Car Insurance In South Carolina 2026: Laws, Costs, Requirements & Companies

After analyzing the car insurance market in South Carolina I have seen the first hand impact that different Insurance changes in requirements can have on drivers. I’ve also seen the impact that tourism, inclement weather, and dense populations can have on drivers and their insurance premiums. This guide is designed to cover everything you need to know about the laws, requirements, and finding the right coverage for your needs.

Does South Carolina Require Car Insurance?

Yes, South Carolina requires all drivers with a registered motor vehicle to maintain proper liability and uninsured motorist coverage. Failure to do so can result in severe penalties and fines. Legally, drivers have to carry what’s called 25/50/25, which includes:

• Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for injuries or deaths
• Property Damage Liability: $25,000 per accident to cover damage you cause
• Uninsured (UM)

How Much Insurance Should You Get In South Carolina?

State minimums are often considered insufficient, particularly because South Carolina is a high-risk environment, thanks in large part to extreme weather throughout the year, rising traffic density, and the risk of uninsured motorists.

There are other options that drivers can add to their insurance profile to increase protection. While Uninsured (UM) is mandatory, you can add underinsured motorist protection to cover situations where you are involved in an accident with another driver who also carries state minimums and is unable to cover the cost of the damage.

Drivers might also consider full collision and comprehensive insurance to pay for any damages to their vehicle from accidents like single vehicle accidents, where they hit a guardrail, or non-collision accidents like theft.

Full coverage is particularly important in areas like Hilton Head or Charleston, which are regularly impacted by tropical storms that can cause damage from fallen trees.

South Carolina has some of the highest rates of traffic fatalities per mile driven in dense areas along the I-26 and I-95, especially around Myrtle Beach, so full coverage can also help in things like multi-car pileups in these densely populated areas.

How Much Is Car Insurance In South Carolina?

The average cost of minimum coverage to comply with state mandates is between $630 and $700 per year, but full coverage can cost between $1,900 and $250 per year. That said, there are several other factors, including your risk profile, that can influence car insurance costs in South Carolina.

• Low-income Car Insurance: There are no state-funded programs to help low-income drivers, but drivers on a budget can purchase the minimum liability coverage.
• Non-owner car insurance: South Carolina drivers without a car who want coverage for rented or borrowed cars can expect premiums around $31 per month.
• Temporary Car Insurance: A 1-month temporary policy averages $111 in South Carolina.
• Senior Car Insurance (Age 65+): Seniors in South Carolina pay an average of $202 per month for full coverage. Rates go up with age, increasing after 75.
• Teen Car Insurance: South Carolina teens face the highest rates, with around $250 per month for basic coverage and up to $600 per month for full coverage, depending on age/gender.
• SR-22 Insurance: High-risk drivers will pay higher premiums based on the violation or cause of their SR-22 requirement. For example, average monthly premiums might be $83 if drivers received a minor violation, but up to $100 if they were responsible for an at-fault accident. Full coverage can cost $200 per month for high-risk drivers.
• College Students: College students in South Carolina can expect to pay around $300 per month for full coverage, but by age 25, these rates will drop by an average of $10 per month.
• Bad Credit: Bad credit increases prices on car insurance premiums by around 19% in South Carolina.
• With a Speeding Ticket: A single speeding ticket can increase prices for minimum coverage by around 40%.

These figures are general estimates and can vary depending on the insurer and your personal driving profile.

Which Car Insurance Companies Operate In South Carolina?

Many insurance companies are operating in South Carolina, representing a mix of regional and national providers. The following providers offer a range of coverage options and discounts tailored to South Carolina drivers:

• State Farm
• Progressive
• Allstate
• GEICO
• Travelers
• USAA
• Nationwide
• Farmers Insurance
• Liberty Mutual
• American Family Insurance
• South Carolina Farm Bureau (SCFB) Insurance
• Southern Farm Bureau
• Auto-Owners Insurance
• American National
• Direct Auto Insurance
• GAINSCO
• The General
• Greenville Casualty Insurance
• PURE Insurance
• National General Insurance

Note: The South Carolina Department of Insurance offers a company search tool online where you can search for every licensed insurance provider in the state.

You can also compare the above regional or national carrier quotes and coverage details through Insuranceopedia to find the best fit for your needs.

