Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina for 2025
Quick Answer
The cheapest car insurance in South Carolina is Safeco’s, costing on average $1,630 annually or $136 per month for minimum coverage. The cheapest full coverage car insurance in South Carolina is from Progressive, averaging $2,256 annually or $188 per month. However, your driving record, age and other factors can all affect the cost of auto insurance in South Carolina.
The cheapest car insurance in South Carolina is Safeco's minimum coverage policy, at $1,630 annually or $136 per month, according to Experian data from January 2025 and based on policies quoted through our automotive insurance marketplace. On average, minimum coverage auto insurance in South Carolina costs $3,144 annually or $262 per month.
The cheapest full coverage car insurance in South Carolina is offered by Progressive and costs $2,256 annually or $188 per month. On average, full coverage car insurance in South Carolina costs $2,313 annually or $192 per month.
Buying minimum coverage car insurance will offer enough protection to meet South Carolina's basic liability insurance requirements. However, if you'd like additional protection, you can buy full coverage car insurance, which includes comprehensive and collision coverage. If your vehicle is leased or financed, you are usually required to carry full coverage on your vehicle until your lease term ends or the vehicle is paid off.
The cost of car insurance in South Carolina may vary depending on several factors:
- Your age (younger drivers typically pay more for car insurance)
- Your driving record (incidents and violations usually mean higher rates)
- Your annual mileage (driving more can cause your premiums to rise)
- The type and amount of coverage you buy
As a result, although our data on the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina can provide a good general guideline, your cost may be higher or lower. To help you find the best rates, take the time to compare insurance quotes from several insurers before purchasing a policy.
Cheapest Minimum Coverage Car Insurance in South Carolina
In South Carolina, as in most states, you must carry a minimum amount of liability coverage in order to drive legally. Liability coverage includes bodily injury liability, which helps pay the cost if you injure someone in an accident, and property damage liability, which helps cover damages you cause to another person's vehicle or property.
South Carolina requires drivers to have minimum liability insurance of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 per accident for property damage. You must also buy uninsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and at least $25,000 per accident for property damage.
You can keep your car insurance costs down by buying only the minimum required insurance coverage, but that may not give you enough protection in case of an accident. In general, insurance experts recommend getting coverage of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injuries and $100,000 for property damage.
Learn more: How Much Car Insurance Do I Need?
The table below shows the carriers offering the cheapest minimum coverage auto insurance policies in South Carolina.
| Carrier | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Safeco | $1,630 | $136 |
| Progressive | $1,692 | $141 |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,745 | $145 |
| Root | $1,840 | $153 |
| GEICO | $2,089 | $174 |
Source: Experian data as of January 2025
Note: Costs above represent insurance quotes, not policy premiums
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in South Carolina
For additional protection, you can buy full coverage auto insurance, which adds comprehensive and collision coverage to your liability insurance. State law doesn't require full coverage insurance; however, your lender or lessor usually requires it if your car is leased or financed.
- Comprehensive coverage pays to repair or replace your car after damage by something other than driving, such as hail, a falling tree, vandalism or theft.
- Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your car due to damage from colliding with another car, object or animal.
Learn more: What Is Full Coverage Car Insurance?
The table below shows the carriers offering the cheapest full coverage auto insurance policies in South Carolina.
| Carrier | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $2,256 | $188 |
| Root | $2,625 | $219 |
| Safeco | $2,661 | $222 |
| GEICO | $2,891 | $241 |
| National General | $3,270 | $272 |
Source: Experian data as of January 2025
Note: Costs above represent insurance quotes, not policy premiums
Cheapest Car Insurance for Young Drivers in South Carolina
Insuring new drivers can come with sticker shock. Younger drivers generally pay more for auto insurance because they're statistically more likely to get into accidents, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). On average, teenage drivers pay $3,512 annually, for car insurance, according to Experian data.
Typically, car insurance rates are highest for 16-year-olds and begin dropping when your child turns 25. Until that time, you can help reduce your car insurance costs by putting your child on your auto insurance instead of getting a separate policy for them. When your teenager is listed on your policy, they benefit from the lower rates you're likely to pay due to years of driving experience, owning a home or being married.
