In most cases, non-owner car insurance is a must if you regularly drive rental cars or use car-sharing services. You will also find that you can use it as proof of insurance when you’re getting your license reinstated.
If you have a clean record, the cost of non-owner car insurance in South Carolina is $507 on average per year. Having a DUI on your record, however, could cause the rates to increase to around $613 per year.
In this comprehensive guide, MoneyGeek analyzed quotes from several car insurance companies offering a non-owner car insurance policy. We also give you different scenarios to help you decide whether it’s a smart financial move to get non-owner liability car insurance in South Carolina.
Cheapest Non-Owner Car Insurance Companies in South Carolina
Though non-owner car insurance is already much cheaper than traditional car insurance, it pays to shop for different options in the market to save even more. You can use South Carolina’s own price comparison tool to compare your options.
MoneyGeek found that the cheapest companies on average for non-car owner insurance in South Carolina are the following:
- GEICO: $192 per year
- Progressive: $509 per year
On the other hand, Nationwide offers the most expensive non-owner car insurance policies in South Carolina at an average of $924 per year.
The insurance costs in this analysis are for a 40-year-old with a clean record getting a non-owner car insurance policy with the limits detailed in MoneyGeek’s methodology.
Cheapest Non-Owner Car Insurance Companies in South Carolina
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- CompanyAnnual PremiumMonthly Premium
- GEICO$192$16
- USAA$352$29
- Progressive$509$42
- Travelers$516$43
- State Farm$551$46
How Much Is Non-Owner Car Insurance in South Carolina?
The average cost of non-car owner insurance in South Carolina is $507 per year, which is $208 cheaper than traditional car insurance, costing an average of $715 annually.
On the other hand, drivers with a DUI on their record will spend an average of $613 per year for non-car owner insurance in South Carolina. This is cheaper by around $493 compared to drivers with a DUI who purchase a traditional car insurance policy, which costs an average of $1,106 annually.
Cheapest SR-22 Non-Owner Car Insurance Companies in South Carolina
When you get caught driving under the influence, your license could be suspended, and you would need to file an SR-22 to get it reinstated. Filing an SR-22 in South Carolina requires that you submit proof of insurance. If you don’t own a car, the most affordable option for you is to get non-owner car insurance.
On average, the cheapest non-owner SR-22 car insurance for drivers with a DUI in South Carolina can be purchased from the following companies:
- GEICO: $340 per year
- State Farm: $551 per year
The most expensive option, on the other hand, can be purchased from Nationwide at around $924 per year.
Cheapest SR-22 Non-Owner Car Insurance Companies in South Carolina
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- CompanyAnnual PremiumMonthly Premium
- GEICO$340$28
- State Farm$551$46
- USAA$564$47
- Travelers$638$53
- Progressive$660$55
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What Is Non-Owner Car Insurance in South Carolina?
If you don’t have a car but regularly drive, non-owner liability insurance will cover damages and injuries caused by an accident. Uninsured motorist coverage is also required in South Carolina in case of accidents where the other driver has no insurance. Unlike full coverage, non-owner car insurance does not include comprehensive and collision insurance.
When you buy a policy, make sure that it meets the minimum coverage requirements in South Carolina, which include:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability per accident
- $25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person
- $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per accident
- $25,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage
Who Should Get Non-Owner Car Insurance in South Carolina?
Before looking into how to get non-owner car insurance in South Carolina, decide whether this type of policy suits your needs. Usually, drivers who need non-owner car insurance are:
- Those who need insurance to get their license reinstated: When you have a DUI or other severe violation, the state may have to suspend your license. Non-owner car insurance in South Carolina can help you get your license reinstated.
- Those who frequently rent cars or use car-sharing services: It is also ideal to get non-owner car insurance if you regularly rent cars or use a car-sharing service. Protect yourself against a financial shock by getting insurance even without a car.
- Those who temporarily don’t have a car but want to maintain insurance coverage to avoid a lapse: You can avoid coverage lapses by getting non-owner car insurance, which is the best and cheapest option instead of a traditional auto insurance policy. If your coverage does lapse, you may pay much higher rates when you buy your next policy.
Who Shouldn’t Get Non-Owner Car Insurance in South Carolina?
There are circumstances when you may not need to purchase non-owner car insurance. An example is when you’re in Charleston borrowing a car from a friend who already has a full insurance policy. Their coverage could already include anyone driving their vehicle. Additionally, if you only drive rental cars occasionally, you may want rental car insurance instead, which is sufficient.
How to Get Non-Owner Car Insurance in South Carolina
MoneyGeek confirmed that all the companies listed in this guide offer non-owner car insurance. Since you normally cannot get a quote for this type of policy online, the best way to get this information is to reach out to the insurance companies through the contact information listed below.
Contact Non-Owner Car Insurance Companies in South Carolina
- CompanyContact Number
- GEICO800-207-7847
- USAA800-531-8722
- Progressive888-671-4405
- Travelers866-248-9970
- State Farm800-782-8332
- Nationwide877-669-6877
Frequently Asked Questions About South Carolina Non-Owner Car Insurance
By now, you may already know how non-owner car insurance differs from a traditional policy. Knowing the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about non-owner car insurance in South Carolina can help you make a more informed decision.
Methodology
MoneyGeek collected non-owner car insurance rates from companies throughout South Carolina with the help of Quadrant Information Services. To get the averages, we based our calculations on a 40-year-old driver with a safe driving record and the same driver with a DUI record, both getting a non-owner car insurance policy. Other than the minimum car insurance requirements in South Carolina, policies also have liability insurance at the following limits:
- $50,000 in bodily injury liability per person
- $100,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 in property damage liability per accident
This data had the same limits as a traditional car insurance policy.
sources
- South Carolina Department of Insurance. "Automobile Insurance." Accessed October 11, 2021.