There's no single best car insurance company in South Carolina for every driver. The right choice depends on your driver profile, where you live in the state, and the coverage you need — factors that point different drivers toward different carriers.
Best Car Insurance in South Carolina for 2026
Updated: May 29, 2026
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Our Experience Reviewing South Carolina's Top Car Insurers
Auto-Owners: Best Overall for South Carolina Drivers
If you want strong service without overpaying, Auto-Owners is the most balanced option in South Carolina. At $95/month for full coverage, you're paying $38 less per month than the state average — that's $456 back in your pocket annually — while getting the highest customer experience score of any ranked carrier in the state. That matters most when you actually need to use your insurance: drivers who file claims with Auto-Owners consistently report better experiences than with nearly any competitor here. It's not the absolute cheapest option, but no other S.C. carrier delivers this combination of price and service reliability.
Travelers: Best for Customer Experience Runner-Up
Travelers is worth considering if Auto-Owners isn't available to you and claims service is your priority. At $122/month, you're paying more than Auto-Owners or Farm Bureau for comparable coverage, so the case for Travelers rests almost entirely on its service reputation — which is strong, ranking second among the top five. If you've had a bad claims experience with another insurer and are willing to pay closer to the state average to avoid repeating it, Travelers delivers. But if price and service quality both matter, Auto-Owners is the stronger value.
Farm Bureau: Best Value for Budget-Conscious SC Drivers
At $82/month for full coverage, Farm Bureau costs $51 less per month than the South Carolina state average — nearly $600 in annual savings. For young drivers, who typically face the steepest premiums anywhere, Farm Bureau's $137/month rate is the lowest in the state. The tradeoff is limited coverage options: if you want add-ons like gap insurance or better roadside protection, Farm Bureau's lineup is thin compared to the rest of the top five. But if your goal is solid, affordable coverage without extras you may never use, it's the most cost-efficient choice in South Carolina.
Progressive: Best Coverage Options Among SC's Top Five
Progressive is the right fit if your situation calls for more than a standard policy. It leads the top five on coverage options, which means more flexibility to customize — useful if you have a newer car, carry a loan, or want add-ons like rideshare coverage or a vanishing deductible. That flexibility comes at a price: $135/month is the highest among the top five and slightly above the S.C. state average. You're not paying a huge premium over average, but you are paying more than Auto-Owners for a policy that serves you better primarily if you'll actually use those extra options.
American National: Cheapest Rates in South Carolina
At $64/month for full coverage and $34/month for minimum coverage, American National is the most affordable insurer in South Carolina by a significant margin — $69 less per month than the state average for full coverage, or more than $800 in annual savings. For drivers focused purely on keeping costs down, including those with a DUI who might otherwise face steep surcharges, no carrier in the state comes close on price. The real tradeoff is service: American National ranks 11th in customer experience among all ranked S.C. carriers. If you file a claim, the process may be rougher than with top-rated carriers — so this option suits drivers who are comfortable trading service quality for the lowest possible premium.
Best Car Insurance Companies in South Carolina: Scores and Methodology
| Auto Owners | 4.68 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Travelers | 4.46 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| Farm Bureau | 4.37 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Progressive | 4.33 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| American National | 4.29 | 1 | 11 | 6 |
Why You Can Trust MoneyGeek's South Carolina Ratings
MoneyGeek evaluated insurance companies in South Carolina, including national carriers and Southeast regional insurers. Rankings combine rate analysis, customer feedback, and coverage assessments across three weighted factors. MoneyGeek does not receive compensation tied to which companies rank highest. Rate data comes from Quadrant Information Services, which sources actual insurance filings across every ZIP code.
Affordability (60% of total score): Rate quotes were gathered for multiple driver profiles using a baseline 40-year-old male driver with good credit, a clean driving record, and no prior claims. Quotes covered full coverage at 100/300/100,000 limits with a $1,000 comprehensive and collision deductible, plus South Carolina-minimum coverage. Additional quotes covered young drivers and senior drivers. Driver profiles with violations were also tested, including DUI convictions, at-fault accidents, and speeding tickets, to measure how each carrier prices each category. Affordability scores reflect the carrier's performance across all of these driver profiles, with a baseline adult-driver clean-record rate weighted most heavily.
Customer experience (30% of total score): Customer satisfaction data was compiled from J.D. Power studies (including the 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study and the 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study), AM Best financial strength ratings, and multi-platform review aggregation. NAIC complaint indexes also feed the composite score. J.D. Power scores shown in each carrier section are one input to the composite, not the full ranking.
