Best Car Insurance in South Carolina for 2026

Auto-Owners earns the best car insurance in my South Carolina analysis, with a 4.7/5 MoneyGeek score. American National offers $48 per month for minimum coverage but ranks lowest in customer experience.

Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: April 21, 2026

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Key Takeaways

Auto-Owners earns South Carolina's top MoneyGeek score at 4.7/5 with a 5/5 customer experience score, and it's the best pick for young drivers, those with violations and most adult profiles.

American National offers the cheapest minimum coverage in South Carolina at $34 per month for a clean-record adult, but ranks last in customer experience among the seven South Carolina insurers analyzed, the lowest rating of any featured winner.

Auto-Owners leads the MoneyGeek score across all 10 of South Carolina's most populous cities. North Charleston has the highest premium at $89 per month; Hilton Head Island has the lowest at $69 per month.

HOW I DECIDED ON THE BEST CAR INSURANCE IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Mark Fitzpatrick, Licensed Insurance Producer

I analyzed quotes from seven South Carolina insurers across every ZIP code in the state. South Carolina requires both uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage in addition to standard liability, operates as an at-fault state and allows credit scoring.

American National's customer experience trade-off is worth flagging explicitly: the $34 per month rate is the cheapest in the state, but ranking last for customer experience means real service risk in a coastal state where hurricane and flooding claims are more common.

Affordability is weighted at 60%
Customer experience accounts for 30%
Coverage options make up the remaining 10%

Best Car Insurance Companies in South Carolina

Auto-Owners is the best car insurance company in South Carolina, earning a 4.7/5 MoneyGeek score and ranking No. 1 for customer experience among the seven insurers I analyzed.

American National is the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina, averaging $48 per month, but it ranks last in customer experience. It's a real limitation in a coastal state where hurricane and flooding claims are common. The $20-per-month gap between the two at minimum coverage adds up to $240 per year; for most South Carolina drivers, that's worth paying for Auto-Owners' stronger claims support.


Auto Owners	4.65	$75	1	5
Travelers	4.44	$96	2	4
Farm Bureau	4.33	$66	4	7
Progressive	4.33	$101	3	2
American National	4.29	$48	11	6

Best Overall and Best for Young Drivers or Those With a Violation

Auto-Owners

Auto-Owners earns the top composite score in my South Carolina analysis, with a 5/5 customer experience score and competitive rates across the widest range of profiles. It wins best score for clean-record adults ($53 per month), young drivers ($113 per month), speeding ticket holders ($60 per month), accident-affected drivers ($78 per month), low-income drivers ($69 per month), new-car drivers ($65 per month), old-car drivers ($40 per month) and senior drivers ($87 per month). No other featured winner in South Carolina holds best-score designations across that many age, violation and vehicle profiles.

Its 5/5 customer experience score in South Carolina is the highest of any insurer I analyzed. It ranks No. 1 in U.S. News' auto insurer rankings and consistently earns strong reviews for local agent responsiveness during claims. In South Carolina, hurricane season and coastal flooding generate above-average comprehensive claim volume in the Charleston and Myrtle Beach corridors, so claims support quality matters more than it does in inland markets. Its add-on menu includes diminished value protection, which pays for depreciation in a vehicle's resale value after it is repaired.

Affordability (60%): 4.7/5
Customer Experience (30%): 5/5
Coverage Options (10%): 3.4/5

Don’t pick Auto-Owners if the lowest violation rate is your only priority. American National offers the lowest rates for DUI ($50 per month), speeding tickets ($44 per month) and accidents ($44 per month) in South Carolina, all below Auto-Owners’ rates for the same profiles. The trade-off is a real service quality gap.

Best Cheap for Those With Driving Violations

American National

American National has the lowest violation rates in my South Carolina analysis: $50 per month for DUI, $44 per month for speeding tickets and accidents, and $34 per month for clean-record adults. For South Carolina drivers with a violation record who need the lowest possible rate, American National is the most affordable option I found in the state.

American National ranks last in customer experience among the South Carolina insurers I analyzed, at No. 11, the lowest position of any featured winner in this group. It's a regional carrier with limited public review volume and no established local agent network in South Carolina. For drivers in coastal areas who may file hurricane or flooding claims, that service gap matters more than it does inland. For South Carolina drivers with violations who need the lowest possible rate and file claims infrequently, American National is the right call.

