The Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina (October 2023)

American National offers the cheapest auto insurance for minimum coverage in South Carolina. Auto-Owners also has the most affordable rates for certain types of drivers.

Those who seek quality service at a reasonable price should consider the top-rated car insurance companies in South Carolina.

The cheapest car insurance companies for a minimum coverage policy in South Carolina are:

• American National: $280 per year
• Auto-Owners: $444 per year

Dairyland offers the most expensive option at $2,163 annually. South Carolina minimum coverage only includes bodily injury liability, property damage liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

A minimum coverage policy covers damages or injuries to others but not damages to your own car. To avoid paying for damages to your car, you'll want a full coverage policy with comprehensive and collision insurance.

MoneyGeek found the following companies have the cheapest full coverage rates in South Carolina:

• American National: $501 per year
• Auto-Owners: $939 per year

Dairyland offers the most expensive, at around $4,119 per year. On average, adding comprehensive and collision coverage to a policy costs around $221.

A full coverage policy offers financial protection from both on-road and off-road incidents.

The amount of car insurance you need will significantly affect your rate. MoneyGeek's sample full coverage policy provides $100,000 in liability protection per person, $300,000 per accident and $100,000 in property damage liability.

If you're looking for extra savings on car insurance, you can choose lower liability limits, drop comprehensive and collision insurance or raise your deductible. However, this can leave you underinsured in case of an accident and result in high out-of-pocket costs.

Although many insurers offer quotes online, getting one can take as long as 15 minutes. You also have to cross-compare multiple website offers to find the best deal.

MoneyGeek’s car insurance calculator can help you get a general idea of what different car insurance companies charge without having to provide any personal information. It's a good tool to start with when shopping for the cheapest car insurance.

Age is one of the biggest factors affecting car insurance rates in South Carolina. MoneyGeek found that Auto-Owners and American National offer the cheapest options on average, depending on what age group you and your family belong to.

The companies offering the most affordable car insurance for teens in South Carolina are:

• Auto-Owners Insurance Co: $2,558 per year for male teens and $2,119 per year for female teens
• State Farm: $2,729 per year for male teens and $2,178 per year for female teens

Teens pay a diminishing car insurance premium as they age, giving 19-year-old drivers the most discount among this age group. South Carolina's cheapest car insurer for 19-year-old males is Auto-Owners Insurance Co ($1,800 per year).

Bristol West offers the most expensive option, at $6,141 for male teens and $6,316 for female teens. Families can save around $2,539 by adding teenagers to their existing auto insurance policy instead of buying a separate policy.

Many insurers offer discounts to young drivers. For example, Allstate offers good student and distant student discounts, which are common across insurers.

Our ranking shows that the companies offering the cheapest car insurance for drivers in their 20s in South Carolina are:

• American National: $593 per year
• South Carolina Farm Bureau: $1,201 per year

Dairyland offers the most expensive full coverage policy, at about $4,696 yearly. On average, younger drivers pay $92 more than middle-aged drivers with American National.

We looked at the cost of auto insurance in South Carolina for seniors and found that the cheapest options come from:

• American National: $524 per year
• South Carolina Farm Bureau: $850 per year

Dairyland offers the highest-priced full coverage policy, costing around $3,606 per year. For full coverage from American National, senior drivers pay $23 more than middle-aged drivers. Note that car insurance rates tend to rise as drivers approach their 70s and 80s.

Seniors can save on car insurance by taking advantage of discounts and comparing rates since insurers consider factors in addition to age when calculating premiums.

American National offers the most affordable full coverage insurance after getting a ticket, being in an accident or being charged with a DUI.

American National is also the cheapest insurer for drivers with poor credit, while Auto-Owners has the most affordable rates for those with sports cars.

The most affordable car insurance companies in South Carolina for drivers with a speeding ticket are:

• American National: $631 per year
• Auto-Owners: $1,032 per year

Dairyland provides full coverage at around $6,173 annually — the most expensive option. Drivers with violations will likely pay approximately $464 more annually for car insurance with American National than those with clean records.

The following car insurance companies are the cheapest for drivers with an at-fault accident in South Carolina:

• American National: $631 per year
• American Family: $1,192 per year

Dairyland’s full coverage policy is the priciest at approximately $6,753. On average, drivers with an at-fault accident on their driving record pay $745 more for car insurance with American National than those who have no accidents.

The companies offering the cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in South Carolina are:

• American National: $706 per year
• American Family: $1,016 per year

Dairyland’s full coverage policy costs around $5,445 per year, making it the most expensive option. Persons with a DUI tend to pay $640 more for car insurance than those with a clean record.

If your credit score is below 580, you can save the most on car insurance from the following companies in South Carolina:

• American National: $1,682 per year
• South Carolina Farm Bureau: $1,740 per year

A full coverage policy from Dairyland may cost around $5,394 and is the most expensive option. Drivers with poor credit pay $1,179 more on average for car insurance than those with credit scores above 750.

Persons with poor credit ratings have a higher-than-average likelihood of filing a claim. To address this, some insurers charge drivers with poor credit scores higher rates. This practice is illegal in some states but not in South Carolina.

Improving your score over time might help you save in the long run. However, if you want immediate savings, look into companies offering discounts for bundling your insurance policies or installing car safety features, such as automatic emergency braking.

Sports car drivers in South Carolina will find the cheapest car insurance from:

• Auto-Owners: $942 per year
• American Family: $953 per year

Dairyland’s full coverage policy is the most expensive at $3,898. A sports car driver generally pays $270 more than a Toyota Camry driver.

MoneyGeek used a Ford Mustang as its sample sports car, but insurance costs can vary depending on what you drive. The car model may not always be a factor that affects price, but premiums for luxury, electric and sports cars may sometimes be higher in some states.

MoneyGeek found that the cheapest car insurance company in South Carolina for active duty or military veterans is American National at around $501 per year.

USAA, the financial services company that caters exclusively to the military community nationwide, costs approximately $1,108.

The cost of car insurance in South Carolina varies by location. Columbia is the cheapest city for car insurance at around $560 per year with American National. Charleston is among the cheapest at $576 with the same insurer.

Most states require you to carry bodily injury liability and property damage liability insurance. You’ll also need uninsured motorist coverage in South Carolina.

In South Carolina, you are only required to purchase a minimum amount of auto insurance. A minimum liability policy includes bodily injury, property damage and uninsured motorist coverage.

Buying the minimum insurance coverage might be a cost-saving option, but it offers less protection. MoneyGeek recommends getting as much liability coverage as you can afford to cover as many costs as possible in case of an accident.

Insurance companies may also require you to secure an SR-22 form, which may mean additional coverage.

MoneyGeek suggests purchasing $100,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per person, $300,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per accident and $100,000 in property damage insurance per accident.

If you finance your car purchase, you will likely have to buy comprehensive and collision insurance. Comprehensive insurance covers damages to your car from accidents, theft or vandalism. Collision insurance covers the cost of repairs for collisions with other vehicles or objects, such as trees and poles.

MoneyGeek recommends that drivers with expensive cars buy comprehensive and collision insurance for added security.

You can drive legally without insurance in South Carolina. However, you may have to provide proof of financial responsibility to the DMV: This includes a surety bond or real estate bond with two real estate owners if the combined equity is a minimum of $150,000 and a Certificate of Deposit from the treasurer’s office of cash or securities worth $35,000.

MoneyGeek answers common questions to help you choose a plan that meets your needs.