Cheapest SR-22 insurance in South Carolina

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In South Carolina, the cheapest SR-22 insurance options are offered by Nationwide at $1,269 per year and GEICO at $1,310 per year. The cost of SR-22 insurance depends on your location, driving history, and insurance provider.

An SR-22 isn’t a type of insurance. It’s a certificate of financial responsibility that proves you meet your state’s minimum car insurance requirements. It’s often required after serious driving violations, such as a DUI, reckless driving, or driving without insurance. If you’ve been ordered to file an SR-22, you might be worried about the impact on your car insurance costs.

Unfortunately, having an SR-22 on your record usually leads to higher premiums, and some carriers won’t cover such drivers, so finding affordable options is essential.

Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly policy or just trying to learn more about SR-22s, this guide has the information you need to get back on the road without breaking the bank.

What is an SR-22?

An SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility proves you have the minimum liability insurance coverage your state requires. If you’re considered a high-risk driver because of traffic violations, a DUI/DWI conviction, or other reasons, your state or a court might require you to get an SR-22. This is a certificate your insurance company files on your behalf with your state Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV).

An SR-22 isn’t a type of insurance, but it’s often required after serious offenses. Having an SR-22 can make your insurance more expensive, and not all insurers will cover you because you’re considered a high-risk driver.

Key Takeaways

SR-22 car insurance in South Carolina costs $1,998, on average.
Nationwide offers the cheapest SR-22 insurance policies in South Carolina at $1,269 per year.
SR-22 insurance isn’t a separate policy, but a form your insurance company files to with the state DMV to prove you have the required minimum coverage.

Do I need to buy SR-22 insurance in South Carolina?

As mentioned before, an SR-22 isn’t an insurance policy. It’s a form your insurance company files with your state’s DMV to show that you have the required minimum coverage, even with certain driving offenses on your record. The filing fee is usually low, but insurance with an SR-22 can be expensive.

Here are few offenses that might require an SR-22:

DUI, DWI or other serious moving violations
Reckless driving
Accidents resulting in suspension or revocation
Accumulation of too many driving violation points
Driving without insurance

If you are convicted of any of these violations, you might need an SR-22. After buying an insurance plan that meets your state’s requirements, ask your insurance company to send the SR-22 form to the DMV.

You usually have to keep the SR-22 for at least three years. If you don’t, your license could be suspended.

Average SR-22 car insurance cost in South Carolina

The average cost of SR-22 car insurance in South Carolina is $1,998.

This is $983 higher than in New Hampshire, which has the cheapest SR-22 insurance.

However, it’s also $2,043 less expensive than in Michigan, the most expensive state for SR-22 insurance.

The cost of SR-22 insurance depends on several factors, such as why you need the SR-22, your driving history, and where you live.

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Cheapest SR-22 insurance companies in South Carolina

Insurance rates typically increase if you have an SR-22, but not all insurance companies charge the same rates for SR-22 holders. The companies listed below offer some of the lowest rates in South Carolina.

Company	Average annual premium	Average monthly premium
Nationwide	$1,269	$106
GEICO	$1,310	$109
Travelers	$1,405	$117
State Farm	$1,718	$143
Auto-Owners	$1,756	$146
Progressive	$1,899	$158
Allstate	$2,254	$188
American Family	$2,369	$197
Farmers	$4,678	$390
USAA*	$1,326	$111

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

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Cheap SR-22 insurance in South Carolina by city

As mentioned earlier, where you live can also make a big difference in the cost of SR-22 insurance. Below, you’ll find the cheapest rates for SR-22 insurance for most cities in South Carolina.

City	Average annual premium
Seneca	$1,120
Westminster	$1,120
Myrtle Beach	$1,160
Anderson	$1,205
Spartanburg	$1,217
Tega Cay	$1,221
Hardeeville	$1,253
York	$1,262
Eastover	$1,392
Johnsonville	$1,431
Manning	$1,437

SR-22 insurance requirements in South Carolina

The South Carolina DMV mandates all drivers in South Carolina to have the following minimum car insurance coverage:

$25,000 for injury or death per person
$50,000 for injury or death per accident
$25,000 for property damage per accident

These are only the minimum requirements. Experts suggest getting more coverage than the mandated coverage levels. While it might increase your premium, the extra coverage can be very helpful if you’re in a costly at-fault accident.

How much does SR-22 in South Carolina cost with a DUI?

Some insurance companies are much more forgiving than others if you have a DUI. Some charge a few hundred dollars more, while others charge thousands more per year.

