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If you are looking for auto insurance in South Carolina, knowing how much it will cost is a promising idea. The average premium for car insurance in South Carolina is $1,894 per year or $158 per month. While the national average is $1,682. There is a difference of $212 more between the national average and the state average.

If you live here, you know that already. But do you know why? There are a range of factors that affect car insurance rates. A few of them are –age group, gender, driving history, credit score, and location where you live.

Apart from the factors which affect auto insurance rates, this guide also talks about the average rate of full coverage in state, companies offering cheap monthly premiums for car insurance, average car insurance rates by cities in South Carolina, and car insurance rates by age group.

Shop around and compare quotes to save money on your auto insurance. Keep reading the guide to make sure the insurance policy does not cost you more than your requirements.

Summary of average car insurance cost in South Carolina
Average annual cost
$1,894
Average per month cost
$158
Average cost for state minimum coverage
$628 / Year
Cheapest car insurance company
Nationwide
($1,183/ Year)
Average cost for young drivers
$3,061 / Year
Average cost for Senior drivers
$1,893 / Year

Key Takeaways

  • The average car insurance cost in South Carolina is $1,894 per year, based on Insure.com’s analysis.
  • In South Carolina, the average premium for car insurance is $158 per month.
  • Nationwide has the cheapest car insurance rates in South Carolina, at an average annual rate of $1,183 a year.

Average car insurance cost in South Carolina per month

In South Carolina, the average premium for car insurance is $158 per month.

The price for the same coverage may differ between companies, which is true of every auto insurance company. When looking for car insurance rates in South Carolina, it is a promising idea to get quotes from many firms.

As per the rate analysis conducted by Insure.com, the company which offers cheapest car insurance premiums in South Carolina is Nationwide. The average annual cost is $1,183 while the average cost per month is $99. The second-best option available is, Auto-Owners, offering insurance at an average per month cost of $110.

The table below lists the other available car insurance companies which offer car insurance in South Carolina, along with their average cost per month and average annual cost.

Company nameAverage per month costAverage annual cost
Nationwide$99$1,183
Auto-Owners$110$1,322
USAA$112$1,348
Travelers$116$1,397
Geico$121$1,457
State Farm$127$1,524
Progressive$146$1,751
Allstate$174$2,089
American Family$208$2,500
Farmers Insurance$364$4,374

Read our guide to best car insurance companies

Average cost of car insurance by coverage levels in South Carolina

The amount of coverage you purchase has an impact on how much car insurance costs in South Carolina. Your premium is determined by your liability limits, as well as whether you want comprehensive and collision coverage.

Liability only insurance protects a third party’s property damage and personal injuries in the event of an accident. In the case of a collision, having only liability coverage on your auto insurance would not cover your injuries or personal property damage since you are the driver responsible for the accident. If your coverage limit is 50/100/50 Liability only, the average cost per year in South Carolina is $793.

When you add more coverage to your policy, your insurance premium increases. As the insurance provider will have to compensate you if you are in an accident or suffer damage in any other manner. Hence, the average cost of full coverage car insurance in South Carolina is $1,894 per year.

For someone who does not own the car, but frequently rents a car, non-owner state minimum liability coverage is best suited. It is like liability-only coverage and covers for property damage and bodily injury caused to another driver. In South Carolina, the average annual cost for non-owner state minimum liability only is $435.

And for those who wish to save money on car insurance premiums can opt to have only the state minimum liability coverage, to be able to legally drive in the state. The state minimum liability only coverage costs $628 per year in South Carolina.

Coverage limitsAverage annual cost
50/100/50 Liability Only$793
100/300/100 Liability with $500 Comp/Coll Deductible$1,894
Non-Owner State Minimum Liability Only$435
State Minimum Liability Only$628

Average car insurance cost in South Carolina by City

Your car insurance premium is determined by a variety of factors, including your state, city, and even ZIP code. The incidence of accidents and the likeliness of vehicle theft or vandalism can influence the overall cost of a city or ZIP code.

The table below depicts the top popular cities in South Carolina:

CityAverage annual cost
Charleston$1,936
Columbia$1,918
North Charleston$1,984
Rock Hill$1,831
Greenville$1,712
Goose Creek$1,900
Sumter$1,958
Florence$1,994
Spartanburg$1,760
Myrtle Beach$1,840

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.

Car insurance rates in South Carolina by city

Average car insurance cost in South Carolina by age of the driver

Age is also a consideration when it comes to auto insurance rates. Teens are more likely to be in automobile accidents than any other generation. For example, the average annual rate for young drivers in South Carolina is $3,061 while for seniors is $1,893. Here, the rate for young drivers is $1,168 more than the rate for senior drivers.

According to statistics, young drivers are more likely to be in a vehicle accident than more experienced drivers. As a result, they are deemed high-risk and costly to insure. They are considered a high-risk driver because of over-speeding and less driving experience on road. Although, premiums start to rise again about age 70 when some aspects of aging start affecting driving abilities.

