Is car insurance required in South Carolina?

Yes. You need car insurance in South Carolina and it should meet the minimum coverage limit of 25/50/25. You also need an equal amount of uninsured motorist coverage to protect you and your property should you get involved in an accident where the at-fault driver is uninsured. Not having insurance in South Carolina can lead to several penalties and fines.

Do you need car insurance to register a car in South Carolina?

Aside from your original vehicle tax receipt, photo ID, and out-of-state title and registration, you also need insurance to register your car in South Carolina. You can register with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles either in person or through email. You will also need to ensure that the insurance coverage you have meets the state’s minimum requirements.

What is “basic” car insurance in South Carolina?

Basic car insurance in South Carolina refers to the minimum coverage required by law. Every driver must get car insurance that meets statutory requirements. The state’s basic car insurance limits are 25/50/25. That means your policy should have up to $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, up to $50,000 per accident and $25,000 property damage coverage per accident. Additionally, it should also have uninsured motorists coverage of the same amount.

Does insurance follow the car or driver in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, insurance may apply to the <a href="https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2014/06/05/249762.htm" target="_blank">driver or the car</a> depending on the type of coverage and the insurance provider. The types of insurance coverage that follow the vehicle include personal injury liability, bodily injury liability and uninsured motorist coverage.

Can you get car insurance without a license in South Carolina?

Yes, you can get car insurance in South Carolina even if you do not have a license . However. You may need to list yourself as an excluded driver. While it might not be easy to secure insurance coverage without one, it is not a legal requirement in most states.

Is South Carolina a no-fault State and what does this mean?

No. There are only 12 no-fault states and South Carolina is not among them. This means that you will not be compensated by your insurance company when an accident happens if you are the one at fault.

Is PIP coverage required in South Carolina?

No. You do not need PIP insurance coverage in South Carolina. This form of coverage protects you in case of getting injured in an accident. However, it is not a requirement in South Carolina.

Does South Carolina require uninsured motorist insurance?

You need uninsured motorist insurance in South Carolina. The limits should be the same as the minimum liability coverage, at 25/50/25. You can make additional purchases if you wish to increase these limits as well.

Does South Carolina allow for diminished value compensation after an accident?

Yes. South Carolina allows drivers to <a href="https://dvcheck.com/diminished-value-claim-south-carolina/" target="_blank">file diminished value claims</a> for accidents caused by third-party motorists. The limitation is three years after the date of the accident. You are not eligible for diminished value compensation if you are the one who caused the accident.

How do car insurance requirements change after a DUI in South Carolina?

While there is no legal requirement for insurance companies to increase costs after a DUI, most insurers will treat you as a high-risk driver, and you will end up paying more. In addition, if you get an SR-22 form filed, your rates may also be high in the future.

What is a CARCO inspection and is it required?

<a href="https://www.carcogroup.com/policyholder-resources/faqs" target="_blank">CARCO inspection</a> is a pre-insurance assessment of your car carried out to determine its general condition. The process is typically done free of charge and takes about 15 minutes. Unfortunately, the inspection is compulsory in only five countries and South Carolina is not among them.

South Carolina Minimum Car Insurance Requirements, Penalties and Other Auto Insurance Laws

The minimum car insurance requirement in South Carolina is 25/50/25. Drivers also need to carry uninsured motorist coverage as part of their policy. South Carolina’s car insurance laws require that your policy should have a $25,000 bodily injury limit per person to a maximum of $50,000 per accident plus $25,000 in property damage compensation. Failure to meet the requirements may result in penalties and costly administrative fees where license suspension is involved.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in South Carolina
How Much Does Minimum Car Insurance Cost?
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in South Carolina
FAQs

What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in South Carolina?

How much car insurance do you need in South Carolina? The minimum car insurance requirements in the United States differ from one state to the other.

In South Carolina, your policy should include the following requirements:

$25,000 in bodily injury per person
$50,000 for everyone injured in the accident
$25,000 for property damage per accident
25/50/25 uninsured motorists coverage (equal to liability coverage) plus a deductible of $200

It is also compulsory for insurers in South Carolina to provide underinsured motorist coverage, similar to uninsured motorists coverage. Drivers may also buy additional coverage depending on the desired level of protection. In addition, you can purchase additional coverage if you wish to get more protection for yourself and your car.

What Does This Minimum Coverage Mean?

The minimum coverage refers to the standard car insurance requirements that your policy must meet when it comes to car insurance. In most cases, the minimum coverage only meets third-party injury and property damage costs. That means you may need to purchase additional coverage if you wish to protect yourself and your vehicle.