Note: In the table below, “filing only” represents the cost of a policy including the fee to file the SR-22 – without considering the reason why someone needed an SR-22.

Company	SR-22 with 1 DUI	SR-22 Filing only
State Farm	$1,855	$1,718
Travelers	$2,011	$1,405
Nationwide	$2,216	$1,269
Progressive	$2,278	$1,899
American Family	$2,687	$2,369
Allstate	$3,130	$2,254
GEICO	$3,150	$1,310
Auto-Owners	$3,204	$1,756
Farmers	$5,886	$4,678
USAA*	$2,462	$1,326

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

How to get the cheapest SR-22 insurance in South Carolina

If you need an SR-22 in South Carolina, your insurance premiums might be very high. However, there are ways to save on car insurance, whether you need an SR-22 or not.

First, it’s a good idea to shop around. Different insurance companies can offer very different rates. Some companies specialize in high-risk drivers and may give you better SR-22 rates.

Another way to lower your insurance costs with an SR-22 is to improve your driving record. It might take some effort, but it’s worth it if you want better rates. A simple step is taking a defensive driving course, which can result in having points removed from your record. Check with your insurer to see if completing such a class could get you a discount. You can also look into usage-based insurance. These programs use technology to monitor your driving habits in exchange for (potentially) lower rates.

Sebastian Hov, CEO of 18 Insurance, an insurance agency based in Sacramento, California, recommends the following:

Shop around. Different insurance companies offer varying rates for SR-22 insurance. It’s crucial to compare quotes from multiple providers to find the best option.
Pay upfront. Paying your premium in full rather than in monthly installments can sometimes result in lower overall costs.
Opt for non-owner insurance. If you don’t own a vehicle but need to maintain SR-22 coverage, non-owner car insurance can be 5% to 15% cheaper than a standard policy.

Non-owner SR-22 insurance in South Carolina

Some states might require you to get an SR-22 even if you don’t own a car. This proves you have the minimum liability insurance your state requires, which is often needed to get your driver’s license back after a suspension or revocation for violations like a DUI or multiple traffic offenses.

Non-owner insurance policies are for people who don’t own a car but still drive and need to meet SR-22 requirements or maintain coverage. This type of insurance provides liability protection when driving someone else’s car and helps you meet state requirements to get your license back after violations like a DUI or multiple traffic offenses.

It’s generally a cheaper option than a standard car insurance policy since it only covers liability.

Who needs SR-22 insurance?

Remember that an SR-22 is not a separate insurance policy. Instead, it’s a certificate that shows your state’s DMV that you have at least the minimum insurance coverage required.

For instance, if you have a DUI on your record, the state will require you to prove that you have enough insurance to be financially responsible.

Keep in mind that not all driving offenses require an SR-22. You will be notified if you require an SR-22. If you aren’t sure if you need one, ask your local DMV or an attorney who has experience with traffic laws.

How long do you need SR-22 insurance in South Carolina?

You typically need to maintain an SR-22 for three years.

In some cases, the time you need to maintain an SR-22 could be longer or shorter. The length of the SR-22 period will depend on your driving history and how serious the offense is.

The bottom line on SR-22 in South Carolina

South Carolina’s average SR-22 insurance rate is $1,998, compared to the overall average car insurance cost in South Carolina, which is $1,811. That means South Carolina’s SR-22 rate is $187 more per year.

But remember that there are a lot of factors that can affect insurance premiums.

What our expert says

Q: How can you save on SR-22 insurance?

Sebastian HovCEO, 18 Insurance.

“Shop around: Different insurance companies offer varying rates for SR-22 insurance. It’s crucial to compare quotes from multiple providers to find the best option.”

Resources and Methodology

Sources:

Shouse Law Group. “SR22 South Carolina.” Accessed November 2025.
Progressive Insurance. “What is an SR-22?” Accessed November 2025.

Methodology

Insure.com gathered rates from Quadrant Information Services for all states, including Washington, D.C. The rates are based on a sample driving profile of a 40-year-old male and female who drives a Honda Accord LX and opts for a full-coverage policy with coverage limits of 100/300/100 and a $500 comprehensive and collision deductible across most ZIP codes. We analyzed 5,000,736 insurance quotes from 27 companies.

Bob Haegele

Contributing Researcher

Bob Haegele is a personal finance writer. He covers car insurance, health insurance and life insurance. While working in the corporate world he started a personal finance blog. He later left his corporate job and began freelance writing full-time. Since then, he has made it his mission to help people master their money. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Forbes Advisor, Bankrate, FinanceBuzz and others.