50/100/50 or 100/300/100 for added protection.
These figures represent the liability coverage levels for your policy, specifically, bodily injury and property damage liability limits. For example, 50/100/50 stands for:
- $50,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability coverage per accident
In addition to standard liability coverage, full coverage car insurance policies feature comprehensive and collision insurance, which covers the cost of damage to your vehicle.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in South Carolina By Company
Car insurance rates vary among providers. In South Carolina, GEICO offers the cheapest full-coverage policy, at an average of $853 per year. GEICO also provides the cheapest liability-only coverage in the state, at $470 per year on average.
USAA is the second-cheapest provider in South Carolina, although it’s exclusively available to military members together with their families.
Nationwide delivers the most expensive liability-only policy on average at $761 per year. Progressive offers the most expensive full-coverage policy at $1,380 per year, on average.
Average Annual Costs of Car Insurance in South Carolina - By Company
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- CompanyMinimum CoverageFull Coverage
- $470$853
- $500$926
- $574$1,055
- $604$1,120
- $743$1,207
How Much Is Car Insurance in South Carolina by Age?
Age significantly influences the cost of car insurance in South Carolina. Young drivers, who are more likely to cause accidents and riskier to insure, pay more on their premiums. Insurers consider first-time drivers less experienced and charge the same costs as young drivers, due to their increased risk on the road.
According to MoneyGeek’s analysis, a 40-year-old driver pays an average of $1,139 per year, while a 16-year-old pays $2,855 for their own coverage for a difference of $1,716 annually. To avoid paying such exorbitant costs, parents can add young drivers to their car insurance plans.
Average Costs of Full Coverage Car Insurance in South Carolina - By Age
How Does Driving History Affect Car Insurance Costs in South Carolina?
Individuals with clean driving records in South Carolina pay less for car insurance than drivers with traffic violations on their profile. Insurers often consider drivers with violations as high risk and charge them higher car insurance prices.
On average, a driver with a clean record pays $1,139 per year. However, an individual with speeding tickets pays $1,363 on average, which is $224 higher. For severe traffic violations such as at-fault accidents or DUIs, you pay even higher rates.
By comparing quotes from different providers, you can find the most affordable rates for drivers with a bad driving record.
Average Costs of Full Coverage Car Insurance in South Carolina - By Driving History
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- Driving ViolationAnnual Premium
- Safe Driver$1,139
- Speeding Ticket$1,363
- At-Fault Accident$1,700
- DUI$1,772
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Credit Scores and the Cost of Car Insurance in South Carolina
Your premiums for car insurance in South Carolina also depend on your credit score. Based on MoneyGeek's research on average costs, drivers with excellent credit pay $898 per year, while individuals with a good score pay $192 more.
Drivers with poor credit scores pay $1,858 — $769 more than the average rate for individuals with good credit. If you have a poor credit score, you can still secure the most affordable car insurance costs by comparing quotes between different carriers.
Average Costs of Full Coverage Car Insurance in South Carolina - By Credit Score
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- Credit ScoreAnnual Premium
- Excellent$898
- Good$1,090
- Fair$1,342
- Below Fair$1,568
- Poor$1,858
How Much Is Car Insurance in Your City?
Car insurance costs differ significantly across states and from city to city. Per MoneyGeek’s research on average car insurance costs, the cheapest city in South Carolina is Charleston at $1,139 per year, while the most expensive is North Charleston at $1,237 per year.
Densely populated cities are more likely to have high car insurance rates, as well as those with a high chance of natural disasters and road accidents.
Average Costs of Full Coverage Car Insurance in South Carolina - By City
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- CityAnnual Premium
- $1,139
- $1,144
- $1,237
Frequently Asked Questions About South Carolina Car Insurance Rates
Are car insurance rates high in South Carolina? Based on MoneyGeek's research, South Carolina is listed as a state with cheap car insurance. We've covered some frequently asked questions to provide a complete sense of car insurance costs in the state.
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