Coverage options (10% of total score): Coverage scoring measures each provider's range of coverage types and South Carolina-specific add-on availability. Standard coverages (bodily injury liability, property damage liability, uninsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage / PIP, comprehensive coverage, collision coverage) are included in the baseline score. Add-on coverages weighted in the score include accident forgiveness, new car replacement, rideshare endorsements, gap insurance, custom parts coverage, mechanical breakdown insurance, and pay-per-mile or telematics-based programs. Coverages restricted or unavailable under South Carolina law are excluded from the score for all carriers.
Rates and rankings on this page reflect a 40-year-old male driver with good credit and a clean record. Full coverage rates use 100/300/100,000 liability limits with a $1,000 comprehensive and collision deductible. Minimum coverage rates use South Carolina's mandatory 25/50/25 liability limits per S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-140 PLUS mandatory non-waivable UM coverage at 25/50/25 per S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-150 ($200 deductible on UM property damage). SC is a tort state with no PIP mandate; first-party medical is optional MedPay. UIM is offer-reject per S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-160; insurers must offer UIM up to liability limits, insured may decline in writing. The baseline minimum coverage rate includes mandatory non-waivable UM at 25/50/25 but excludes UIM, comprehensive, collision, and MedPay.
USAA is excluded from all rankings because it is available only to military members and their families, which limits its accessibility for most readers.
Similar scores can reflect very different strengths in South Carolina:
- Auto-Owners (4.68/5) and Travelers (4.46/5) post similar composite scores, but Auto-Owners leads on customer experience (5.00 vs. 4.58) while Travelers edges ahead on coverage options (3.93 vs. 3.39).
- Farm Bureau (4.37/5) and Progressive (4.33/5) are separated by just 0.04 points, but Farm Bureau ranks 2nd on affordability while Progressive ranks 2nd on coverage, opposite ends of the value spectrum.
- Travelers (4.46/5) and Farm Bureau (4.37/5) are close in score, but Travelers ranks 6th on affordability versus Farm Bureau's 2nd, reflecting a $40/month full coverage gap ($122 vs. $82).
WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT CAR INSURANCE IN SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina requires every driver to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. And unlike most states, drivers cannot waive it. If you're at fault in an accident, you can still recover damages as long as you're less than 50% responsible.
South Carolina is also unique in its legal pay-to-drive-uninsured option: a $550 annual fee lets drivers skip traditional insurance entirely, which may partly explain why roughly 1 in 10 South Carolina drivers remains uninsured despite the state's relatively low rate.
Given the uninsured motorist requirement and the real possibility of sharing the road with fee-paying uninsured drivers, carrying the state minimum is a floor, not a strategy. Consider higher UM limits if your budget allows.
Best South Carolina Car Insurance Company Ratings
Auto-Owners
Best Overall for South Carolina Drivers
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
4.7/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
3.4/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Full Coverage Rate
$95Average Monthly Minimum Coverage Rate
$53
Travelers
Best for Customer Experience Runner-Up
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.5/5Affordability
4.6/5Customer Experience
3.9/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Full Coverage Rate
$122Average Monthly Minimum Coverage Rate
$70
Farm Bureau
Best Value for Budget-Conscious SC Drivers
MoneyGeek Rating
4.4/ 5
4.9/5Affordability
4/5Customer Experience
2.5/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Full Coverage Rate
$82Average Monthly Minimum Coverage Rate
$44
Progressive
Best Coverage Options Among SC's Top Five
MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
4.1/5Customer Experience
4.8/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Full Coverage Rate
$135Average Monthly Minimum Coverage Rate
$63
American National
Cheapest Rates in South Carolina
MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ 5
5/5Affordability
3.3/5Customer Experience
3/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Full Coverage Rate
$64Average Monthly Minimum Coverage Rate
$34
Rates at South Carolina's Best Car Insurance Companies
Car insurance rates in South Carolina aren't uniform — where you live matters as much as how you drive. Urban areas like Charleston, Columbia, and Myrtle Beach tend to carry higher premiums due to denser traffic, higher claim frequency, and in Myrtle Beach's case, hurricane exposure. Cities like Greenville, Spartanburg, Rock Hill, and North Charleston also run above the state average. If you're in a rural Upstate, Midlands, or Pee Dee ZIP code, you'll likely pay less than drivers in those urban centers. The carrier that offers the best rate in Charleston may not be the best deal in Allendale — which is why comparing quotes for your specific ZIP matters more than going by statewide rankings alone.
