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Nationwide provides the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina at about $1,183 a year. Your specific rates may vary, but the average car insurance premium in South Carolina is $158 per month, according to Insure.com’s rate analysis.

Car insurance is a legal requirement in most states, and South Carolina is no exception. South Carolina drivers are required to carry at least the minimum amount of liability coverage—$25,000 of personal property coverage per person, $25,000 for bodily injury per person and $50,000 for bodily injury per accident.

However, many drivers choose to purchase full coverage car insurance, which provides additional protection in the event of an accident.

Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina by company

Nationwide offers the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina an average of $1,183 per year. It’s 38% less expensive than the average car insurance cost in South Carolina. The rates will vary based on factors such as your driving history, age, ZIP Code and the make and model of your car.

When shopping for auto insurance, compare rates from multiple companies to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Below are the annual rates for car insurance from cheapest car insurance companies.

CompanyAverage annual rates
Nationwide$1,183
Auto-Owners$1,322
USAA$1,348
Travelers$1,397
Geico$1,457
State Farm$1,524
Progressive$1,751
Allstate$2,089
American Family$2,500
Farmers Insurance$4,374

Cheapest ZIP codes for car insurance in South Carolina

29665 ZIP code in South Carolina has the cheapest auto insurance cost at an average price of $1,495 annually. Know the cheapest ZIP codes for car insurance in South Carolina below.

ZIP codeAverage annual rates
29665$1,495
29672$1,497
29630$1,507
29691$1,512
29678$1,527
29631$1,530
29676$1,532
29696$1,535
29693$1,570
29632$1,574

Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina by age

Young drivers in South Carolina tend to pay higher insurance rates than adult drivers because they are more likely to get into accidents and file claims on their insurance policy. A 16-year-old driver pays 284% more than a 40-year-old mature driver in South Carolina, based on Insure.com’s analysis.

The table below shows cheapest car insurance rates for drivers of different ages:

Age groupFull coverage annual premiums
Teen drivers (age 16-19)$5,970
Young drivers (age 20-24)$3,197
Adult drivers (age 25-64)$1,965
Senior drivers (age 65+)$1,935

Read our Guide to car insurance for teens for more information

Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina by driver history

Your driving history is one of the main factors insurers look at when considering insurance rates. If you are responsible for a car accident or get convicted of a driving infraction, your auto insurance premiums will likely go up. However, if you have a clean driving record, insurance companies see you as a low-risk driver and you are likely to get cheap car insurance.

Cheapest car insurance after a speeding ticket in South Carolina

A single speeding ticket can increase your rates by 24% or $424 in South Carolina, based on Insure.com data.

Getting a speeding ticket is never any fun. Not only will you have to pay a fine, but your insurance rates may go up.

But if you’re looking for cheapest car insurance costs in South Carolina, below are some insurers that offer cheap car insurance after a speeding ticket.

CompanyAverage annual premiumNew rate after incident% Increase$ Increase
Geico$1,334$1,3340%$0
Nationwide$1,151$1,38520%$234
State Farm$1,451$1,5597%$108
Auto-Owners$1,293$1,59223%$299
USAA$1,295$1,59623%$301
Travelers$1,432$1,93535%$502
Progressive$1,605$2,03127%$426
Allstate$2,045$2,65230%$608
American Family$2,265$2,73421%$469
Farmers$4,167$5,46531%$1,298

Cheapest car insurance after an accident in South Carolina

State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance rates to drivers after an at-fault accident, at about $1721 a year. 

No one plans on getting into a car accident, but unfortunately, they happen. If you are in an accident and are at fault, you will probably see your car insurance premiums increase. However, this does not mean you can’t shop around to find the best rates.

Below, you’ll see which companies have cheap car insurance for drivers with one accident on their record.

CompanyAverage annual premiumNew rate after incident% Increase$ Increase
State Farm$1,451$1,72119%$269
Nationwide$1,151$1,80557%$654
Auto-Owners$1,293$1,80840%$515
Travelers$1,432$1,88832%$455
USAA$1,295$1,92148%$626
Geico$1,334$1,92544%$591
Progressive$1,605$2,61263%$1,007
American Family$2,265$3,04234%$777
Allstate$2,045$3,35264%$1,307
Farmers$4,167$5,84140%$1,674

Cheapest car insurance after a DUI conviction in South Carolina

If you’ve recently been convicted of a DUI, you may wonder how it will affect your car insurance rates. Most insurers will view you as a high-risk driver and will charge you higher rates.

The table below shows the insurance companies offering cheap car insurance rates to drivers after a DUI conviction.

CompanyAverage annual premiumNew rate after incident% Increase$ Increase
State Farm$1,451$1,5597%$108
Progressive$1,605$1,92520%$320
Travelers$1,432$2,05844%$626
Nationwide$1,151$2,19991%$1,048
USAA$1,295$2,39985%$1,104
American Family$2,265$2,58114%$316
Auto-Owners$1,293$2,676107%$1,383
Allstate$2,045$2,78736%$743
Geico$1,334$3,174138%$1,840
Farmers$4,167$5,26226%$1,095

Average car insurance cost in South Carolina

Full coverage insurance costs more than minimum liability insurance, but the extra cost is worth it for most drivers. The average cost of full coverage car insurance in South Carolina is 13% more than the national average car insurance rates in the U.S.

There are different full coverage limits that a driver can purchase. However, Insure.com editors recommend that every driver should carry 100/300/100 coverage limits.

What is full coverage car insurance in South Carolina?

Full coverage car insurance includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage, as well as comprehensive and collision coverage, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). Collision insurance covers your vehicle if it’s damaged or destroyed in an accident, while comprehensive insurance provides protection against damage that is caused by something other than collisions such as weather or theft.

If you lease or finance your car in South Carolina, your lender may ask you to purchase collision and comprehensive insurance beyond the state-mandated liability coverage. Every state except New Hampshire and Virginia requires drivers to get liability coverage, while comprehensive and collision coverage are optional. However, in Virginia, you have to pay an uninsured motorist fee of $500.

Final thoughts

When it comes to car insurance, everyone is always looking for ways to save. However, skimping on coverage to save a few dollars now could end up costing you dearly down the road.

Make sure you’re adequately protected and take into account your specific needs before buying an auto insurance policy. Car insurance rates vary, make sure to compare insurance rates from various car insurance companies to get the cheapest car insurance coverage in South Carolina

Source:

Methodology

Insure.com gathered the auto insurance rates with the help of Quadrant Information Institute. We collected full coverage car insurance rates from major insurance companies for multiple ZIP codes across South Carolina.

The full coverage auto insurance rates are based on a sample driver profile of a 40-year-old man with a clean driving record and good credit score.