In South Carolina, the minimum liability coverage is 25/50/25. Thus, your policy must have $25,000 per person for bodily injury to a maximum of $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage.

Bodily injury liability covers you from the claims made by third parties injured in an accident where you are at fault. At the same time, property damage coverage protects you from the cost of damage you cause to other people’s property during an accident.

Uninsured motorist coverage protects you if you get injured or your property gets damaged by an uninsured driver. South Carolina car insurance requirements include UM coverage equal to the minimum liability insurance coverage plus a deductible of $200.

Underinsured motorists coverage covers your injuries and property damage if you get involved in an accident with a driver whose insurance coverage is insufficient to cater to the damages and medical costs. South Carolina requires insurance companies to provide underinsured motorists coverage, although it’s not compulsory for you to purchase UM coverage.

How Much Does the Minimum Car Insurance Cost in South Carolina?

Minimum coverage car insurance costs in South Carolina vary from one insurance company to another based on factors like ZIP code, age, driving history and credit score. The average cost of car insurance within the state is $1,139 per year, but your rates may differ according to these factors.

From MoneyGeek’s research, the cheapest car insurance coverage in South Carolina for minimum liability comes from GEICO, costing an average of $470 per annum.

These prices are only estimates based on rates for an average South Carolina driver and should not be used to compare insurance prices.

MoneyGeek calculated the cost for each insurer in South Carolina using a state minimum coverage of 25/50/25 and equivalent uninsured motorist coverage. The policyholder is a 40-year-old male with a good driving history and credit score, residing in South Carolina and driving a 2010 Toyota Camry.

MoneyGeek also ranked the best car insurance companies in South Carolina for those who want strong service and affordable rates.

What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in South Carolina While Leasing a Car?

The minimum car insurance guidelines are standard throughout the state. However, South Carolina’s car leasing insurance requirements may vary from one company to the other. The majority of the companies require a 100/300/50 full coverage policy at a minimum. Be sure to go through the minimum requirements for your leasing company before signing any paperwork.

According to MoneyGeek, the best car insurance coverage in South Carolina should have at least 50/100/50 full coverage limits. If you do not have the right amount of coverage, you may fail to be compensated if you get involved in an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. 10.9% of the drivers in the state are uninsured or underinsured.

Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance in South Carolina

Having car insurance in South Carolina protects you from various penalties and costs which apply to anyone caught driving without insurance. You may decide to purchase car insurance or pay $550 per year for uninsured motorist coverage. Always keep proof of insurance with you in your vehicle because you must prove insurance if a law enforcement officer requests it. You can provide proof either electronically or in printouts.

If you cannot provide proof, you might be jailed, pay a fine of $200 or have your license and car registration revoked. You might also be asked to file an SR-22 form which may impact your car insurance rates negatively in the future.

In summary, these are some of the penalties you will deal with if you are caught without auto insurance in the state:

First Offense:

$550 (uninsured motorist fee)
$100 to $200 fine or imprisonment
Assessment of $5 per day for the lapse in the required insurance coverage
30 days imprisonment if the fine is not paid
Suspension of license and car registration
$200 reinstatement fee and SR-22

Second Offense:

$200 fine and $5 daily without insurance
30 days imprisonment with fine
Suspension of license and car registration
$200 reinstatement fee

Subsequent Offenses:

$5 daily without insurance
Assessment of $5 per day for the lapse in the required insurance coverage
45 days to 6 months imprisonment
Suspension of license and car registration
$200 reinstatement fee

Note that insurance companies may consider you a high-risk driver if you have an SR-22. As a result, you may end up paying more than a driver with a clean record.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance in South Carolina

Some of the frequently asked questions about South Carolina’s car insurance requirements are as follows:

Learn More About Car Insurance

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Mark earned a master’s degree in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.

sources

DVCHECK. "How to File a Diminished Value Claim in South Carolina." Accessed July 13, 2021.
Insurance Information Institute. "2020 Insurance Fact Book." Accessed July 13, 2021.
Insurance Information Institute. "Background on: Compulsory Auto/Uninsured Motorists." Accessed July 13, 2021.
Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists." Accessed July 11, 2021.
Kelly Blue Book. "Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance by State." Accessed July 11, 2021.
Nationwide. "What States Have No-fault Insurance?." Accessed July 13, 2021.
South Carolina Department of Insurance. "Automobile Insurance." Accessed July 13, 2021.
ValuePenguin. "Diminished Value Explained." Accessed July 13, 2021.
ValuePenguin. "Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in South Carolina." Accessed July 13, 2021.