Average car insurance cost in South Carolina for young drivers

The average car insurance cost for female young drivers in South Carolina is $2,925 per year or $244 per month and rate for a male young driver is $3,197 per year or $266 per month.

The average annual rates for young male and female drivers are listed in the table below:

Age of driverAverage annual cost for Male driversAverage annual cost for Female drivers
18$5,629$5,063
19$4,635$4,157
20$4,057$3,648
21$3,348$3,031
22$3,034$2,775
23$2,883$2,669
24$2,665$2,503
25$2,405$2,326

Average car insurance cost in South Carolina for senior drivers

In South Carolina, the cost of car insurance for senior female driver is $1,890 per year or $157 per month and cost of car insurance for male senior driver is $1,896 per year or $158 per month.

Age of driverAverage annual cost for Male driversAverage annual cost for Female drivers
65$1,824$1,825
70$1,960$1,940
75$2,196$2,122

Read more about senior car insurance

Minimum car insurance requirements in South Carolina

Each state sets its own regulations regarding the minimum amount of car insurance coverage drivers must carry to operate a vehicle legally on the roads. According to information provided by the South Carolina Department of Insurance, the following are the required coverages and minimum coverage limits in South Carolina:

  • Bodily injury per person: $25,000
  • Bodily injury per accident: $50,000
  • Personal property coverage per person: $25,000

Cheapest cars to insure in South Carolina

The Hyundai Venue SE has the lowest average annual insurance premium at $1,309, followed closely by the Mazda CX-30 S at $1,353. The difference in the cost of insuring these two models is $44 annually.

MakeModelAverage annual premium
HyundaiVenue SE$1,309
MazdaCX-30 S$1,353
KiaSeltos EX$1,357
ToyotaC-HR Limited$1,365
SubaruOutback 2.5I$1,385
MazdaCX-5 S$1,399
SubaruForester 2.5I$1,402
ChryslerVoyager LX$1,415
SubaruCrosstrek 2.5I Limited$1,418
ChevroletTrailBlazer ACTIV$1,418

Most expensive cars to insure in South Carolina

The most expensive car to insure on the list is the Maserati Quattroporte, which has an average annual premium of $4,047. However, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive cars to insure is $2,738 annually.

MakeModelAverage annual premium
MaseratiQuattroporte$4,047
BMWM760i xDrive$3,972
AudiR8 5.2L V10 Quattro Performance$3,934
Porsche911 Turbo$3,848
BMWM5$3,804
AudiRS7 Quattro Performance$3,780
AudiRS7 Quattro Prestige$3,745
BMWM8 Competition XDrive$3,742
MaseratiLevante Trofeo$3,687
Porsche718 Boxster Spyder$3,665

Note: For coverage limit: 100/300/50 liability with a $500 comprehensive and collision deductible.

Methodology

Insure.com team worked with Quadrant Information Service to get car insurance data. To determine the average premiums, our team of data analysts and expert editors have analyzed 56,838,240 insurance quotes from 136 insurance companies across 34,523 ZIP codes.

The insurance rates are based on a sample profile of a 40-year-old male driver with a clean driving record and a good insurance score. Quotes premiums are for a full coverage policy with limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $100,000 property damage liability
  • $500 collision/comprehensive deductible

The quoted insurance rates are for comparison purposes, and your individual rates may vary.

How much is car insurance in other states

Alaska$1,359/Year
Alabama$1,542/Year
Arkansas$1,597/Year
Arizona$1,617/Year
California$2,115/Year
Colorado$1,940/Year
Connecticut$1,750/Year
Delaware$2,137/Year
Florida$2,560/Year
Georgia$1,647/Year
Hawaii$1,306/Year
Iowa$1,321/Year
Idaho$1,121/Year
Illinois$1,578/Year
Indiana$1,256/Year
Kansas$1,594/Year
Kentucky$2,105/Year
Louisiana$2,546/Year
Massachusetts$1,538/Year
Maryland$1,640/Year
Maine$1,116/Year
Michigan$2,133/Year
Minnesota$1,493/Year
Missouri$2,104/Year
Mississippi$1,606/Year
Montana$1,692/Year
North Carolina$1,368/Year
North Dakota$1,419/Year
Nebraska$2,018/Year
New Hampshire$1,307/Year
New Jersey$1,901/Year
New Mexico$1,505/Year
Nevada$2,023/Year
New York$2,020/Year
Ohio$1,023/Year
Oklahoma$1,797/Year
Oregon$1,244/Year
Pennsylvania$1,445/Year
Rhode Island$1,845/Year
South Dakota$1,581/Year
Tennessee$1,373/Year
Texas$1,875/Year
Utah$1,469/Year
Virginia$1,321/Year
Vermont$1,158/Year
Washington$1,371/Year
Wisconsin$1,499/Year
West Virginia$1,610/Year
Wyoming$1,736/Year
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