American National | $64 | $34 | 52% below SC avg |
Farm Bureau | $82 | $44 | 39% below SC avg |
$95 | $53 | 29% below SC avg | |
$122 | $70 | 8% below SC avg | |
$135 | $63 | 2% above SC avg | |
South Carolina Average | $133 | $69 | — |
National Average | $123 | $59 | — |
South Carolina's state average of $133/month for full coverage runs about $10 above the national average, and minimum coverage averages $69/month — also $10 above the national figure. Those differences are modest, but the range within the state is wide. The cheapest option available, American National at $64/month for full coverage, costs $69 less per month than the state average — that's $828 back per year compared to what a typical SC driver pays. If keeping costs down is your priority, use the South Carolina car insurance calculator to see what rates look like for your ZIP, and compare options for cheap full coverage and cheap liability coverage to find where the real savings are.
Coverage Options at South Carolina's Best Car Insurance Companies
South Carolina requires at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, plus $25,000 for property damage. Uniquely, uninsured motorist coverage at the same limits is mandatory and cannot be waived — a $200 deductible applies to UM property damage claims. South Carolina doesn't require personal injury protection, so your own medical costs aren't automatically covered if you're injured.
The fault standard here is reasonable: you can recover damages as long as you're less than 50% at fault, with your payout reduced by your share of responsibility. About 1 in 10 SC drivers is uninsured — the lowest rate in the Southeast — but South Carolina has an unusual rule that partly explains even that figure: drivers can legally skip traditional insurance by paying the state a $550 annual fee instead. No other state in this series allows it, which is part of why mandatory UM coverage makes sense here.
Bodily injury liability | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Property damage liability | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Uninsured/underinsured motorist | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Medical payments / PIP | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Roadside assistance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
Rental reimbursement | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Accident forgiveness | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
New car replacement | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
Rideshare coverage | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
Gap insurance | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
Custom parts coverage | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
Coverage total | 9/13 | 12/13 | 7/13 | 12/13 | 7/13 |
Comprehensive coverage handles what collision coverage doesn't — theft, weather damage, and animal strikes. In South Carolina, that's particularly relevant: the coast from Charleston to Horry County has taken direct hits from hurricanes including Hugo, Florence, and Helene, and coastal drivers carrying only liability coverage have no protection against those losses. Comprehensive also covers tornado damage across the Midlands and Upstate, hail statewide, and deer collisions in rural areas. All five top-ranked carriers offer it.
Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory in South Carolina and can't be waived, with a $200 deductible on property damage claims. Underinsured motorist coverage is optional but added by default unless you return a signed rejection form. With about 1 in 10 S.C. drivers uninsured — the lowest rate in the Southeast — the risk is lower here than in neighboring states, but if you want limits above the state minimum, Progressive and Travelers offer the most flexible UM/UIM structures among the top five.
For drivers with aftermarket modifications, Progressive is the only top-five carrier in South Carolina that offers custom parts and equipment coverage. If you've invested in upgrades beyond the factory build, a standard policy won't cover them — and Farm Bureau, American National, and Auto-Owners don't offer this add-on at all.
How to Use These Rankings to Find Your Best South Carolina Carrier
The right South Carolina carrier depends on which factor matters most to your situation. Auto-Owners leads on service quality, American National leads on price at $64/month full coverage, and Progressive leads on add-on breadth — each representing a distinct value proposition for SC drivers.
If price is your top priority
American National is the cheapest carrier in South Carolina, with full coverage averaging $64/month and minimum coverage at $34/month, both well below the state average of $133/month for full coverage. For a detailed rate comparison across all ZIP codes, see MoneyGeek's cheapest South Carolina car insurance page.
If you want the best South Carolina claims experience
Auto-Owners earns a perfect 5.00/5 customer experience score, the highest among South Carolina's top-ranked carriers on this page. The carrier's claims satisfaction record and low NAIC complaint index make it the strongest choice for drivers who prioritize responsive service, particularly in coastal areas where weather-related claims are more frequent.
If you want the best balance of price and coverage
Auto-Owners leads South Carolina with a 4.68/5 MoneyGeek score, combining full coverage at $95/month with a perfect 5.00/5 customer experience score. The carrier's rate is 29% below the SC state average, competitive on price while delivering the strongest service record in the top-ranked group.
If you have a young driver in your household
Farm Bureau is the cheapest carrier for young drivers in South Carolina at $137/month for full coverage. For households bundling home and auto, the best home and auto bundle in South Carolina page identifies which carriers offer the strongest combined discounts for SC families.
If you have a DUI or violation
American National is the cheapest carrier for DUI drivers in South Carolina at $91/month for full coverage. SC uses SR-22 (not FR-44, unlike Virginia) per § 56-9-550, filed with the SCDMV for three years; ADSAP completion is required for DUI reinstatement. For carrier options and filing details, see South Carolina SR-22 insurance.