How To Get Lower Insurance Premiums In South Carolina

South Carolina drivers can find ways to take advantage of available discounts and reduce their risk profile for more favorable insurance premiums. Below are some of the top strategies that South Carolina residents can use.

Participate In Telematics Programs

There aren’t many companies that offer specific discounts if you allow an app on your phone or device in your car to monitor your driving behavior. These programs give you discounts based on how safe a driver you are, basically how little you use your phone while driving, how well you maintain safe speeds, and how safely you brake.

Optimize Your Deductibles

South Carolina drivers can increase deductibles to lower monthly premiums by an average of 22%. The savings can be up to 30% depending on how much you change your deductible.

Leverage Affinity And Employer Discounts

There are many insurance providers throughout the state that offer discounts if you are a member of a specific professional organization, alumni association, or corporation. You can check with your HR department or your union to see if any regional or national insurance providers throughout South Carolina give any discounts.

Maintain Continuous Coverage

Make sure that you always have continuous coverage. Even a few days in between one policy and the next can classify you as a high-risk driver, meaning that your premiums will increase for several years. One of the best ways to avoid this is by shopping for a new policy regularly, and long before your current policy expires.

Utilize Low-Mileage Discounts

If you keep your mileage to a minimum, usually less than 7,500 miles per year, you might qualify for low-mileage discounts.

Ask for A “Good Student” Discount

If you add a teen driver (under 25) to your policy, ask about discounts on their premiums if they maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.

Install Anti-Theft Devices

Installing anti-theft devices like alarms and GPS systems can reduce your monthly premiums by an average of 5%.

Proof Of Insurance In South Carolina

All drivers in South Carolina need to maintain continuous liability insurance, or they have to pay the annual fee in order to drive as an uninsured motorist. This means you have to meet the state minimum for your policies and maintain either a digital or a physical copy to present upon request.

Each insurance company in South Carolina is mandated to notify the South Carolina DMV if your policy is canceled or if you have a lapse in your coverage.

Should you get caught without valid insurance, it’s a misdemeanor that results in an immediate suspension of your driver’s license and vehicle registration. Law enforcement will typically confiscate your license plates as well. They can choose to impound your vehicle on the spot.

A first offense can result in up to 30 days in jail, and all subsequent offenses can result in up to six months. If you can’t restore your coverage, you have to pay the uninsured motorist fee of around $600.

Other fines and penalties include court fees, which can be a few hundred dollars, and daily lapse fees, $5 per day for every day that your vehicle does not have insurance.

In order to get your driving privileges back, you’ll need a new policy, an SR22 filed for 3 years, and a clearance notice from the DMV.

South Carolina State Driving Laws

South Carolina has many state driving laws designed to protect pedestrians and drivers, and ensure that everyone on the road meets their respective financial responsibilities. As a traditional at-fault system, there are several key things that every South Carolina driver should know.

Fault State

South Carolina is an at-fault state, which means the insurance company for whichever driver is at fault is responsible for covering damages. They use a comparative negligence system in South Carolina, meaning that you can only recover damages if you are found to be 50% or less at fault.

Drivers Without Insurance

Driving without insurance is a misdemeanor that can include fines, license and registration suspension, and jail time in South Carolina.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage

Uninsured motorist coverage is required for all drivers, with coverage limits equal to the minimum liability limits. Underinsured motorist coverage, however, though offered by insurance providers, is optional.

SR-22s

High-risk drivers may be required to submit an SR22 form for 3 years after accumulating too many points on their record or having their license suspended for driving without insurance.

Self-Insurance

The commissioner of banking and insurance can allow qualified organizations or individuals to provide self-insurance if they can demonstrate substantial financial ability to pay the same as the state-required minimums.

Seat Belt Laws

South Carolina uses a primary enforcement law for seat belt use, which means all occupants in the front seat and all occupants under the age of 17 in all seats must wear a seatbelt; failure to do so is grounds for being pulled over and cited.

Distracted Driving Laws

Texting while driving is against the law in South Carolina for all drivers; however, there are no statewide bans on using handheld cell phones for other purposes.

Teen Driving Laws

South Carolina uses a graduated driver’s license program so drivers can start with a beginner’s permit and then transition to a conditional and special restricted license when they turn 16. restrictions apply to curfews, the number of passengers, and the age of passengers.

