Updated: October 14, 2026
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Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina Overview:
Cheapest Minimum Coverage
American National is cheapest for minimum coverage in South Carolina at $36 a month, $3 less than Farm Bureau at $39. Farm Bureau beats out American National on customer experience, part of which is how these companies handle claims. On a liability-only policy, a company that delays another driver's claim against you leaves you vulnerable to a lawsuit. If you're leaning towards Farm Bureau, keep in mind that it also requires a paid annual membership of $25–40, depending on which South Carolina county you live in.
Cheapest Full Coverage
American National is also cheapest for full coverage at $65 a month, $27 less than Farm Bureau at $92 per month. If you want the best customer service, Auto-Owners ranks 1st and charges $97 for full coverage, $32 more a month ($384 a year) than American National. Customer service means more for a full coverage buyer, since it predicts how smoothly your own collision or comprehensive claim gets handled.
Should You Get Minimum or Full Coverage in South Carolina?
Moving from minimum to full coverage costs just $29 more per month at American National and adds collision and comprehensive to your policy. Comprehensive matters especially in South Carolina, where drivers’ odds of an animal collision claim are 1 in 82. If you lease or finance your car, you're likely required by your lender to carry full coverage.
Every South Carolina policy must include uninsured motorist (UM) coverage at 25/50/25, and 10% of South Carolina drivers were uninsured in 2023. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage — which pays when the at-fault driver’s limits fall short of your medical bills — is offered but not required, but we recommend adding it even to a liability-only policy.
American National | $36 | $65 |
Farm Bureau | $39 | $92 |
Auto-Owners | $54 | $97 |
GEICO | $55 | $108 |
State Farm | $62 | $125 |
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Farm Bureau has cheapest rates to add a 16-year-old driver to a family policy with full coverage in South Carolina, charging $329 a month for both males and female drivers. That rate drops significantly with American National starting at age 17 — meaning you could save $79 per month for males ($948 a year) and $96 for females ($1,152 a year) — if you re-quote the month your child turns 17.
American National’s price comes with 11th-ranked customer experience (3.33/5), which isn't ideal for a teen driver who's statistically more likely to file a claim. Farm Bureau ranks 4th (4.04/5) and offers several discounts for teen and young drivers to cut costs, including good student and youthful driver training discounts.
16 | Farm Bureau | $329 | Farm Bureau | $329 |
17 | American National | $233 | American National | $250 |
18 | American National | $215 | American National | $229 |
19 | American National | $200 | American National | $212 |
20 | American National | $188 | American National | $204 |
21 | American National | $173 | American National | $181 |
22 | American National | $171 | American National | $177 |
23 | American National | $168 | American National | $173 |
24 | American National | $165 | American National | $170 |
25 | American National | $128 | American National | $149 |
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American National is cheapest for seniors in South Carolina at $84 a month for full coverage, $5 less than Farm Bureau at $89. The $5 difference is $60 a year before Farm Bureau’s membership fee, but it buys better handling of a claim, which matters because seniors file claims more often. Skip it if you rarely drive or file claims and want the lowest bill.
South Carolina requires every insurance company to give a rate credit to any driver 25 or older who completes a voluntary, DMV-approved driver training course with at least four hours of classroom instruction. Each insurer sets the amount and lasts at least three years. Ask your insurer about this discount when you get a quote.
American National | $84 |
Farm Bureau | $89 |
GEICO | $127 |
Auto-Owners | $148 |
State Farm | $158 |
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American National is the cheapest insurance company in all 20 of South Carolina's most densely populated cities. Minimum coverage runs from $31 in Aiken to $41 in North Charleston, a $10 monthly difference ($120 a year), with Charleston and Columbia at $38.
Living on the coast doesn’t raise your minimum coverage rate in South Carolina. Hilton Head Island ($33) costs the same as Greenville, Myrtle Beach ($37) is $4 above it, and inland Florence ($40) is the second most expensive city. But minimum coverage won’t help after a storm — wind or flood damage to your car is paid only by comprehensive, which full coverage adds for $29 more a month at American National. If you live in Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head Island or elsewhere along the coast, weigh that $348 a year against what your car is worth.
