Non-owner auto insurance in South Carolina: Which company has the cheapest rates?

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Non-owner car insurance in South Carolina costs $435 per year, which is $82 more than the average nationally, according to a 2023 rate analysis from Insure.com.

In South Carolina, non-owner policies are available from companies such as USAA, American Family and State Farm.

“Non-owner policies provide the minimum coverage required by the state, as well as some optional add-ons, but there are specific requirements by the insurance carriers to provide this coverage in lieu of a traditional auto insurance policy,” says Patti Clement, senior vice president of private client services at HUB International, a leading personal insurance brokerage.

Learn more about the various requirements, what non-owner insurance is, which companies offer it and how much it costs in South Carolina.

How much does non-owner car insurance cost in South Carolina?

Non-owner insurance is usually cheaper than full coverage auto insurance—insurance companies consider non-owner policyholders as less risky because they have minimal access to a vehicle.

On average in the United States, it costs drivers with clean driving records and good credit scores $1,682 a year for a 100/300/100 full coverage insurance policy—$100,000 for injuries you cause in an accident, up to $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 for any damages to property. In South Carolina, full coverage car insurance costs $1,894.

Meanwhile, non-owner car insurance is $353 a year on average in the U.S. and $435 in South Carolina.

But actual rates are based on your age and driving history and also where in South Carolina you live.

Which insurer offers the cheapest non-owner insurance rates in South Carolina?

With an average annual cost of $120, Auto-Owners’ non-owner insurance policy is South Carolina’s most affordable.

At $1,025 a year, Farmers charges the highest rate for non-owner insurance in the state.

To find the best price, compare quotes from different insurance companies. Below is a list of the cheapest non-owner insurance available in the state.

Cheapest non-owner insurance rates in South Carolina

Note that USAA only offers coverage to military members, veterans and their families.

How much is non-owner car insurance in South Carolina by age?

Older drivers have more time behind the wheel than younger, inexperienced drivers and are less likely to be in an accident. Their rates are generally lower than those of younger drivers. On average, South Carolina non-owner insurance costs $448 a year for a 45-year-old, while it’s $1,346 for a 16-year-old driver.

Average non-owner auto insurance rates in South Carolina by age and gender

Auto insurance premiums vary significantly from city to city, so drivers need to be sure they’re getting the best deal. Insure.com has done the research for you. Get more information on auto insurance rates by city below.

Which South Carolina cities have the cheapest non-owner car insurance?

Rates differ from city to city. When insurance companies set rates, they consider the frequency of thefts, collisions and vandalism in an area.

The tables below show which cities in South Carolina have the lowest and highest non-owner car insurance rates.

The 20 South Carolina cities with the lowest non-owner auto insurance rates

The 20 South Carolina cities with the highest non-owner auto insurance rates

How much is non-owner car insurance in South Carolina’s 10 biggest cities?

The largest cities in South Carolina have different non-owner insurance rates. The cost of non-owner insurance in Summerville is the most expensive at $503; Salem has the least expensive prices of the state’s largest cities at $339.

Non-owner auto rates in South Carolina’s 10 largest cities

How non-owner insurance rates in South Carolina compare to rates in other states

Non-owner auto insurance rates also differ from state to state. South Carolina’s average non-owner insurance rate is $435 a year, more than the $353 national average. At $170 per year, South Dakota is the least expensive, followed by Idaho at an average of $190 a year. Iowa is the third most affordable at $193 annually.

Non-owner auto insurance rates in the 10 most populous states

How to get non-owner car insurance in South Carolina

To get a non-owner policy, you need your driver’s license number and a credit or debit card.

To purchase a policy, follow these steps:

1. Contact a car insurance agent about the coverage
2. Supply your basic driving history
3. Review the information you receive on the insurers and rates
4. Choose the policy that best meets your needs
5. Put down a payment to begin coverage

In many cases, you’ll get proof of insurance almost immediately.

For a non-owner auto insurance policy, you’ll have to call an insurance company rather than go online for a quote.

“You must pick up the phone to request a non-owner insurance quote. Although the majority of the major auto insurance providers provide non-owner policies, none of them provide online non-owner insurance estimates,” says Bruce Mohr, senior investment advisor and credit consultant at Fair Credit, a consumer-credit service and consulting company.

Here are a few insurance companies with their phone numbers to call for a non-owner insurance quote.

• State Farm: 800-782-8332
• Geico: 800-207-7847
• Progressive: 888-671-4405
• Allstate: 800-726-6033
• USAA: 800-531-8722

Methodology

Insure.com in 2023 compiled non-owner insurance rates from Quadrant Information Services for a 40-year-old male with a good driving record looking for a state minimum, liability-only policy.

Explore other insurance options in South-Carolina

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Average renters insurance cost in South Carolina

Average homeowners insurance cost in South Carolina

Leslie Kasperowicz

Managing Editor

 

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Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at Insurance.com.