Being a good student can help your teen save on car insurance too. Many insurance companies offer lower auto insurance rates for young drivers who have good grades, attend college far from home without a car, or complete a driver safety course.
On the other hand, your insurance premiums will probably rise if your young driver racks up a record of accidents or moving violations. In this situation, you could save money by buying your child a separate coverage from an insurance company catering to high-risk drivers.
The table below lists the insurance companies offering the cheapest full coverage car insurance in South Carolina for drivers ages 16 to 25.
| Carrier | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $3,377 | $281 |
| Root | $3,486 | $290 |
| GEICO | $3,867 | $322 |
| SAFECO | $4,225 | $352 |
| Liberty Mutual | $4,928 | $411 |
Source: Experian data as of January 2025
Note: Young drivers include those ages 16 to 25; costs above represent insurance quotes, not policy premiums
Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors in South Carolina
In most cases, your car insurance rates gradually drop as you get older and gain more driving experience. Around age 70, however, your premiums are likely to rise again. Drivers ages 70 and up have a higher rate of serious car accidents, which can translate to more insurance claims and higher premiums.
It's still possible for seniors to find cheap car insurance, though. Some carriers offer mature driver discounts for those over a certain age, for instance. You might also earn a discount on car insurance if you're a retired military servicemember or have gone without any accidents for a certain number of years.
The table below shows the car insurance carriers offering the cheapest full coverage car insurance for seniors in South Carolina.
| Carrier | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $1,628 | $136 |
| GEICO | $1,997 | $166 |
| Root | $2,410 | $201 |
| SAFECO | $2,440 | $203 |
| National General | $2,560 | $213 |
Source: Experian data as of January 2025
Note: Senior drivers include those ages 65 and up; costs above represent insurance quotes, not policy premiums
As you get older and your driving habits change, it's wise to reevaluate your car insurance needs. For instance, retiring may mean driving less than in your working years, which could qualify you for savings on a low-mileage auto insurance policy. If your retirement plans include traveling across the country in your RV, on the other hand, you might need RV insurance.
Learn more: How to Buy Car Insurance as a Senior
Car Insurance for Prior Incidents in South Carolina
Being a safe driver can help reduce your chances of having a car accident or getting a traffic citation. A clean driving record can pay off in lower insurance premiums.
Conversely, a driving history including moving violations or accidents (even ones you didn't cause) could peg you as a high-risk driver. To compensate for their increased risk, insurance carriers may raise your auto insurance premiums. Having several car accidents or serious infractions such as DUIs will likely have a bigger impact on your car insurance costs and may even cause your insurer to cancel your coverage.
Learn more: How to Get Affordable Car Insurance as a High-Risk Driver
Even without a pristine driving record, there are options for affordable auto insurance. The table below shows the average cost of auto insurance in South Carolina for drivers with negative marks on their driving records. (Incidents include things like traffic accidents or insurance claims; violations include moving violations, such as speeding tickets.)
| Driving Record | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 Incident | $2,838 |
| 1 Violation | $3,318 |
| 2 Incidents | $2,795 |
| 2 Violations | $3,336 |
| 3+ Incidents | $3,117 |
| 3+ Violations | $3,897 |
Source: Experian data as of January 2025
Note: Costs above are a blended average of full and minimum coverage policies sold through Experian's marketplace
Minimum Required Coverage in South Carolina
South Carolina requires drivers to maintain the following minimum car insurance coverage:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability per accident
- $25,000 bodily injury uninsured motorist coverage per person
- $50,000 bodily injury uninsured motorist coverage per accident
- $25,000 property damage uninsured motorist coverage per accident ($200 deductible)
Car insurance companies in South Carolina are legally required to offer you underinsured motorist coverage, but you don't have to buy it. Underinsured motorist insurance covers you if you're involved in an accident and the other driver doesn't have enough insurance to compensate you for injuries or damages. You're not required to buy underinsured motorist insurance in South Carolina, but most insurance professionals advise purchasing it to protect yourself.
Driving without insurance in South Carolina will result in suspension of your driver's license and registration. You'll have to pay a fee ranging from $100 to $600 to reinstate them.