Affordability (60%): 5/5
Customer Experience (30%): 3.3/5
Coverage Options (10%): 3/5

Don't pick American National if you expect to file a claim or live near the South Carolina coast. Its last-place customer experience ranking among the South Carolina insurers I analyzed reflects limited service infrastructure. Auto-Owners' 5/5 customer experience score and local agent network are worth the higher violation rates for drivers who expect claims interactions.

Best Cheap for Drivers With Bad Credit

Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau offers the cheapest bad-credit rate in my South Carolina analysis at $89 per month, $23 per month below Auto-Owners' rate for the same profile. It also has the best overall score for DUI-affected drivers in the state at $54 per month. For South Carolina drivers with bad credit who need the most affordable rate, Farm Bureau's combination of a competitive bad-credit rate and a DUI best-score designation makes it more useful than a rate-only pick.

Farm Bureau ranks fourth on customer experience among the seven South Carolina insurers I analyzed. Its local chapter model means satisfaction varies by area, but fourth place is a real step up from American National's last-place finish. Farm Bureau also offers more coverage options than American National's three add-ons, though its two-add-on menu is still limited. It holds the cheapest young driver rate in South Carolina at $81 per month. For young or bad-credit drivers in inland South Carolina who want the most affordable rate with local chapter access, Farm Bureau is the practical choice.

Affordability (60%): 4.8/5
Customer Experience (30%): 4/5
Coverage Options (10%): 1.3/5

Don't pick Farm Bureau if you need gap insurance or accident forgiveness; its two add-ons include neither. Auto-Owners has the best score for DUI in South Carolina, and its add-on menu includes diminished value protection. At $54 per month minimum for a clean-record adult, Auto-Owners runs $9 more than Farm Bureau's $45 per month.

WHAT IS MY VERDICT?

For most South Carolina drivers, Auto-Owners is the strongest all-around pick. Its 4.7/5 MoneyGeek score, 5/5 customer experience score and broad profile wins make it the top choice in a state where coastal weather means claims service quality matters.

American National is the right call only if the lowest monthly rate is the primary concern: $34 per month is compelling, but ranking last among the seven South Carolina insurers analyzed for customer experience means real service trade-offs in a state prone to hurricanes and flooding. Farm Bureau is the pick for bad-credit drivers: $89 per month is the cheapest rate in South Carolina for that profile, and its 4/5 customer experience score provides reasonable service support for the savings.

MORE SOUTH CAROLINA CAR INSURANCE GUIDES

Best Car Insurance in South Carolina by Driver Profile

My profile analysis shows a clear split: Auto-Owners has the best MoneyGeek score across most driver profiles, while American National has the cheapest rate across nearly every profile. The central question for each driver is whether the $20-per-month difference in rates justifies Auto-Owners' stronger customer experience score.

South Carolina requires both uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage on top of standard 25/50/25 liability minimums, and the state permits credit scoring in rate calculations. Hurricane and coastal flooding exposure make comprehensive coverage more relevant in the Charleston metro and along the coast, where storm-related claims occur more frequently than in inland areas.

Driver Profile	Best Provider	Average Monthly Minimum Coverage	Average Monthly Full Coverage
Adult drivers (26 to 64), clean record	Auto-Owners	$54	$95
Young drivers (16 to 25)	Auto-Owners	$113	$191
Senior drivers (65+)	Auto-Owners	$87	$146
After an at-fault accident	Auto-Owners	$78	$135
After a speeding ticket	Auto-Owners	$60	$106
After a DUI	Farm Bureau	$54	$102
Bad credit	Farm Bureau	$89	$213
Low income	Auto-Owners	$69	$143

South Carolina requires both UM and UIM coverage on every minimum policy, so every driver in the state is protected against at-fault uninsured and underinsured drivers. This mandatory coverage adds to baseline costs but provides real financial protection, particularly in coastal areas where storm-related accidents and total-loss claims are more common.

Best Car Insurance in South Carolina by City

Auto-Owners leads the MoneyGeek score across all 10 of South Carolina's most populous cities, driven by the same combination of high customer experience scores and broad profile wins that earn it the state-level ranking. North Charleston has the highest premium at $89 per month; Hilton Head Island has the lowest at $69 per month.

Hurricane exposure along the South Carolina coast pushes up city-level rates in the Charleston metro. Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville and North Charleston all run above the state average, driven by increased claims risk from storm surge and flooding. Inland cities like Greenville, Rock Hill and Spartanburg have lower average premiums.