Aiken | American National | $31 | $371 |
Anderson | American National | $32 | $379 |
Beaufort | American National | $36 | $429 |
Charleston | American National | $38 | $459 |
Columbia | American National | $38 | $458 |
Conway | American National | $38 | $451 |
Florence | American National | $40 | $480 |
Goose Creek | American National | $39 | $470 |
Greenville | American National | $33 | $401 |
Greer | American National | $34 | $402 |
Hilton Head Island | American National | $33 | $400 |
Irmo | American National | $34 | $410 |
Mauldin | American National | $33 | $393 |
Mount Pleasant | American National | $36 | $426 |
Myrtle Beach | American National | $37 | $440 |
North Charleston | American National | $41 | $487 |
Rock Hill | American National | $34 | $409 |
Spartanburg | American National | $33 | $392 |
Summerville | American National | $39 | $471 |
Sumter | American National | $37 | $443 |
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American National charges $93 a month for full coverage after a DUI, the cheapest in South Carolina. American National is also cheapest after a speeding ticket ($83), an at-fault accident ($83) and texting while driving ($75). A DUI suspension brings an SR-22 requirement of three years starting with the date of suspension, filed by your insurance company with the SCDMV. Keep the filing continuous while you switch, and re-shop 30 days before the three-year mark.
For drivers with bad credit, GEICO charges $215 a month for full coverage, $25 less than American National at $240. Dropping to liability-only could save you $123 each month in South Carolina; if you put that money toward paying back debts and building your credit, it amounts to $1,476 a year.
Speeding Ticket | American National | $47 | $83 |
At-Fault Accident | American National | $47 | $83 |
DUI | American National | $52 | $93 |
Texting While Driving | American National | $42 | $75 |
Bad Credit | GEICO | $92 | $215 |
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Switching from State Farm to American National saves $60 a month on full coverage, and dropping to minimum coverage there cuts another $29. Bundling, a driver training course, re-shopping after a violation and rebuilding credit round out other ways to bring down your premium.
American National at $65/month for full coverage is $60 below State Farm at $125, or $720 a year, on identical limits and deductible. After a DUI, the difference between American National ($93) and GEICO ($257) is $164 a month. Add Farm Bureau ($92) to your quotes if you want 4th-ranked claims service for $27 more than American National, plus its membership fee.
Full coverage costs $29 more per month than minimum at American National ($65 vs. $36), or $348 a year. A car worth $3,000 pays out at most $2,000 after a $1,000 deductible, which is less than six years of that difference. A financed or leased car requires full coverage.
State Farm has South Carolina’s cheapest home and auto bundle at $3,493 a year after a 24% discount. That saving covers both policies, and the bundle quotes use 50/100 auto limits rather than this page’s 100/300/100. State Farm’s standalone full coverage is $60 a month above American National, so price the bundle against a separate home policy plus American National before moving your auto.
South Carolina requires every insurer to offer an insurance credit to drivers 25 or older who complete a DMV-approved course of at least four hours, but each insurer sets the percentage. On American National’s $65 full coverage rate, 10% is $6.50 a month ($78 a year). This credit isn’t available if you’re required to carry an SR-22 or already have a driver training discount.
A speeding ticket or at-fault accident adds $18 per month at American National ($65 to $83), $216 a year. On minimum coverage the same ticket adds $11 ($36 to $47), or $132 a year. Quote at the three-year mark instead of waiting for renewal.
American National charges $240 per month to drivers with bad credit and $65 to those with good credit, a $2,100 difference a year. Once your credit improves, request new quotes at your next renewal.
American National is the cheapest at $65 a month for full coverage and $36 for minimum coverage. Farm Bureau is second-cheapest on both at $92 and $39. American National ranks 11th for customer experience, so drivers who want better claims service can pay $32 more a month for Auto-Owners, which ranks 1st, at $97 for full coverage.
Yes, after a DUI suspension, for three years starting with the date of suspension, filed by your insurance company with the SCDMV. American National is cheapest after a DUI at $52 a month for minimum coverage and $93 for full coverage, followed by Farm Bureau at $57 and $107. If your insurer cancels your policy and coverage isn’t verified within 20 business days, the SCDMV suspends your license and registration and you'll have to pay to reinstate it.
South Carolina law doesn’t require it, but a lender will on a financed or leased car. Adding collision and comprehensive costs $29 a month at American National ($65 vs. $36), and is generally recommended by experts, especially in South Carolina, where drivers’ odds of an animal collision claim are 1 in 82.
MoneyGeek analyzed car insurance rates from Quadrant Information Services across 11 insurance companies and all residential ZIP codes in South Carolina.
Mark Fitzpatrick is a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. In nearly a decade covering the insurance market at LendingTree and MoneyGeek, he's analyzed hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR. He draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnerships affect his recommendations.
Mark studied at Boston College and later earned a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He worked in financial risk management at State Street before joining MoneyGeek. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.
