What is the minimum car insurance required in South Carolina?

South Carolina requires 25/50/25 + UM/UIM 25/50/25 — equal liability + UM/UIM minimums. Additional required coverage: UM/UIM 25/50/25 required. Driving without minimum coverage results in license suspension, fines of $500+, and personal liability for any damages. The minimum is the legal floor — most drivers benefit from higher liability limits because state minimums often don't fully cover damages from a serious accident.

What is the average cost of car insurance in South Carolina?

South Carolina drivers pay an average of $209/month ($2,511/year) for full coverage and $84/month ($1,014/year) for minimum coverage. Your specific quote depends on your age, driving record, credit (where allowed), vehicle, and ZIP code — averages are useful for comparison but always quote 3+ carriers for your real rate.

Which car insurance company is cheapest in South Carolina?

For minimum coverage, American National is cheapest at $36/month ($432/year average). Note: GEICO cheapest national carrier at $51/mo min For full coverage, American National (or USAA for military) averages $119/month ($1,428/year).

How can I lower my car insurance in South Carolina?

Five proven tactics: (1) Quote 3+ carriers — switching saves the average driver $300–$500/year. (2) Bundle auto + home for 10–25% off (State Farm leads at 22–23%, ~$1,010/yr avg savings). (3) Increase your deductible from $500 to $1,000 — saves 15–30%. (4) Use telematics — Progressive Snapshot saves safe drivers $322/yr avg, up to 30% off. (5) Stack discounts — multi-vehicle, good driver, paperless, autopay, and pay-annually compound to 30%+ off baseline. In South Carolina specifically, allows credit-based insurance pricing.

Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in South Carolina?

Yes — South Carolina requires uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage by law. Roughly 12–25% of drivers nationally are uninsured (varies by state). UM coverage pays your medical bills and car repairs if you're hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. It typically costs $5–$15/month and is one of the highest-ROI coverages you can add.

Historic pastel-colored buildings in downtown Charleston South Carolina

Verified May 1, 2026·47,000+ readers·Independent rankings

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Quick Answer — South Carolina

Minimum coverage required: 25/50/25 + UM/UIM 25/50/25 — equal liability + UM/UIM minimums
Avg full coverage cost: $209/month ($2,511/year)
Cheapest carrier (minimum): American National — $36/mo avg
Cheapest carrier (full coverage): American National (or USAA for military) — $119/mo avg

What's special about car insurance in South Carolina

Fault-based state
Allows credit-based insurance pricing
Hurricane / coastal risk drives higher comprehensive premiums in coastal SC
Above-national-average rates due to higher claim frequency in the state

South Carolina car insurance at a glance

Feature	Detail	Monthly	Annual
Minimum coverage required	25/50/25 + UM/UIM 25/50/25 — equal liability + UM/UIM minimums	—	—
Avg minimum coverage cost	$84/mo	$1,014/yr	—
Avg full coverage cost	$209/mo	$2,511/yr	—
Cheapest carrier (minimum)	American NationalBest	$36/mo	$432/yr
Cheapest carrier (full coverage)	American National (or USAA for military)Best	$119/mo	$1,428/yr

Which carrier should South Carolina drivers pick?

Match your situation to the right carrier. South Carolina-specific pricing varies by carrier, but the patterns below hold for most drivers.

You want the absolute cheapest minimum coverageAmerican NationalCheapest in South Carolina at $36/mo. GEICO cheapest national carrier at $51/mo min
You want full coverage at the lowest priceAmerican National (or USAA for military)$119/mo full coverage in South Carolina.
You qualify for USAA (military / veteran / family)USAAUSAA is almost always cheapest for eligible members in any state — quote them first.
You bundle auto + homeState Farm23% bundle discount = avg $1,010/yr savings — highest in industry.
You drive defensively + would let an app monitorProgressive (Snapshot)Avg $322/yr savings for safe drivers. Up to 30% off baseline.
You have a high-risk record (DUI, accidents, tickets)ProgressiveSpecialty pricing for non-standard drivers — beats GEICO/State Farm in this tier.

Verified by the WalletGrower Editorial Team — current as of April 2026. We update rates, bonuses, fees, and product details regularly against each provider's published disclosures. Vendors can change offers between our update cycles, so we always recommend confirming the current published rate or bonus on the provider's site before signing up or applying.

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Methodology & sources

All South Carolina data on this page was WebSearch-verified May 2026 against the South Carolina insurance commissioner / DMV and at least one of the following 2026 carrier analyses:

Caveat: Real quotes vary by ZIP code, age, driving record, credit (where allowed), vehicle, and coverage level. The averages cited are useful for cross-carrier comparison but your actual quote will differ — sometimes by hundreds of dollars in either direction. Always quote 3+ carriers before deciding.