The cheapest car insurance companies in South Carolina are American National Insurance, GEICO, and Auto-Owners. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive car insurance in South Carolina is $2,911 per year, so it pays to compare quotes.
Cheap car insurance in South Carolina isn’t too hard to find, especially when you shop around to get the most bang for your buck. The average difference between the highest and lowest quotes for the same full coverage policy is $7,423 per year in South Carolina, for example, so drivers who shop around can potentially save a lot. With that in mind, WalletHub has analyzed quotes from all major insurance companies for multiple driver profiles and South Carolina zip codes to bring you the best cheap auto insurance in SC. You can check out our recommendations below, as well as compare the cheapest options to the best overall car insurance companies in South Carolina to make sure you find the right fit for your particular needs.
Cheapest Insurance Rates by Category
Cheap for Good Drivers
Cheap for Full Coverage
Cheap for Speeding Ticket
Cheap for One At-Fault Accident
Cheap for Poor Credit
Cheap for Drivers with a DUI
Cheap for Married Drivers
Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina for Good Drivers
American National Insurance has the cheapest car insurance for most good drivers in South Carolina. Drivers who have never had an accident or received a citation are considered good drivers by insurers and pay less for insurance than drivers with bad records. In addition to low rates, good drivers can often qualify for additional discounts from their insurance company.
Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina for Full Coverage
Full coverage refers to a policy that goes beyond the minimum state requirements. Because full coverage protects you in more situations, it costs more than minimum coverage.
After a speeding ticket, most drivers will see their insurance rates go up for 3-5 years. It’s important to keep in mind that each insurance company calculates rates differently, so you should always get multiple quotes in order to make sure that you get the best deal.
Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina for Drivers with One At-Fault Accident
One at-fault accident will usually affect your insurance negatively for 3-5 years as insurers will consider you high-risk. Because of your higher rates, it is even more important to comparison shop.
Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina for Drivers with Poor Credit
A low credit score often flags drivers as higher risk, so insurers will usually charge them more for coverage. However, since insurers use different formulas to calculate premiums, poor credit might affect your rates more with one company than another. Because each insurance company treats credit differently, it pays to compare quotes.
Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina for Drivers with a DUI
Drivers who have a DUI on their record typically experience much higher rates than drivers with a clean driving record or people with a history of less severe violations. A DUI usually affects your insurance rates for 3-10 years, but the violation itself may stay on your driving record for much longer than that.
To identify the cheapest post-DUI insurance companies, WalletHub compared rates for a 45-year-old, single man, with minimum coverage, one DUI, and good credit across major insurers.
Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina for Married Drivers
Married drivers typically enjoy cheaper car insurance rates than drivers who are single. Auto insurance companies generally view drivers who are married as more responsible and less of a risk to insure. To help married drivers further reduce their insurance costs, WalletHub compared major insurance companies’ rates for a 45-year-old, married man with minimum coverage, a clean driving record, and good credit.
Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in South Carolina
The table above reflects the average annual cost of car insurance in South Carolina’s largest cities and towns.
Factors That Affect Car Insurance Premiums in South Carolina
Recap: Cheapest Auto Insurance Companies in South Carolina
The cheapest car insurance company in South Carolina is American National, which charges an average of $45 per month for state-minimum coverage. In addition to being the cheapest auto insurer for YYYYYYYYYY overall, it is the cheapest option for a number of specific categories, such as full coverage and insurance for good drivers.
For your convenience, we’ve summarized the cheapest companies overall below.
6 Tips for How to Get Cheap Car Insurance in South Carolina
1. Compare quotes from both national and regional insurers
Don’t forget to include local insurance companies in your search for cheap car insurance. In South Carolina, regional insurers like Erie Insurance, Alfa Insurance, and Farm Bureau Insurance might have lower rates than national companies like State Farm, GEICO, and Nationwide and have comparable customer satisfaction ratings.
2. Know the factors affecting insurance in South Carolina
Everyone knows that your driving habits and claims history affect how much you pay for car insurance. But in South Carolina, companies can also consider your age, gender, credit history, marital status, and more when setting premiums. The car you drive, your annual mileage, and even some factors beyond your control all impact the price of insurance.
