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Non-owner auto insurance in South Carolina costs $448 annually, which is $38 less than the average nationally, according to an Insure.com rate analysis.

In South Carolina, non-owner policies are available from companies such as Auto-Owners, GEICO and Travelers.

“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.

Key Takeaways

  • The average non-owner car insurance cost in South Carolina is $37 per month for a 40-year-old male with a good driving record.
  • Car insurance rates vary by age. For instance, a 16-year-old male in South Carolina pays an average of $1,456 for non-owner car insurance, whereas a 25-year-old male pays $521 a year for the same coverage.
  • Auto-Owners offers most affordable rates for non-owner car insurance in South Carolina at $100.

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

Insurance companies view non-owner policyholders as less of a risk due to their minimal access to a car, and therefore, it’s usually less expensive to buy non-owner insurance than full coverage auto insurance.

On average in the United States, it costs a driver with a clean driving record and good credit score $2,578 per 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 property damage. In South Carolina, full coverage car insurance costs $2,417.

Alternatively, non-owner car insurance is $486 a year on average in the U.S. and $448 in South Carolina.

But various factors affect individual rates, such as where in state you live, your age and driving history and other factors.

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

In South Carolina, Auto-Owners’s non-owner insurance policy is the cheapest at $100 a year.

At $697 a year, Dairyland charges the highest rate for non-owner insurance in the state.

Experts recommend comparing quotes from many different insurance companies so that you can find the best rate available. The cheapest non-owner insurance policies in the state are listed below.

Cheapest non-owner insurance rates in South Carolina

CompanyAverage annual premium
Auto-Owners$100
GEICO$333
Travelers$508
State Farm$582
Progressive$600
Dairyland$697
USAA*$322
*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
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How much is non-owner car insurance in South Carolina by age?

Age plays an important role in pricing because young people who haven’t been driving for a long time are seen as higher risk and are more likely to cause an accident. So older and more experienced drivers usually enjoy lower rates. On average, non-owner insurance costs $1,456 a year for a 16-year-old and $443 for a 45-year-old in South Carolina.

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

AgeRates for male driversRates for female drivers
16$1,591$1,314
17$1,320$1,077
18$980$946
19$889$830
20$795$758
21$684$642
22$644$610
23$586$565
24$565$550
25$521$521
30$483$480
35$466$463
40$448$447
45$443$442
50$431$426
55$426$420
60$429$422
65$438$427
70$458$446
75$501$474
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Which South Carolina cities have the cheapest non-owner car insurance?

Rates differ from city to city. Insurers consider the number of thefts, collisions and vandalism in an area when calculating rates.

Below are the cheapest and most expensive cities for non-owner car insurance in South Carolina.

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

CityNon-owner car insurance rates
Newry$352
Seneca$355
Salem$356
Walhalla$356
Westminster$360
Central$362
West Union$362
Fair Play$364
Mountain Rest$366
Six Mile$366
Townville$368
Long Creek$369
Tamassee$369
Simpsonville$370
Hilton Head Island$371
Norris$372
Sunset$372
Landrum$374
Clemson$375
Pickens$375
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The 20 South Carolina cities with the highest non-owner car insurance rates

CityNon-owner car insurance rates
Estill$590
Allendale$583
Furman$583
Hampton$580
Brunson$577
Fairfax$562
Pineland$560
Scotia$559
Early Branch$557
Ulmer$554
Varnville$553
Luray$549
Miley$549
Crocketville$548
Ridgeland$547
Coosawhatchie$545
Martin$544
Jacksonboro$541
Russellville$539
Adams Run$536
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How much is non-owner car insurance in South Carolina’s 10 biggest cities?

The most populous cities in South Carolina have varying non-owner insurance rates. The cost of non-owner insurance in North Charleston is the most expensive at $524; Greenville has the cheapest rates of the largest cities in the state at $403.

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

10 largest citiesNon-owner car insurance rates
Greenville$403
Mount Pleasant$412
Rock Hill$423
Columbia$460
Sumter$467
Charleston$471
Florence$474
Goose Creek$478
Summerville$484
North Charleston$524
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How non-owner insurance rates in South Carolina compare to rates in other states

Non-owner car insurance rates also differ from state to state. The average non-owner insurance rate in South Carolina is $448 a year, which is lower than the national average of $486.

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

State NameAverage annual premium
California$500
Texas$564
Florida$668
New York$606
Pennsylvania$279
Illinois$518
Ohio$291
Georgia$510
North Carolina$681
Michigan$855
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What does non-owner auto insurance cover?

Non-owner auto insurance provides coverage when you are driving a vehicle you don’t own. “If someone with non-owner auto insurance is involved in an accident while driving a rental car or a friend’s car, the policy typically covers liability for damages and injuries to others,” says Golnoush Goharzad, a personal injury attorney in California.

An important caveat is these policies don’t cover damage to the car you are driving. “That would be covered under the car owner’s policy or possibly through optional insurance purchased from the rental agency,” Goharzad says.

Goharzad adds that non-owner auto insurance policies may provide extra coverage. “Non-owner policies may also provide supplementary liability over and above what the car owner’s policy covers, filling in gaps if the primary policy’s limits are exhausted.”

How to get non-owner auto insurance in South Carolina

Your driver’s license number and a credit or debit card are all you need to get a non-owner insurance policy.

To purchase a policy, follow these steps:

  1. Contact an auto 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

Often, you’ll receive proof of insurance very quickly. Here are a few car insurance companies with their contact 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 gathered rates from Quadrant Information Services for all 51 states, including Washington, D.C., to analyze non-owners auto insurance pricing.

This data is based on a sample driving profile of a 40-year-old male and female with a good insurance score and no violations, opting for a non-owners policy on a Honda Accord with a 12-mile commute and 10,000 annual mileage. We analyzed over 65 million insurance quotes from 195 companies (73 company groups) across 29,159 cities and 34,595 ZIP codes. The national average annual premium is $486.

Read more about our research standards and methodology.

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What our expert says

Q: Does a non-owner policy cover damage to your car?

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Golnoush GoharzadPersonal injury attorney, California.
These policies don’t cover damage to the car you are driving, Goharzad says. “That would be covered under the car owner’s policy or possibly through optional insurance purchased from the rental agency.”

Frequently asked questions

Who needs non-owner car insurance in South Carolina?

Non-owner car insurance is ideal for individuals who frequently rent cars or borrow others’ vehicles but do not own a car themselves. It’s also necessary for those who need to maintain continuous insurance coverage to avoid lapses.

Is non-owner car insurance available to everyone?

Non-owner car insurance is generally available if you do not own a vehicle, do not have regular access to a vehicle, and have a valid driver’s license. It is not available if you can be covered as a driver under another household member’s policy.

Can I get non-owner car insurance if I live with someone who owns a car?

If you live with someone who owns a car, you are generally expected to be listed on their car insurance policy. However, if you are not listed, non-owner car insurance could provide you with liability coverage when driving other vehicles.

What is the difference between non-owner and standard car insurance?

Non-owner car insurance only covers liability for bodily injury and property damage inflicted on others, not damages to the vehicle you are driving or injuries to yourself, which are typically covered under standard auto insurance policies.

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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.

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