If you live in Charleston
Charleston (Charleston County, coastal historic district) carries urban premiums above the state average. MoneyGeek's cheapest car insurance in Charleston page breaks down rates by carrier for Charleston ZIPs. Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Spartanburg, Rock Hill, and North Charleston do not have dedicated MoneyGeek city pages; use the SC car insurance calculator with a relevant ZIP for those areas.
Best South Carolina Car Insurance: FAQ
What is the minimum car insurance required in South Carolina?
South Carolina requires 25/50/25 liability coverage per S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-140, plus mandatory non-waivable uninsured motorist coverage at 25/50/25 per S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-150, with a $200 deductible on UM property damage. UIM is offer-reject per S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-160; if you don't return a signed decline form, UIM is added by default. SC is a tort state with no PIP mandate; medical payments coverage is optional. SC's 25/50/25 minimums match those in West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Mississippi, and SC is one of few states where UM is mandatory and non-waivable.
What happens if I drive without insurance in South Carolina?
South Carolina has a unique Uninsured Motorist Fund Fee per S.C. Code Ann. § 56-10-510: drivers may pay $550 annually to legally operate uninsured. Drivers who do not pay the fee and drive uninsured face a $100 to $200 fine or 30 days in jail, a $5/day fee per uninsured day (up to $200), license and plate suspension, a $550 reinstatement fee, and mandatory SR-22 filing for three years. The SCDMV enforces continuous coverage and sends suspension notices when policies lapse.
Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in South Carolina?
Yes. Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory and non-waivable at 25/50/25 per S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-150; insurers cannot accept a written rejection. The $200 deductible applies to UM property damage. UIM is separately offer-reject per § 38-77-160. SC's 10.3% uninsured rate is the lowest in the Southeast cluster tracked, but the mandatory UM requirement means every SC driver already carries first-party protection against uninsured drivers.
How does South Carolina's modified comparative negligence rule affect claims?
Per S.C. Code Ann. § 15-38-15, you can recover damages if you are 50% or less at fault; your award is reduced proportionally by your share of fault. If you are 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. South Carolina shares this 50% bar with Illinois, West Virginia, and Georgia, and it differs from states using a 51% bar (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Louisiana), pure comparative negligence (Kentucky, Mississippi), or pure contributory negligence (Alabama, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia).
What is the difference between SR-22 and FR-44 in South Carolina?
South Carolina uses SR-22 only per S.C. Code Ann. § 56-9-550; the state does not use FR-44, unlike Virginia. An SR-22 is filed by your insurer with the SCDMV for three years following a DUI, DUAC, reckless driving conviction, second or subsequent driving under suspension, 12 or more points in 12 months, or an at-fault accident without insurance. The filing period runs from your reinstatement date, and any coverage lapse restarts the clock. ADSAP completion is required for DUI reinstatement. See South Carolina SR-22 insurance for carrier options.
What is the South Carolina Uninsured Motorist Fund Fee?
Per S.C. Code Ann. § 56-10-510, South Carolina drivers may pay $550 annually to legally drive uninsured. The fee goes into the SC Uninsured Motorist Fund and is distributed to insurers writing bodily injury and property damage liability coverage in SC per S.C. Code Ann. §§ 38-77-151 through 38-77-155. The purpose is to reduce the cost of UM coverage for insured drivers. This fee is unique to South Carolina in this build series; no other state in the series offers a legal opt-out from the insurance requirement by paying a flat annual fee.
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured Motorists." Accessed May 2026.
- J.D. Power. "2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study." Accessed May 2026.
- J.D. Power. "2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study." Accessed May 2026.
- S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-140 — Mandatory liability minimum (25/50/25). Accessed May 2026.
- S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-150 — Mandatory non-waivable UM coverage at 25/50/25. Accessed May 2026.
- S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-160 — UIM offer-reject. Accessed May 2026.
- S.C. Code Ann. § 56-10-510 — Uninsured Motorist Fund Fee ($550/year). Accessed May 2026.
- S.C. Code Ann. § 15-38-15 — Modified comparative negligence with 50% bar. Accessed May 2026.
- South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. "FAQ." Accessed May 2026.
For the complete breakdown of MoneyGeek's scoring weights and rate baseline construction, see our full auto insurance methodology.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he has produced original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.
Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.
Fitzpatrick earned his degrees from Johns Hopkins University (M.A. Economics and International Relations) and Boston College (B.A.). He began his career in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.