3. Choose coverage that is right for you
You need liability insurance to pay for the other driver’s expenses if you’re at fault in an accident in South Carolina. Collision and comprehensive coverage, on the other hand, are optional and may be unnecessary if you own an older car. Usage-based insurance might be a better fit than a standard policy for low-mileage drivers, and going with a higher deductible or lower coverage limits costs less, too. Don’t skimp on the coverage you need, but do make informed choices. That way, you won’t end up paying for more car insurance than you need.
4. Consider a move
Car insurance prices can vary a lot based on zip code in South Carolina. On average, drivers in the most expensive parts of South Carolina spend about $600 more per year on car insurance than those living in the least expensive areas.
5. Search for discounts
Top car insurance companies in South Carolina have a variety of discounts, so almost anyone can find ways to save. You may be able to get a discount if you’re a student, veteran, good driver, homeowner, willing to go paperless, and more.
6. Maintain coverage
You’ll see higher rates if you let your insurance lapse, even if you don’t own a car. South Carolina drivers who don’t maintain continuous coverage pay an average of 9% more than those with five or more years of insurance history.
Video: Cheap Auto Insurance in South Carolina
Methodology for Selecting the Cheapest Auto Insurance in SC
WalletHub’s analysis of cheap car insurance companies in South Carolina is based on data from the South Carolina DMV and Quadrant Information Services. Together with that data, WalletHub used the characteristics listed below to create 40 different driver profiles designed to identify the cheapest car insurance companies for South Carolina drivers in a collection of key categories. For each profile, WalletHub compared quotes among top South Carolina car insurance companies by averaging premiums from 30 zip codes that represent at least 20% of South Carolina's population. Military-specific companies like USAA were only considered for the military-specific category, due to their eligibility restrictions. In some cases, they may still be the best option overall for eligible drivers.
In the table below, you can see all of the profile characteristics that were used in WalletHub’s analysis, in addition to the specific subset of characteristics that make up our Good Driver profile.
Clean, One Speeding Ticket, One At-Fault Accident, One DUI, Suspended License, Open Container, Red Light Infraction, Reckless Driving, One Not At-Fault Accident
Clean
Miles Driven Per Year
7,500 Miles, 15,000 Miles, 20,000 Miles
15,000 Miles
Coverage Level
Minimum, Standard, Full
Minimum
Discounts
None, Multi-Policy, Homeowner, Student
None
Credit Level
Poor, Good
Good
Filings
None, SR22, FR44
None
Car
Sedan, Minivan, SUV, Coupe, Truck
Sedan
Below are additional details regarding the terminology and specific characteristics of the variables in the above table:
Minimum Coverage: Coverage requirements of $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage liability, as well as $25,000 in uninsured motorist coverage per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage per accident, as required by South Carolina’s minimum coverage requirements.
Standard Coverage: Coverage levels of 50k/100k/25k of liability coverage and 50k/100k/25k of uninsured motorist coverage.
Full Coverage: Coverage levels of 100k/300k/50k of liability coverage, 100k/300k/50k of uninsured motorist coverage, and collision and comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible.
Sedan: 2018 Toyota Camry.
Minivan: 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan.
SUV: 2018 Toyota RAV4.
Coupe: 2018 Ford Mustang.
Truck: 2018 Ford F-150.
Where driver profiles are not specified, WalletHub averaged South Carolina insurance quotes across 40 different driver profiles, using the above variables. Quote information is from Quadrant Information Services and is representative only. Individual rates will be different.
Questions & Answers
Finding the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina can be tough. But you’ve got the knowledgeable WalletHub community on your side. Other consumers have a wealth of knowledge to share, and we encourage everyone to do so while respecting our content guidelines.
Car insurance in Lancaster, South Carolina costs $1,910 per year, or $159 per month, on average. Car insurance in Lancaster is usually less expensive than car insurance in the rest of South Carolina, due to factors like population density and accident rates.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Lancaster, South Carolina
Category
Average Premium
Minimum Coverage
$1,833
Full Coverage
$4,986
Young Driver
$3,079
Senior Driver
$885
Note: The young drivers' premium is based on drivers ages 16-20, while the senior drivers' premium is based on drivers ages 55 and 65. Actual rates will vary.
It's a good idea to compare quotes from multiple car insurance companies if you live in Lancaster and are looking for cheap coverage. On average, drivers in Lancaster can save up to $2,735 by comparing quotes.