How to Save Money on Car Insurance
Cutting your car insurance costs means you'll have more money to put toward your financial goals. Here are some ways to save on car insurance.
Raise Your Deductible
The deductible is the amount you're responsible for paying when you file a car insurance claim. You can typically choose a deductible of $250 to $2,000 when you buy car insurance. Increasing your deductible usually lowers your premiums.
However, it's important to make sure you could pay the higher deductible in case of a claim. Assess the state of your emergency fund as well as other financial resources. Your car insurance provider can explain how different deductible amounts would affect your premiums.
Look for Discounts
Start by checking with your current auto insurance carrier to see if they offer any discounts you aren't already using. Also visit other providers' websites to learn what discounts they have available.
Some of the most popular car insurance discounts include savings for bundling home and auto insurance, eliminating paper statements, paying your premium upfront or setting up automatic payments. Some insurance companies also offer discounts for getting your insurance quotes online or signing documents digitally. Be sure to check with your workplace and any membership groups you're part of to see if they offer discounts on car insurance.
Cancel Extra Coverage
You may be paying for car insurance extras you don't really need, such as rental car reimbursement, windshield replacement or roadside assistance coverage. While these add-ons can be nice to have, canceling them can be an easy way to cut your insurance costs. For instance, if your family owns several cars, you may not need rental reimbursement insurance to pay for a rental car while your vehicle is being fixed.
You might also be able to cancel collision and comprehensive coverage if your car is paid off and not worth much. Paying collision and comprehensive premiums for a car worth a few thousand dollars may not be cost-effective, since the most your policy will pay out is the vehicle's value. Before you cancel the coverage, consider whether you could replace or repair your vehicle without insurance if it were totaled.
Learn more: Top Car Insurance Discounts
Reduce Your Mileage
The more time you spend on the road, the more your risk of having a car accident grows. As a result, many car insurance companies offer discounts if you drive fewer than 12,000 miles per year. You can try public transportation, carpooling, walking or biking to help reduce your mileage, or consider switching to remote work if your workplace allows.
Some low-mileage car insurance plans track your mileage via self-reported or third-party odometer readings or devices installed in your vehicle. You may also want to consider pay-per-mile car insurance. This type of policy charges a monthly base rate plus a per-mile charge for each additional mile you drive.
Drive Safely
Keeping your driving record clean can help keep your car insurance costs under control. Make it your goal to go without moving violations or accidents. Look into driving classes if you need to brush up on traffic laws. Many insurance companies offer discounts if you complete an approved safe driving or defensive driving course.
Improve Your Credit
Insurance companies in most states, including South Carolina, can consider your credit-based insurance score when setting your car insurance rates. A poor score could mean paying higher premiums for auto insurance. Your credit-based insurance scores aren't the same as your consumer credit scores; however, they're determined using much of the same information. That means taking steps to improve your consumer credit score could boost your credit-based insurance score, which might save you money on auto insurance.
Compare Prices
Each insurance company uses its own criteria in setting car insurance rates. As a result, the price you're quoted for the same insurance can differ greatly from one provider to another. Comparing quotes from several insurers is a good way to uncover lower prices on car insurance. Make a habit of shopping around with different insurance companies when your current policy is nearing renewal, or at least once a year.
You can get car insurance quotes at insurance company websites or by contacting insurers directly. If you'd like a more efficient way to weigh your options, try Experian's free car insurance comparison tool. You'll get car insurance quotes from multiple top insurance companies in South Carolina all in one place, so you can easily see which carrier offers the lowest price for car insurance.
Methodology
This analysis is based on a review of auto insurance policies and quotes provided through Experian's insurance marketplace. Policy premium and quote averages are based on driver data across all genders and ages unless otherwise noted.
Experian's insurance marketplace matches users with auto insurance coverage from more than 30 carriers across 50 states and Washington, D.C.
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About the author
Karen Axelton
Karen Axelton specializes in writing about business and entrepreneurship. She has created content for companies including American Express, Bank of America, MetLife, Amazon, Cox Media, Intel, Intuit, Microsoft and Xerox.
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