DUI Laws

South Carolina has a legal blood alcohol concentration limit of 0.08% for anyone over the age of 21, but driving under the influence can result in fines, a license suspension for 6 months, and jail time or community service.

Statute Of Limitations For Claims

The statute of limitations in South Carolina is 3 years.

When To Report An Accident

Accidents must be reported immediately if they involve injury, death, or property damage worth more than $1,000.

When Is A Car Declared A Total Loss?

In South Carolina, cars are declared a total loss when the estimated repairs exceed 75% of the cash value of the vehicle.

Cancellation/Non-Renewal Notification Laws

Insurance providers must give you at least 60 days’ notice before refusing to renew or canceling your policy, except in the event that you do not pay your premiums.

Defensive Driving

Drivers in South Carolina can complete a state-approved defensive driving course to qualify for insurance discounts and remove up to four points from their driving record.

South Carolina Car Insurance Contact Information

South Carolina drivers should know which organizations handle vehicle insurance and other insurance-related matters so that when the time comes, it’s easier to contact the right department.

1. South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI)

If you are having an issue with your insurance provider, such as a complaint about their behavior, suspected fraud, or you believe that a claim was wrongfully denied, this is where you turn. This is also the department to use if you want to confirm that a particular insurance agent is legally authorized to work in South Carolina.

Contact Information:

• Consumer Services Hotline: (803) 737-6180 or (800) 768-3467 (Toll-free in SC).
• Main Office Phone: (803) 737-6160.
• Fraud Hotline: (888) 953-7283.
• Email: consumers@doi.sc.gov.
• Mailing Address: P.O. Box 100105, Columbia, SC 29202.
• Website: sc.gov.

2. South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV)

The SCDMV is responsible for the majority of vehicle-related issues, including vehicle registration, driver licensing, and liability insurance laws. If you need to register a new vehicle or show proof of insurance to renew your vehicle, this is where you go. This is also your point of contact if you received a notice that the statewide ALIR system could not verify your insurance, or if you need to restore your driving privileges after you faced a suspension because of a lack of insurance.

Contact Information:

• General Information & Help: (803) 896-5000.
• Insurance Verification Unit: (803) 896-5000.
• Website: scdmvonline.com (Note: Changing to dmv.sc.gov starting Jan. 5, 2026).

3. Associated Auto Insurers Plan of South Carolina (AAIPSC)

If you are now considered a high-risk driver because you were convicted of driving without insurance, issued a DUI, or had any other high-risk mark on your record, you still have to maintain state-mandated minimum coverage. However, if you have tried to do that through the open market and received several denials, then you can use the state’s plan for high-risk drivers.

Contact Information:

• Phone: (866) 560-4100.

4. Local County Offices (Taxes)

For South Carolina drivers, your vehicle registration is directly tied to your county property taxes, so any vehicle property tax has to be paid here before you can register a new vehicle or renew your current registration with the DMV.

Contact Information:

• Varies by county (e.g., Greenville, Charleston, Richland). Contact your local County Auditor or Treasurer.

Common South Carolina Car-Related Crime And Fatalities

During the pandemic, South Carolina saw a significant increase in vehicle thefts and car accidents, with many causes, including failure to yield, speeding, drunk driving, and more.

South Carolina Traffic Fatality Facts

In 2025, South Carolina had close to 900 traffic fatalities for the year. The year prior, they experienced over 1,000. Drivers are at different risks for accidents and fatalities depending on where in South Carolina they live; Spartanburg County has the highest number of regional traffic fatalities, followed by Horry and Charleston.

There are several factors involved in the high risk of traffic fatalities throughout the state. For starters, nearly 54% of all car accident fatality victims were not wearing seat belts. Nearly 40% of traffic fatalities involved drugs or alcohol. However, the leading cause of accidents and car accident fatalities in South Carolina is speeding; South Carolina has historically been ranked the state with some of the highest speeding-related fatalities across the United States.

Vehicle Theft Trends In South Carolina

South Carolina is currently ranked 19th for vehicle thefts with an average of 92 thefts per 100,000 residents. 2025 saw the lowest decline in the last 30 years, though there are still several high-risk areas, including Myrtle Beach, Columbia, and Charleston, where residents should strongly consider insurance coverage to protect against theft.