City	Best Provider	MoneyGeek Score (/5)	Average Monthly Premium
Charleston	Auto-Owners	4.70	$83
Columbia	Auto-Owners	4.70	$79
Goose Creek	Auto-Owners	4.60	$84
Greenville	Auto-Owners	4.60	$74
Hilton Head Island	Auto-Owners	4.60	$69
Mount Pleasant	Auto-Owners	4.70	$73
North Charleston	Auto-Owners	4.60	$89
Rock Hill	Auto-Owners	4.70	$70
Spartanburg	Auto-Owners	4.70	$70
Summerville	Auto-Owners	4.70	$83

Rates vary by ZIP code within each South Carolina city. Coastal ZIP codes near Charleston and Hilton Head Island can differ from inland ZIP codes based on hurricane exposure and flooding risk. Drivers in the same city may see very different quotes depending on their address.

How to Find the Best Car Insurance in South Carolina

South Carolina requires both UM and UIM coverage on top of standard 25/50/25 liability minimums. The gap between American National at $34 per month and Auto-Owners at $54 per month for minimum coverage is $240 per year. For most South Carolina drivers, that annual savings doesn't offset the customer experience gap between the two insurers, particularly in coastal areas where storm-related claims make responsive claims handling a real priority.

1
Know South Carolina's required coverage stack
South Carolina requires 25/50/25 liability coverage: $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. It also requires both uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage on every policy, and operates as an at-fault state.
2
Consider coastal and hurricane exposure
South Carolina's coastal areas, like Charleston, Hilton Head and surrounding communities, have increased hurricane and flooding risk. Comprehensive coverage pays for hurricane damage, storm surge and flood-related vehicle losses. Auto-Owners' 5/5 customer experience score means stronger claims support when those events occur.
3
Weigh American National's rate against its customer experience
American National's $48-per-month rate is the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina. It ranks last among the seven South Carolina insurers analyzed for customer experience, which means real service risk if you file a claim. In a coastal state where comprehensive claims are more common, that trade-off matters before you choose.
4
Credit affects your rate
South Carolina allows credit scoring in auto insurance rate-setting. Farm Bureau offers the cheapest rate for bad-credit drivers at $89 per month; Travelers earns the best score for that profile at $114 per month. Improving your credit over time can lead to real premium savings.
5
After a DUI, SR-22 is required
Farm Bureau earns the best DUI score in South Carolina at $54 per month; American National is the cheapest for DUI drivers at $50 per month. South Carolina requires SR-22 filing after a DUI conviction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina?

American National offers the cheapest minimum coverage at $34 per month for a clean-record adult. Farm Bureau is the cheapest for bad-credit drivers at $89 per month. American National is also the cheapest for drivers with a DUI at $50 per month.

How much is car insurance in South Carolina on average?

South Carolina rates run above the national average, driven by required UM/UIM coverage, coastal hurricane exposure and elevated medical and repair costs.

What car insurance is required in South Carolina?

South Carolina requires 25/50/25 liability coverage plus both uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. It's an at-fault state.

Does South Carolina require uninsured motorist coverage?

South Carolina requires both uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage on every auto policy.

Does South Carolina allow insurers to use credit scores?

South Carolina permits auto insurers to use credit scores in rate-setting. Farm Bureau offers the cheapest rate for bad-credit drivers at $89 per month; Travelers earns the best score for that profile at $114 per month.

Why is Auto-Owners a stronger pick than American National despite costing more?

Auto-Owners scores 4.7/5 overall and 5/5 on customer experience; American National scores 3.3/5 on customer experience and ranks last among the seven South Carolina insurers I analyzed. That gap matters in a coastal state where hurricane and flooding claims are common. The $20-per-month premium difference is real; the service difference is wider.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for almost a decade, first with LendingTree and now with MoneyGeek, conducting original research on hundreds of insurance companies and millions of insurance rates for insurance shoppers.

He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek, breaking down complex topics so people can have confidence in their purchase. Like all MoneyGeek analysts, Mark collects and analyzes independent cost and consumer experience data on insurance companies to provide objective recommendations in our content that are independent of any of MoneyGeek's insurance company partnerships.

His insights on products ranging from car, home and renters insurance to health and life insurance have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among others.

Mark holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He started his career working in financial risk management at State Street before transitioning to the analysis of the personal insurance market. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

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