Car insurance in Charleston, South Carolina costs $1,973 per year, or $164 per month, on average. Car insurance in Charleston is usually more expensive than car insurance in the rest of South Carolina, due to factors like population density and accident rates.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Charleston, South Carolina
Car insurance in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina costs $1,885 per year, or $157 per month, on average. Car insurance in Mount Pleasant is usually more expensive than car insurance in the rest of South Carolina, due to factors like population density and accident rates.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Car insurance in Rock Hill, South Carolina costs $1,712 per year, or $143 per month, on average. Car insurance in Rock Hill is usually less expensive than car insurance in the rest of South Carolina, due to factors like population density and accident rates.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Rock Hill, South Carolina
Car insurance in Summerville, South Carolina costs $1,961 per year, or $163 per month, on average. Car insurance in Summerville is usually more expensive than car insurance in the rest of South Carolina, due to factors like population density and accident rates.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Summerville, South Carolina
Car insurance in West Columbia, South Carolina costs $1,851 per year, or $154 per month, on average. Car insurance in West Columbia is usually more expensive than car insurance in the rest of South Carolina, due to factors like population density and accident rates.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in West Columbia, South Carolina
Car insurance for a 20-year-old in South Carolina costs an average of $1,933 per year for minimum coverage, while a full coverage policy for a 20-year-old in South Carolina costs an average of $3,811 per year. The company with the cheapest rates for a minimum coverage policy for 20-year-olds in South Carolina is GEICO.
Average Cost of Car Insurance for a 20-Year-Old in South Carolina
To lower your car insurance rates in South Carolina, you can compare quotes, look for discounts, and potentially consider reducing your coverage. How much your specific car insurance policy costs will also depend on your age, your car, and your driving history. As a result, a safer car, defensive driving classes, and improved performance behind the wheel could help you save, too.
On average, full coverage car insurance in South Carolina costs about $2,339 per year. State-minimum coverage costs...
GEICO is one of the cheapest car insurance companies in South Carolina, along with USAA, Auto-Owners, American Family, and State Farm. State-minimum coverage from GEICO costs $34 per month, on average, which is about 94% less than the South Carolina average, and full coverage from GEICO sells at a similar discount. GEICO also offers a variety of discounts that can help South Carolina drivers save even more.
Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina by Company
Yes, you can go to jail for driving without insurance in South Carolina. Drivers who are caught driving without insurance in South Carolina can face up to in jail after, in addition to consequences such as suspension of license and registration.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in South Carolina
Suspension of license until proof of insurance is provided for the first and subsequent offenses
Suspension of registration until proof of insurance is provided for the...
Car Insurance is a necessary expense if you’re a driver, but trying to find the cheapest rates can be a time-consuming process. To gain more insight about getting cheap car insurance while still having quality coverage, WalletHub posed the following questions to a panel of experts in South Carolina. Click on the experts below to view their bios and answers.
What does it say about car insurance companies that so many have celebrity endorsers?
Do you think it’s fair to say that car insurance companies try to mislead customers or is it just marketing?
Is it fair for car insurance companies to consider gender or age when setting premiums?
Is it fair for car insurance companies to consider a driver’s occupation when setting premiums?
Do you think car insurance companies are fair to college students?
What advice do you have for new drivers when it comes to car insurance?
How do you think increased adoption of electric vehicles will change the car insurance landscape?
To what extent has technology disrupted the car insurance industry relative to others?
Hazel Dadanlar Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Management, Wall College of Business Administration, Coastal Carolina University Read More
Ryan Johnson Ph.D., Associate Professor of Accounting, Wofford College Read More
Mike Watson Ed.D., Undergraduate Director, Instructor | Department of Retailing; Senior Faculty Fellows | Center for Integrative and Experiential Learning (CIEL); Store Director, Faculty Liaison | Gamecock iHub, Apple Authorized Campus Store; College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management, University of South Carolina Read More
Joshua Harris MBA, CFP, Visiting Assistant Professor of Finance, Wofford College Read More
James Malm Ph.D., Associate Professor of Finance, School of Business, College of Charleston Read More
Peter Swift Senior Instructor of Business Management, School of Professions, University of South Carolina Beaufort Read More
